Peter and Jason Cole pick best Solva team over last 20 years
No one has is more used to picking Solva teams in the last 20 years than Peter Cole.
He took charge in August 2002 and would go on to spend 13 years at the helm, seven of those in the top-flight with the club’s best campaign a third placed finish in 2007/08. Throughout that time, son Jason was a willing assistant.
So it was only fitting that he was asked to pick the club’s best team over the last 20 years (with help from Jason of course).
Interestingly, the duo have resisted the temptation to pick the only Premier League footballer to appear in the Pembrokeshire League since 2000. Despite having a couple of games for the Greens in the 2014/15 season, there is no place for Simon Davies……
GOALKEEPER – CHRIS DAVIES
Not a hard decision. He was always available and a great shot stopper.
RIGHT BACK – SEAN ELLISON
A great asset. Could play anywhere in the back four but also in midfield and was good at going forward.
CENTRE BACK – RICHARD BLAND
Probably the best player in my squad and should have played more. A great defender who would pop up with a goal or two at crucial times. A real hard tackler.
CENTRE BACK – STUART JACKSON
A no nonsense defender. Strong tackler who would take no prisoners, and was even prepared to take a few cards for the team.
LEFT BACK – ALISTAIR DAVIES
Another versatile player and a very good reader of the game.
RIGHT MIDFIELD – CHARLIE SIME
One of the fastest players over 50 yards I’ve known and often left defenders for dead. Good at cutting inside and scored a lot of goals.
CENTRE MIDFIELD – GARETH THOMAS
A workhorse who gave everything for the team. Brilliant passer of the ball and hated to lose. At his peak I think he would have got into any Pembrokeshire League side. Also our penalty taker and an easy choice for captain.
CENTRE MIDFIELD – CHRIS COUSENS
Cool under pressure and really good vision with the ball at his feet. Could pick out a pass so well and another who would pop up with goals. His own worst critic.
LEFT MIDFIELD – LUKE JONES
Like Charlie on the right, Luke had pace and with strong for his size. Could also play up front and scored a lot of goals. A big compliment is that when he was 18 he made our first team and other clubs were enquiring about him.
ATTACKING MIDFIELD – BEN JONES
Luke’s older brother and probably the best attacking midfielder at Solva over the last 15 years. Another who could have played at a higher level but stayed committed to the club. Scored all types of goals.
STRIKER – NATHAN DAVIES
A striker with a great first touch. Good passer, a goal scorer, and could also play out wide.
SUBSTITUTES
BRYAN PHILLIPS
Could play midfield or centre back. A good reader of the game who had pace and a great engine. Encouraged others around him and was always determined to win.
LUKE PHILLIPS
Again, can cover midfield or centre back. A player who has always given his all for the club and hates losing. Good on the ball too.
JOE ELLIOTT
A really determined player and if he lost the ball he fought hard to win it back. Could play in many positions and although he favoured midfield – was also great with his forward running from right back.
There are others just as good who could easily have made this squad. Players like Morgan Elliott, Colin Williams, Mark Evans, Lee Davies, Dai ‘Trigger’ Price - just some I found hard to leave out.
As for the decision on manager and assistant, we consulted current club Treasurer and Secretary Medi George – and he gave us the obvious answer.
MANAGER – PETER COLE (WITH JASON ASSISTANT)
Peter and Jason Cole, with support from Tracey and Leanne, were the lifeblood of the club for over a decade. They kept Solva in Division 1 for seven straight seasons with a few visits to the Bridge Meadow thrown in for good measure.
Peter also helped keep things ticking over off the field as a valued committee member but his best achievements came on the field with Jason alongside him. First and foremost, he would ask you to work hard for the team and even occasionally came out of retirement to show us how it was done. Although there was cup heartbreak twice at the Meadow in Second Division Cup finals (2006 and 2014), we also got to a Senior Cup semi final there in 2011/12. The fact they were able to get a small village club to punch well above its weight for so long is testament to the hard work they put in throughout their tenure.