LLANTRISANT RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB R U GBY • LEGEN O F DS RS SI A N E C E Y 1 5 3 2 4 1 6 125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLACK ARMY Dean Powell Llantrisant RFC 125th Anniversary LLANTRISANT RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB R U GBY • LEGEN O F DS RS SI A N E C E Y 1 5 3 2 4 1 6 125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLACK ARMY Dean Powell 7 9 8 1 6- 9 8 1 V X st 1 nt a s ri nt a Ll Llantrisant RFC 125th Anniversary FoRewoRd By deNNIS GeTHIN PReSIdeNT, weLSH RUGBY UNIoN I am delighted to be given this opportunity to congratulate Llantrisant Rugby Football Club on its 125th Anniversary. This is a tremendous milestone and I pay tribute to players, staff and supporters both past and present for all that has been achieved over the decades. during my time as Chief executive of Taff ely Borough Coun- cil I had great pleasure in watching the famous “Black Army” for myself and know the pride and passion in which they play. I have been closely involved with welsh rugby as a player, an administrator and a passionate fan so I was incredibly pleased to have been elected President of the welsh Rugby Union. I pledged to use my time in this major ambassadorial role to spread the word far and wide about this great sport of ours and its important place in the hearts and minds of the people of wales. However, wherever I go I make it clear that there’s no future for welsh Rugby unless the grass roots remain strong. That’s why clubs like Llantrisant that have encouraged the game for 125 years in their locality, are essential to the future of our national game. The welsh Team has enjoyed a good run of international rugby but none of it happens unless we nurture the talent from our local teams. That’s why it’s vital that sides like Llantrisant continue to flourish. on behalf of the welsh Rugby Union may I take this opportunity to congratulate you all at Llantrisant Rugby Football Club on this magnificent achievement. Llongyfarchiadau! 3 Llantrisant RFC 125th Anniversary 3 0 0 2 - 2 0 0 2 p u C t c ri t s Di - d Mi e h t r o d f d ri p y t n o P d, a o R s di r a S t a a d d n o h R d a r t s Y r e v o n wi r ei h t g n ti a r b e el c V X t s 1 t n a s ri t n a Ll 4 Llantrisant RFC 125th Anniversary MY BLACK ARMY PRIde By BRAdLeY dAVIeS welsh Rugby International Rugby has been a massive part of my life for longer youth train one evening, then the seconds and firsts than I can remember, but what I do know is where another evening before watching the game on the it all began, and that’s Llantrisant. I’ve always been weekend. I played football on a Saturday, mini proud to call myself a “Black Army” boy and al- rugby on a Sunday and following a stint in Ponty- though this sport has taken me all over the world, clun progressed to the Llantrisant Youth XV with my Llantrisant will always be home to me. That’s why brother. Thanks to them I developed my skills and it gives me so much pleasure to congratulate the rugby became my life. club, its players, members and supporters on this As a boy I would go in the bar of Llantrisant RFC 125th anniversary year. and see pictures of all those players who’d had My earliest memories of Cefn Mabley field goes schoolboy and youth caps and some of the older back more than twenty years when on weekends I members would tell me my photograph would be would have breakfast at my gran’s house and then on that wall one day. I don’t think I really believed run over to the club as early as possible before the them at the time. But the day I pulled on the red jer- start of the game. The first one’s there could become sey and played my first full cap for wales was the ball boys for the game and Steve woodland would most surreal experience of them all. There are no pay us £3.00 each for the privilege. That’s where the words to describe how amazing it is to represent love of the game began, watching the seniors take your country and it’s always been one of the proud- on teams from all over the area. est moments of my career. I also had a love of football and although my father Rugby means so much to me and I’ve enjoyed every played rugby for Pontypridd, it was my headmaster, moment of it, but I won’t forget where it all started Mr emmanuel at Coed yr esgob Primary School and who encouraged me from an early age. who encouraged me to follow in his footsteps. My Llantrisant is in my dNA. who knows, maybe I’ll brother Ashley wasn’t happy about it, it meant stay- get to play for them again one day – if they’ll have ing behind school and waiting for me while I me! trained. I remember he even made me cry! Have a great 125th anniversary year. I’m looking for- when I was seven years of age I joined the new mini ward to the celebrations already. Thank you for all rugby sides set up by Colin Bowen and Terry you’ve done for players over the years and in par- warton and that’s where I developed my love of the ticular the support and encouragement you always game. My life became all about sport, watching the gave me. 5 Llantrisant RFC 125th Anniversary 125th ANNIVeRSARY TeSTIMoNIALS “May I wish Llantrisant RFC all the very best in their “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate 125th anniversary year. This is an incredible achieve- Llantrisant RFC on reaching their 125th anniversary. ment. I’m a president of a similar club to the Black This is an excellent record by any standards and I Army and I find it amazing the work these clubs do hope the “Black Army” continue to conquer on the field to keep rugby alive in small communities. It is in- for many years to come. Have a wonderful season”. credible. Let’s keep village rugby going, allowing Barry John the local young men to use their energy on the field and go on to better things. welsh rugby is in a better “It's great to see another famous club like Llantrisant place today thanks to this type of starting place. RFC celebrating their 125th Anniversary.” whatever the division you play in, as long as you George North have Senior Teams and a good young section of promising players then the future is yours. Look “Clubs like Llantristant RFC are the heartbeat of our after your clubhouse, your spiritual home and make sport and congratulations to them on their 125th An- sure you fill it this year with plenty of celebrations. niversary.” The future of welsh rugby is about grass roots train- Mike Phillips ing at these local levels. It was the making of players from Gerald davies to Shane williams. You are the heartbeat of welsh rugby. Congratulations to you all”. “Llantrisant RFC’s service to the world of rugby has Phil Bennett been as long and as true as the longbow of the Black Army. Congratulations! Llongyfarchiadau a phob hwyl am y tymor!” “Very many congratulations to Llantrisant RFC on Clive Rowlands achieving this impressive milestone in their history. For generations the Black Army has been a well “The Black Army has bestowed great honour on the known club in the welsh Rugby Union and I'm sure famous old town over the past 125 years. From they will continue to gain further glory in the years Trevor "Chippo" davies to Bradley davies, players to come. I hope you have a successful and enjoyable have proudly worn the colours of Llantrisant RFC 125th anniversary season. Llongyfarchiadau!” with great distinction on and off the field. It's is great Gareth edwards to see that from mini and junior to senior level, the "Spirit of The Black Army" continues to prevail today. Congratulations to all at Llantrisant RFC on “Congratulations and llongyfarchiadau to you all at the 125th Anniversary!” Llantrisant RFC on this wonderful milestone. Here’s Phil Steele to celebrating the 125th anniversary and let’s raise a cup to the next 125 years!” Gerald davies “Congratulations to everyone at Llantrisant RFC for reaching this historic landmark.” Sam warburton “May I take this opportunity to wish all associated with Llantrisant RFC, past and present, my hearty “Congratulations to Llantrisant RFC on their 125th congratulations during this very special year.” anniversary. I remember playing in a charity match warren Gatland there many years ago and sustaining a nasty cut above my eye. This was sutured on the spot and I “I'd like to add my congratulations to Llantristant was able to get back on the field. Good luck to all the RFC who are celebrating their 125th Anniversary, players and supporters and I hope you have a very well done!” successful season!” James Hook JPR williams 6 Llantrisant RFC 125th Anniversary How IT ALL BeGAN By SCoTT ANdRewS welsh Rugby International Looking back on my life I feel as if every and dean Akers were great mentors. day of it has been connected in some way I only played for the 1st XV team for half a to rugby and it was on the Cefn Mabley season, making my debut against Mountain field that it all began. As Llantrisant RFC Ash before joining the Blues Academy and celebrates its 125th anniversary, the club the Glamorgan wanderers for two years should be proud of the many young play- and then onto the Cardiff Blues. I was for- ers, like myself, who they trained and sup- tunate enough to have been capped for the ported over the years. without doubt the Under 11s and through to the Under 16s, encouragement, team spirit and cama- 18s and 20s. But nothing really prepares raderie had a massive effect on me and I you for the experience of becoming a welsh learned so much from those coaches and international. squad members. I think it was my second full welsh cap that It was my grandfather, Alun Jones who in- I’ll remember the most, against Australia. It spired me to enjoy the sport and I owe him was a really bizarre experience to represent a massive debt of gratitude for that. He at- wales in the Millennium Stadium and the tended all of my matches from mini-rugby Black Army had been the starting point. games to the present day and it was really The whole day was just like a dream from thanks to him that I became a professional start to finish. An amazing moment. player. I can’t thank Llantrisant RFC enough for I first played rugby as a pupil at Coed yr the encouragement and support they’ve al- esgob Primary School where Headteacher, ways given me and continue to give me to Mr emmanuel trained the young squad. As this day. My childhood was spent in that I lived in dancaerlan I saw the pitch at Cefn club house, watching the older men play Mabley just about every day and naturally darts, skittles, watching the different sides joined the mini-rugby side at the same time, train. It really is a community club and I where Richard Harrison coached us weekly. wish them not only a happy 125th anniver- It was a great time to be training with your sary, but hope for many more years of suc- friends and we pretty much grew up to- cess ahead for every player. gether and went through to join the Under 16s and the Youth side where Mark Butcher 7 Llantrisant RFC 125th Anniversary 8