Atticus Kingston – already catching the sporting eye

 
Atticus Kingston is a very talented young sportsman who, at 17 years of age, plays his cricket in the first team at Herbrandston Cricket Club, where he is also co-captain of their indoor cricket league, and has already set out in senior football with Milford United as a central midfielder.
 
Atticus plays his cricket alongside his father Rob, who was a very good rugby player with Milford Haven in his younger days and has been involved in coaching football at Marble Hall for eight years and now, at 52, still helps out occasionally in goal for the seconds so could feature alongside Atticus in some matches, The other influence on Atticus’s sport is big brother, Ferdy Stevenson (19) who has always been there to help him in either sport.





 

Early start in cricket and doing well now

 
On the cricket front, Atticus started out at under nine level at Neyland, where he was coached by Ian Milsom, who has since followed him to Herbie and still gives him encouragement alongside Dad and Johnny ‘Bap’ Lewis’, since he joined the Herbie senior squad at 13.
 
Last season Atticus was also a member of Neyland’s youth team as they merged forces for the Ormond Youth Cup and they reached the plate final at Lawrenny – and he was understandably pleased to pick up some silverware.
 
So far his best batting figures have been a top score of 71 against Haverfordwest Thirds in senior cricket and an undefeated 50 in the popular T20 competition organised by Craig Butland (Pembroke Dock) against Cresselly – and on the bowling front he has claimed 5 for 14 in one of the rounds in the Ormond Cup alongside 4 for 14 against Whitland in senior cricket.
 
He even keeps busy in winter cricket as he joins Charlie Malloy as joint skipper of the indoor league team, with the pleasure of telling their fathers Rob and Dai what to do. “We lost our early games because we didn’t have enough experience of the tactics,” admitted Atticus, “but we’ve won our last four matches on the trot because we are learning quickly.”





 

Milford United through and through

 
Back on the football front, Atticus started out with Milford United junior section when he was six, coached by Dad and Joff Lennon. Followed by Dai Malloy from under 11 to under 16 levels – and their best season was at under 13 because they came third in the league and only just missed out in the age-group final when they lost to champions Prendergast Villa.
 
Like a lot of youngsters who have played well throughout their junior days Atticus would admit that the transition to adult football isn’t easy but he is gaining game time steadily with The Robins’ Seconds at Marble Hall under the watchful eye of coach Chris Davies.
“The seconds are a settled side so I have had to be patient,” he told us, “but I scored my first goal, against Carew 3rds, and I’m very happy to bide my time because I want to play well for Milford United.”
 
Atticus also watches a wide range of sports on TV and follows Liverpool FC, where Roberto Firmino was his favourite until he went off to Saudi Arabia. “I also love to watch Wales play rugby, but I don’t play because it clashes with my football, where I love going to training and can’t wait for match days to come around.”