Min helps The Seagulls keep flying high!
 

Min Walsh is super-keen on rugby, especially with regard to the first team at Fishguard & Goodwick RFC, where her whole family are heavily involved - and she is doing a great job as the first team manager, with a wide range of duties that we are pleased to highlight in making her our 'Star of the Month' for January 2020.

Family matters

On the family front, Min's husband Paul, known to all as 'Walshie', used to play on the wing for The Seagulls in his much younger days and now helps Min as her assistant press officer when she's busy doing the first aid at matches.

Son Gavin is a Seagulls' first team regular and former captain from his hooker berth in the front row, having played some youth and first-team rugby with Whitland before returning to play at The Moors. As a youth player Gav played for a good county youth team coached by Richard 'Stag' Jones and he has also represented the Welsh Colleges and Crawshays’ XV.

Then there's daughter Natalie, who has been perhaps even more involved in any of the Walsh family after starting with Fishguard & Goodwick's under 16 girls team and is currently a regular with Whitland Ladies after being sidelined with injuries.

She has played as a flanker, No 8 and in the centre, as well as being in the Welsh Under 18s squad against their counterparts from England.

Hockey, netball and rugby in her younger days

In her own playing days Min started out after being involved in hockey and netball in  Ysgol Gruffydd Jones, but perhaps being a little too 'physical' in the latter, as her teacher gently explained.

She started hockey on a more serious basis after marrying Mr Walsh, playing as a hard-tackling defender - and then taking up rugby as a prop and No 8 with Fishguard Ladies and their counterparts in Haverfordwest, where she was coached by Nigel Hancock, who was assisted by her much worse half.

Learned lots with The Borderettes before taking up coaching at The Moors

When Fishguard sadly folder Min moved to Whitland in a useful squad which had the redoubtable Suzanne Davies as team manager.

"I learned a lot from Suzanne which has stood me in good stead at Fishguard but I was forced to finish when I snapped my ligament and could tell by the pain that my rugby days were over!"

But Min couldn't stay away from the oval ball game and with the full support of hubbie Paul she started coaching the juniors at the club, using the communication skills she uses as a maths teacher at Ysgol Bro Gwaun - and loved every moment.

"Within a short space of time I was working with the squads from three different age groups and passed my coaching awards at Levels One and Two - and I helped out at county level with encouragement from Ian Ace."

Taking on work aplenty at senior level

Following on from that Min was approached by James Morgans about getting more involved at senior level, a suggestion followed up by club chairman Paul Griffiths, supported by first team coaches Huw Evans and Gareth Thomas - and Min was 'promoted' to team manager!

"I'm not sure if that was the right word but I took it on and really enjoy my work, which also now includes being fixture secretary and unofficial club press officer!

"I liaise with the coaches and act as a sort of 'go between' for the committee and the current coaches Nathan and Steve Jenkins, contact opposing clubs and match referee when we are home, arrange permits from other clubs and rearrange postponed fixtures, so it keeps me pretty busy," she admits with a chuckle!

Not content with that little lot, Min is also a qualified first aider and on the match days, if she is required it is Paul who takes his little black book and takes notes to give details to the local press.  Min also collects the kit from the local launderette, puts the team on social media, sorts out the programme with details of the visiting teams and for away games sends off the Fishguard details for the opposition’s programmes. Mrs Walsh also fills all the water bottles pre-match and straps the boys up if they are carrying niggling injuries, sometimes assisted by Natalie if she isn't playing for The Borderettes.

Lots of banter – huge respect from players

 "There is always a lot of banter in the changing rooms but I have to say that the players, who are all young enough to be my adopted sons, show us the utmost respect.

"Then there's Saturday evenings where, win or lose, we all have a pint together to round off our day's rugby."

Talk to Min Walsh and she makes light of her involvement but there is no doubt that she is held in high regard by all at Fishguard & Goodwick RFC and we are delighted to make her our 'Star of the Month' for January 2020!