Back Row (left to right):
Jim Austin, manager, Dai Llewellyn (LH), Glyn Thomas (RB), Phil Williams (GK), Mel Thomas (W), Wally Carty (RH) and Dickie Delaney (LB)
Front Row (left to right):
John Tegan (CH), Kevin Barrett (IF), Dai Lanham (W), John Williams (CF) and Ivor Carty (IF)


Hoss Davies with his father-in-law's medal
The medal itself!

 
When Goodwick United recently won the West Wales Intermediate Cup Final at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea it had local pundits discussing whether they had won it before and after research information from Angelina Delaney, Hoss Davies, Brian Morris and Ron Hughes we can exclusively reveal that they previously won the coveted trophy in 1950 but had to wait until the following season for the winning replay!
 
Not only can we can confirm that as fact but we have a picture of the winning team from Goodwick United taken on the big day, along with a picture of the winners' medal won by goalkeeper Phil Williams, who became Hoss's father in law and gave it to the well-known former referee as a memento.
 
Angelina was also able to provide vital info because her late father in law, Dick Delaney, was another key player in the side whose son Michael also won a West Wales Cup medal but in his case playing with a superb Fishguard Sports team that beat Hafod Brotherhood by 4-0,
 
Then this season saw Angelina's son Nigel managing Goodwick United to victory at the Liberty Stadium, whilst grandson Scott was a terrific performer at the heart of the defence and playing with a maturity way beyond his 21 years!
 
In 1950 Goodwick United, who were an amalgam of previous teams Pencw United and Dyffryn West End, took on Bwlch Rangers and drew 2-2 against the top Swansea side before winning the replay at the old Bridge Meadow in Haverfordwest by 2-0.
 
They were cheered on in Swansea by a huge crowd who travelled up by train, with the railway being one of the main employers in the area where many of the team found their employment. The majority of the team worked either at Fishguard Harbour, in the factory or as engine drivers, or at RNAD Trecwn. The exceptions were Mel Thomas, who was a Metalwork teacher at Fishguard Secondary School, John Williams (a local butcher) and Kevin Barrett (who was an Irishman working as a Ship's Steward on the Fishguard to Cork passenger route. Barrett also played for Cork in the League of Ireland.
 
The replay was held over until the 50/51 season and was held at the old Bridge Meadow Field, where Goodwick played on top form to win by 2-0.
There was an equally vociferous crowd in Haverfordwest and the same 11 players took the field on both occasions (no subs allowed in those days!)
 
Several of the players attracted the attention of top sides, with Phil Williams being offered a chance of trials at Arsenal but knowing that his pay there wouldn't have been much more than he earned a shunter/footplateman on the railway.
 
Dick Delaney was another who was offered a chance to move up the line but faced the same financial decisions and declined - but would have been thrilled at the fact that his grandson Mark played so well for Cardiff City and Aston Villa, as well as captaining Wales!
 
As well as Phil Williams and Dick Delaney being invited to try their luck at a higher level, Ivor Carty also had offers to visit Arsenal but he and his brother Wally did play at Milford United and were regarded as star players there.
"Ivor was manager of Goodwick United when I played my first game for them as a 16 year old and he was always ready to give advice and help me develop my play," said Brian Morris, "and youngsters in the club held him in awe because he had done so much.
 
"Another player from that 1950 side who I encountered for a different reason was Mel Thomas, one of the few players from outside the Goodwick area who hailed from Solva. He was my metalwork teacher in school and I loved the story about the time he got home after a match they had won well and was asked the next morning where his van was.
"He said it was outside but closer examination revealed that he had someone else's vehicle from the team, which he had taken from the car park the night before by mistake!"
 
Most of the other players, like central defender Glyn Thomas, Dai Llewellyn, Lloyd James (who was known to all as 'Lloydy’) and Dai Lanham all lived on or near Pencw, but John Tegan used to work as a principal officer in vehicle registration in Swansea - but like all the others joined forces in forming a formidable unit known as Goodwick United Football Club.
 
And now the club has found another team with equally good qualifications to take this piece of silverware, which is coveted by all clubs in Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath and our own county, and which now nestles in their Phoenix Park headquarters for the next 12 months!
 
The Goodwick United 1950 team which played the traditional formation of two full backs, three half backs and FIVE forwards!)