In our features on football lovers whose dedication has shone through in a range of roles it is appropriate to also chat about some great characters who have sadly passed away - and one of those is undoubtedly Joe Lennon, an Irishman who came to Milford Haven as a youth worker and influenced so many impressionable boys and girls.
 
Any number of them have played sport in the town, especially football, and any interviews that we do now seem to recall Joe’s help - for them or their dads before them!
 

Had ‘Viking’ youngsters admiration in coaching sessions

 
As well as his official work centred on Milford Haven Youth and Hakin Youth Clubs, he quickly became the coach/hon secretary of Hakin United’s junior football set-up - and made an immediate impact because he was a great believer in developing skills, but also mutual respect for others and the right attitude, on and off the field.
 
In his soft Irish brogue he would say that training sessions took place twice-weekly, plus regular matches on weekends where they carried out his ‘two-touch football’ which he developed on the AstroTurf at Milford Haven School., the first to bring the ball under control and the second to bring a team-mate into the game.
 

Joe and ‘Daisy’ what a great coaching team!

 
He started out by helping Daisy Picton, who did a great job but also had a heavy work commitment - and took over the reins after taking the Welsh FA Preliminary Coaching award, held at Cosheston, which opened his eyes to the possibilities as he also read a wide range of coaching techniques, adapting what he regarded as the best ideas into his own programmes.
 
One of his first successes was with Paul Jones, rightly regarded as one of the best goal-scorers ever in Pembrokeshire, plus Shaun Mills, Paul Chapman, Nigel Armstrong, Jamie Phillips, Darren Picton and Ian Hawkins as a goalkeeper.
 

Attracted attention from The Swans and Leeds United . . . and with Mike at the Aber Festival

 
His under 14s, and especially his under 16s, were soon catching the eye and when they played a friendly against Swansea City they came home with a deserved draw.
 
He managed to get The Swans to come down and play at The Obs and so did a Leeds United team as word spread that there was good football being played in the far west of Wales!
 
He also joined another highly-respected local coach in Mike Hawkridge to take a team to the Ian Rush International Tournament in Aberystwyth - and playing against some great teams from abroad they could see the work done to the smallest detail, like the ‘cool down’ sessions adopted by them all, but unheard of here!
 

Played Gaelic football and hurling – but football always his first love

 
Going back to his early days in the ‘Emerald Isle’ his father, Joe Senior, ran the Gaelic Football and Hurling in the Dublin area and young Joe was ‘persuaded’ to play - but football was always his favourite and he started out with St Joseph’s Catholic Youth Club under 12s as an ‘out and out stopper’ who lacked any basic skills but loved tackling hard and followed Chelsea.
 
He loved Ron ‘Chopper’ Harries and appreciated the likes of Norman Hunter and Billy Bremner (Leeds United) but also loved watching skillful stars like Dennis Law, George Best and Bobby Charlton.
 

Love brought him to Milford Haven

 
At 18 he was a regular in the first team at Anner United, where the playing strength was good but conditions were poor and then for Grange AFC, in Cardiff, until he came to settle in Milford Haven after meeting his wife Pat, who was a local here.
 
When he came here, he joined Hakin United, who had real characters in Alan Jones and Ronnie Morse as secretary and manager; and played there in the seconds until he reached the ripe old age of 41 and could see all the talented teenagers lining up for a game every week.
 

And finally . . .

 
But he was delighted to see the standard of football was rising, although he wouldn’t approve of the antics of some players and spectators because he was a purist with a hard core - and I loved a chat with him because he was so intense but not overwhelming.
 
Joe would be quietly delighted to look down and read the fact that so many people remember him for his huge contribution to Pembrokeshire Football and his work with young people in Milford Haven, especially anyone of any age who had additional learning needs because they soon took to him because they knew he cared.
 
We still think of you Joe and I personally recall with heart-felt gratitude the night you saved the life of one of my pupils, without any fuss but just the calm needed in such a situation - and I am honoured to have been able to count you as a true gentleman of sport and a great friend!