Harry's cracking on with his work at The Bridge Meadow

 
Harry Thomas is perhaps best-known in Pembrokeshire sporting circles as a very good all-round cricketer with Lawrenny CC, but he has also played football for the village side and been involved as a football coach as far afield as Swansea City AFC and Haverfordwest County AFC.
 
And it is with the latter club, now doing so well in the Welsh Premier League under influential manager Tony Pennock, that Harry has recently set out on an exciting new challenge, as he has been appointed the Bluebirds Community Manager.
 
As the title implies, Harry has been charged with the responsibility of raising the club’s profile in two different areas, firstly on match days where he will aim to ensure all attendees have a thoroughly entertaining time - and secondly, to ensure impactful community provision, in terms of using the fantastic new 3G pitch, encouraging well-being in the community, forging lasting links with local schools and youth organisations, to name but a few ideas that Harry has in the pipeline.

 

Already with experience in the area

 
It is fair to say that Harry brings a range of experiences that will help him along the way. As well as his own playing and coaching, he has also achieved a First-Class BSc Honours’ Degree in Football Coaching, Development & Administration at the University of South Wales in Treforest, near Pontypridd.
 
He was also Head of PE at Castle School for a year, part-time Assistant Coach at Swansea City AFC Women and Full-Time for Swansea City Foundation as Area Coordinator for Carmarthenshire (5 years), and now this new post, which began in July 2024.
 




 

Very busy on match days

 


“Match Days have been great since returning to the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium. We were delighted to welcome 1,497 supporters on New Year's Day against Aberystwyth, this is currently the record attendance of any team in the league, something we are extremely proud of”.
 
“We have welcomed mascots and flag bearers from Pembrokeshire’s grassroots clubs to enable young people to experience the stadiums atmosphere and provide opportunities to showcase their skills on the pitch at half time”.
 
 
“We hope Pure West Radio, Get The Boys a Lift and other external providers have all added to the match day experience and provided variety to our match day offerings. We have some exciting plans in the future for our match days and we are looking forward to ensuring that the venue is a welcoming place for the whole family”.  
 




 

Ready to spread the ‘Good News’

 

Harry is also aware of the need to spread positive news about on goings with The Bluebirds around all corners of the county, and is ready to have the revamped clubhouse used for social activities and events.
 
“Clubs, groups and local organisations can hire a slot on the new 3G pitch during the week. We have launched a ‘Bluebirds Bootroom’ to ensure that facility users are able to access a range of correct footwear (moulded studs) before entering the pitch. We have seen children swap boots for larger sizes and academy players donate boots for future use. The Bootroom currently has over 35 pairs available to the local community”.
 
“We have welcomed Haverfordwest Walking Football Club back under our umbrella. The club is going from strength to strength and various players have represented their national teams in recent weeks. They have sessions for a range of abilities and age groups twice a week, day and night”.
 
“Pleasingly, we have rolled out extra-curricular schools provision for primary and secondary schools across Pembrokeshire. We have coaches delivering in four schools weekly and ensuring we contribute to supporting young people to stay physically fit and socially connected is something we are extremely passionate about. We have completed a case study with Pembroke Dock Community School which will be showcased shortly and we will also have one planned with Prendersgast Community School, around improvements to pupils school attendance as a result of our provision”.
 

Good links forged already

 

Not content with that little lot, Harry, has organised a club Golf Day at Milford Haven Golf Club in May, plus created a strong link with PAVS, who have been working closely together, to create an official charitable arm to Haverfordwest County AFC. Harry looks forward to updating us all on this in due course. The Club and Pembrokeshire Leisure have collaborated to deliver over 60’s chair-based activities weekly at the Ogi Bridge Meadow. Ensuring that the club is working with local organisations to offer provision of need.
 
Throw in a link with The Edge Youth Club and holiday camps for boys and girls in the school holidays. Harry and his team have also delivered Fit & Fed sessions in collaboration with Sport Pembrokeshire and Prendergast primary school. Regular ‘Pay & Play’ evenings are being delivered where youngsters simply turn up and enjoy the chance of a fun hour of football, after working hard in school all day - it’s going to be a challenging time for Harry and Co at The Bluebirds!





 

Going back to his family’s roots in local cricket at Cresselly and Lawrenny

 
Going back to the start of this article, it is important that we return to cricket and mention must be made of the fact that last season he helped Lawrenny CC to victory in the Harrison-Allen Bowl Final, knocking up a crucial 40 runs in one of the innings.
 
“Lawrenny is a great club,” Harry told us, “it’s a fantastic place for the whole family and if positive results on the pitch can supplement that, then that’s a bonus. It’s certainly a club that values off field activities as much as on-field results and we wouldn’t have it any other way”. Harry has also represented the county on a number of occasions, most recently against The MCC in Neyland CC.
 
He certainly hails from a cricketing family because his father Steven was a regular batsman with Cresselly and his grandfather Phil was even more involved, because as well as playing there he was also a superb administrator with the Pembroke County Cricket Club, that was deservedly recognised with life membership.
 
Harry is thrilled that there could be a fourth Thomas to play cricket because the next generation will include his new son Louie, who was born to his partner Aimee a short time ago. Harry is also closely supported by mother Sophie, who has been by his side the whole way.
 
 

Also very busy in coaching

 
But his football keeps him ever busier because as well as his administrative duties he also assists Steve Batty in coaching The Bluebirds Under 16s. Harry started his coaching career when he was a student on a sports course at Pembrokeshire College and was linked with Swansea City. He then had a placement at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium, where he helped out originally with the Under 9s all those years ago, and enjoyed every minute.
 
“I’ve taken my FAW C Licence and UEFA B Licence coaching qualifications. The aim now is to complete the UEFA A Licence, which I have recently been enrolled onto with a May 2025 start”.
 
 

And finally . . .

 
Harry is already committed under the leadership of First-Team Manager Tony Pennock and the Chief Operating Officer, Rebecca Nuttall. Harry welcomes conversations around how the club can be taken forward off the pitch.
 
And we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can say without hesitation, they will be guaranteed a warm welcome!