Lee Riley has been playing senior rugby for 22 years with Milford Haven RFC and is still a regular in the first team despite being 41 years young – and puts his skills to good effect on the wing or at full back.
 
At one stage he relied on his genuine pace but as the ‘senior citizen’ in the current squad he has lost some of his side-step capabilities and now features with barn-storming runs through would-be tacklers –and is also a very good defensive player who puts in big hits himself.
 
Lee has always been up for a challenge, as he proved in a recent league match at Carmarthen Athletic where he found himself in the centre and was really enjoying his new role until he received two massive hand-offs from his opposite number and was quietly pleased when he was later moved back to full back.
“No big hits for me at my age,” said Lee with a typical chuckle!!
 

Loyalty as a one-club man – other than a short spell in English rugby!

 
Such longevity and loyalty are becoming increasingly rare in local rugby and Lee has never thought of playing for any other local club – and he has managed to steer relatively clear of injury.

“Luckily, I have always really enjoyed training and rarely miss a session on either night at the club with Steve Martin and Mark Wonnacott, who have done a great job as coaches, and I also go to the S7 Gym in Haverfordwest with Chris O’Sullivan, my old pal from our time as teenagers that we played football together.”
 
The only other club that he turned out for was outside the county when his work as a plasterer took him to Worcestershire and he played for Pershore RFC in the Midlands (West) division of the English set-up.
“It was about the same standard of our Division Three,” explained Lee, “and I was made very welcome as I played full back or wing – but every time I had the chance of a weekend off I drov all the way home and back so I could play for The Mariners!”
 

Made his senior debut 21 years ago

 
Lee made his first-team debut for Milford Haven RFC as long ago as 2002 against New Dock Stars at The Observatory Field, with The Mariners then playing in Division Six (West) with Alan McClelland and Dean Hadley having an influence as coaches,
“It was a big step up for me,” admitted Lee,” but I was well looked after by the old timers in the team and even managed to score a try.”
 
He had started in the second team on May 11th of the previous campaign after coming out of youth rugby and being called up at the end of that season to play for the club’s seconds.
“I was surprised how fast it was for second-team rugby but again I managed to score a try as we drew 24-all with the likes of Brendan Murphy, Peter Llewelyn and Paul Nicholas providing their skills and expertise after many years in the first team.
 
Lee had started out in the game as an 11-year-old with Steve ‘Josie’ Joseph as the coach before he moved through the age groups into youth rugby, where he was lucky to be given every encouragement by Phil Aldred, Larry Spillane and Brian Rees.
 
 
 

Keen footballer in his early days – until a freak accident!

 
But it was football which also occupied much of his sporting time as he followed his late dad Denny into playing for Herbrandston FC at under 11 to under 13 levels.
“It was natural to go there because Dad played for Herbie at the time and coached us kids - and he also turned out for Johnston, Steynton and Hakin United in a long-playing career.
 
Lee is also rightly proud of the support provided by his mum Kathy, who has also been heavily involved in following his sport, as is his new wife Katie, who regularly watches him play.
Then there’s son Nico (12), who used to play rugby for The Mariners’ Juniors when Lee was coaching but now plays in goal for Hakin United and Lee loves going along to watch him play!
 

A county footballer – with trials at Peterborough

 
“I played for The Vikings at under 14 and under 16 levels, where Joe Lennon and Paddy Wheeler were terrific coaches - and I also played up front or wide out for Pembrokeshire through the age groups with quality players like Chris O’Sullivan (Goodwick), Dean Busby (Pennar Robins) and Paul Jones (Monkton). I also played up a year when needed and joined Mike Preddy and George Hawkridge in that group.”
 
He used to travel with George as his dad Mike Hawkridge and Ronnie Beynon used to ferry them
to Peterborough for a while since both were on their books.
“It was hard going on journeys that could take five hours but I thought it was worth it because we were going to travel to play in a tournament with Ajax in Holland – but a couple of weeks before I fell off a tree swing back in Milford and broke both arms. I had home tutoring for three months and that was just about the end of my footballing days!”
 

Great honour to lead The Mariners

 
Going back to his rugby, Lee would say that the most memorable of his 20-odd seasons came in 2019, just before Covid, when The Mariners had a brilliant season in Division Three (West) A to win most matches by large margins with their all-out attacking rugby.
 
He was also rightly proud of the fact that last season saw him chosen as team captain, a role he approached with his usual energy and commitment.
“I’ve never been afraid to speak my mind and I wasn’t afraid to give my pre-match talk – or tell the boys at half time or in the bar afterwards what I thought of the game but I soon learned that everyone is different and some need a different approach from just shouting and bawling.
 
“But I can honestly say that I tried my best to explain what playing for the Milford Haven RFC badge means and I’m pleased to be vice-captain to Zac Davies, who is doing a good job this season for a young player so I hope he finds me a help.
 

High praise for colleagues and coaches

 
“I learned a lot from Mark Wonnacott, who was a great skipper and I know that if I made a mistake on the pitch just a glare from him was worse than any words! In my time I have only had a few yellow cards and one red card which came 30 seconds from the end of a game for my second yellow for failed interception attempts when we were winning and then lost - a lesson I learned that day!
 
“I’ve also been lucky to play with others who I’ve enjoyed being in the team like Dean Hadley, Gareth Fawcett, Aidan Laxton, Jim Farr and Leigh Broome – and too many others I could mention that would fill too many pages for you – and of all the opponents I faced I have to single out Delme Bateman (Neyland), as one of the smallest but one of the best!
 
If asked about coaches who have influenced him over two decades, he would naturally nominate Messrs Hadley and McClelland (despite his sharp tongue when Lee started!) alongside Ian Ace, Lyn Lewis and Fijian international Emori Katalau, plus Nathan ‘Gully’ Williams, Mark Wonnacott and the current incumbent Steve Martin.
“There have been many more since the time I started out as a nipper and I’ve always appreciated that they are putting something back into the game after their playing days.”
 

And finally . . .

 
He says that he still hopes to have one more season at The Obs before stepping down but Sports Folio wouldn’t be surprised if he goes on a little longer because he is still fitter than some in the local game who are ten years his junior – and whatever he decides to do Sports Folio can safely say that Lee Riley is a great example of good sportsmanship and loyalty in out county’s sport – and long may he continue to be involved in some capacity!