Glynneath
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Kevin Doherty played youth rugby for the
club and was part of the first ever mini
tournament winning team that won the
Regional Cup back in 1974. He told us, “I
played a few seasons at youth and senior
level for the club, mainly as scrum half. I
also played football at quite a high standard
for Port Talbot and was known as quite an
effective striker.
My business Hacer Project Management is
a club sponsor who like to help out. The club
have a very good young side at the moment
and youth development is obviously a very
important factor in this. I wish everyone
at the club continued success and to keep
enjoying and developing this great club
particularly through the young players
coming through.”
“Youth rugby is extremely important as
it’s the future of our first team. We invite
young players to train with the seniors,
make them feel valued, wanted and
important to the future of the club.
“We are very much a community club
with 75% of the side having come
through our juniors it’s a place where all
are made to feel welcome, encouraged to
join the club not just as playing members
but also as social members.
“Our biggest challenges are maintaining
the player base; three years a today go
we had a firsts, seconds and youth team,
today we only have a first team it’s
not just us, all the clubs have the same
problem, social members are getting
older, financially you need to attract a
different customer for conference venue,
meetings, weddings etc.
“Our ambitions over the next five years
are to have a secure future; that means
encouraging our minis and juniors,
maintaining our identity as a community
club and promoting the club to all.”
Rugby Club Magazine also caught up with
Club Treasurer Stephen Evans who said,
“I first started with the club in 1971 as a
youth team player. I went to Glynneath
as it was my local club and was looking
for players for that team.”
“In my role as treasurer the most
challenging aspect is ensuring the club
remains a viable business working in
conjunction with the other committee
members. Due to the number of home
fixtures we have it is difficult to run the
business.
“Our fixture list should finish in March
which is ridiculous. The league is not
big enough to support a business. This
seems lost on the governing body. They
are turning clubs from historically being
a rugby club with a social side to a social
side with rugby attached. Keeping the
club going as a viable business is the
most rewarding thing for me.
“Overall the season playing wise has
been very good. We are a young squad
who are well coached and the feedback is
they are enjoying themselves in training
and playing.
“Our future plans are to continue
developing our junior section which is
strong, to work as a club both seniors
and juniors to promote rugby in the
village and to improve the facilities at
the club. Recently we obtained grant
funding which has allowed us to open a
children’s play area in the club grounds
and we want to continue to provide
better facilities for our members as
regards the club house itself.
“We continually look at commercial
opportunities. In 2018, we hosted events
with Alyn Wynn Jones, Ken Owens,
Derek Quinnell and Rick O Shea. We are
looking to host similar events in 2019.
During the summer we have band days
in the open air. Glynneath has a long
history, it is a village club where people
can come and enjoy themselves either as
juniors, seniors and or members/visiting
supporters.”
“I’ve lived in the area for forty years and was chairman for nineteen years between 1992 and 2011.
I played a little at Glynneath then Hirwaun RFC as a hooker. My company has been a long-term
sponsor and supporter of the club and I’d like to wish them all the best for the future.”
Jackie Pearce
36 Issue 83