Gordon Thomas and I are very proud of the way that we provide unrivalled coverage of local rugby, both with scores and scorers, plus articles, and once again we would like to pay tribute to another three members of the clubs who help us to provide that coverage by phoning us early on a Saturday evening, not only with their own scorers but their opponents too!
 
Today we feature top people from Milford Haven (two) & Cardigan, so thanks Steve, JJ & Tony!
 

Steve Holmes (Milford Haven RFC)

 
Steve Holmes has the dubious distinction of being the first-ever ‘Sports Folio’ I wrote for the now-defunct ‘West Wales Guardian’ - and it was also memorable because it was the first time I met Gordon Thomas, one of the best all-round sportsmen I have ever met and my co-owner of PembrokeshireSport.co.uk.
 
Steve was a very powerful second row in a very strong Milford Haven RFC team and a county regular and always a great friend over 30 precious years we taught together at Milford Haven Central and Milford Haven Comprehensive Schools.
 
And now I find myself speaking to Steve again on a regular basis because after Steve Martin and Lee Riley (two great ambassadors for The Mariners) stepped down up stepped big Steve as the club’s president and offered to step in.
 
He has always given me detailed accounts of matches, especially at home, which has included scorers from the opposition alongside comprehensive coverage of events throughout the game, whether The Mariners have won or lost.
 
At the latter stages of the season, he has now switched his attention to the gentler art of bowling with Milford Haven Bowls Club and is beginning to be highly regarded in his role of lead player in Saturday rinks tussles against other clubs from around the county - but still phones me because he acquires the details of Mariners’ away games.
 
So a huge thanks Big Feller - I have enjoyed our friendship for 50 years now - and long may it continue!
 
 

Jonathan ‘JJ’ Jones (Milford Haven):

 
I have also been lucky to fill that very large gap with a much smaller but fitter contact at The Obs in Jonathan ‘JJ’ Jones, who was originally a player, captain and club chairman at Fishguard & Goodwick RFC, as well as being chairman of Pembroke County RFC - but now follows The Mariners because his son Robbie is a regular and proving his value at full back or on the wing.
 
JJ is another who has a detailed understanding of rugby so I can phone at half time and he’ll have the score and all the scorers from both teams, followed by the rest of the scorers within 15 minutes of the final whistle, and a detailed analysis of play.
 
He is also happy to chat to me at random times if I need further help and I am very grateful for your help JJ - I hope you know what a great support you have been to me!
 


 

Tony Mason (Cardigan RFC)

 
Tony Mason has been a real friend of mine in terms of a contact at Cardigan RFC since an equally top bloke in Graham ‘Trim’ Rees had to stop and I was concerned over whether I would still be featuring The Teifisiders, as Gordon Thomas and I have done since we started PembrokeshireSport.co.uk close on two decades ago.
 
But up stepped Tony Mason and I could tell by his accent that he was from Cardiff, but only later discovered what a remarkable career he had before moving west after retirement. He hails from Llanrumney and we had a real point of interest between us because at 19 I was the youngest rent-collector for Cardiff City on the sprawling council estate where he was brought up.
 
On the odd occasion that Tony goes AWOL I am lucky to be able to call on Keith Phillips, a great Cardi stalwart, so I would like to publicly thank Keith for his help too a great first reserve!
 
At 16 Tony Mason joined The Army as a boy soldier and gradually worked his way up to the rank of major, an amazing achievement that is rarely achieved - and a soldier he knew used to have ‘The Teifiside Advertiser’ sent to him and Tony used to read the sport there.
 
He and his wife Jan saw an advert in there for a house in Cardigan which they liked the look of just before he was demobbed and the rest is history as they moved west!
 
Going back to his role as an outstanding unofficial press officer, Tony could not be more diligent because he ALWAYS sends me the team sheet as soon as possible but doesn’t mind in the slightest when I phone him at half and I get an update on the score and scorers from both camps, their positions and the time of each score.
 
It is the same at the end of the game, where I get the rest of the news so that I can write a detailed report - so thanks Tony for your dedication to the club and wonderful help you give me!