Lockdown Blog – Allan Marsh

It’s week twelve of isolation and shielding for me and to quote BB King – “the thrill is gone!”

It’s been difficult. We can’t visit our family, one of whom has been very ill with Covid – happily now recovered – and two birthdays have come and gone. We can’t meet friends or go for a drink, there is no sport- rugby, cricket or athletics – and no Ponty Rugby Show on the radio. I’ve had to console myself by watching Ponty’s “Golden Moments of the 1990s” on You Tube!

All the nostalgia made me recollect my history with and attachment to the club.

In the photo I’m wearing the commemorative sweatshirt from the day in 1994 when Ponty played South Africa. When I went to the ’95 World Cup, staying with my wife’s relations, I gifted it to my South African host. He regaled his friends with the story of how that was the only game on that short Autumn tour that the ‘Boks failed to score a try! When I returned some years later after his death I was helping his wife to dispose of his clothes and reclaimed the shirt. There cannot be many still in existence – should I put it on e-bay or contact St. Fagans?

My first contact with Ponty was in the late fifties when they came up the valley to play Treorchy – being a Treherbert boy I couldn’t support Treorchy (then or now, it’s tribal)  so I was there as a neutral.

In 1964 I met the girl who was to become my wife and each Saturday evening would go to the cinema but spend the afternoon watching Ponty in the Park. Names that come to mind are Billy Griffiths and “Shrimp” Willaims at half back, Byron Broadstock and Tony Davies in the backs; and Jock Watkins and Russell Jones in the pack.

Gone are the days when with friends we went to all home and away games in Wales – Mr Moffet took away that pleasure.  I have now “retired” to the Grandstand – I miss the camaraderie of the Shed, but approaching my 80th birthday, it’s all that my knees allow. When this lockdown comes to an end, long may my support continue with many more happy memories to come.

Hwyl fawr i bawb tan y tro nesaf yn Heol Sardis.

Allan Marsh