Followers of Haverfordwest County on Face Book will have noticed a real upgrade in services over recent months, with a fresh appearance, loads of information that is up-dated on a regular basis, facts galore - and even a countdown of a digital clock to the Bluebirds' next match in the Welsh Premier League!
 
It is a similar story with regard to Twitter because during games there are tweets made at regular intervals with details of scores, scorers, substitutions, yellow and red cards, allowing those who are unable to reach the match to keep really well up-dated.
 
Throw in the new 'audio boom' service and the features on 'You Tube' that are available and give an extra dimension to the site - it is small wonder that the club directors are well-pleased with the excellent work undertaken by Kevin Marriott since his arrival from the Midlands.
 

A ‘Fox’ through and through – and national standard athlete

 
Kevin moved to North Pembrokeshire after many years of supporting his beloved 'Foxes' at Leicester City ever since he was a nipper, played Sunday football, enjoyed lots of other sports - but cannot see a time in the future when he won't be a regular visitor to the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium, not only to cheer on the team but to help in any way he can, especially with regard to developments in IT.
 
It all seems a long way from his school days in Long Eaton where he represented the local grammar school in rugby (scrum half, wing or full back), athletics (starting in primary school and eventually running for Derbyshire Schools in the National Championships at under 15 level in what was then the 80 metres hurdles.)
 

All-round sporting competitor

 
Kevin was also quite sharp in the sprints, with a best time of 11.8 at 100 metres, 18 feet in the long jump, 32 feet in the hop, step and jump (now known as the triple jump) and nine feet in the pole vault, which might not seem much but competitors used metal poles and jumped into sand pits!
 
Throw in a fair standard of schools' tennis and it is perhaps easy to see why Kevin was the proud winner of Long Eaton Grammar School's 'Academic and Sporting Achievement Award.
 

Dad was major sporting influence

 
Ask Kevin about major influences in his sporting life and he would unhesitatingly nominate his late father Keith because he played sport to a high level.
 
“He was in the Royal Navy from 1944 to 1947 so missed out in his prime on the chance to play cricket for Derbyshire, Leicestershire or Nottinghamshire as an all-rounder - but still played to a high standard with village teams.
 
"It was the same story in football, and after representing the Royal Navy against Portsmouth (Fratton Park) and Norwich City at Carrow Road he came out and played a half back for good local clubs (that's a defensive midfielder to you youngsters!)"
 

Hooked on Leicester City – and Sunday football success

 
Kevin watched his dad play but then began to take an interest in Leicester City, after watching them on TV, losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the 1961 FA Cup Final.
 
"I was hooked from then on and remember that one of my first matches was watching them win at home against Sheffield United - at a time when kids could sit anywhere in the ground  because there was no segregation, and get lifted down the front to make sure we could see.
 
"So my football playing was curtailed on Saturdays so I switched to Sunday morning matches with a team called Copsey Croft, the name of a social club in Long Eaton, and managed to use my pace to score more than my share of goals against some big centre halves who weren't intent on taking any prisoners.
 
Kevin played until he was over 30 but dodgy knees forced him to step down - and although he carried on watching for a while it didn't give Kevin the chance to be as involved as he would like.
 

Cricket and bowls as summer sports

 
There was also some cricket in the summer but after three generations of the family playing good quality cricket Kevin would readily admit that he broke that particular mould because he wasn't outstanding with either bat or ball.
 
Now his parents had taken him to Rhyl for a string of holidays and whilst there they played crown green bowls, and eventually took up playing on the flat green at Long Eaton, where they eventually invited Kevin to join them.
 
Kevin took to it straight away and played for about 15 years, five of those indoors, but the pressures of work meant that he couldn't fulfil his obligations, especially for midweek cup matches.
 

Fishing always a delight

 
So then he returned to his childhood love of fishing, because he could go whenever he had a few hours, and it was a great way of relaxing.
 
"I fished sections of the Rivers Trent, Derwent, Dove and Soar, mainly float fishing, and perhaps when I have more time I can try my luck on the Cleddau or in one of the successful commercial ponds in our area.
 

Moving to North Pembrokeshire

 
But in the meanwhile, Kevin will keep involved at Haverfordwest County, after he and his wife Diane moved here in 2012 after some lovely holidays where they were made really welcome. 
 
"It meant I had to give up the Leicester City season ticket I'd held for many years (but I still go back to cheer them in about six times a season) - and started going down to watch The Bluebirds.
 
"I really was made welcome from the outset and last season I even managed to attend a handful of away matches because club chairman David Hughes generously offered me a lift   
 

Magic moment at Aberdare

 
"I really enjoyed watching and the undoubted highlight was the final match, where Wayne Jones and his boys went to Aberdare and gained the 5-0 win that ensured they edged out Cardiff Mets in the one spot available in the Premier League.
 
"David Hughes, Barry Vaughan and Richard Friday had made me very welcome and Wayne Jones, Sean Cresser, Micky Ellis, Ryan Evans and the players were just as friendly and I was thrilled for all of them.
 
"I had been asked to help a few times before that night but decided against it - but could see that evening just how much work was needed from as many people as possible so I contacted David Hughes, via his wife Sarah, and I started my involvement soon afterwards with regard to up-dating some of the computer stuff. "
 

Nice to be appreciated

 
So since then Kevin has tried to call in twice a week at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium, alongside match days, but is lucky that much of his work can be undertaken at home.
 
His worth is certainly appreciated by club chairman David Hughes, who told us,
“There were changes in administration that occur in the Welsh Premier League and had no-one with his technical expertise. I had got to know Kevin Marriott as he travelled to away games with me and when he offered his expertise we jumped at the chance to have him involved – and he is now a club director in recognition of his contribution.”
 
High praise indeed from someone who really knows what goes on at the Conygar Bridge Meadow  Stadium and we can only endorse what he says because Kevin Marriott really does strengthen The Bluebirds’ back-room staff – and is a very pleasant, modest and likeable gentleman as an added bonus!