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Micky makes the most of his sporting involvement
By most standards Micky Phillips was something of a late starter in sport because he didn’t play football for Johnston until his late teens and started cricket at Haverfordwest even later, at 25 – but in both sports he has certainly given 100% ever since.
Micky is still involved in both sports, despite carrying a niggly groin injury, and has been a real worker on the administrative side of football and cricket. He still turns out for The Town as a canny medium pace bowler and although he now limits his football to odd games with the County over 45s he is on the management committee of the Manderwood Pembrokeshire Association Football League and is the Hon Treasurer of the Antur Insurance Pembroke County Cricket League.
Tiger start
Micky started playing for Johnston in the first season that they started a second team, joining pals Chipo Jenkins, Tim Painter and Gary Locke. They gradually became a very strong side and he played everywhere alongside the likes of Paul Phillips, William Codd and Chris Collins. Micky eventually joined the first team squad and he even played in goal for a whole game when Steve James was injured.
During his time at Glebelands, Micky picked up a couple of league winners’ medals and was on the bench for a Senior Cup Final at the Bridge Meadow when they lost 2–0 to Saundersfoot, and enjoyed playing with Steve and Richard James, Gary Stephens, Huw Brophy, Dave Dickerson, Martin Davies, Dean Boswell and Chris Walters, to name but a few.
Goal-scoring cricketer
Micky also started to play cricket for Haverfordwest and after eight very happy years at Johnston he was persuaded to join the cricketers for football as well, turning out alongside Phil Jones and Andrew Phillips. He was player/manager from 1989 to 1991 and joined Steve Phillips in a useful strike partnership when he scored 36 goals as they were promoted to Division Two, and Steve also chipped in with 30 goals.
Solva stint
A bad back forced him to stop playing for a while so he refereed for a year until he was fit again – and joined Solva to help out because his father, Douglas Phillips, had been president there. The idea was that he would just help out for a couple of games, where Solva 2nds lost 9-0 and 11-0, but he was then selected for the first team with Andrew ‘Pengi’ Phillips and Dai ‘Ball’ Phillips – and scored 25 goals in a season to earn the ‘Player of the Year’ award in a team with Matthew Raggett, Paul Adams, Ian Bartlett, Lee Davies and Richard Bland.
Cricket Club again
But travel was a problem and after two great years he rejoined Haverfordwest Cricket Club and renewed his acquaintance with old pals Gary Stephens and Steve James, who came from rugby and made an immediate impact as a lovely character.
Micky played one season as goalkeeper when Tudor Walters took over the team but then he was roped in as assistant secretary of the Pembrokeshire League, with responsibility for drawing up fixture lists, taking in all the results on a Saturday and compiling the tables. He did this job for six years and although it prevented him playing and refereeing he helped out with the whistle in the Carmarthenshire League.
After a short break Micky is now back on the league council of the Manderwood Football Association League – and he still helps out by taking the results whenever Brian Hawkins can find the time to take a few days off.
Quick cricket promotions
On the cricket front, Micky started playing when Haverfordwest started a fourth team led by Peter Lewis and a year later he took over the reins without having much cricket knowledge – and must have done well because when Phil Sayce stepped down as skipper of the 3rd XI then Micky got the job.
From there it was promotion to the 2nd XI, which he maintains was his ideal station, although he did have a couple of spells in the first team which was best summed up by son Chris when he was a nipper and asked Micky,
“Who was injured when you were in the first team, dad?”
Proud moments
But his first team debut was interesting because with his very first ball against Narberth he had opener Mike Johns caught by Steve Phillips at point, causing Micky to turn to the umpire and say,
“This first division cricket is really easy!”
He also had his best figures in the 1st XI with a 6 for 15 haul against Narberth – but found himself back in the seconds when he came back from a short holiday! Back in the seconds, Micky played in lots of winning sides in the Alec Colley Cup Final and captained them to victory on one occasion – but lost to Llangwm after he had taken seven wickets!
Another proud moment came when Haverfordwest 2nds won the Second Division and he was leading wicket-taker in a strong side that also included the late Steve James, Jamie Jenkins, Dean Flood and Julian James.
Busy administrator
Off the field, Micky was Hon Treasurer for twelve years over three different spells, a massive commitment to what is now a business – and with Steve James coached the juniors for six years – at the same time as the duo also coached with Merlins Bridge Juniors in football!
Not content with that little lot, Micky was also assistant secretary of the Pembroke County Cricket Club for five years, was junior organiser for another two years, both as assistant secretary for a two year stint – and this year took over as Hon Treasurer from Rowley Edwards.
Family support
To be so involved he has received the full support of his wife Kathryn and daughter Sarah – whilst son Chris is following dad in getting involved in a variety of sports, playing football and cricket for Haverfordwest Cricket Club.
Talk to Micky about his involvement and he would say that he is just putting something back into his sports.
“I’ve been very lucky to have made so many friends through sport and I don’t begrudge a second that I’ve spent. I loved playing and it is good to stay involved.”
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