Visitors to Narberth's championship division matches at the Lewis Lloyd Ground might not recognise Freeman Brawn in person but they would be sure to recognise his distinctive voice on subsequent visits because he is the match-day announcer, as well as having been involved in a range of other roles during his time at the club.

Freeman welcomes people to the ground, announces both teams and match officials, thanks the day's sponsors, gives notice of things going on at the club; all this prior to the match - and at the interval announces the raffle and gives another mention to sponsors, as well as providing details of all the substitutions made during the 80 minutes of play, all completed in his inimitable style!

Roles aplenty for Freeman today . . . 

It is just one of Freeman's current jobs at the club because he is also the fixture secretary and sorts out The Otters' allocation on tickets for Welsh international matches.
"It is a time of the year when my popularity seems to soar in the club," admits Freeman with a chuckle!

On the fixture secretary front, which he began this season, Freeman has responsibility for the smooth running of matches involving the first XV, the seconds and the youth teams. He contacts referees on the Sunday before the following Saturday's games and on the day before the first team games contacts match officials by phone, e-mail or text to check everything is in order, especially if the referee hasn't been to the Lewis Lloyd ground before.

"I also contact the opposing club by e-mail or text as a matter of curtesy and organise the team buses to away games.”

. . . And in the past too!

Not content with that little lot, Freeman was also Narberth RFC's hon secretary for 11 years, starting in 1984 when he took over the reins from a terrific club man in Tony Davies.

"It was an exciting time in the club because we acquired our floodlights from a local oil company, had the pitch levelled, erected our wonderful stand and completed the work on our clubhouse to its current standard before we had our official opening in 1989 against Neath.

"The three seasons before were hard work because we played our matches in Jesse Road, just opposite the police station, and then in a field on Kiln Park Corner, neither of which had changing facilities, but it all proved worthwhile as we did really well on our return to the Lewis Lloyd Ground.

"So when the National Leagues started up in 1991/92 we were in a high standard already - and have managed to build on that so that we are currently third in the Championship Division.

Taking a break to become Narberth mayor

Freeman finally stepped down from his work as hon secretary 1n 1993/94 when he was elected as Mayor of Narberth and was righty rewarded for his yeoman work by being elected as a life member of Narberth RFC, something he is justifiably proud of.

"I took a back seat after that for a while," Freeman told us,” but in 1997 the late Malcolm Jones roped me in to do the announcing.

Memorable moment as an announcer

"One of the memorable moments came a year later when Richard 'Stag' Jones was coaching the Welsh Youth team in a match against England at Narberth and I was delighted to be chosen as announcer.

"The English team included players of the calibre of second row Steve Borthwick, prop Andrew Sheridan, centre Mike Tindall, David Flatman and someone named Johnny Wilkinson, who grabbed victory for his team with a trademark dropped goal!

"He looked a classy player even then but little did I know that he would one day do exactly the same to win a World Cup Final," laughed Freeman!

Family matters – and an early start in Rutland

Ask Freeman about help and he would immediately praise his wife Anne, who has supplied total support, alongside daughters Sarah, currently chair of the club’s social committee, Lucy, plus son Matthew, who did Iron Man in 2015 and is considerably fitter than his dad!

As a youngster Freeman learned his own rugby skills as a prop at Oakham School in the tiny county of Rutland and then with Stamford Town, which was in Lincolnshire but only ten miles away.
"I was still an eager teenager and our hooker was 51 and the loose head prop 49, whilst an ex-Narberth player in David Salmon also played for Stamford Town.

Arriving in Pembrokeshire and meeting great characters

"I came to Pembrokeshire as a relief milker when I was 22 and joined Narberth, mostly in the seconds to start with in matches that were far harder than I had previously experienced so I had to learn quickly!

"I also played in the first team alongside fellow front rowers like Meurig Thomas and John Williams, whilst John Owen, Roger Price, Richard Jones were Peter Griffiths were other key players, plus Geraint Bowen as the best player I played alongside.

"I played in one KO Cup Final against Milford Haven and we should have beaten them but drew 9-all - and paid the price in the replay because The Mariners were deserved winners.

Making best use of resources

Back at Narberth RFC today, Freeman told us,
As a club we are unable to attract the huge sponsorship of the likes of Pontypool, RGC, Merthyr and others so we have to budget carefully so that we can pay players on a limited basis, but always within a tight budget because we have seen at close quarters what happens when clubs over-stretch their resources.

"We aim to attract as many Pembrokeshire players as possible and we have a fantastic junior section, which is vital since there is no secondary school in the town – and we inevitably lose some budding stars to Premiership clubs.

And finally . . .

Freeman has also been heavily involved with the Pembroke County team as secretary and selector and feels it’s a shame that this route no longer seems to exist.

"I still really enjoy my involvement at Narberth RFC," Freeman told us, "and home match days are great, especially if we win, which thankfully were are doing at the moment.”

Chat to Freeman Brawn, as we did, and his enthusiasm and know-how are evident: he is a great supporter of rugby in general and Narberth in particular - and we wish this personable gentleman many more years on the microphone at the Lewis Lloyd Ground!