When Carmarthen Town beat promotion rivals Llanelli by 3-0 at Stebonheath Park in a recent JD Cymru (South) match there was a major input from a Pembrokeshire midfield trio of Tom Dyson, Gregg Walters and Matty Delaney, who is the fourth generation of his family to start out their footballing life with Goodwick United - but Matty made the transition to this higher level of football like a duck to water, despite being only 21 at the time..
 
The goals were scored by Liam Thomas (2) and Lee Surman and in the highlights on ‘Sgorio’ it was plain to see Matty’s part with his busy work-rate and determination not to be pushed out of his stride by tough-tackling opponents.
 
“When I started out I found the physicality something that I had to adapt to, as well as the pace and accuracy in passing,” he told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk.
 

Fitting reward for Hard work

 
It was fitting reward for hard work and commitment to training getting even fitter which involves a midweek trip to training at Richmond Park where he shares transport with another Pembrokeshire player in goalkeeper Nick Jones.
 
“We train hard under manager Mark Aizlewoood every Tuesday under the floodlights and we divide our time between fitness and ball skills, often co-ordinated for maximum use of the time - and as well as the training there is a lot of travel to away matches - but I’ve got used to that too.
 
“I’ve started every match so far, which has given me a lot of confidence, and I scored in a 5-3 win at Cwmbran Celtic where we trailed 2-0 early on but battled back, which showed how resilient we are.
 
“So far we have played 17 games and won 12 of them and drawn two so we need to be just a bit more consistent if we are to challenge Barry Town and Llanelli for that top spot by the end of the season.”
 
He signed last season for ‘The Old Gold’ just two days before the end of the September transfer dead-line after he received a phone call from their then-manager Sean Cresser, inviting him to play at Richmond Park this season.
 

Respect for his coach

 
“I had trained there the season before under Christian O’Leary but felt I was better off staying at Goodwick – but I had got to know Sean (Cresser) when he was first-team manager of Haverfordwest County and I had played for their McWhirter Youth team which had been coached by Steve Batty and Ceri Phillips.
 
“I respected Sean there and so decided to give Welsh League Football a try and after making my debut as a sub I have since played another 17 times more, with only one of them on the bench – and I have to say it has been the best move I could have made!
 
“It almost feels like a Pembrokeshire side because as well as Sean’s former involvement at The Bridge Meadow Stadium there others like Gregg Walters, Tom Dyson and Nick Jones who all had spells there.
 
Scott made his Carmarthen debut in a 2-1 Welsh Cup win at Trethomas Bluebirds, where former Goodwick player Adam Raymond is involved.
 

Family matters . . .

 
Matty is the fourth generation of trophy winners in the Delaney family because his great grandfather Dick helped Goodwick win the West Wales Cup in the early 1950s;  his grandfather Mike was a trophy winner in a very good Fishguard Sports team and also with Goodwick United.
 
Then his father Nigel led Goodwick to their historic treble of West Wales Cup, Senior Cup and First Division title a few years ago as well as also picking up other silverware at West Dragons, Merlins Bridge, Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan – to a light-hearted jibe from his younger son that he’s had more clubs than Tiger Woods!
 
Matty’s big brother Scott is the current captain of Goodwick and he doesn’t escape his wit as he tells us,
“Scott won’t be big for much longer because I’m showing him the ropes in the gym and he’s doing well!”
 

. . . And even more family matters!

 
The females in the family are also appreciated because mum Teresa and nan Angelina are also totally supportive of all their men-folk do, as is his other nan, Joan Bevan, who watches him play as often as she can!
 
And last, but certainly not least is his uncle Mark, who also followed the Goodwick – Carmarthen Town route before becoming famous with Cardiff City, Aston Villa (where he is still heavily involved) and Wales.
 
Other Sports . . .
 
Outside of his football, Matty has also played a little bit of golf with his footballing pals but readily admits that it has been for recreation only because he can’t afford to spend too much time at it because of the demands of football.
 
“I also dabble in cricket because my father was captain of Llanrhian Cricket Club  and I also helped out when we won division three and we completed a double by winning the Alan Brown Cup again, where we beat Stackpole over two innings each at Whitland and I took four catches.
 
“I also helped out Fishguard last season and enjoyed it there in a team that was mainly made up of footballers out for a relaxing afternoon.
 


 

Started at Camrose as a nipper, where they dominated West Wales . . .

 
Back on the football front, Matthew started out as a nipper at Camrose under the coaching of Phil Jones in a very strong side where they only lost a couple of games in the five years they were together.
 
“We dominated not only Pembrokeshire but West Wales, with Nick Jones as our keeper and other good players like Charlie Davies, Jake Morgan, Travis O’Connor; Morgan Thomas and Dan Llewellyn – and we won our age group finals for all four years when we could enter, playing at Stebonheath in Llanelli to complete the treble since we were also winning our local league and cup too.
 

. . . But were brought down to earth with a bump against his uncle Mark’s Aston Villa!

 
“But we were brought down to earth with a bump when Paul took us up to Aston Villa to play on their fantastic training ground to take on their under 14 team that was coached by my uncle Mark.
 
“I can’t remember the actual scoreline but I know it was in double figures against us and showed us how far off the very top we were!”
 


 

Senior football starts with a season at The Sports – and then back to Goodwick

 
At 16 Matty signed for Fishguard Sports, just up the road from where most of his family played, and he had a year there with his pals Charlie Davies, Robbie Jones, Nigel Roach, Lewis Davies and Dan Llewellyn but then it was back to Phoenix Park the year after Goodwick United had won the coveted treble of West Wales Cup, Senior Cup and league championship.
 
He didn’t get straight into the first team but gradually he made it into the squad and eventually kept his place there – and ask him if his dad Nigel, who was coach, treated him tougher than some of the rest and Matty would smile as he said “Absolutely – and I even listened some of the times!”
 
When Goodwick won the West Wales Cup he had 30 minutes in the final and loved playing at The Liberty Stadium and when Covid swept in Matty and Co looked likely to have another chance of the treble as they beat Merlins Bridge to reach the West Wales Cup Final, were in the semi-final of the Senior Cup and top of the league under Wayne O’Sullivan’s management - but football was brought to an abrupt halt and never got restarted that campaign!
 

Matty’s spot on with penalties

 
So then it was off to Carmarthen Town and he was a regular in the squad that strung together 20 matches without defeat before losing to JD Cymru South leaders Llantwit Major.

But we’ve had some memorable moments, which included beating Newtown in the Welsh Cup on penalties, and then missing out to JD Cymru Premier leaders The New Saints by the same method.
 
“We played well at Newton and after a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes it went to penalties and I volunteered to go No 2 and scored as we won 5-4 – but when the score was the same against New Saints after extra time I again scored our second spot-kick but this time we just missed out on what would have been the biggest Welsh Cup upset for a long time!”



 

Unfortunate injury – but now back in action

 
Matty really enjoyed the season at Richmond Park although for a lengthy spell it must have been agony agony because he was forced into watching from the touch-line after he sustained damaged ligaments to his ankle at Briton Ferry.
 
“I went in for a 50/50 ball and just missed out in the tackle – and I knew straight away I was in trouble and it’s meant a month of the season out but the club’s physio Charlotte was great and so were Cresser and Sully as managers.
 
“But I got back in action and we started with a good 3-1 win at home to Llanelli - and I enjoyed the rest of the season. This year has been brilliant so far – and hopefully there will be plenty more chances to show what I can do for plenty of years to come yet!