Star of the Month - October 2018

 
When Haverfordwest County finished in a hugely creditable second place in last year's Welsh League division one they did so with more local young players than they have in a number of years and someone who could afford himself a larger than normal sense of satisfaction was Steve Batty.
 
Steve is head of the Bluebirds' Youth Development and in the eight years he has been involved at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium he has seen the best part of 20 talented youngsters make their first team debut after playing for the youth teams he has coached.
 

Welsh recognition too

 
Recognition of his determination to encourage quality football can be gauged from the fact that he is now also involved in the Welsh Youth set-up and made the best possible start as he was part of the coaching group that is led by Mark Pike and Steve Evans, plus Gareth Richards in the north and Steve in the south.
 
He made his debut as the Southern Area coach in Ireland and watched Wales win both their matches, without conceding a goal, and then travelled to Gibraltar for two more games, again with two wins and nothing in the 'goals against' column.
 
Bluebirds' first teamer Alaric Jones played all four games; the first two as vice-captain and then as captain in Ireland, where he was joined by team-mate Charlie Davies, who scored a goal on his debut in Gibraltar.
 

Interesting playing career – and then a move to coaching

 
Steve's own playing career took place in the main at Crundale and Herbrandston, where he helped them gain promotion to the first division of Pembrokeshire Football - and when he took over as manager at 28 years of age he was very proud to take Herbie to their only Senior Cup Final, where they lost to a really experienced Monkton Swifts' side.
 
He was invited to help Mark Falzon to coach the Bluebirds' youth team in the McWhirter League and when Mark left Steve took over the role in 2010, so decided he had to step down with Herbie because of the time and travel involved.
 

Great support in what he does so well

 
There followed a couple of McWhirter Cup Finals and after gaining his 'A' and 'B' licences is now working towards his 'A' Licence Youth, which he  has to complete by December.
 
"I have had full support from my partner Jackie Brown, as well as David Hughes and the rest of the directors at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium - and I'm already looking forward to the new season," admitted Steve, "because there are so many talented young players in the county who deserve to play at the highest possible level they can.
 
We can only agree with Steve Batty and recognise his immense efforts, and that is why we are delighted to award him our 'Star of the Month' trophy for October 2018!