Gareth gives a lot of time to Merlins Bridge ABC

We have already featured Morgan Williams, who is useful at rugby but also boxes for Merlins Bridge ABC, and today this talented teenager is followed by his father Gareth, who is a real unsung hero of sport for many years in the same sports as his son . . .

Gareth Williams represents all that is good in Pembrokeshire Sport in the sense that he has been involved in in local football, rugby and now boxing - and like a lot of us has been happy to take part for the joy of it, without ever worrying about winning championships or collecting silverware.

Born and bred in Johnston, he played football for The Tigers as a youngster, just happy to slot into any position whenever he was needed - then played rugby at Haverfordwest in every position for the second XV in every position except scrum half or outside half - and only made his first team debut for The Blues when he was the ripe old age of 42.

Took Morgan to boxing – and soon became an assistant coach!

Now 50, Gareth, has more recently become involved in boxing at Merlins Bridge ABC after initially taking his youngest son Morgan (now 15), there to help improve his fitness and confidence.

“He was given a warm welcome, with no pressure to go in the ring, and I first went along to watch whilst he trained and then I decided I might as well take part in the training alongside him - and I soon lost two stone.

“Of course, head coach Graham Brockway encourages everyone to get even more involved and, like plenty of other parents, I found myself helping give youngsters help with simple techniques while on the bags - and then joined James Griffiths and Emily Jolly on a Leaders’ Course in Llanelli so that I could extend what I did to help at the club.

“On the course we dealt with important issues like health & safety, child protection, fitness routines, self-discipline and coaching methods, some of which I have been using while involved in almost 30 years of coaching junior rugby - with the added bonus that I was working alongside Morgan and enjoying every minute of it!

Family support when Morgan boxes

“To be honest, Morgan’s mother Melane wasn’t too fussed on him going to the club, especially with regard to actually spar or take part in boxing, but one evening when I was training in the top part of the gym I looked around to see Morgan just slipping his gum shield into place and stepping in to the ring to try sparring.

“We had a long chat about it and eventually we had to confess to mum and although she found it hard, she has given him every support and has actually watched him box in all seven bouts so far, despite being very nervous for him. I was surprised how nervous I also felt, especially in his first bout - but that is getting better each time and I know he is being well looked after by Graham and the other senior coaches like Barry Frearson, Naomi Dalton, Ian Roberts, Alex Ward, Mark Jenkins and Wayne O’Sullivan, whose four sons have all boxed for Merlins Bridge.”

‘We also have 5 sons between us in Dylan (30, and plays hockey for the county), Liam (27. who plays rugby for Sidcup, Ieuan (27, who did rugby with Haverfordwest) Alex (20 who is studying equine coaching and performance in Hartpury) and, of course, Morgan, who also plays rugby and is off to Canada to play in the next couple of weeks.

Helps out early – and finds time to do some training

So now Gareth goes along early to the club, sometimes as often as four times a week, helping to set up all the necessary equipment and having some time to complete his training before the hordes and it becomes a hive of activity.

Gareth goes to boxing shows to help out whenever he can, other than the specialist corner work where the boxers are looked after during bouts - and both Mr and Mrs Williams have watched every one of Morgan’s bouts.

“He’s done well so far and was runner-up on a narrow points decision in the Welsh Novices Championships against a bigger opponent who had former world pro champion Gavin Rees in his corner. It was held at the new facilities in Ebbw Vale,” Gareth told us, “but to be honest winning is not that important to us. We just want him to enjoy any sport he chooses, just as I have done for so long.”

Only natural to play football for Johnston

Going back to his early days, Gareth playing football for Johnston was only natural because his father David was heavily involved in the administration and was club chairman for some time, with great support from his mother Sue.
 

“There were some excellent players there, like Richard and Steve James, John and Will Codd, Charlie Mapp and Charlie Edwards, Ian Thorpe, Darren and Ian Smith - and in the youth team I played when they were short and I enjoyed filling the gap.

“It was whilst I was there that I won my only trophy even though I wasn’t much good and didn’t get much game time, awarded for “club sportsman of the year - and presented at the club’s annual dinner by the guest speaker, who I think was someone called Mr Bill Carne!”

Pill Parks’ start and then Merlins Bridge in rugby

From there, Gareth played rugby for Llangwm, where school pals like Martin Thomas played alongside very good players like Johnny James, who sadly passed away so young - but after living away for a while I came back and joined Haverfordwest in 1995 - and within a year I was helping to coach a junior team which included Richard James, who played scrum half like his father Gelly, who was a great player for the club. Then he went on to coach Liam and Ieuan alongside Jason Summers and eventually Morgan’s age group with Ady Smith, Steve Williams and Lyndon Frayling.

He played regularly in the front row but could be relied upon to turn out in any position that needed filling - and played in two junior union finals, where they lost to a very strong Narberth 2nds, as well as competing in the first-ever cup competition for third teams.

“Highlights for me at the club would have to be getting to play in a training game against the Wales’ squad in Tenby during a pre-World Cup training tour in 1999, and a great tour to New York and Boston in 2007.

Nicknames galore – and a late, late debut for the first team

Also, I have had plenty of nicknames through the years but the most popular these days was given to me during a training session years ago when while doing coat hangers I was given the ball and chased down, as a shout from the stand (the Busch twins) ‘Run Forrest, run’ (the film was new then) and ‘Forrest’ has stuck with me ever since”

“And that’s the way things stayed until I reached the ripe old age for a rugby player of 42 and was called onto the bench for the first team and started out at hooker and moved to prop, where my son Ieuan was also in the front row. I also managed to play alongside Liam and Ieuan in a pre- season friendly when they first came into the seniors along with several others I have coached.

“It was the only time I was needed but I was just pleased to help out and it’s just nice to say I actually played in a first team jersey!”

Gareth is still involved and when asked if he could make himself available in for the seconds in October and turned out for a full 80 minutes – and I’m hoping to get another few games in to play once alongside Morgan and his brothers before the boots go away for good!

And finally . . .

And that just about sums up his approach to sport and it was great to see him so involved with Graham Brockway in Merlins Bridge Amateur Boxing Club.

We at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk have known Gareth Williams for many years and appreciate his 100% involvement in all he does with regard to sport - and long may he continue to retain that enjoyment and commitment, especially in the world of amateur boxing!