FLOODLIGHT RAFFLE RESULTS

Drawn 18^th OCT

1^ST PRIZE 32” LCD TELEVISION – Donated by Andrew Gibbs of PHOTOSTATIC organised by Tony Bennett Under 12’s Coach/Senior Committee.- Winner P Merriman 744536

2^ND PAIR OF TICKETS WALES V SOUTH AFRICA – Donated by CLUB – Winner Pauline Lang 07860647634

OTHER PRIZES:

MEAL FOR TWO – Donated by David Burt, Club Patron who also arranged a donation of £1000 from FRIEND’s of BARFC 100 club – Winner Jeff Price 07960033318

CASE OF WINE – Donated by Dave Davison, Club Trustee – Winner Wayne Williams 07860 647634

HAMPER – Donated by Phil McArdle, Under 12’s Coach/Senior Committee – Winner G. Wilcox 768859

GLENFINIC WHISKY – Donated by Barry Morris,Club Treasurer/Fixture Secretary Winner – Emma Hobby 658823

Purpose TO RAISE £4,000 TO PURCHASE A SET OF MOBILE TRAINING LIGHTS THAT WILL LIGHT UP HALF OF ANY SPORTS PITCH AT NEWBRIDGE FIELDS

Phil Rees Tribute to Gerwyn at Coity Crematorium

First of all, on behalf of Linda, the boys and all the family, I would like to thank  you all for turning out in such numbers to pay respect to the passing of our great friend Gerwyn.

Gerwyn was a larger than life character and the sheer force and range of his personality enabled him to successfully interact with people across all walks of life.

I had known Gerwyn for over thirty years and you simply had to take him as he was, warts and all, he simply was not afraid to be himself or to express himself. He was as straight as a die and whatever his feelings were you’d soon know about them.

Depending on who you were or what you had done he might have hugged you or he might have thumped you. I personally preferred the former. Ian Russell jokingly suggested the other night that possibly half the congregation that would turn up today had suffered the alternative fate at some point in time.

The second son of Dwynwen and Gwyn, Gerwyn was an active youngster who loved the outdoors. He was very fond of and interested in wildlife, always risking life and limb climbing trees to any height either for the sheer love of it or to get the prized goal of a few birds eggs for his collection. On getting back to the bottom the boys would ask ‘well where are the eggs Gerwyn? and he would open his mouth and pull out his trophies from their secure environment.. He forced brother Meirion to learn this climbing skill much against his wishes but ‘G’ in his own inimitable way left him no choice, just get up there, Meirion.

Always up to something, he returned from one of his wildlife safaris one day with three squirrels, one of whom, named Percy,  survived as the household pet for five years.

If he wasn’t out in the country, racing gambos down the lane or getting up to other mischief  with his friends he could probably have been found on the farm where he spent a lot of his time, chasing rats and doing usual farming things.

After a day’s work they would all sit around the kitchen table and have a massive farmer’s feast in the old fashioned way. One day Gerwyn had stuffed himself so stupid he felt the need for relief and headed off to the crude outhouse oblutions.

As he was hovering over the hole in the floor he was startled when he heard a voice calling his name once and then a second time. He looked around not seeing anybody but then glanced through his legs at the hole in the floor and was shocked to find Farmer Jones on the level below clearing up after him with a shovel. Not a pretty sight.

On one occasion at the Royal Welsh Show a very young Meirion was sat on a display tractor  and Gerwyn forcibly suggested to him that it would be a good idea to press his foot down on one of the pedals. As he did so Gerwyn turned the key, Meirion panicked and jumped off and his father Gwyn was last seen chasing the Massey Fuergeson down the showground in a desperate attempt at damage limitation.

Of course antics like this led to inevitable repurcussions as Gwyn possessed a Hazel stick which he kept above the mirror to punish such behaviour and a good thrashing would follow. But Gerwyn thinking that he was ever one step ahead thought he’d cure this and snapped the stick and left it above the mirror. But his plan backfired and upon this discovery a furious Gwyn merely went into the other room to get his reserve stick and it was more than Gerwyn’s pride that suffered.

Although frequently getting himself and his brothers in trouble Gerwyn was hugely protective of them although the quieter Arwel didn’t need such help as even Gerwyn was wary of him. There was one occasion in the old outdoor Bridgend Swimming Baths when G was indulging in one of his favourite pastimes of diving. He was a great diver having no fear of heights and could frequently be seen swallow diving off the top Olympic board in the Afan Lido, whistling to himself all the way down.

Anyway while Gerwyn was at the top of the diving platform in Bridgend, younger brother David, who could not swim, was pushed into the pool by an older boy. David recalls that as he struggled in panic to paddle to the side he saw G rush down from the platform thinking he was going to dive in and save him but there was other business to attend to first and  instead of rescue he heard the crack of fist upon jawbone and the sight of  this bully slowly descending into the deep end .

Gerwyn had a great sense of honesty and fair play and always stood up for other people and not just his family and friends, but his justice was usually dispensed a little swifter than conventional law. 

Then came the later teenage years and all that comes with it. Learning to drive with Lino in the clapped out Moskvich, screeching around town like the Ant Hill Mob. He joined the very first Athletic Youth team along with his friends from the Inter, that famous academy or rugby talent on that side of town. And of course there was the introduction to drinking and the Palais de Danse.  Gerwyn loved dancing, always trying to teach his skills to his brothers, but failing miserably. He loved Reggae and had a natural and unique sense of rhythm, once winning a competition in the rec. centre for which he wasn’t originally entered.

His Saturday nights followed the same pattern. The Palais, a few drinks,  a Dance, a quick ruck , a Chinese and home. He liked nothing better. As time wore on the pattern changed somewhat as the men in blue got wise to his antics and  grabbed him every saturday as he came out of the Palais door and chucked  him in the Black Maria before he had a chance to do any damage.

When that famous Dance musical, Grease came to the Embassy Cinema in Bridgend there was no way Gerwyn was going to miss that and on the second night he brought the house down. Early in the film there is a  scene with mooning involved and there was Gerwyn with perfect timing on the stage baring all and back in his seat before the owner’s flashlight could highlight the culprit. 

In July 1975 he started his first job with Glyn Jones Builders on Moor farm making blocks. He went on to work for many builders as the years went on and it was while working on Riverside Surgery in 1983 that he first came into contact with Linda.

Although Gerwyn would flirt in his own inimitable way it was Linda who made all the running and she used to literally chase him up Morfa Street where he would hide from her clutches. She chased him incessantly from the Chateau to Drones until they got married in 1989, on April Fool’s day. Linda didn’t even trust him not to run away on that day as she thought it might have been another one of his jokes and all marriage tradition was broken when Linda insisted that he travel to the Church in the wedding car with her to ensure his attendance.

Gerwyn’s wilder days were now behind him, he even crossed the divide and had a spell as a bouncer in the Chateau. He had become an established second row with the Athletic First Team, he was now ‘Big G’,  a skilful player with good, soft hands. We had fantastic times over the years in the Athletic and Gerwyn played his fair share of the pranks that went on at home and abroad and he was  one of the Worcester six that let a residential barge loose down the River Avon at midnight only for it to be saved by getting stuck under the bridge just before the weir. We all got arrested for that and hours later in the identity parade the old couple in their bedroom gear were walking down the line to nail the culprits when Gregs and Mike John jumped out of the line and shouted ‘That’s her’. We got off.

And for those who witnessed it who could ever forget his hilarious performances of the ‘Here we go’ military song with Meirion, particularly to the Japanese and Canadian tourists.

He wasn’t good at everything though. Of all the people who came on our skiing trips over the years only Tim Pound was a worse skier  and Gerwyn played tennis with a serve that Julian Clary would have been proud of and a temper to match McEnroe any day.

All four brothers played for the Athletic and so did Gareth, Chris and Daniel but Gerwyn hated Linda watching him play for some strange reason. More recently he took great pride in watching Tom play but sadly missed the chance to see him play his first game for the Ospreys Under 16’s. He would have loved that.

By the concerted opinion of his brothers, Gerwyn was the one most likely to display his emotions with a hug or a kiss to his loved ones. He took aspects of the characters of both Gwyn and Dwynwen. From Gwyn he inherited the need to hoard things and catalogue them in his meticulous manner. He was incredibly tidy with his shed being a prime example of how everything had to be in exactly the right place until Linda and Rhian found the keys one day and rearranged the whole lot. He went mad.

He loved gossip, preferably over a cup of tea and some cake, as long as Jackie hadn’t made it. He could mix with all ages and in recent years loved his Sunday night card games with the old boys down the ex-servicemen’s club, followed by some arm wrestling with the over eighties.

He knew so many people and could always be heard tooting the horn of his lorry at friends as he transported materials from site to site.

He was bubbly and always brought a smile to your face, a massive old fashioned character but most of all he was a devoted husband, father, stepfather, grandfather and friend and deserved more.

Everyone I have talked to simply cannot believe he has gone and when we go in the club afterwards I am sure there will be a lot of us who will almost half expect to see him in the corner with a story to tell.

But ‘Big G’ will be there in spirit and with us all for a long, long time.

Thank you. 

IN	OUT
S/H   LUKE.HOPPER	CENTRE S.ROBINSON - Corus
F.B. GARETH.RUFFEL	O/H S.LEWIS -Tonmawr
PROP TIM.LUNN	FLANKER T.PENRY-ELLIS – Merthyr
PROP R.OD JONES	F.B. W.ALSTON – OGMORE VALE
PROP PHIL .PRICE	WING S.LYONS – OGMORE VALE
LOCK JACK.WHISKEARD	PROP C.GREGORY – OGMORE VALE
FLANKER MATTHEW.HEARNE
FLANKER ALED.GUY
FLANKER GARETH BARTLETT
CENTRE OWAIN DAVIES
PROP  CHRIS CADOGAN
FRONT ROW GARETH THOMAS
OUTSIDE HALF SHAUN OWENS

  

Bridgend Athletic Honour Lee Byrne

Bridgend Athletic held a sell out fund raising dinner at its clubhouse to honour the most illustrious player in its history Lee Byrne.

The event was very successful-both in its tribute to Wales Grand Slam winner full back Lee and in raising funds to promote rugby within the club at all levels from Under 7 to Youth and finally senior level. Lee has come through the Mini & Junior section, Youth and played in the Senior Athletic side, being leading try scorer with 24 tries in his final season with the Athletic. He also helped the Athletic reach the Silver Ball Final.

The event was brilliantly compared by BBC Rugby commentator Phil Steele – himself a former Wales B International when playing for Newport. Significantly Phil was once a teacher in the Bridgend Area – actually teaching Lee and coaching his school rugby side. Lee was then a No 8. Lee’s friend and fellow Wales and Osprey outside half James Hook also attended. At a question and answer session with Lee, James and Phil, Lee was asked his best moment playing for Wales. He replied – his try against England. When James was asked the same question his response was putting Lee over for that try. Lee’s most disappointing moment was his omission from the Wales World Cup Squad. He again showed the fighting character that he showed to recover from two career threatening injuries and resolved to work even harder to regain his Wales place. Warren Gatland gave him his opportunity and he never looked back – playing the best rugby of his career to date.

Club president and life member Phil Rees (a founding member of the club) gave his usual humorous speech outlining Lee’s career at the club, and his notorious associates and some of their escapades during their Athletic playing careers. In fairness to Lee he has not forgotten either the club or his friends and actually paid for tables to invite them along. He is always willing to attend presentation nights for all ages within the club. A DVD was also put together showing Lee’s best moments during the Grand Slam season. This was presented to Lee after showing in the club. Another life member Chairman Terry Coles presented Lee with a memento of his time with the Athletic. Let’s hope maybe next year we can again honour Lee as the first British Lion from the Athletic. If he can repeat his Grand Slam displays of last season – he is as good as on the plane already.

Fellow life member and club founder Brian Lewis acted as Auctioneer on the night. The club are very grateful to all donors of auction items. Among the items were Lee’s EDF Cup winning Osprey’s shirt and a special edition signed Grog of himself in a Welsh Jersey. James Hook presented a pair of his Grand Slam winning Boots. Ian Holman presented a Welsh Jersey worn by Gareth Bale and Keith Miles a limited edition 1995 World Cup Final photograph showing South Africa’s winning drop goal. Gerald McCarthy Operation Manager for the Celtic Crusaders was extremely generous to the club. He presented 2 hospitality tickets for Man City V Man Utd, a signed Celtic Crusaders Shirt and a Corporate Table for 10 for the Crusaders – Whitehaven game. He also promised a bucket collection for the Athletic at the Whitehaven game – where they are anticipating a large crowd. Thanks are due to all the persons who so generously bid for and purchased all the above items, and the persons who purchased the tables and their guests for making the event such a success.

The club are extremely grateful to Lee, James Hook and Phil Steele for making the event possible. They would like to thank the main organisers of the event trustees David Davison and David Burt and Brian Lewis. Also member Eric Thomas who helped with the organisation on the day, Bob Lewis for helping collect and arrange the tables and Father Tim McGraph of St Mary’s Catholic Church for once again kindly loaning the tables. They would also like to thank Vale Caterers who provided an excellent meal and also a buffet for club players, coaches and officials to attend following the official dinner. Club stewardess Cheryl Pound and her bar staff of Heather and Gayle who also worked extremely hard on the day.

TERRY COLES PRESENTS CLUB MEMENTO TO LEE BYRNE, BRIAN LEWIS LOOKS ON

Bridgend Athletic RFC Player of the Year

Bridgend Athletic held their player of the Year Evening at the OCLP Club.

The following presentations were made

Clubman of the Year – Bob Lewis – 1^st XV Physiotherapist

Jeff Jenkins Trophy for Player of the Year – Flanker Matthew Hillman

Best back – Stuart Morris (scorer of 228 points)

2^ND XV Player of Year – Andrew West

Youth Player of the Year – Prop Lewis Davies

Youth best back – Mike Hathaway

Youth Clubman – Aled Thomas

Darryl Dyke Floating Award – Most promising player – Youth lock Adam Evans

Captain’s Awards

1^st XV – Simon Mustoe (3^rd successive season)

2^nd XV – Liam Griffiths

Youth – Ben How

Youth International Cap – Lock – Lloyd Peers

Ladies Committee – Maureen Evans, Sheena Lewis & Joyce Sutton

Life Membership Awards – Mr Terry Coles, Mr Huw Hathaway & Mr Glan Hitchins

Bridgend Athletic Senior Coaches – Season 2008 – 2009

The 1^st XV will compete in Asda League Division 2 West next season. Backs coach Huw Hathaway has stepped down after a number of seasons in which the Athletic have seen both the highs of promotion and being competitive in Division 1 West for the first time in their history, and the lows of relegation. Team Manager Keith Thomas is also retiring. The club would like to thank both Huw and Keith for their efforts.

Huw’s contribution to the club as a former player and coach was recognised with the Award of Life Membership at the recent Player of the Year Night.

The new coaching set up sees current coach Paul Yardley appointed as Head Coach. Paul has playing experience with Aberavon and Bridgend and also played for the Athletic in the twilight of his career. He has coaching experience with Caerphilly and is involved with the Ospreys Development Coaching Staff. David Williams – a stalwart former Athletic Youth Captain and senior Athletic Player remains as Forward Coach. The club are pleased to welcome new Backs Coach John Apsee. John has an excellent rugby pedigree having been capped at the former Wales B level and also captained Bridgend during many successful seasons. His son Dan currently plays No 8 for the Athletic 1^st XV. The new team manager is Paul Hearne. Paul was a former prop with Blaengarw and South Wales Police. He is a former Athletic Youth Coach and Blaengarw Fixture Secretary. Paul has previous Team Manager experience with South Wales Police. Both his sons Matthew and Tom are previous Athletic players.  Tom while playing for the Athletic was capped at Youth Team level, before playing for the 1^st XV then Bridgend and Maesteg. He is currently playing in Australia.

Tony Griffiths will again be coaching the 2^nd XV, and Phil Rees and Anthony Woodward will remain as Youth Team Coaches. It is proposed to run 2 Youth Teams this coming season.

Training commences at Newbridge Fields on the first Tuesday in July for Senior and Youth Team Members. Anyone is invited to join in these sessions.