James Southon is hugely involved in promoting sport in Pembrokeshire but it is fair to say that most people involved would recognise the silken voice rather than his face because for almost four years he has co-presented the award-winning 'Friday Night Sports Show' on Radio Pembrokeshire.
 
And from time he has also presented the 'Saturday Sport' show which aims to provide up-to-date scores and as much information as possible from local and national sport.
 
James would say that his own playing time has been limited to five-a-side games and friendly matches for Radio Pembrokeshire against the likes of the Western Telegraph, other companies and the local football referees, but after spending some time as a self-confessed 'couch potato' took on the London Marathon in 2014 and earned over £1,000 for the Cerebra charity which does so much good work in our county.
 

Jo sets him on the road to running – and SAW supported so well

 
"I had already decided I needed a challenge but even when I was asked to run I wasn't totally convinced, despite encouragement from my colleagues at Radio Pembrokeshire.
 
"But then my flat-mate Jo Sayers provided the vital spark when she told me to forget it because I wouldn't be able to sustain my training. It was just the metaphorical kick up the back side I needed!
 
“I started running a couple of miles on the trim trail in Haverfordwest and the best thing I did was to go and see Simon Roach and Owain Rowlands at Strength Academy Wales. They provided me with a training routine and got me eating the right food and before I knew it I had said 'Yes' to Cerebra and the challenge was on!"
 

Building up and getting ready for ‘The Off’

 
James then ran the Llanelli Half Marathon and his time of one hour 45 minutes pleased him, especially since he finished in front of former colleague Carl Hartley, whose performance might have been hindered by the fact that he had driven down to Bolton that very morning.
 
Then he kept building up his strength and stamina at SAW and gradually got up to a final distance of 22 miles around the roads of Haverfordwest, got sponsorship from family, friends and listeners - and was ready for the off.
 

A memorable day but then too tired to celebrate birthday!

 
"I went by train to London with my girl-friend Rosie and I registered on the Saturday before the marathon - and after a fairly restless night at our hotel in Paddington I was up very early and arrived almost two hours early so I had plenty of time to chat to other runners.
 
"It was my birthday and one old boy was also celebrating his so when we were on the train to the starting point everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' so it was a nice start to a special day.
 
"Because I had intimated I wasn't very fast (although I secretly hoped for a time of four hours) I found myself right at the back with all the fancy dress guys, including a couple of rhinos and loads of other animals, monsters and cartoon characters.
 
"When we eventually got under way it was hard work weaving in and out of the slowest so I suppose I could be pleased with my finishing time of four hours 30 minutes in the circumstances.
 
"I went really well until 18 miles but then I paid the penalty for all the earlier weaving back and fore  as my knee began to ache and my pace slowed so dramatically that I almost crawled over the line.
 
"I was a really proud to receive my London Marathon medal and elated too, but my plan for a night of celebration on my birthday was put aside because I was simply too tired and too stiff to move!
 
"But I had done it so I was able to present a cheque to Cerebra when I got home!"                                                                                                                                                                      
 

Swans and Scarlets fan – but a Fox above all else!

 
James is a keen supporter of Swansea City in football and the Scarlets in rugby, plus Wales in both sports but when pushed would have to say that he is most of all a Leicester City fan, having been born there before he was lucky to move to the Cardigan area - and is now a Welsh-speaking adopted son of our country!
 
"My first top match was at the Old Vetch Field, where I went with the rest of the junior side at Aberporth FC to watch the Swans lose 3-2 against Plymouth Argyle in division two of the English pyramid.
 
"I was also mad keen on Manchester United as a nipper but when I saw they had smashed Leicester City I decided it was time to change my support to 'The Foxes' and I've followed them ever since.
 
"I saw my first match at the Walkers Stadium, which had previously been Filbert Street and is now called the King Power Stadium, when Real Madrid were the visitors in a pre-season friendly, with Christiano Ronaldo playing and Jose Maurinho as manager. We had Sven Goran Eriksson in charge and lost 2-1 as Lloyd Dyer scored our goal.
 
"I have watched them loads of times since and even have a fox tattooed on my right forearm!"
 

Junior football – and an unusual claim to fame

 
James played for Penparc in the Cardiganshire Junior League at under 16 and describes his goalkeeping exploits as 'utter garbage' but enjoyed playing - and has an unusual claim to fame in the fact that in his one game up front he managed to score two goals from only one shot and no headers!
 
"My first goal came when I half-hit a shot which crept under the keeper's body,” he explained, “and in the second half the unfortunate goalie tried to hoof a clearance up field and as I ran in to challenge the ball rebounded off my backside and into the net!
 
"I thought I had done quite well, but I was back in goal myself the following week and playing almost as badly as my opponent from the previous week!"
 

James joins Toby as worst players

 
James also played in a 'celebrity' charity match in Llandeilo alongside another presenter in Toby Ellis and says that they were easily the worst players in a side which included players from 'Pobl y Cwm', local darts star Jamie Lewis, Welsh actor Stephen Meo and 'Chicken Ed' from the 'Call Centre' filmed on television.
 
"We were hopeless but at least a large sum was raised for charity," admitted James, with a typically throaty chuckle!
 

And finally . . .

 
James also played rugby in the centre for Ysgol Aberteifi, where he was coached by Mr Brian Francis and Mr Gordon Eynon, now the District H representative on the Welsh Rugby Union - and who is still called 'Sir' or 'Mr Eynon' whenever he appears on the Friday Night Sports Show.
 
"It's all down to respect," says James, "and I couldn't possibly call him Gordon, even on the phone!"
"He once told me that I was like a young Scott Gibbs but I'm fairly sure that he was just having a bit of gentle fun with me!"
 
So now, feeling fairly refreshed, James is looking for another sporting challenge to keep him off that dreaded couch – but in the meanwhile he will continue to host the ‘Friday Night Sports Show’ and do the odd shift on ‘Saturday Sport’ with his usual panache, utilising that distinctive voice and boyish charm that has made him a radio favourite around our county amongst the sporting fraternity!