Picture sparks memories of a golden era for Garw
BRIDGEND Hockey Club star Emily Phillips recently discovered a picture of her father Drewe, linking him with a golden era at Garw Football Club, writes Tony Poole.
The picture she seized on in a family album dates back to the 1999-2000 season when the Blandy boys were crowned Welsh League Division Three champions.
It triggered another rise of the famous old Pontycymer club, and the following year they became Division Two champions and had four seasons in the top flight.
But the demise was sadly just as rapid – by 2010 Welsh League status had been surrendered, and they now play out of Highadmit South Wales Alliance Division Two.
But this season under Ryan Blanche they are unbeaten in the league, and are in the last-16 stage of the W J Owen Cup.
The hope now in the Blandy camp is that a corner has been turned, and the good times are once more about to roll.
Looking back at the 1999-00 campaign, Garw won 24 and drew two of 28 matches in Division Three.
The highlights were a 9-1 home win over South Wales Police, and an 8-0 demolition of Caldicot Town in the Welsh League’s Flocon Cup.
Sturdy defender Drewe Phillips, older brother of star wing man Tony, led from the front during this golden campaign.
The team scored a remarkable 127 goals, and breaking them down unearths some iconic Garw footballers of the era.
Three players achieved double figures – Phillip Popham (36 goals), Ga- reth Hughes (28) and Ceri Williams (20).
On the nine-mark was Rhys John; twinkling star Mark Sage hit the target seven times while Rhys Morgan and Gareth Sage had six goals against their names. Lloyd Griffiths and Christopher Wells knocked in three goals, one more than Stuart Evans.
The list was completed by single strikes from Owen Atkinson, Nigel Casey, Marc Hayes, Drewe Phillips and Greg Rees along with two own-goals.
The Division Two championship was won the following year with Popham collecting a further 22 strikes while Darren Lyons scored a sweet 16 goals.
This is sadly all in the past, but hopefully the next generation of Garw stars are about to make history.