Monkton Swifts

There was a time when the thought of playing against Monkton Swifts was enough to make opponents quake in their boots. It was a team to be reckoned with, and Monkton community was solidly behind them. Times change and sadly the club has hit a rocky patch in recent years - but the good news is that this is about to change! But first a little bit of history. It all began ... actually no one seems to know much about the beginnings of football in Monkton so I visited the Swifts' clubhouse to find out more from veterans Clifford Cole, Charlie Blunsdon and Colwyn Evans who are, with other devotees, determined to resurrect the good times and restore Monkton Swifts to their former glory.

Birth of the Swifts

I learnt that, before the Swifts came into being, there was a football team called Monkton United. I was shown a photograph dated 1926 confirming this, but little seems to be known about United and the team ceased to be, perhaps because of the war? Forward in time to 1955, a meeting was called, as a result of which a football team was formed under the new title of Monkton Swifts. The minutes book dating back to this historic meeting records that the meeting was held at Monkton Church Hall on Monday, December 5, at 8.30 pm. and 'was held in order to form a Football Club and Team which it is hoped will be entered in the Pembrokeshire League for the 1956/57 season.' Eighteen members attended the meeting and the officers elected were: chairman, Mr. Ronnie Thomas; secretary, G. Richards; treasurer, Ernest Jenkins. They certainly didn't waste time - two weeks later, at a meeting held on Monday, December 19, the Captain C. Skone was elected, an entertainment's committee appointed and a door to door collection for membership organised. Mr. Wynne, of Mellaston, was asked to accept the position as president of the club. And so the Swifts were born. Not all plain sailing in those early days though. Charlie Blunsdon told me that they had to share the pitch with the cows. Before the match, they would have to drive the cows off the field and go round with a sheet of zinc on a rope to scoop up the cow pats before they could begin the game! The field was later bought for the club from the Meyrick estate for the sum of £2,300. Facilities were somewhat primitive too - no showers in those early days - a tin bath at Miss Willers, then later at Vergie's Cottage after the game. Later they built their own shed with a concrete bath - although, Cliff added, the last one to bathe was dirtier than before he went in!

Gathering strength

The team went from strength to strength - and could boast of great successes under the management of Ben Jones, who was manager of the first team for 25 years, and his brother Billy and wife Lal who ran the seconds. A cuttings book reveals an amazing playing record with headlines like 'Swifts storm to Deserved Success', 'Swifts on the rise with devastating derby victory', 'Jennings hattrick boosts Swifts', 'a Swift reply', 'Swifts just keep on winning'. In one article the late Vernon Scott enthused: 'Benno's braves did the old maestro proud, and served warning that not only are they ready for Welsh League football, but in the mood to win silverware as well. The Swifts were magnificent. To achieve such a result after being two down at half-time, not only demonstrated manager Jones's ability to rally his players, but also the faith they had in themselves to overcome powerful opposition against the odds. 'Everything about the set up at Monkton is impressive; from the club's superb facilities to the exciting squad Benno Jones has built ....' And what wonderful support they enjoyed from the community! In one of the photographs here, supporters wait for the bus to take them to the Senior Cup final 1993 in Haverfordwest where the Swifts won against Merlin's Bridge. Over 200 people went in four bus loads to support and many also travelled by car. It was quite a match!

The social hub

The first clubhouse was built in the early 1960s when Raymond Howells was chairman. "This was originally a canteen at the power station," Clifford told me, "the Swifts were offered it free on condition that they would dismantle it and take it away. Later, in 1981, the present clubhouse was built: whilst we paid for the actual erection of the building which was done by Garfield Thomas, all the internal work was done voluntarily. It was then that I became chairman. I had a lovely committee - we all worked hard; every night from 6 - 10 pm. and no one took a penny. I would like to pay tribute to the late Terry Davies, our treasurer, who was succeeded by Bernie Lee; to secretary Paul Bargery; to the late Brian Scurlock and his wife Shirley, our dedicated bar staff, and to Russell Martin who was a great help. Les Thomas started the tote in the early days of the club and has continued to do this along with Lou Davies and Gary Lewis - they are invaluable fundraisers. We had a ladies committee too and they were brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Under the leadership of Jenny Hill, they organised the Sunday night cabaret and put on shows. The club would be packed out and before long we needed to expand our facilities and later built the large function room. We never shut the club once." I took a look at the empty hall and was impressed with what it offered. A great venue for events, added to which there is a large car park. It was, and I am sure it will be again, a popular venue for all sorts of events, not forgetting darts, skittles, short mat bowling and other indoor games. The players too were provided with great facilities and, Cliff boasted, no club could better the new shower block which was built with a grant from the Welsh Sports Council. A photograph here shows Mr. Edwards, of the Welsh Sports Council, congratulating Cliff on the completion of the showers.

The future is looking bright

However, in more recent years the club hit rocky times, becoming a shadow of its former self. Down, but not defeated, Cliff and his committee are now determined to that the Swifts will soar again. "We have a new manager in Mark Powell, a former Swansea player no less, and he is getting the sides together. "There is a waiting list of young people - already Swifts have two junior teams: the 13s (under manager Paul Lacey) and 16s (under Dickie Davies and Simon Blunsden). "We are also planning to have a reunion of Monkton Old boys and ex-Monkton Players", he added. It's all looking good - Monkton Swifts, it would appear, are coming back so watch this space. Interested in getting involved? - go along to the meeting at Monkton Swifts on Monday, August 11, at 7 pm, or contact Clifford Cole on 01646 684473.

Events

Wednesday afternoons until August 20, Terry John will be leading a series of guided walks though Pembroke recounting the dramatic story of the Siege of Pembroke 1648. Walks start at Pembroke Town Hall, 2 pm, £3 per adult, £2 concessions, children under five free. Please book your place at Pembroke Town Hall, 01646 683092. All proceeds to Pembroke Museum fund. Flower festival at Monkton Priory Church from August 10-17 on the theme of War Poems. Floral displays, raffles, refreshments, light lunches. The History Society is taking part. Talk by Mr. Harry Mount on 'The Loveliest Buildings in Pembrokeshire' on Wednesday, August 13, at 7 pm, at Warren Church. All welcome, free entry, retiring collection.

Contact

If you have any stories, photographs or feedback for this column, please contact me, Linda Asman, on 01646 622428, email [email protected]">[email protected] and visit our website http://www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk">www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk