Rob Kingston has always enjoyed a wide range of sports and at the moment he is a regular in the Herbrandston indoor cricket team and in the summer months enjoys the outdoor version as a medium-pace bowler and someone who likes to hit the ball hard in the batting stakes.
 
He is 52 now but can still manage some football with Milford United after coaching in their junior section for eight seasons – but readily admits that standing between the sticks for the seconds is fine with him if ever they find themselves short!
 
He started out in football but it was rugby where he earned a reputation as a very good player after setting out as a flanker at North Road Junior School in Milford Haven and playing against Scott Quinnell in a West Wales versus East Wales clash at under 11 level alongside Damian Walker (Hakin CP) and Paul Williams (Pembroke) – and then in the centre for Milford Haven Grammar School team.
 
He represented the Pembrokeshire Schools throughout the age-group range with Richard ‘Stag’ Jones and Gelly James as excellent coaches of a very strong squad that included Welsh international back-rower Rob Appleyard, Steve Hartland (Tenby and Whitland), Dean Bowen (Tenby), Chris McDonald and Rob Jones (Narberth) to name a few.
 
At youth level he was coached by Brian Rees with The Mariners, with Gelly James and Patch Manning (Quins) looking after them at county level – and he also played a number of matches for the under 21s in Mid Wales and along the M4 corridor.
 

Senior rugby – a new challenge

 
Then it was in to senior rugby at The Obs, making his debut whilst still a youth player.

“I remember it well,” Rob told us, “because it was on the wing against our old rivals Haverfordwest and although it wasn’t much faster than I was used to it was more physical – and I had a few good runs which were mentioned in the cutting of the match report I still have, which was written by someone I had already met as a teacher, named Mr Bill Carne!”
 
The next campaign saw Rob gain a regular spot in The Mariners’ first team, where coach Brian ‘Ginger’ Davies gave him some good advice about using his ability to create space for himself as he switched to outside centre, where he played for almost two decades before retiring at 37.
 
“It was a pleasure to play in the back division alongside the likes of John Morgan, Darren Rees, Nathan ‘Yoppers’ Young. Alan McClelland, Brian Philpin and Brendan Murphy, who was easily the coolest outside half I played with – and the forwards weren’t half bad either,” said Rob with a typical chuckle!
 
“I made it into the Welsh Under 21 squad so travelled back and fore to Cardiff quite a lot for squad sessions at Cyncoed and Sophia Gardens – but then I got myself injured playing for Milford Haven at St Davids, breaking my arm, so that was the end of that!
 
“I had a wonderful time playing so long for The Mariners, where we had great support and some real characters on the committee.
 
“Towards the end, though, I started to feel a few of the knocks more and also had young children so for a short while I helped our coaches Bruce Evans and Dean Hadley, who was also one of the toughest players I ever came across. I also helped with the backs and defence when Emori Katalau became coach and I could see why he had played so many times for Fiji as he tried to get his experience across to the players.
 

Rugby league came along in college

 
In his early 20s Rob spent time studying at Brunel University College in London, originally going to train as a teacher before he decided to switch direction at what was regarded as a very good sports college.
 
“Whilst at Brunel I started dabbling in their Rugby League, which really suited me because I enjoyed the abrasive side of rugby union and had space in the centre to make some big tackles – and take a few in return. We had a very strong side and I was selected for the South & South West Universities’ team – and at the same time I was invited to join the London Broncos’ Development Squad when the first team were taking on all the top teams up north like Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Wigan Warriors and the rest. There were lots of players from the Southern Hemisphere as Richard Brandston bought the club out but then took them to play at The Stoop.
 
“I also played rugby union in my time there and we won the British Universities’ Association Cup twice, beating Loughborough and Swansea in the finals with players of the quality of English internationals Richard Hill and Alex King.”
 

Local football with ‘The Robins – and then cricket called

 
Rob was also heavily involved in local football in his late teens as he played for Milford United alongside Dapper Barrett and Derek Bradney in a Robins’ team coached by Gary Beckett but eventually had to choose which sport he would focus on – and he plumped for the oval ball game with The Mariners!
 
“Although I still love football that decision was one that I have rarely regretted because of the great friendships I have made with some tremendous characters at The Obs, far too many to mention here – and in the meanwhile I will continue to be involved with the cricket at Herbrandston.
 
“I was late starting out in cricket before my rugby mates Paul Nicholas and Alan McClelland got me involved at Herbie in 1991 and took to it straight away as I was made welcome from the start, especially by Reg Owens, who embodies all that is good there. It was great because my sons Ferdy and Atticus could come along and play outside the boundary – and are still playing there now as 19- and 17-year-olds respectively after playing junior cricket for Neyland, where they were looked after by Ian Milsom, who is also now with Herbie.
 

Best moment – giving Haverfordwest a ‘bloody nose’ in The Bowl!

 
“There is no doubt about the best moment – that cam in 1993 when we played Haverfordwest in the Harrison-Allen Bowl and beat them! They were very much the top team as they had West Indian star Henderson Springer playing alongside Colin Williams, Paul Thomas, Steve Phillips and the rest and we bowled out for only 67 despite having Rob Devonald and Dai Thomas with us then – but we bowled them out for 54 to send shock waves around the county and I was delighted to pick up a couple of wickets!
 
“My best performance with the ball came last season when I grabbed 7 for 11 against Whitland 2nds and got my name on the Wales and England Honours Board site, which made me have my leg pulled up the club.
 
“On the batting front my top score is 69 not out at Carew and there were plenty of fours and sixes in that because I like to swing the bat and get on with things – and I’ve also had a few other 50s but would love to hit a hundred before I retire, if a could stay there long enough!
 

And finally . . .

 
Outside his football and rugby, Rob has also dabbled in tennis, playing against the likes of Bruce Evans and Nicky John on the Pill Courts in Milford Haven but Surfing was my summer sport as a youngster because the hippy in me loves the lifestyle as I used to surf at Freshwater West and Newgale, and when I was in college, I often used to pop down to Porthcawl. Now I often surf in the summer alongside the seals at West Dale but in the winter? Not a chance anymore!
 
“My father Barry was a sailor who entered  cruiser races with his yacht Xanadu and he started me off in sailing when I was 10 – and I joined John Wood in winning the Welsh Fireball Championships, where he was helmsman and I was crew because I loved leaning out on the trapeze and feeling the spray in my face!”
 
But now Rob Kingston is happy to play indoor cricket with Herbie alongside Atticus, Dai Malloy and his son Charlie, Harry Nicholas and Tom Philpott as they play in the second division – and after a minor health blip he will soon be eager to play again – as the competitive and larger-than-life character he is!