Merlins Bridge, Goodwick United and Monkton Swifts have all enjoyed success in winning the Division One title from the Manderwood Pembrokeshire League but there is no doubt that in the past two decades it is Hakin United who outshone everyone else – with an amazing 12 triumphs in 20 years.

 

So we decided it was time to pay tribute to the five managers who have made The Vikings tick in that time, as they also won more than their fair share of Senior Cups as well . . .

 

Chris Tansey – Started the Vikings’ domination

It was Chris Tansey who began the modern dynasty at The Obs as he finished playing for The Vikings after starting out with Hubberston Youth Club and switching to Hakin United when the late Dai Griffiths was in charge and they won the Wiltshire Cup in 1976 - and reached the Welsh Youth Cup semi-final before missing out to their counterparts from Ebbw Vale at Briton Ferry.

"I made my debut for Hakin as a 16 year old,” Chris told us,” and played until I was 31 alongside the likes of the late Spike Jones, Johnny Kinsella and Steve Youds and although we had a decent side we didn't win a thing, although we did reach five senior Cup semi-finals without ever reaching the final.

"We had great administrators like Duggie Jones and the late Alan Roach, and both played key roles in making the club what it is today. I came into being manager with four matches at the end of the season and was lucky to have extra support from Daisy Picton, Paddy Wheeler, Greg Dalton and Keith Johnson.

 

Gary made a big difference

"We came runners-up in our first two campaigns to Merlins Bridge and when Gary Dawes came into the midfield he provided not only the physical steel but the mental strength which marked him out as a great captain.

"In 1996/97 we won our first title and in the next six campaigns we kept the trophy with a cracking squad that not only contained Gary but Bomber Morgan, Adam Collins, Kristan Bennett, Nigel Armstrong, Paul Chapman, Paul Turner, Paul Jones and Michael McCarthy - with Ade Haworth and James Morgans joining us to provide some vital extra experience.

West Wales Cup triumphs

"We also won four Senior Cup finals and another undoubted highlight was winning the West Wales Cup Final in 1999 at the Old Vetch Field when goals by Kristan Bennett (header) and Paul Jones saw us beat West End.

I had stepped down as manager to give Colin Fawcett some experience but Colin was still good enough to hold down a regular place and asked if I would help him out on the touch line - and so I was involved when we won the West Wales Intermediate Cup Final at the Old Vetch Field against West End with an early header from Kristan Bennett and a vital second score late on by 'Jonah' (Paul Jones).

“We also beat Bryn Awel in the West Wales Cup in 2003/04, again by 2-0 and it was another great night for the club and supporters which I will never forget.

“Someone who was a great help was Daisy Picton, who took all the pressure off me in terms of doing the jobs I didn't like doing – but our hopes of an eighth win on the trot were halted by an excellent Monkton Swifts team and I decided it was time to hand over the reins again to Colin for his main spell at the helm.

Took a deserved break but was back watching this season

“For a while I decided to watch other sports and as well as occasional visits to support Sunderland (where I was born) - I have also spent some time supporting The Scarlets in rugby, often in the Quinnell Lounge.

"During this season, however, I have started watching some first and second team games at The Obs and been quietly impressed by young manager Scott Davies, who has a thoughtful, analytical approach to the game.

 ”We at Manderwood also sponsor the Pembrokeshire Football League and it is a pleasure to be at the Senior Cup Finals at the Bridge Meadow Stadium. These games certainly evoke memories of great times with The Vikings and I am very proud of my part in Hakin United's history!"

Colin Fawcett – playing until 40 and then a cup-winning manager

“I started out my football with Milford United Youth (there was no junior football in those days) before progressing to the seconds and then first team in the Welsh League which was managed by Terry Scutt.

“I enjoyed myself at Marble Hall,” admitted Colin, “but it was a period of transition at the club and the late Des Shanklin coaxed me to play for Pembroke Borough, where Mike Lewis was manager – and I learned a lot there.

Back to Marble Hall with all-local side

“Then I went back to Milford United as player-manager with a team that was made up of all locals, including good players like Donald Forest, Rob Hewer and Derrek Braddick, with Gary Heal and Phil Marchant in goal at different times.

“I was there until I was 32 and joined Hakin United, where Chris Tansey did a great job and I played until I was 40 – by which time I wanted to spend more time with my sons Liam and Ben, so I managed their teams.

“But before that I had a season coaching The Vikings as we won the West Wales Cup against Ragged School – and then three more when Tansey stepped down in 2003/04, with a terrific set of players.”

Junior successes a real highlight

Ask Colin about coaching the juniors at the club and he would list that time as a real highlight in his long career.

When Liam played throughout the junior leagues they gradually developed so that in their final two years together they won the league and cup double.

Then he took over the team Ben was involved in and they broke all the records in Pembrokeshire.

“We won our age group for five seasons and claimed four league cup competitions in the same period – and showed we were the best team in West Wales as we won three West Wales Cup Finals in a row at Stebonheath, Llanelli, against the best that Swansea and Carmarthenshire could throw at the boys.

“There was a great team spirit and it was a wonderful time for junior and youth football for Hakin United,” Colin admitted.

 

Gary Dawes, superb skipper and great manager too!

Ask followers of Hakin United, or opponents over the last two decades, about the most influential player and manager at the club and it is a fair bet that the majority of them might nominate Gary Dawes.

Gary was a key midfield ‘enforcer’ when Chris Tansey was in control and afterwards became an influential manager, not only of the Vikings’ first team but now their successful veterans’ side.

Inter county success was great!

Plus the fact that when the Pembrokeshire League restarted its involvement in the SB Williams inter-league competition he was charged with the responsibility of management and did so much to have players from rival clubs to form a terrific team spirit which helped them take the title from Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath twice in his three seasons.

“That ranks right up there with anything else I’ve done,” said Gary, “especially after we were so long without a county team. I had great support from Steve Briers and Ian Baker and it is also nice that one of my oldest playing rivals in Nigel Delaney, took over the reins from me!”

Memorable playing days

Of his playing days at The Obs he would say,

“I was just lucky to play in a very good Hakin side under Tansey and my job was to chase and harry the opposition into making errors so those around me could show off their skills,” he says with typical Dawes’ understatement!

It certainly worked because the team he captained for so long went two seasons with a 100% record – and in one of them conceded only nine goals.

“We used to set each other targets and in our last game of that particular season it was like a cup final as we battled so hard to prevent us having double figures in our ‘goals against’ column!”

Seven league titles, Senior Cup successes and taking silverware in the West Wales Cup at The Vetch Field, are also mentioned, alongside victories in the WR Nedin Cup on the Bridge Meadow as they took on the top sides from the other local leagues in a sort of ‘club super cup’.

“But then I realised I was too old and too slow,” said a chuckling Mr Dawes.!

Huge success as a manager with ‘Jimmy’ by his side

After an equally successful run as Hakin United’s first team manager, where he would nominate Malcolm ‘Jimmy’ Jones as his outstanding assistant who used all his experience gained as a very good Welsh League player he turned his managerial skills to running the club’s over 40s squad which he has managed to draw out of retirement from a number of clubs.

“At one time they might not have been good pals but now their camaraderie is immense, especially since all our away games demand a lot of travel, and in our first two seasons were runners-up in both league and cup.

“I am very lucky to still be involved with such a bunch of genuine characters and I am really enjoying the fact that I am still involved in local football.”

Kristan was a giant on the pitch – and a very good manager off it!

Kristan Bennett was next in line at The Obs headquarters of Hakin United AFC and at 43 years young he is still more than capable of playing at the heart of the club’s veteran’s side which has carried the Pembrokeshire Flag with distinction over the past three seasons.

He’s actually started out with the club’s junior section as a ten year old playing for the under 12s and moved through the age groups before slotting in alongside Karl Rhead at centre half and at senior level one of his most memorable moments came when he played at the old Vetch Field and headed home the opening goal in a West Wales Intermediate Cup win.

Known to all as ‘Benny’ he also played in a team that won the WR Nedin Cup but still recalls the clumsy tackle that earned him a late second yellow card.

“It’s a long walk off the field at the Bridge Meadow Stadium,” he admitted with a rueful chuckle!
 

Kristan stars in cricket too

Outside of his football, Kristan is also a very talented cricketer who in his younger days would have been welcomed by any first division team in the county as a big hitting batsman and at one time recognised as a very fast bowler alongside his strike partner Paul Hood.

The Bennett family’s name is synonymous with Marloes and then Herbrandston – and he also enjoyed three seasons at St Ishmaels.

“I grew up with characters like Robbie Thomas, Jonathan Pawlett and Andrew Palmer there so I enjoyed my time in the first division there, as I did when Herbie once went up.”

Filling big shoes - but more silverware for The Vikings

Going back to his football, Kristan took over the first team reins from Gary Dawes and was fully aware of the large pair of football boots he was going to have to fill – and took on this challenge safe in the knowledge that Gary was always there for advice if he needed it.

He also had 18 years of first team experience where they won everything before he retired at 37 and his management role couldn’t have made a more promising start because The Vikings were league champions in his first season at the helm.

“Gary (Dawes) had told me for a few seasons that when I finished he expected me to take over so when he and ‘Jimmy’ decided it was time for them to go he suggested I take over and I had so much respect for them both I just couldn’t say no!

“I asked Stuart McDonald to be my assistant and after that league success in our first season we won the double in our second year, adding the senior cup to the league trophy.

“It was a great time where we brought on some talented young players but when we didn’t win silverware the next year I decided to stand down – but I’m glad now to be back with Gary and Co in the vets’ team.”

 

Young Scott’s now in charge at The Obs – and making a great start

Although he is a relatively young manager Scott Davies has been involved as a player with Hakin United since he was 12 years old and played almost 20 years, with three league winners’ medals and two Senior Cup successes against Merlins Bridge and Narberth.

“I loved playing in midfield but if I’m honest I wasn’t quite good enough with players of the calibre of Shaun Milles, Steve Mathias, Gary Dawes and Marc Devonald involved there and so I played at full back alongside Nigel Armstrong, Ewan Findlay and Kristan Bennett – and loved every minute.”

Managerial success with the seconds first!

But his playing days ended when he was 31 after a nasty knee injury and he went straight into management with the second string after he recovered. In his three seasons with the seconds they finished fourth twice and sandwiched in between we actually won the second division, beating lots of first teams in the process.”

Unlike lots of other managers in local football, Scott is not a ‘shouter’ and asks his players to show their footballing talents and not constantly nagging referees or baiting opposing players.

“I know there are some good refs and some not so good refs,” Scott admitted, “but they have a job to do and at least deserve respect. It’s the same in the changing rooms, I’m not one for bawling out the team but I like to talk face to face to individuals, explaining what I want.”

Total support from his squad

“I’ve been lucky to have the total support of experienced players like Ashley Bevan, who has been doing a great job as captain, Ewan Findlay, Nicky Woodrow and Skinny Harding as we bring along talented youngsters like Camron Thomas, Jay Power and Leon Luby.

We went out of the Senior Cup after losing to Goodwick, who also beat us in the league, but we were going well at the top, having scored a shedful of goals, until the pandemic halted all sport in our county – but there’s always next season!

“I have Anthony Mayhew and Leigh Broome helping me and obviously my aim is to win more trophies for our clubhouse – and maintain the superb tradition established by the managers before me!”