PHOTOS:
Claire and colleagues in defensive mode
Claire Williams
Claire makes a strong tackle


 
Claire Williams has been playing hockey for Fishguard Ladies for a period of 14 years and readily admits that she still enjoys her involvement as much as ever.

She plays left back in a team that is doing well, thank you very much, and is the club’s Hon Treasurer, the lady who makes sure that all the hard-earned fund-raising and sponsorship money is put to very good use.
 
Claire started out playing for Fishguard ladies after previously watching her mum, Annette, who played for Narberth and the county, and Claire had been given a stick as a nipper so she could practise against the varied of tanks and walls on the family farm at Puncheston. Her dad Gareth was very supportive and both parents still go to watch her play whenever they can, as does her partner Owen Duggan, who does so much good work with Fishguard Sports AFC.
 

Early start and success

 
She began playing hockey at Ysgol Bro Gwaun as an 11 year old under the expert guidance of Linda Seaton and Angela Miles, and as well as playing for school was also chosen for Pembrokeshire and West Wales alongside Kelly Lewis and Claire Richards.
 
Claire joined Fishguard Ladies at 13 and not only played for their under 18 team but soon forced her way into the senior squad which trained on grass at The Grange, a far cry from today’s use of the superb floodlit Astroturf near Fishguard Leisure Centre.
 

Focus on youth

 
“The game is so much faster now,” admits Claire, and far more skilful because of the excellent playing surface. The club has also moved on brilliantly in other areas because we now have minis (under 11s), under 13s, under 15s and under 18s. Another good development has been the Badger League, played monthly at different venues, where four senior players can join youngsters and lend their experience on the pitch.
 
“We now have our own web site,” said Claire, “which is well run by Wendy Davies, and it is great for keeping players and supporters informed. We also have our own Face Book site organised by Julie Macadam, whilst team captain Natalie Walsh looks after our Twitter account as a well-known local tweeter!”
 

Building from a solid base

 
Claire and Co won the Mansell Davies League Two a couple of seasons ago but opted against promotion.
“Several of our better players were just about to start university,” Claire told us, “and we decided it was better to consolidate by bringing in young players. It has worked because it has allowed very promising young girls to make that step up to senior level – and in our latest match we beat an experienced Llanybydder team 3-2 to show we are on the right track.”
 
Claire’s work also centres around sport because after working for some time at Fishguard Leisure Centre she is now one of the Duty Officers at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre.

“We have a great boss in Sian Fair and our aim is to encourage as many people as possible to enjoy some sort of physical activity.

"I’m trying to practise what we preach because this year I have taken part in all three disciplines of our ‘GoTri’ series and I also took part in the Cardiff Half Marathon.”
 

Other sports

 
She also enjoys other sports and plays golf at Priskilly off a handicap of 19 after only four years, and last year won the Ladies Singles’ title. Her partner Owen plays off a better handicap but Claire beats him more times than she loses! Owen has been accepted to do the London Marathon next year for the British Heart Foundation, after Fishguard Sports’ friend Nick Badland suffered a heart attack last season. Owen decided to enter it to raise money for the charity so Claire will join him in setting up a fundraising page over the next week as he needs to raise £2,000 through local sponsorship.
 

Great social side and terrific sponsors

 
But it is still hockey that occupies much of Claire’s spare time and she enjoys being part of a team that also gets on very well socially.

“We enjoy club tours and on one such trip we were in the hotel’s swimming pool and literally bumped into Tommy Bowe when he was playing rugby for Munster. We hope to go off again next season, and another great trip is on the cards.”
 
Talking as club treasurer, Claire told us,
“We are lucky to have wonderful sponsors in Evan Davies Trailers, Stena and Wern Road Motors, plus others too numerous to mention, whilst the families of all the players seem to rally around whenever we need them.
 

Warm welcome guaranteed

 
As a player, Claire added,
“I still enjoy competing for my place but when it is time to step down I’ll know – but still stay involved, like Angie Miles, Elaine Richards, Angela Harries and Julie Macadam have done when their playing days were over.
“We welcome newcomers at our training sessions from 7-8pm on Thursday evenings (juniors before them) and they are still guaranteed the warm welcome I had when I started all those years ago.”
 

High praise from Angela

 
We bumped into Angela Miles after one training session and she told us,
“Claire has her heart and soul in the club and typifies all that is best in Fishguard Ladies Hockey Club in particular and ladies’ hockey in general. We are very proud of her,”
 
We at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk could pay Claire Williams no higher compliment and we wish her many more years on and off the Astroturf with her team mates in Fishguard!