Lukas Gamble picks best Kilgetty team over last two decades
Lukas Gamble has been a prominent figure at Kilgetty these past two decades and is now making progress with his coaching.
He admits it wasn't easy to select their best team from the past 20 years, and consulted with other senior figures at the club before finalising his final choices.
GOALKEEPER - CHRISTIAN PHILLIPS/STEWART ALLEN
Impossible to split the two of these as Stewart ‘Donkey’ Allen and Christian ‘Sludger’ Phillips have featured between the sticks in nearly every season of the last 20 years.
RIGHT BACK - CRAIG NELSON
There have been some big characters to play in defence for Kilgetty this century. Ross Hurst and Brett Evans who have played over 200 games between them over the last four years are unlucky not to be included.
Taekwondo champion and fitness instructor ‘Scottish Creeg’ was an absolutely fearless competitor. Promoted to the 1st team by player-manager Josh Bevan in 2015, he went on to captain the side on multiple occasions over a three year period.
CENTRE BACK - BOBBY BEVAN (CAPT)
A no-nonsense player from the school of hard knocks. Set extremely high standards and expected the same from his team-mates. Best player you would want in your team and a nightmare to play against. Without question, Bobby gets the captaincy for the Team of the Century.
CENTRE BACK - STEVE HUNT
Steve only played for a couple of seasons but was ever present and captained in the double winning team managed by Andrew Cope in 2007/08.
LEFT BACK - MICHAEL SCALE
A versatile player with an excellent touch who could play any position. Calmness under pressure personified. Asked many times to come of retirement, but always humbly replies 'give the youth a chance'. Captained the side over many seasons.
RIGHT MIDFIELD - JOSH BEVAN
With our midfield selection, again there are a couple of players that come very close in Richard Cope and Callum Proctor. However, I would think they will both agree that it would be very difficult to leave these four talented players off the team-sheet.
Josh Bevan is a strong and creative midfielder, excellent aerial ability, probably scored more headed goals than any other player of the last 20 years. A real club man. Stepped in to manage the team when the call came and set us on the journey to where we are now.
CENTRE MIDFIELD - DEAN ROSSITER
Deano played most of his football at Carmarthen Town and Haverforwest County in the Welsh Premier League, but either side of this period has played and managed in several teams at Kilgetty. A player of outstanding quality, with experience by the bucket-load.
LEFT MIDFIELD - PAUL MANSBRIDGE
Able to play anywhere across the midfield, 'Mansy' has been an outstanding servant to the club for over 20 years. An all-round sportsman - we’ve been blessed to have him play for the club over such a long period, and his boys John and Tom are looking like the ones to watch in the future.
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER - GRANT JAMES
Ex- Swansea City youth team player Grant James oozes quality. Still playing at 38, and regularly turning out man-of -the match performances.
CENTRE FORWARD - MIKEY BEYNON
Selection for the forward players again presents a massive headache. It would be impossible to make this selection without a special mention for Henry Lawrence whose goal scoring record over recent seasons has been remarkable, and looking back over past seasons, Geoff Marsh, Nicky Cope and Tom Baker all deserve credit.
But Mikey’s goal-scoring record speaks for itself. Top goal-scorer in more seasons than any other player. Without disrespect to any of our other no 9s, Mikey is an absolute shoo-in.
CENTRE FORWARD - OLLIE GRIFFITHS
Ollie Griffiths has performed to such a high level for this team for so many years. Another player who wore the armband on multiple occasions, and still willing to pull on his boots now when the call comes.
SUBSTITUTES:
DUANE ROSSITER
Younger cousin to Deano, another Rossiter to make the cut. Similar in playing style to his cousin with an ability to regularly score 25-yard screamers.
RICHARD TEBBUTT
'The Ghost'. Appears out of nowhere in games to score at crucial times. Will often score three or more goals in a game.
JACK BEVAN
Now living in Australia, Bobby’s son and Josh’s brother, was an outstanding youth and senior player. A big loss to the team when he moved down under.
MANAGER – ALLEN HURST
As well as serving the club as a player for a great number of years, our current club president has managed and assisted a number of teams over the last 20 years. The most dependable clubman you could wish for.
PLAYER MANAGER – ROBBIE BEYNON
This was a really difficult choice considering the achievements of Wallace Howells' team in 2004 and Andrew Cope’s double winning team in 2008. However, we’ve gone for 'Boxer' because of how he has taken a team that only two years previous had just escaped relegation from the third division, to within touching distance of the first division, in just three seasons. As a player Robbie would actually have been the first name on the team sheet for this team, but for his success as a manager we have opted to pick him as our player-manager.