The 2016/17 football season was a memorable one for 15 year old Jake Merry as he played a key role for Hakin United's under 16 team in their third treble of age-group league, cup and West Wales Cup; a terrific feat for any club in one season but unheard of over three successive attempts!
 
Jake had the privilege of captaining the Young Vikings in the local cup competition and was clearly delighted to raise the trophy aloft at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium after their 3-1 win over old rivals Tenby.
 
The skipper's role was then passed to Jack Wilson in the league and Lee Davies for the West Wales Cup - and in both Jake played a key role at the back with his timely tackles, good distribution skills and his ability to read the game.
 

Other sports like rugby . . . and especially cricket

 
But football isn't Jake's only sport because he has also played rugby for Haverfordwest at junior level as a full back under the coaching of Arthur Daye, Andy Grey and Roly Long.

"We reached our county final at under 15 level against Crymych at a rainy Narberth but lost 13-6 after leading at half time, but although I enjoyed being involved I have to stop playing now because training and playing games would interfere with my football," admitted Jake.
 
During the summer months he also keeps himself busy in cricket as a useful all-rounder with Haverfordwest after starting out when Simon Williams, who now captains him in the second team, came to the junior school to encourage youngsters to try the game and invited Jake and some friends to training evenings at The Racecourse.
 
This season has seen Jake claim a place in the second team and he readily admits that he has learned a great deal from experienced players like Nigel Morgan and Simon Williams.
 

County representation

 
"Since then I've played every summer," said Jake, "and been a regular in the county side alongside quality players like Noah Davies, Nikhil Mathias, Johnny White, Jack Scriven, and Lewis Hough.
 
Jake showed his own potential in one county match against North Wales at Prestatyn, where he scored an impressive 103 not out, and when he moved into senor cricket he claimed 3 for 22 against Llangwm Seconds and pouched four catches as a bonus!
 
Last winter saw him join his county colleagues, coaches Simon Williams and Huw Scriven
and some supporters on a once-in-a-lifetime tour to Barbados where they played five games against some fantastic players who included one bowler who at 14 was already in the squad for the West Indies under 19s for the World Cup.
 

Great experiences

 
"He was the fastest bowler I've come across as we played on some amazing grounds - and I was chuffed that I managed a top score of 55 in the games I played.
 
"We also tried loads of interesting things like swimming with turtles and jet skiing, and had a tour of the famous Kensington Oval ground with Henderson Springer, who used to play as a professional with Haverfordwest.
 
"We stayed at a brilliant hotel at St Lawrence Gap, which was right next to the beach so every day we spent time in the water, snorkeled and saw some amazing coloured fish swimming in huge shoals."
 

Family support

 
With such an involvement in sport, Jake would say that he has been lucky to have total support from his mother Allison, who watches almost every football match he plays in, and his father Jerome, who was a very good footballer with a great Fishguard Sports’ team in his younger days and also with Goodwick United
 
"I couldn't have better parents," said Jake, and neither could my brother Tom (24) who plays centre half for Broad Haven, or my sister Kim (27), who is always interested in my sport."
 

Early start at Clarbie – and joining the Vikings!

 
Jake began his football as an eight year old with a Clarbeston Road team coached by Adrian Cox, which usually came second to Hakin United in the age-group league.
 
"I enjoyed five years there but in the under 13 pre-season Hakin United went to a tournament at Butlin's in Minehead and since they were allowed two non-registered players they invited me to join them and not only did we win the tournament but they made me very welcome and I enjoyed every minute under the guidance of Daisy Picton and Colin Fawcett.
 
"It was so good that I decided to stay and since then we have won the league every season and only missed out that first year in the cup when we lost 1-0 after extra time in the very first round against Pennar Robins, who also beat us once in the league as the only other defeat we've had.”
 

Winning ways

 
But since then Jake and Co have won three out of three West Wales Cup competitions, all at Stebonheath Park in Llanelli, starting with victory over Pontardawe and followed the next season by beating Sandfields from Port Talbot.
 
They were denied three on the trot as there was no competition at under 15 but when it was reinstated for last campaign they again dominated the competition, despite playing away throughout and not conceding a goal.
 
"We played a very strong Dafen Welfare side who only had to travel five miles to Llanelli and had a noisy crowd but we beat them 2-0 thanks to goals by jack Wilson and Camron Thomas, who was captain for the final because Lee Davies was injured.
 
"We were chuffed for Daisy and Colin, plus Stuart McDonald, who came from the first team to take our warm-ups in the last six weeks of the season and really helped build up our already strong team spirit.
 
"Having won the local double we were thrilled and at our special evening we made some nice presentations to mark our time together before we go off to play senior football."
 

Pembrokeshire honours

 
Jake has also been a regular with the Pembrokeshire Football set-up, initially with Angie Nicholls and then with Colin Fawcett.
 
"Angie was our coach when we won the Welsh Final against Flintshire at Cardiff and following up the next season with victory against Gap Connor's Quay at Newtown - but we came runners-up the next two years as we lost 4-2 to Airbus in Newtown (when I was captain) - and then the biggest sickener was recently losing on penalties to Cefn Druids at Newport, a game we deserved to win."
 

And finally . . .

 
So now it is on to the next stage of his footballing career and the choices include moving into senior football with Hakin United or playing for Haverfordwest County's development squad.
"I know coach Steve Batty well so there is plenty for me to think about," says Jake with a chuckle.
 
But there's one thing for sure and that is the fact that whatever Jake decides he will continue play football, and other sports, with his quiet maturity - and we are sure we will hear a great deal about Jake Merry in the future because he is a credit to his family, his clubs and our county!