Ann-Marie Wood hails from a rugby family and so she is a natural fit for her key role as team manager for the successful youth team at Crymych RFC.
 
Her late father, Glyndwr Richards, was a wonderful long-serving player and coach with the Preseli Men before his tragic death back in 2012 and he was also the club steward, along with his wife Heather for many years. Then her mamgu Mo did a brilliant ten years at the club followed by Ann-Marie’s brother Owain, who is still there today.
 
Brothers Rhys and Owain have played for the club, with Rhys still going strong up front for the first team after over 20 years of dedicated service, and Owain played at junior, youth level and senior level too.
 
Anne-Marie also started the first girls’ team in Crymych RFC that both her sister Lowri and Megan were a part of as their father Glyndwr and his best friend Gary Glo helped coached the girls.
 
Unfortunately due to low numbers the squad only played for three seasons but during that time Anne-Marie organised fixtures, a new playing kit and plenty of rugby festivals and I am sure the girls have some good memories from the camping trip to Abergavenny festival!
 
And perhaps most importantly, Anne-Marie’s son Iestyn is the youth team captain and No 8 who recently scored EIGHT tries in three games as proof of his potential. He is a member of the Scarlets U18s squad and he is a valued member of Ysgol Bro Preseli squad where he is also captain and head boy.
 

Following a real family involvement at the club

 
“It was only natural for me to be involved with the team,” Ann-Marie told us, “as from an early age rugby was a huge part of our family life.”
 
“I was delighted when Iestyn started playing for the under 7s he was and still is coached by Barry Davies, Emyr ‘Trehws’ Davies and Mark Deller, who have all been such positive role models in his life. Shortly after the team formed, I was roped in to be team manager, although I wasn’t really sure what the job entailed.
 

Works as part of a ‘cracking’ quartet

 
“I really enjoyed being involved and learnt as I went along. Shelley Reynolds and the four of us looked after a smashing group of youngsters right through until they finished in the under 16s and I thought our work was over as they were moving up to play at youth level.
 
“But then we learned that the youth team coaches were stepping down together we decided to carry on.  I remember Barry and I saying in the club one night if you do it so will I - and that’s how it went, and team has gone from strength to strength.
 
“I confirm fixtures with opposing teams in the league, try to sort out friendlies if we don’t have a fixture and do anything else that is needed, I am well known for my record keeping, I keep the result, the squad and scorers – and I even record who is there for every training session - and I have all this information since the boys were eight years old.

 

 

Only one really nerve-wracking moment

 
“Since Iestyn started playing I’ve only missed one match when I was at a ‘hen party’ in Portugal and we were playing Whitland in our age-group semi-final.
 
“I must admit I was on tenterhooks during the game and kept in touch with Barry before we finished up at 15-all but went through because we were the away team – and I’ve made sure there have been no more ‘hen do’s in the rugby season since!”
 
Cen Davies, who co-ordinates youth rugby in our county told us,
“Ann-Marie does a great job at Crymych and they are lucky to have such an organised person as team manager because it is an important role. She sets about everything with enthusiasm and believes that if a job is worth doing it is worth doing well. Long may she continue to be involved with Crymych RFC.”
 
We at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can only echo that sentiment since we have started to discover her work and we would like to thank her publically for her brilliant support!