Our weekly look back at days gone by, with Abby Bolter
BRIDGEND Hockey Club star Emily Phillips recently unearthed an iconic 1981 picture of Bryntirion Athletic Football Club, writes Tony Poole.
The link for Emily with the picture was her uncle Tony Phillips, who is regarded as one of the best players of his generation on the Bridgend football scene.
The talented winger, who had the happy knack of also scoring goals, went on to play with distinction for Bridgend Town, Garw and Porthcawl Town.
His crowning glory came on April 7, 1988, when getting the Bridgend Town winner in a 1-0 victory over Barry Town in the Brains Cup final at Ton Pentre.
The other distinguished individual in this picture – which was taken at Bryntirion Park ahead of a three-match tour to Philadelphia – is Emlyn Phillips.
Soon after this photograph was taken, he replaced Ray John as chairman – and 35 years on he still holds the post, albeit with the new Penybont club.
He also founded Mid Glamorgan Provisions in 1982, and it has earned him the nickname in Bridgend of “Bacon Baron”
Nowadays, if anyone mentions Penybont Football Club, the next two words uttered are “Emlyn Phillips”.
The American trip, involving a 20-strong party, was a bid to lift morale at the South Wales Amateur League Division Two club, and it was organised by Bob Murray-Hill.
The foreign jaunt coincided with Bryntirion becoming one of the first Amateur League sides to receive sponsorship.
Port Talbot-based welding hire company MEJ – who have since become Gen-Set – sponsored the shirts.
Some other notable members of the local football community also appear in this picture.
Along the back row is Bob Hopkins of Bob’s Hair Fashions in Bridgend; Dick Steer who still turns out regularly for Penybont Veterans and Meurig Emanuel, who twice helped guide Penybont to the Welsh League Reserve Division title.
In the middle row, Gary Warner has been Brid- gend & District League secretary for many years and with Wayne Hodges went on to become the driving force behind Tondu Robins.
Paul Roberts and Mike Roberts have been club stalwarts for years while during the eighties, Alan Hugglestone was regarded one of the best Amateur League goalkeepers.
In the front row, chairman Ray John had a butchery stall in Bridgend market for years, and Anthony Davies went onto the board of Bridgend Town and when they merged with Bryntirion in 2013, he became a Bridgend super club director.
Legend is a word bandied about too liberally. nowadays, but in the case of Ray Warner its spot on.
He became one of the biggest personalities on the Bryntirion football scene, and, through his dedication, they eventually lived the dream and secured Welsh League status in 2002.
And for many years, the Glamorgan Gazette carried his match reports.
Of those who missed the picture call 35 years ago, Dai Brett became a strong influence on the Bryntirion scene and is now a Penybont director.
Peter Morgan is Penybont treasurer while Coed-y-Mwstwr Golf Club star Mark Crowell’s son Matthew played for both Southampton and Wrexham, and won seven Wales U21 caps.
However, the most amazing character in the picture is player-manager Dave Harris, who never returned from New York. He found love in Philadelphia and liked the place so much that he still remains there.