Adge John – a top man at Saundersfoot CC – and admired across cricket in Pembrokeshire!
Some years ago Adge John believed that his involvement in cricket was over, other than watching games as well as he was able, a condition called ‘Retinitis Pigmentosa’ causing him problems because he eventually lost all his peripheral vision, although he could still manage to see things directly ahead.“It’s better known as ‘Tunnel Vision’, “explained Adge, with typical simplicity.
Coincidentally, he had just been asked by an old Kilgetty Cricket Club pal, then playing at Saundersfoot, if he fancied taking on the role of being the Seasiders’ scorer. Of course,
Adge was dubious but had every support from his wife Libby, who encouraged him to give it a try - and after a great deal of thought Adge decided he would have a bash.
Great support from players and other scorers . . . Especially Teagan!
“It was the best sporting decision I had made for a long time,” Adge told us, “because I was welcomed with open arms by all the players, with Jimmy Caine acting as my chauffeur to games until other commitments caused him to take a break from playing - and in stepped brothers Tom and John Mansbridge as they have tried to ferry me to all the games.”
It was a similar situation with all the other scorers around the county because everyone is so helpful and if he needs help then they are there for him.
One such scorer was Teagan Cartwright, when she was at Cresselly because Adge has also suffered from Type One diabetes for almost 50 years and she noticed that he wasn’t himself in the score box - and fed him lots of sweets because of the danger of having a hypo and perhaps falling unconscious
Harrison-Allen winners’ medal a playing highlight
In his own playing days, there is no doubt that being a member of a winning Kilgetty team in the Harrison-Allen Bowl Final was a highlight.
“That was in 1970, 56 years ago, when I was 18 and just starting to break into the team and Barry Wood was head and shoulders the best cricketer in the county, who almost won the game single-handed in terms of runs and wickets as we beat Carew.
“But there were other players of the calibre of Teddy George (wicket-keeper), Fred Thomas, Peter Dawkins, Dennis Stone, Peter John, Colin Soar, Gerry Taylor, and real characters in Wallace Poole and Billy Evans. We only lost three wickets in each innings so I didn’t get a chance to bat but it was a wonderful experience I was so lucky to be involved in.
Adge also played football as a goalkeeper
As well as his cricket, Adge was also a more than useful goalkeeper as he stood between the sticks for Kilgetty, Narberth and New Hedges/Saundersfoot at different times.
The undoubted highlight came when he played for New Hedges/Saundersfoot and they beat a very strong Johnston side 2-0 in the Senior Cup Final, and he also coached the second team and was assistant manager of the firsts and then chairman for seven years.
Seen cricket develop well at Saundersfoot
Since he took over as Saundersfoot scorer, Adge has seen their team gain promotion and suffer relegation - but is delighted that they are now back in the first division. During his time at Saundersfoot he had been delighted to be their scorer when they won the Alan Brown Final after they fell into division three.
“We had to regroup but did so and started to do much better, although we had the disappointment of defeat in three Harrison-Allen Bowl semi-finals, the last a real shocker when Joe Kidney launched a huge six to ease Lawrenny home Then we reached the club’s first final ever in 2024 - but again we missed out against Lawrenny, which was a huge disappointment.
“But the next season saw us reach the final of the Duggie Morris for the first time as we took on a very experienced Carew side and again, we missed out as Shaun Whitfield proved the major difference between the teams.
Recognition on forced retirement. But . . .
“I thought I had missed my last chance of being involved with the boys because my eyesight had deteriorated and I had to tell them I wouldn’t be able to score in 2026 - and I was moved to tears when we finished off 2025 at Cresselly and they formed a guard of honour for me to walk out onto the field with them.
“I lost count of the presents I received, not only from the club but from individuals who supplied me with enough bottles of alcohol to sink a ship, as well as treating my wife Libby and I to a very special meal at a local restaurant.
“I had resigned myself to just going along to watch as many games as I could but all that changed around a year ago, when I was seeing a specialist to check my eyes and she told me that some shadows that had appeared might be able to be removed - and to cut a long story short I was operated on at Werndale Hospital and although I was told the improvement would not be permanent it made a remarkable difference.
. . . An unexpected come-back to be part of a special season
“So, I was able to score for the club in what was an absolutely momentous league campaign in 2026 where we started with a bang by beating a highly-fancied Cresselly team by 125 runs to open our account, where we were unbeaten and went to our final match, at Burton having previously just beaten our nearest opponents Carew by 95 runs, having already smashed them by 125 runs earlier on!
“We had been in good positions when our two abandoned matches ended and we were our own victims when we looked home and dry in a high-scoring tussle at Neyland - but lost our heads in the final over and had to settle for a tie! Herbrandston and Burton were other teams who pushed us all the way but we kept our heads - and our unbeaten record!
But we were champions of Pembrokeshire and the celebrations were epic - although I had multiple warnings that there would be no more ‘retirement’ gifts - which I took on the chin and was able to say that although my eyesight had worsened towards the end of the season, I am confident that I will literally see through all the games in 2027
And finally . . .
So we will see Adge John on the boundary then and a number of scoring friends will be delighted to hear that because he is held in such high esteem by players and officials alike.
The players at Saundersfoot have also told me they are delighted he will still be with them then because they regard him as part of their group – and that is some comment from them all as talented cricketers!
We at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk are also very proud to count ourselves as members of the Adge John Appreciation Society from our playing days as rival wicketkeepers and it is great now that in 2027 we will be able to speak almost every weekend in the summer as he provides us with details of Saundersfoot’s matches over the phone.