Sport

Team of the week: Fishguard Sports AFC

Published

12 years ago

February 6, 2014

AT THE half way stage of the season Fishguard Sports AFC are making great progress as a club throughout the Pembrokeshire League. Both the junior and minis teams are growing by the minute, which is encouraging news for the future of the club.

Although the minis are not in a league or cup structure, there is fantastic talent been spotted and great performances been noted. Both the junior teams are part of a league and cup structure; they have put in some great performances against bigger, stronger clubs and have improved vastly as the games get more competitive.

All this is down to hard work carried out by players in training, coaches who give up their free time and also the support they get from parents and other family members. As a club they are very grateful to all of you for your effort, support and commitment to which Fishguard is very proud to have you aboard.

The club have also started a number of girls football teams, which is a first for the club and turning out to be very successful. They have managed to form two Under 12s, two Under 14s and one under 16s, to which the standard is very high for the county. Again the support from parents and family members is a credit to the club and encourages the development of the girls who take part.

This year will also be a first for the club for a newly formed junior disability team. The team have been training since September 2013 and will hopefully play their first tournament in March 2014.

Both the senior teams are having mixed fortunes midway through the season, with the first team sitting third from bottom in Division 2, but have progressed through to the Senior Cup quarter finals. The second team is sitting mid-table in Division 5 are hoping for a more consistency in performances to climb higher and have an outside chance of promotion. There is a long way to go yet, but both teams are always committed and who knows some silverware, keep it up lads.

As you will be aware at the moment the club are hosting all their minis and junior games at the Grange and using the facilities provided by the local Leisure Centre for changing for all teams. Although this is convenient it does come at a cost which filters through to the players themselves to fund.

Presently the club has secured £25,000 from Sports Council of Wales’ development grant to develop the site in Tregroes on the outskirts of Fishguard. The development will cost £65,000; this will make way for two pitches to accommodate all teams that play for the club on a weekly basis.

The club will find out early in April 2014 if they are through to the next phase of a grant application to the “Sita Trust” for £40,000. If successful the club will be able to start developing the pitches and hopefully be able to move out there in the not so distant future. There is currently a vacancy on the committee as club secretary, anyone interested can contact 07966 936126.

The club try to keep the weekly charge for football to a minimum, but there are significant costs to run all the teams, fundraising is therefore of paramount importance.

The club would like to wish all their sponsors old and new continued success for 2014.

Sport

Vice-chair steps down at Haverfordwest County AFC

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Herald Sport

Mared Pemberton leaves board role after years of service

HAVERFORWEST COUNTY AFC has confirmed that Mared Pemberton has stepped down from her role as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors due to personal commitments.

Pemberton has played a key role in the club’s development in recent years, most notably leading the delivery of the Ogi Bridge Meadow 3G pitch project.

She has also been closely involved in the club’s community work and fan engagement initiatives, helping to strengthen its reputation and position as a focal point within the local area.

Pemberton will continue her involvement with the club as Head of Trustees for the Bluebirds Foundation, the official charitable arm of Haverfordwest County AFC.

A club spokesperson said: “Everyone at the club would like to thank Mared for her loyalty, hard work and dedication over many years, and we wish her well for the future.”

Sport

Camrose girls head to Portugal after major community backing

Published

3 days ago

March 30, 2026

Herald Sport

A CAMROSE Under 13s girls’ football team has travelled to Portugal for a once-in-a-lifetime tour, supported by a funding boost from Wales & West Utilities.

The squad, made up of twenty-four players aged between eleven and fourteen, set off during the Easter holidays after five months of determined fundraising efforts.

The trip forms part of a wider international learning programme funded by Taith, the Welsh Government-backed scheme promoting global exchange opportunities for young people.

During their time abroad, the team will take part in cultural and sporting activities, including matches against local sides, social events with host clubs, and a coaching session with Portuguese giants S.L. Benfica. The group will also attend a professional football match.

Organisers say the tour is about far more than football, with a strong focus on confidence-building, teamwork, and cultural exchange. Around forty per cent of the players and coaching staff come from underrepresented backgrounds, including young carers, those in care, and families on low incomes.

While Taith funding has supported much of the programme, additional financial help from Wales & West Utilities has been vital in bridging a £3,000 shortfall. The funds have also enabled the purchase of a dedicated tour kit, helping keep players safe and identifiable in busy environments.

Volunteer coach Joanne Battelley said the support had made a real difference.

She said: “This tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our girls, both on and off the pitch. The support from Wales & West Utilities has helped ensure more of our players can take part and benefit from the opportunity.”

Bethan Jones, Head of People and Customer Experience at Wales & West Utilities, said the company was proud to support the initiative.

She said: “Football is about more than just the game. This trip will help build confidence, develop new skills, and create lasting memories for these young players.”

Wales & West Utilities provides gas emergency and pipeline services to more than 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England.

Sport

Lloyd and Reynolds take on France with Supra GT4 challenge

Published

5 days ago

March 28, 2026

Herald Sport

WELSH drivers Rhys Lloyd and Harri Reynolds are set to take on Europe as they launch their 2026 campaign in the French GT4 Championship.

The pairing will compete in the Championnat de France FFSA GT – GT4 France, driving a Toyota Supra GT4 run by Circuit Toys in partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing France.

The highly competitive series features five rounds across some of France and Belgium’s most iconic circuits, with the season getting underway at Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro over Easter weekend (April 5–6).

European step up

Both drivers bring experience as teammates, having competed together in the 2024 Britcar Trophy Championship and earlier this year in the Dubai 24 Hours — giving them a solid platform heading into their first full European campaign.

The FFSA GT4 series also offers a significant incentive, with a €150,000 prize fund available through the SRO Motorsports Group’s GT Academy programme, aimed at helping drivers progress to higher levels such as GT2 and GT World Challenge Europe.

Aiming for the title

Reynolds, from Narberth, said he was eager to build on the pair’s recent success.

“I’m really looking forward to the season ahead,” he said. “After the Dubai 24, Rhys and I have built a strong understanding of how the team operates, and they now know how we work as drivers.

“Taking our first proper step into European racing, it’ll be exciting to experience the competition and get to know new drivers and teams.

“We’re aiming to put ourselves in a position to fight for the championship. As drivers, that’s always the goal. Rhys and I have worked well together, and if we can continue that momentum, we’ll be right in the mix.”

He added that racing abroad would bring new challenges, including travel demands and adapting to unfamiliar circuits and conditions.

Motivated return

Lloyd, from Carmarthen, said he was relishing his return to racing after time away in 2025.

“I’m super excited about the 2026 season,” he said. “Having taken a year out, I’m more motivated than ever to be back.

“The Toyota Supra GT4 is an incredible car, and to be back driving with Harri is a great partnership.

“It’s a big step for us both to race in France — all the circuits and competitors will be new — but I’m really looking forward to getting started in Nogaro.”

Further announcements about the team’s 2026 campaign are expected in the coming months.