NEATH ATHLETIC RFC
– FROM YMCA TO ORCHARD STREET 1947-1979

In 1947 when Clement Attlee’s post-war administration was grappling with major issues such as the nationalisation of key industries and the implementation of the new National Health Service, the Town of Neath was a very different place from that which we know today. However, one thing was every bit as important an element of its fabric as it is now - and that was rugby football. Furthermore, like the nation in 1947, Neath rugby was also poised on the brink of a new age.

How Neath became a 'rugby town' is another story but, even during the lean economic times before the Second World War, Neath was a real rugby hotbed. When the game resumed in1945, the public’s imagination was recaptured almost immediately by Neath’s gallant effort against the New Zealand ‘Kiwis’ and in 1946/47 the Welsh championship title once again belonged to the Welsh All Blacks.

One of Neath's leading players of the time was international forward Rees Stephens. A true rugby visionary, he was not content merely with the game’s short term prospects in the town. That this was so is evidenced by the earliest reference to what was to become Neath Athletic RFC. It appeared in the ‘Evening Post' of January 25th, 1947 in an article headed ‘All Blacks Should Have Second Team’ penned by ‘Wanderer' (alias Wally Thomas) who wrote, ‘Perhaps, as Rees Stephens once suggested to me, the town should form a Youth XV because he believes that there is a dangerous gap between leaving school and being fit for first class football’.

Rees was never one to let the grass grow (or, according to playing contemporaries, opponents dally) under his feet, and the next reference on May 10th, 1947, boldly stated ‘Neath to Have Youth Team’ and continued, ‘Rees Stephens took action last week and his first move was to seek the assistance of Mr. Llew Rees, secretary of Neath YMCA of which he is a keen member. A notice was pinned up and within two nights 30 names appeared’.

Rees Stephens maintained that several informal games were played there and then at the end of 1946/47 but the earliest official engagement of the fledgling side was delayed until September 6th, 1947 and was reported thus in the 'Neath Guardian':-
‘The newly formed Neath Youth RFC opened its season on Saturday last with a game away against Crynant Boys Club. The game started quietly with Crynant passing strongly and getting the ball from almost all the set scrums. Crynant led at halftime by 13-nil as a result of two converted goals and a penalty goal. Three minutes after the second half had begun, Crynant again touched down but failed to convert. Neath, however, rallied and John Huins intercepted a pass and broke through to the Crynant 25 yard line to touch down. This was converted by Alan Jenkins. The Crynant side was heavier and stronger as a result of which the visitors were not able to get their share of the ball. A re-organising of the team should bring an improvement for it was evident that the talent was there, and some good displays can be expected from the Youth XV.'

However, the nascent side, had to wait until December for its first win which came against Tonmawr Youth by 9-3. The side won only four more times • the last four games - all away, against Trebanos Juniors (8-7), N.O.R Skewen (15-nil), Resolven YMCA (13-3) and Trebanos Juniors again (36-3) when wing John Huins scored five tries! The season ended with a record of 5 wins and 5 draws from 22 games and the team included:- John Berni, Jack Brown, Bill Crompton (Captain), Marshall David, Herbert Davies, Graham Hale, John Huins, Alan Jenkins, T. A. John, Alwyn Knight, Terry Lettman, Esmor Lewis, Bill Potts, John Richards, Conrad Smith, Len Snow, L. Thomas, Ron Thomas, Leighton Wells, Edwin Williams.

Season 1948/49 saw a steady improvement as Terry Shufflebotham's side rose to win 13 matches and draw 7 as against 6 defeats. A 23-nil win at N.O.R Skewen (B.P. Llandarcy) was the biggest and winger John Huins headed the season’s scoring with 10 tries.

Outgrowing their “youth” status (the Welsh Youth Rugby Union itself was founded in 1949, two years after Rees launched his team), an Under 21’s side, again led by Terry Shufflebotham, was added in 1949/50 when the junior side’s name was changed to Neath Colts’ in order to avoid a clash of identity with the Neath & District Youth XV which had come into being on the formation of the Welsh Youth Rugby Union. That season, there was a particularly proud moment for Rees Stephens when he led the team to his ‘alma mater' Llandovery College for a 14-3 win.

A veritable stream of hopeful players flowed to the YMCA in those formative years and, by 1950/51, three sides were run including the first ever Neath Athletic XV who won 6 games under the captaincy of John Hopkins and which supplemented the Under 21’s and Colts. Four players - Don Devereux, Graham Michael, Morwyn Morgan and Brian Mullins represented the Welsh Youth XV in its first internationals against the Midlands and France.

A typical team sheet of season 1951/52 saw the following line•ups of roughly Over 21’s,18-21’s and Under 18’s, named for engagements on September 12th, 1951:-

Neath YMCA Athletic v S.C.O.W (Away)
Algy Baker, Phil Davies, Ron Thomas, Jack Brown, Terry Shufflebotham, Howard Jones, John Hopkins, Brian Woolfe, Mervyn Thomas, Leighton Wells. John Prichard, Brian Hire (Captain), Billy Croke. Bill Crompton, Esmor Lewis

Neath YMCA Juniors v S.C.O.W. (Home)
John Price, Colin Jones, Marshall David, Tony Stephens, Graham Michael, Morwyn Morgan (Captain), Gwyn Morgan, Dennis Watkins, Hubert Branch, John Morris, Harry Phillips, Ron Waldron,Peter Hayes, Lanky Cole, Brian Morris

Neath YMCA Colts v Pembrokeshire (Whitland)
Brian Milford, Dai Rees, Ron Pike, Don Hughes, John Marvin, Doug Allin (Captain), Roy Evans. Edwin Williams, David Rowlands, W. Davies, Viv Curtis, Norman Curtis, Noel Mellin, Vernon Phillips, Colin Parsons.
That season, the Colts won the Neath & District Youth Cup for what was to be the first of six triumphs in eight years and all sides boasted reasonable success, ending with the following records:-

Played Won Drawn Lost
Seniors 22 11 2 9
Juniors 16 11 2 3
Colts 2214 3 5

Despite the claims of National Service, the club was rapidly making a name for itself both within the Town and beyond where their open style of play made them attractive opponents. The fixture list was developing apace, and, more significantly still,the backbone of Neath Athletic was emerging from the above teams, stalwarts like Phil Davies, Noel Mellin, Graham Michael, Morwyn Morgan and John Price were to render invaluable service both as players and officers. Others went on to serve neighbouring clubs with distinction – John Prichard later became Neath’s treasurer, Roy Evans
and Brian Woolfe filled the role of secretary at Briton Ferry and Skewen respectively, Brian Mullins became fixture secretary at Swansea Uplands and Malcolm Rogers chairman at Skewen while yet another, Allan Benjamin MBE was secretary of Neath for 26 years.

Pressure of numbers led to the formation of a Colts ‘B’ side in 1952/53 but the wholly admirable policy of fielding as many sides as there was a demand for was an expensive business. Fortunately, from the beginning, the YMCA’s rugby activities had been largely financed by a series of matches between Neath and Rees Stephens’ International XV. The first took place in 1949 with the stated aim of raising money to renew the rotten floor of the YMCA gymnasium which had nearly caused a death during one particularly vigorous game of ’Bulldog’ — the rugby section’s staple training!

In that first game, young Lewis Jones scored all Neath's points in a 13-18 defeat, the visitors’ tries coming from J. G. Abercrombie (Edinburgh University), Len Manfield (Cardiff) and John Gwilliam (Cambridge University), W. B. Holmes (Cambridge University) converting all three and kicking a penalty. The games and the hugely popular post-match ‘Rugger Ball’ held at the Gwyn Hall - were meticulously organised by Trevor Mills of the YMCA and, in those pre-television days, the matches drew huge crowds to see Europe’s rugby greats at The Gnoll and results were:-

Neath International XV
1948/49 13 18
1950/51 16 13
1951/52 24 26
1952/53 29 31
1953/54 22 29
1955/56 26 37
1956/57 9 8

In 1952/53 and 1953/54, Noel Mellin captained the Colts who included faithfuls like Terry Jenkins, Gareth John, Ken Price and Trevor Thomas. Visits were made to Ireland and the London School of Economics and the 1950’s are remembered with particular fondness by participants including no less an authority than A. R. (Tony) Lewis, later England cricket captain and President of both Neath Athletic RFC and the MCC, who wrote in his autobiography ‘Playing Days’ that ‘The finest rugby institution in Neath was, and probably still is Neath Athletic’. It says much for the spirit of those days that Tony should have rated the club so highly given his subsequent experience of so many sporting associations in both rugby and cricket throughout the world.

In 1953/54, Neath allowed ‘full training facilities’ at The Gnoll, and it was recorded that already 17 players had worn the jersey of the town’s premier club including Doug Allin, Algy Baker, Hubert Branch, Marshall David, Don Devereux, Vernon Elias, John Huins, Colin Jones, Graham Michael, Morwyn Morgan, Brian Richards, Terry Shufflebotham, Tony Stephens and Ronnie Waldron.

Yet, while the Suez Crisis seemed to question Britain’s world standing, Neath Athletic too appeared uncertain as to its future role. In a short-lived experiment in 1956/57, they were ‘permanently adopted’ as Neath’s 2nd team and won their opening game against Cardiff Athletic 5•3. With Lions like Rees Stephens himself, Roy John and Courtenay Meredith and internationals like Viv Evans, Keith Maddocks, Cyril Roberts and Denzil Thomas sometimes turning out, results benefited accordingly. But the arrangement was shelved in 1957/58 due to the ‘excessive’ costs which were running at all of £380-400 per annum! Ironically, the decision was revealed to the Athletic after one of their best performances - a 17-3 Gnoll success over the Athletic XV of reigning Welsh Champions EbbwVale - but the players voted to stick together with a long term view to competing in the West Wales Championship!

Subsequently, there have been periodic calls for Neath to run a 2nd XV but it is sufficient for this article to suggest that the Athletic’s worth to Neath was demonstrated by the number of players who graduated to the Gnoll over the years. It is also safe to say that both clubs derived equal pleasure from the 1958 selection of Don Devereux for Wales against Australia - the first Colts/Athletic product to earn full international spurs.

In many ways, the failure of the ‘Neath experiment’ forced the Athletic’s hand for the team returned to the YMCA determined to prove its financial viability and rugby worth. It is said that necessity is the mother of invention and now the Athletic were ready to branch out on their own as an independent entity although, inevitably, bonds with the Gnoll remained close.

The playing record was consistently well in credit. In 1957/58, the Colts enjoyed their best campaign yet with 28 wins, 1 draw and just 3 defeats. In 1958/59, Neath Athletic, captained by back rower Alan Butler won 15, drew 3 and lost 9 of their fixtures and, when Premier Macmillan suggested “they’ve never had it so good", he could have been referring to the Colts of 1958/59 who, under the shrewd guidance of manager Ivor Jones and trainer Trevor Davies, were invincible and they won 25 games and drew the other against Dulwich College. Trophies won included the Neath & District Youth Cup, the Welsh Association of Boys Clubs Bowl, the Briggs Challenge Shield and the Glamorgan County Youth Challenge Shield. Glen Ball’s 1959/60 Colts remained unbeaten until they lost to French side Lourdes and then to a disputed try at Garw. They amassed 824 points with centre Jim Bailey contributing a then record 249 of them. In 1960/61, outside half Ceri Hopkins became the first player to be capped by both Secondary Schools and Youth.

Still, with both Athletic and Colts flourishing, prospects for the future seemed rosy and such confidence led to the search beginning for headquarters of their own. Thoroughly appropriately, rented accommodation was found right next door to the club’s YMCA
roots in the former skittle alley of the Neath Liberal Club. Conversion work was carried out by the volunteer labour of club members (it also made a fabulous playground!) under the guidance of three craftsmen Terry Jenkins, Noel Mellin and Colin Wright and, amidst great excitement, the first clubhouse was finally opened in 1961 by WRU President Danny Davies with a special celebration match played at The Gnoll between an Athletic XV and a Rees Stephens International XV who edged the match 29-21.

The Athletic side was:- David Joseph, John Roberts, Randall Thomas, Glen Ball, Glyn Wright, Ceri Hopkins, Roan Evans, Trevor Thomas, Selwyn Jones, Deri Moore, Ernie Jones, Dawson Evans, Noel Mellin, Alan Butler, Colin Wright. Try scorers were Glen Ball, Trevor Thomas, Ernie Jones, Colin Wright and Alan Butler who converted two, David Joseph kicking one. For the International XV, Mike Thomas (2), Brian Richards, David Hayward, Howard Norris and the brilliant Boniface brothers - Andre and Guy - scored tries. The French stars converted each other’s tries, Guy kicking three in all.

Their appearance was established via the ‘French Connection’ of Monsieur Lucien Picquet of Clemontferrand who had hosted the Athletic the previous Easter when they visited France and played A.S. Bortois and Stade Clermontois. They defeated the latter 6-5 in front of a shirt-sleeved crowd of 5,000 in 80 degrees of heat. Clermont and the Athletic have long enjoyed great friendship and skipper Noel Mellin was presented with a miners lamp and a barrel of mature brandy with which to toast the new headquarters.

The full tour party was:- Jim Bailey, Glen Ball, Alan Butler, Ian Cameron, John T. Davies, Peter Davies, Phil Davies, John Draper. Doug Frazer, George Griffiths, Roy Hart, Ceri Hopkins, Alan Hughes, Ivor Jones, John Church Jones, David Joseph, John H.Lewis. Cyril Limebear, Tommy Lodge, Noel Mellin (Captain), Deri Moore, Morwyn
Morgan, Brian Morris, John Parkman, Harry Phillips. John Price, John Roberts, Rees Stephens. Ray Thomas, Trevor Thomas, Ron Trimnell. Colin Wright.

As Britain entered the swinging sixties, Neath Athletic ‘swung’ too into a period of consolidation and consistent achievement under a series of outstanding captains - Ceri Hopkins, Ernie Jones, Colin Wright, Randall Thomas and Alan Hughes. Some memorable performances highlighted these years as the Cambridge student Brian Thomas made ‘barefoot’ appearances against the Whites of Swansea Athletic and Gowerton and the Athletic built up an attractive fixture list and settled happily into their new clubhouse.

In 1962/63, the Athletic defeated Cardiff Training College 14-8 on the Gnoll and beat Cardiff Athletic for the first time since the Neath 2nds experiment, tries by John Roberts and Roan Evans clinching a 6-3 verdict. Through the offices of a new recruit to the
committee in Roy Harvey, Cornwall became a regular Easter touring venue and the Athletic so impressed hosts Falmouth and Penzance-Newlyn 2nds that the latter put them on stand-by for a lst XV date the following year should Cardiff have been unable to take the place of Easter Saturday visitors Leicester.

The playing record continually hovered over and around the 65% mark and a particularly successful season - on field and off – occurred in 1963/64 season when Ernie ]ones’ side remained unbeaten until going down 8-14 at Cardiff Athletic on December 14th. That same year the Colts beat both Llandovery College (27-8) and Christ’s College, Brecon (13-3) and shared District honours with Resolven while Ron Waldron and Brian Thomas toured South Africa with Wales in the summer of 1964. Both helped their Nation win the Triple Crown in 1964/65 when Ron Waldron won a belated first cap having endured the harrowing experience of first being selected in 1962 only to be denied his debut because of a smallpox epidemic and he was then overlooked for the ‘hangover’ match.

In 1964/65, H. G. Lewis was installed as President. A clear, forward-thinker, standard-setter and strong advocate of foreign links. ‘H.G’ was at the helm throughout the Athletic’s drive towards WRU acceptance. In 1965/66, the Athletic defeated Cardiff Athletic 8-5 through a Norman Rees try plus a conversion and a penalty by Roger Clarke and the Colts made it a double, beating Cardiff Youth 29-3 through tries by Gareth Weaver (2), Howie Harris, Alun Davies, Huw Lewis, Peter Flood and Peter Hayward plus four Andrew Millard conversions.

The club’s ultimate aim was full WRU membership and, to enhance their chances,efforts were made to become ‘owner-occupiers’ in their own right but a proposal to purchase the former YMCA building at a cost of £7000 collapsed after much of the initial grant-funding had been obtained while a similar bid to acquire a field near the town centre also failed as the club suffered off-field dislocation when it was robbed of two of its leading devotees when secretary John Price (1967) and vice-chairman Morwyn Morgan (1969) died. Both had served as players and administrators and were prime movers in helping launch Neath Athletic from its early days. Two well attended games were held in their memory.

The first saw Brian Thomas’ Neath XV beat an International XV 40-20 through tries by John Roberts (2), Glen Ball (2), Randall Davies (2), Roger Clarke, Martyn Davies, Alan Butler and by Graham Hodgson who converted five as against tries by Haydn Morgan (2), Max Wiltshire, Billy Mainwaring, and John Collins plus a conversion and a penalty by Keith Bradshaw. The teams were :-

Neath: Graham Hodgson, Howard Rees, Glen Ball, Dai Morris, John Roberts, Roger Clarke, Martyn Davies, Ron Waldron, Norman Rees, Walter Williams, Brian Thomas (Captain), Barrie Davies, Randall Davies, Alan Butler, Mike Truman.

International XV: David Parker, John Collins, Lawrence Smith, Colin Standing, Hywel Williams, Keith Bradshaw, Clive Rowlands (Captain), Len Cunningham, Morlais Williams, Phil Morgan, Max Wiltshire, Brian Price, Mike Davis, Billy Mainwaring, Haydn Morgan

In the second, a combined Neath-Swansea XV (Morwyn Morgan played for both) lost 13-16 to an International XV. The combined side’s tries coming from Wayne Lewis and Geoff Pearce, Graham Hodgson converting both and landing a penalty as against tries by Maurice Richards,‘Chico’ Hopkins, John Lloyd and Alan John and two conversions by Paul Wheeler and Phil Bennett. The teams were :-

Neath-Swansea XV: Graham Hodgson, Wayne Lewis, Stuart Davies, Phil Beasant, Glen Ball, David Jenkins, Martyn Davies, Gareth Rees, Roy Thomas, Walter Williams, Jeff Pyles, Geoff Pearce, Colin Stephens, Graham Wyatt, Mike Thomas.

International XV: Paul Wheeler, Maurice Richards, Phil Bennett, Gerald Davies, Peter Rees, Gareth Edwards, Ray Hopkins, Ron Waldron, Norman Gale, John Lloyd, Brian Thomas (Captain), Brian Price, Gary Protheroe, Dai Morris, Alan John.

Season 1966/67 itself had started with a 6-6 draw against USA tourists Oregon University who included Aussie test wing Alan Morton. The Colts had a profitable season with 23 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats and overcame the absence of skipper Howie Harris to take the Neath & District Youth Cup by beating Briton Ferry by 9-3 with the following XV:-

Andrew Millard, John Gravelle, Howell Davies, Peter Steer, Huw Price, Jeff Ball, Gareth Pudner, Alun Davies, Martin Richards, Terry Doyle, Barrie Williams, Graham Wyatt, Gareth Howells, Clive Hutchinson, John Thomas.

Also in 1966/67, Brian Thomas led Neath RFC to their second Welsh Championship title since the war - the first since Neath Athletic came into being - and many who had appeared for the Athletic assisted its capture including:- Glen Ball, Alan Butler, Roger Clarke, Barrie Davies, Martyn Davies, Peter Flood, Alan Hughes,David Parker, Jeff Pyles, Howard Rees, Norman Rees, John Roberts, Randall Thomas, Ron Waldron, Gareth Weaver, Walter Williams.

In 1967/68, a 2nd senior side - the Extras XV - was introduced under the captaincy of Peter Hayward and were entered for competition at Neath & District level. Of course, the Athletic as a junior club would have been perfectly entitled to have entered their 1st XV in the District and critics accused them of being ‘stand offish’ for not doing so. However, really it was all a question of history - from the outset, the Athletic’s fixture-list embraced mainly WRU clubs’ 1st teams or Athletic sides of the first-class clubs so to forsake these ties in favour of games against local 2nd XV’s or other junior clubs when striving for full WRU status would have led to a reduction in standards and would have jeopardised the
Athletic’s aim of WRU membership. So too, the Colts were unwilling to trade regular, attractive fixtures against the best in Wales.

Glen Ball, Brian Rees and Walter Williams toured Argentina with Wales in 1968 - they would have been ‘capped’ for their troubles nowadays! - and after a summer of student protest on the world stage, Neath Athletic commenced 1968/69 with a ‘riotous’ start of
their own when their October clash at Llanelli Wanderers was abandoned by referee Mr. Basil David of Llandeilo in what became known as the infamous ‘Battle of Peoples Park’ as a result of which Neath Athletic acting captain Mal Langford fell foul of the then Welsh Junior Rugby Union’s Disciplinary Committee. Even so, the year ended with a best yet senior record of 29 wins, 1 draw and 5 defeats. The Colts beat St. Francis High School of New York (14-3) and a Past and Present XV defeated a Welsh Veterans side (27-24) which included Rees Stephens, Cliff Morgan and many of their contemporaries while a Neath-Swansea game at the Gnoll featured some 16 ex-Colts.

A similar record of 22 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats was achieved in 1969/70 and the squad of Chris Abraham, Robert Anthony, Mike Doyle, Gareth Pudner, Gareth Hockridge, Huw Lewis (Captain) and Graham Wyatt won the Welsh Junior Sevens while the Extras tasted their first District League success but were beaten by Briton Ferry Steel 6-15 in the All Winners Cup.

That year. the first Wales B' team took the field against France at Stade Colombes and included two Athletic men in wing John Roberts and prop Walter Williams while the Athletic pioneered junior rugby with the formation of an Under-11’s ‘Foals XV’ but fixtures were a difficulty and the side operated only on an occasional basis for four seasons.

Season 1970/71 provided a memorable first when the Athletic won at Cardiff Athletic and, with future Wales coach John Bevan controlling at outside half, they scored an outstanding 17-8 success over Senghenydd. It was a year of overseas exchanges as the Athletic drew 8-8 with Hindu of Argentina on the Gnoll then the Colts revisited France in 1971. They lost 13-17 to Stade Clermontois but defeated a strong Auvergne Junior Selection 14-5. Many were to become the backbone of the club’s success a decade later and the Colts included; Kim Barnhum, Derek Bevan, Phil Brennan, Jeff Davies, Keith Davies, Phil Green, Ceri Hopkins, Mike Jenkins, Robert Jennings, John Jones, Phil Langford, Mike Messenger, Robert Mogford, Phil Powell, Mike Richards, David Roberts, Tony Roberts (Captain), Rees Stephens (Tour Manager), Tommy Swart, Martyn Thomas.

Meanwhile, the seniors embarked on their most ambitious project when President H. G. Lewis headed a tour party to the United States where 8 out of 9 games were won - nowadays, tours ‘across the pond’ are fairly commonplace but in 1971 Neath Athletic were the first ‘junior’ club to make the journey. The Tour party was:-

Robert Arbourne, Dave Bate, Roger Bateman, Billy Bowen, David Brennan, Alun Davies, Barrie Davies, Lloyd Davies, Martyn Davies, John Dodd, Mike Doyle, Bert Glover, Phil Grant, Nigel Hamer, Roy Hart, Peter Hunt, Geraint Jenkins, Terry Jenkins, David John, Gareth John, Mal Langford, Norman Lemon, H. G. Lewis (President), Huw Lewis, Noel Mellin, Roger Morris, Howard Mortimore, David Parker, Len Phillips, Huw Price, Gareth Pudner (Captain), Martin Richards, Jeff Roberts, John Roberts, Carl Schubert, Lawrence Smith, Bill Thomas, Eurig Thomas, Paul Thomas, Bob Tranter, John Wakely, Mike Williams, Glyn Wright, Graham Wyatt. 22 supporters also made the trip on a specially chartered plane and results were as follows:-

1st XV 2nd XV
New York W 9-3 W 6-3
Old Blues W 17-8
Manhattan L 3-12 W 28-0
Whitemarsh W 25-19 W 8-3
South Jersey W 41-0 W 28-3

Naturally, the tour attracted much attention Stateside, the ‘Evesham Township News’reporting, ‘While Tom Jones is packing them in at the Latin Casino, his fellow countrymen, equally attractive, drew crowds when they came to play rugby, drink beer and charm the ladies for miles around !’ Several members were fortunate enough to meet Pontypridd’s most famous son backstage and his signed full-length photograph adorned the Athletic clubhouse for many years along with other mementoes of the trip including evidence of the ‘tickertape’ welcome afforded the party at Wall Street, and the Golden Key to the City of Marlton, South Jersey.

Foreign ties continued in 1971/72 which started with wins for Athletic and Extras over Philadelphia and the 2nds, skippered by David Brennan, finished the year as Neath & District champions by beating Metal Box (11-9) in the H. G. Lewis Cup final then Cimla (11-6) in the All-Winners Cup. 1971/72 was, of course, the Centenary year of big neighbours Neath who celebrated in style by winning the new WRU Cup - nine of the XV who lined up at the National Stadium had played for Neath Athletic namely Glen Ball, David Jenkins. David Parker, Martyn Davies, Norman Rees, Walter Williams, Brian Thomas, Barrie Davies and Mike Thomas. Surely no ‘junior’ club will ever better that contribution to another’s Cup success ?

Maybe that contribution was recognised in higher quarters for, in 1972/73, Neath Athletic were finally accepted into probationary membership of the WRU under the captaincy of long sewing prop Alan Hughes, one of few Welshmen to have represented the Irish
Wolfhounds, and won 20 out of 29 fixtures, goalkicking prop Phil Langford in his first season out of the Colts setting a club scoring record for a forward with 114 points in between appearances for Neath.

In 1973/74, a WRU Cup tradition was established with wins over Llantwit Major, Bridgend Sports and Caerphilly before a rather unlucky elimination 3-14 at Ebbw Vale who had skipper Gareth Howls sent off by referee Cenydd Thomas. This evened up affairs a little as the Athletic had played with 14 men after losing Gary Griffiths through injury and the home side owed their success to a late burst and over eagerness on the part of the Athletic which cost them several scores. David Hoyle (2 penalties) and Robert Fowler (2 tries) scored for Vale, Robert Arbourne kicking the Athletic’s
Penalty. The post-match party is fondly remembered by older Vale followers and the teams were:-

Ebbw Vale: David Hoyle, Robert Fowler, Keith Barnes, Arthur Lewis, Ian Evans, Mike Grindle, Glyn Turner, Malcolm Childs, Gerwyn Williams, Denzil Williams, Gareth Howls (Captain), Jim Criddle, Eddie Powell, Robert Williams, Phil Gardner.

Neath Athletic: Robert Arbourne, John Roberts, Gareth Morgan, Mike Doyle, Dave Bate, Huw Williams, Gareth Pudner, Ken Bamsey, Chris Davies, Gareth Hockridge, Gary Griffiths, Lawrence Smith, Huw Lewis (Captain), Mike Messenger, Paul Hughes.

Around this time, one of the most eventful episodes in the club’s history took place when Neath Athletic played Natal University. Gareth Edwards was full back that day for ‘the only club I played for other than Cardiff’ but even his presence could not inspire victory. The ‘Neath Guardian’ account by the intrepid Wally Thomas resembled a James Bond script as it told of a chase in Nigel Hamer’s sports car through country lanes to the secret venue of Cwmtwrch where the game was switched to avoid anti-apartheid demonstrators. The following summer, Wales’ greatest was to wreak ample revenge on South Africa when the Lions won their first Test series against the Springboks.

Foreign engagements were a feature of Neath Athletic during the 1970’s and, when the WRU sanctioned Sunday rugby for the first time, the club created Welsh rugby history by playing the first ever Sunday fixture on September lst, 1974. They defeated Stade Clermontois 22-9 and skipper Tony Roberts claimed the first Sunday try in Wales to go with others by Mike Messenger and John Roberts, Roger Morris converting two and kicking two penalties.

The Athletic side on that historic occasion was:- Roger Morris, John Roberts, Chris Jones, Mike Doyle, Mike Jenkins, Robert Mogford. Gareth Pudner, Derek Bevan, Mike Richards. Gareth Hockridge, Bob Hopkins, Gary Griffiths, Huw Lewis, Mike Messenger, Tony Roberts (Capt).

1974/75 also saw the Athletic establish a club record in a 17 try 86-3 win over Glamorgan Wanderers ‘A’. At the start of season 1975/76, Neath Athletic marked their elevation to full WRU status by playing Neath for the first time but lost an entertaining game at the Gnoll 18-43. Athletic tries were scored by John Roberts and Tony Roberts, Roger Morris converting both and landing two penalties but Neath weighed in with tries by Mike Jenkins (2), Wilson Lauder (2), Mike Chinnock, Peter Davies, Mike Richards and Ralph Jones, John Poole converting four and kicking a penalty. Teams:-

Neath; Clayton Thomas, Mike Chinnock, John Poole, Don Davies, Mike Jenkins, Peter Davies, Martyn Davies, Glyn Shaw, Mike Richards, Dai Lewis, Robert Hughes, Barrie Davies, Hywel Hopkins, Wilson Lauder (Captain), Ralph Jones.

Neath Athletic: Roger Morris, John Roberts, Dave Bate, Mike Doyle, Chris Abraham, Robert Mogford, Gareth Pudner, Derek Bevan, Steve Davies, Mike Barnett, Bob Hopkins (Captain), Gary Griffiths, Tony Roberts, Tim Roberts, Paul Hughes.

That game presaged a poor season for the Athletic although Trevor Davies (the long serving Colts trainer) was made the club's first Life Member. In 1976/77, under the inspiring captaincy of Mike Messenger they enjoyed a fine season which was highlighted by another Cup run which ended at Llanelli. The Welsh Cup kings eventually won 47-11 but the Athletic actually led for 20 minutes and it took all of Phil Bennett’s mastery (and his 19 points) to lift the home side who trailed 3-7 after 20 minutes. Further Llanelli tries came from Clive Griffiths(3), Andy Hill (2), Howard Thomas and Allan Lewis but the Athletic glory belonged to try scorers Robert Mogford and Kevin Davies and penalty kicker Chris Furnival.

Llanelli; Clive Griffiths, Andy Hill, Ray Gravell, Roy Bergiers, (Allan Lewis), David Nicholas, Phil Bennett, Selwyn Williams, Charlie Thomas, Howard Thomas, Barry Llewellyn, Phil May, Hefin Jenkins, Roger Hyndman, Derek Quinell, Steve Thomas.

Neath Athletic: Kevin Davies, Siencyn Phillips, Robert Mogford, Mike Doyle, Chris Abraham, Chris Furnival, Gareth Pudner, Doug Mills, Steve Davies, Phil Langford, Gary Griffiths, Phil Evans, Graham Wyatt, Mike Messenger (Captain), Kevin Jones.

One of the club’s and, for that matter, the game’s more colourful characters Clive Norling made his bow as an international referee when he had charge of the Ireland - New Zealand game in 1978. Whether refereeing his then record 24 test matches, numerous cup
finals or the annual Past v Present Boxing Day encounter (for which he was inevitably dragged through the boggiest part of Court Herbert), Clive Norling was widely acclaimed as ‘the best’and Neath Athletic are proud of his achievements following in the footsteps of those other famous Neath arbiters Albert Freethy and Ivor David - or, should it be, Ken Price and Phil ‘Whistle’ Jones of Athletic fame ?

Earlier that year, it had become evident that the clubhouse beneath the Liberal Club no longer suited the Athletic’s need - a heart wrenching decision for many. Yet at a time when Jim Cal|aghan’s Government sought solvency via the International Monetary Fund, treasurer John Wakely saw a move in terms of financial expedience and new premises were sought and eventually identified at the old Miners Arms in Bridge Street. The cost of around £20,000 terrified some but the far-sighted decision was taken and was to bear instant rewards as the years at the ‘Miners' produced Neath Athletic’s
golden era.

Firstly though the money had to be raised and prime amongst the efforts was a match at the Gnoll between an Athletic Past and Present XV and a Welsh Select XV, backed by President Jack Hamer and led by Phil Bennett, which the latter won by 36-16. Pontypridd wing Carl Swain scored four tries to go with others by Dai Morris (2) and Tom David, Bennett (3) and Cardiff's Gareth Davies kicking conversions while the Athletic managed four tries through Adrian Broad, Mike Doyle, Tony Roberts and Mike Thomas. Clive Norling refereed the following teams:-

Neath Athletic; Adrian Broad, Mike Jenkins (Andrew Brown), Steve Dodd, Mike Doyle,
Dave Bate, Andrew Shufflebotham, Martyn Davies, Derek Bevan, Mike Richards, Walter
Williams, Carl Schubert, Barrie Davies, Tony Roberts, Mike Messenger, Mike Thomas.

Welsh XV: Gareth Davies, Carl Swain, Ray Gravell, David Lewis, Alan Roper, Phil Bennett, Brynmor Williams, Barry Nelmes, Steve Davies, Gareth Hiscox, Roger Powell, Mike Shellard, Dai Morris, Chris Seldon, Tom David.

With the expansion of the West Wales Rugby Union and the proposed creation of a Central Glamorgan League, the Committee debated competitive rugby that season but it was felt that sufficient traditional ties remained.

On field, Alan Edmunds equalled the feats of Gareth Weaver and Mike Jenkins in scoring six tries in a game for the Colts against Resolven and, to sign off at the Orchard Street premises, 1978/79 saw three pieces of silverware adorn the Athletic trophy cabinet. The Colts won the Neath & District Youth Cup, tries by Mark Harris and Alan Bufton clinching an 8-3 success over Glynneath at the Gnoll for the following XV:-

Jeremy John, Steve Jenkins, Alan Edmunds, Simon Martin, Alan Bufton, Lee Matthews,
Robert Thomas, Mark Sweeney, Lyndon Bowen, Neil McPhee, Martin Jones, David Glover, Martyn Morris, Mark Harris (Captain), David Davies.

The Extras collected two trophies, beating Crynant 2nds 16-9 to lift the H. G. Lewis Cup with the following team:- Wyn Jenkins, Paul Thomas, Steve Wintle, Mike Doyle, Phil Grant (Captain), Martyn Baker, Gareth Pudner, Derek Bevan, Chris Davies, Neal Sims,
John Bevan, Phil Evans, Tony Roberts, Terry Davies, David Randall.

Dave Bate, Martyn Thomas, Gary Griffiths and Graham Wyatt came in as the Extras saw off Cimla 7-nil in the All-Winners play-off. It was just reward for all the Athletic’s toil that season as, for the second time, volunteer labour from amongst the membership rallied to the cause with Noel Mellin, Ken Price, Glyn Wright and Gareth John at the helm in preparing their new home which, despite Trevor Davies’ collapsing interior wall, was ready in time for the start of the 1979/80 season.

Neath Athletic RFC

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