Colin Fawcett has certainly earned the right to be considered as one of the most respected former players and current coaches in Pembrokeshire Football.

Colin played quality football for Milford United, Pembroke Borough and Hakin United in either the Welsh or Pembrokeshire Leagues and after a successful spell as manager of the Vikings is now coaching alongside Steve Batty with Haverfordwest County’s talented youngsters in the McWhirter Youth League.
 

Started by accident

 
His involvement at the Conygar Bridge Meadow began almost by accident since his elder son Liam had joined the  Bluebirds’ Academy and Fawcett senior was invited to use his wealth of experience with the under 16s by Lucas Gamble. When Liam moved up to the under 18 team Colin was similarly asked to help out by Steve Batty.

“It was the best move in football that I have made for a long time,” admitted Colin, “because we work well together with a brilliant group of committed young players from all over the county, some of whom have already made their senior debut in the Welsh League Division One.

“I just wish this sort of opportunity had been available when I was playing as a teenager. I would have grabbed it with both hands.”
 

Marble Hall start as a player – and silverware there

 
Colin had started out his own playing days at Marble Hall where he played in a good Milford United Youth team that included Andrew Burgoyne, Robert Seago, Simon and Richard Hackett, with a Pembroke Borough side that included quality players like Steve Callan, Pat McQuillan and Mike Lewis as the main opposition.

“From there I started to play for Milford United seconds and had lots of help from Phil Rees, Dapper Barrett, Peter Price, and Bobby Garton before I made my Welsh League debut as a 17 year old alongside Herbie Williams, Jeff Thomas and Phil Griffiths. Terry Scutt was an excellent manager and we played a good standard of football under his guidance.
 
“By the time I was 19 I had gained a regular place and we were usually in the top half of the old Welsh League. When Dixie Hale was manager we won the West Wales Senior Cup by beating Swansea City at Marble Hall, with Donald Forrest joining me as local players in a team that had lots of players from ‘up the line’.
 

 

Robins’ manager – and a change to the Magpies!

 
Colin then managed the Robins whilst carrying on his playing days for another three seasons alongside Don Forrest, Andrew Burgoyne, Graham Thomas and Gary Heal before moving clubs.

“Des Shanklin asked me to play for Pembroke Borough and I just couldn’t say ‘no’ to such a smashing bloke. Mike Lewis was manager and I had two cracking seasons, winning the ‘Player of the Year’ award in my first season as we came fifth. We had excellent local players of the calibre of Pat McQuillan, Jeremy Morris, Benno Jones, Mark Powell, Neil Morris and Steve Callan – what a talented group!
 

Vikings next as player and manager

 

“But I had a young family starting to grow up and the travelling was too much so I joined Hakin United as a 32 year old and we enjoyed so much success it was amazing. Under Chris Tansey’s outstanding leadership we won the league seven times. We created a rare double in 1998-9 by winning the West Wales Intermediate Cup on the Vetch Field in Swansea, beating West 2-0 with goals from Kristan Bennett and Paul Jones. It might well have been a treble but we lost 3-2 to Goodwick in the Senior Cup Final.
 

Silverware galore

 
“We won the league seven years in a row and I played a further part because when Chris needed a break I took over the reins for two years, and then for another season after Paul Bowen had been manager. Then I handed over to Gary Dawes and Malcolm Jones, who have been there ever since and continued Hakin’s winning ways."
 

Other sports

 
Outside of his football, Colin enjoys golf and at one stage his handicap at Milford Haven Golf Club was down to 11 as he played regularly against the likes of Tim Phillips, Don Forrest and Gareth ‘Nuts’ Phillips. His commitment at Haverfordwest County means that he plays much less now but his handicap still stands at a more than useful 15.
 

Family involvement

 
As well as Liam, Colin’s other son Ben (12) is beginning to make a name for himself as he plays for Haverfordwest County in the Academy team for his age group. Ben plays up front and had scored his share of goals, as he has done whilst playing for Daisy Picton’s under 12 team at Hakin United, where he has so far netted over 50 goals this year. His performances earned him an invite to play for Swansea City but the demands of training three times a week and playing on the weekend proved too much. But he has been selected for the regional Welsh squad after catching the eye with a well-taken hat-trick at Cambrian & Clydach’s ground. It means even more travel but Colin and the boys have the total support of his wife Karen. “She rarely misses a match and goodness knows what we would do without her sorting us out,” says Colin with a smile!
 

And finally . . .

 
“All I want is for the boys to have as much out of the game as I have,” said Colin with a smile. “I’m waiting for a hip operation and then I’ll be able to be more mobile,” he adds, “and I can put some more back into a game that has been good to me.”

He might also add that he has already put a lot back but that would never be Colin Fawcett’s way because he is a modest feller – and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk says there is no doubt that he is a credit to local football already!

PHOTOS:
Colin Fawcett with son Liam
Colin receiving a manager's award from Guiseppi Quinn of Todaro's Hairdressers
Colin playing golf as a bit of a 'bandit'!