Treorchy
Images courtesy of Jason Clarke
Ceri Davies , a Partner at Devonalds Solicitors , a Sponsor of Treorchy RFC
I am a Partner in Devonalds , a well-known firm of local solicitors , which has its origins in the Rhondda Valley .
I was approached last year by an old friend , Gwyn Thorne , a long-standing servant of the Club and now its commercial manager . The Club were looking for sponsorship , and when I put this to my fellow partners , there was no hesitation in us agreeing to become a sponsor to one of the most famous of Valley clubs .
Two of my colleagues , Steve Evans and Paul Harris , have played for Treorchy at various times , but my involvement goes back much further than both of those .
It was in the early 70 ’ s that I started to watch Treorchy , as my elder brother , Tudor , played for the club . It was a successful period , and those players became my heroes . I started to play for the senior team in 1977-78 , and was lucky enough to play with some of them , including my brother .
However , a number of older players decided to hang up their boots at that time , so it was left to younger members of the club to take up the challenge . Believe me , my early years in the senior team were not always that successful and it was a hard , steep , learning curve . However , those years stood us in good stead for what became a very successful period for the Club from the mid 80 ’ s to the early 90 ’ s .
My first coaches were two of Treorchy ’ s favourite sons , Bob Pearce and John Benbow , sadly both of whom have passed away . Clive Jones was then appointed coach in 1984 , and we became a side that any team found difficult to play against . That ’ s the most diplomatic description I can give ! I retired in 1992 , although I played a few seasons for the “ Rags ”, a time I really enjoyed .
Whatever success or otherwise I experienced as a player , what I will always treasure are the friends I made in the club and the comradeship I found there ( I should also say that is where I met my future wife - the Saturday night discos there were famous ). It was a genuine Valley Club rooted in the local community .
Like a lot of other clubs , I feel that it lost its way a little in the early years of professionalism but it is great to see it back to its roots and having the success that this season has so far brought . I know that this is down to the hard work of the coaching staff , players and committee - long may it continue .
67 Issue 69 www . rugbyclub . biz 67