The Centenary History of Amman United Rugby Football Club, 1903-2003

(Roll Along, Amman United, Roll Along)

Edited by Howard Gabe Davies, 2003

Here is a listing of the book's contents, an extract of the honours list details, the introduction, and also a list of the photographs in it.   Gareth Hicks (March 2004)

**My copy of this book was deposited with Glamorgan FHS in April 2022

• Introduction
• Contents
• Honours List
• Photographs

Introduction

To all men who have loved this Club
And all the Women who have let them

By Howard Gabe Davies - Editor

To relate a hundred years of history is never a simple task; to attempt to do for a rugby club in a venture of this kind has been a mammoth task. It has been impossible to check on the authenticity of all the information included, and we should also apologize in advance for anybody whose part in the history has not been properly recognized. For as time passes memories are less vivid, truth becomes harder to unearth and as in the autumn, some colour inevitably fades. In the early days in the industrial small villages of Cwmamman with their mines and tin works, many of the rugby players faced death every day in the coal mines. Hunger and deprivation followed in the 1920s and 1930s for themselves and their families. The mines have long gone; we have gone from colliers to college boys but good players continue to appear and many of them at the end of their career stay on to help in the administration of the game which gave them so much.

To function efficiently a rugby club needs many people behind the scenes, from the people who look after the kit, and the committee men to the ladies who provide the food. They are all part of the team and without them Rugby would be the poorer. Today it is becoming increasingly difficult to get old players and individuals in the community to hold office as treasurer or secretary in the club and it is equally difficult to find ladies in the supporters club and hard working committee men.

The centenary book team are made up of such old players, it seemed the best way to show our gratitude to this club for the enjoyment we have experienced both on and off the field and I would have to say personally that they were "The Best years of my Life," especially with the friendships that were forged on the field and that have been consolidated as I have grown older. We are delighted to have participated in the publication of the book and I as editor must thank the centenary book committee team of Alan Thomas, Iyn Roberts, John Vince Williams, Hywel Roberts and Martin Luther Jones for the enormous task of compiling the history in the short period of nine months. I would also like to record my admiration and thanks to Eurof Walters who has such an amazing memory on the history of Amman United and has helped me and the other members of the team in their pursuits. Also to David Jones for copying over 300 photographs to such a high quality, some of which are 100 years old. Finally, to our proof readers Gwyneth Davies, Gwyn Davies and especially to Linden Evans for their hard work. The club's search for the oldest living player brought us to Rees Price (Cardiff) at 86 years old. This was amended to Eddie Ward (Brynamman) at 89 years old and finally the honour went to Tom Bowen (Gorseinon) at 90 years of age. Our oldest supporter, Mrs Doreen Rees who lives in Garnant, is 83 years of age and is still regularly seen at home games.

As we celebrate our centenary year we hope that our contribution of the centenary book, with contributions by many people who have had close associations with the club, will be enjoyed by players and supporters both past and present. It will probably create as many arguments as it will solve. I shall leave it to others to try and solve them.

Good luck to the Amman United RFC in its next hundred years.

Contents

• 1      Dedication       4
• 2      Introduction     5
• 3      Foreword        7
• 4      Notes: President - Chairman - Darrel Campbell     9
• 5      Acknowledgements        14
• 6      Contents        15
• 7      Club Officials and Committee 2003       16
• 8      The Early Years 1903 - 1914       17
• 9       Between the Wars 1918 - 1939      27
• 10     The Oldest Amman Player - Tom Bowen     45
• 11     Experiences of Rees Price        47
• 12     From Amman junior to Welsh International        49
• 13     The Early Post War Years 1945 - 1950        53
• 14     The 1950s       61
• 15     The l960s       66
• 16     Welsh National 7s Final - Sevens Glory for the Amman    76
• 17     Sine Die        85
• 18     Profiles: Bobby Hunt - Dennis Davies - Martin Luther Jones      89
• 19     Amman United 1971 - 2003        101
• 20     Profiles: Graham George - Darrel Campbell       131
• 21     Amman Harlequins 1947 - 2003     135
• 22     History of the Amman United Youth 1949 - 2003     145
• 23     Amman United Juniors 1971 - 2003        159
• 24     Cwmamman Schools 1975 - 2003     175
• 25     The Rugby League Connection     179
• 26     Rugby Family Connections - Bevan - Rees - Ward     191
• 27     Tours: Southend 1967 and Germany in Fallingbostel 1971     203
• 28     Recollections: Hywel Evans - Eurof Walters - Ian Penman, Jeff Thomas - John Gwyn Jones     209
• 29     History of the Amman United Badge      227  
• 30     A Tribute to the Amman United      228
• 31     Profiles: Trevor Evans - Shane Williams - David Jones   231
• 32     Amman United's Welsh Internationals     249
• 33     Honours List     254
• 34     Amman United President and Club officials       263
• 35     Vernon Pugh Q.C. Chairman of the International Rugby Board      265
• 36     Congratulations    269
• 37     Caneuon yr Aman    275
• 38     Montage of Amman Players and Administrators     277

Honours List

Photographs

These are listed with page numbers in the same order as in the book

• Amman United RFC 1903/4, the first Amman Team, 18
• Billy Jones, Amman's first captain and life member, 19
• David Thomas, Amman United RFC's first secretary, 19
• Season Ticket 1904/5, 19
• Season Ticket 1904/5 reverse side, 19
• Amman United season 1908/9, 20
• Plan of Cwmamman Park 1914, 20
• Original Lease of Cwmamman Park 1909, 22
• Garnant Cricket Club 1911, 23
• Amman Rovers 1912/13, 24
• Season Ticket, 1912/13, 25
• Amman United RFC 1913/14 (Semi final Welsh Hospitals Cup), 26
• Gellyceidrim Colliery Team, Season 1924/25, 28
• Wales v England 1919 (with Joe Rees), 28
• Amman United 1922/23, 31
• Amman United RFC Second XV 1922/23, 31
• Grenig Rovers Season 1922/23, 32
• Fixture List and season ticket 1922/23, 33
• Wales Rugby League Team (D M Davies in 1932), 33
• Amman United 1924/25, 34
• Amman United RFC 1927/28/29 (Amman Valley Shield winners), 34
• Welsh Rugby Union Selection Committee 1922/23, 36
• WRU Committee Match ticket 1929, 36
• Claude Davey being presented to the King, Wales v England 1933, 38
• Programme Wales v Ireland 1936 (with Claude Davey as captain), 39
• Programme Wales v South Africa 1931 (with Claude Davey and Will Davies), 40
• Amman United RFC 1932/33, 41
• Amman United RFC Season 1935/36, 41
• Season Ticket 1936/37, 42
• Amman Juniors RFC Team Season 1935/6, 44
• Tom Bowen, 45
• Rees Price, 47
• Gwyn Evans, 49
• Bertie Davies, 53
• Percy Thomas, 54
• Amman Team v Tumble (West Wales Cup Final 1946), 55
• Amman United 1947/48 (not the Cup-final team), 55
• Amman v Abercrave 1948, 57
• Amman United 1948/49, 58
• Denzil Jones, 59
• Amman United 1949/50, 60
• Amman United 1951/52, 62
• Amman United 50th Anniversary 1952/53, 62
• 50th Anniversary Committee, 63
• West Wales Champions 1953/54, 65
• Amman United 1956/57, 65
• Freddie Phillips and Bertie Davies in 1960 at official opening of the stand, 67
• Amman XV at Official opening of stand, 67
• Amman United 1962/63, 68
• Amman United 1963/64, 68
• Amman United v Carmarthen Quins West Wales Cup Semi-final April 1966, 69
• Amman United 1966/67, 69
• Salutation Hotel, Victory Carnival(with Rhys Steaks), 1945, 72
• Amman United RFC Clubhouse, 73
• Amman Ladies Committee 1968, 73
• Amman United Committee 1967, 74
• Amman United 1969/70, 75
• District F Sevens Winners 1965/66, 83
• Welsh Sevens Finalists 1967, 83
• R (Bobby) Hunt, 89
• Dennis Davies, 92
• Martin Luther Jones, 97
• Martin Luther Jones, 'Clubman of the year', 1971, 99
• Ammanford Secondary School Team v Llandeilo Grammar school 1956, 99
• John Thomas, best player in Snelling Sevens, 101
• Amman at Brynamman 1973/74, 103
• Amman United Team for 1973/74 WWRU Cup Final, 104
• Amman United and Llanelli forwards get to grips in the mud, 104
• Vast crowds on the Bank as Amman take on Llanelli, 105
• Alan Davies presents Eurof Walters with Claude Davey's jersey, 105
• Presentation of British Lions' jersey by Trevor Evans to Nevin Anthony in 1977, 107
• Clive 'Bruiser' Williams in typical pose, 108
• Amman officials with guests from Coventry RFC 1978, 109
• Fran Cotton receives tankard from Marcus Roberts with Phil James and Edward Thomas looking on, 109
• British Lion Trevor Evans with School Internationals Rhys Harries & Jeff Price, 110
• 1982/83 Season, 110
• 1985/86, 111
• Amman United v Nantymoel 20/10/1990, with M Evans, C Williams & D Campbell, 112
• Klondike Kate v Mitzi Muller wrestling bout, 113
• Marcus Roberts presents Dai Davies with memento re record number of Welsh caps, 113
• Alan Jones restrains Graham Bundock with Roy Morgan laid low, 114
• Clive Williams receives West Wales RU Section D Champion's Trophy, 115
• Mike 'Mole' Evans chases Malcolm Dacey, Cardiff v Amman United 17/12/1988, 116
• Roy Morgan, Mike Evans, Adrian Phillips, Paul Rees, Clive Williams, Darrel Campbell and Neil Bundock in same Cardiff match, 116
• Amman United season 1986/87, 117
• Clive Williams, R Hartnell, Ieuan Evans & Martin Evans, 1983, 118
• Amman United Squad v Cardiff 17/12/1988, 118
• Richard Williams, Alan Davies, Darrel Campbell representing Carmarthenshire with Welsh Counties Cup, 119
• Amman United v Newport 22/12/1990, 119
• Ryan Williams in action for Welsh Schools, 120
• Amman United season 1990/91, 120
• Liam Clancey against Newport, 121
• Duncan Calow against Newport, 122
• Amman Uinited celebrates clean sweep of league at Resolven, 124
• Amman United season 1991/92, 124
• Amman United v Newport 19/12/1992, 125
• Amman United and Swansea 25/10/1998, 125
• Amman United season 2001/02, 126
• Pat Nolan  and Shaun Davies against Glais 19/4/2003, 126
• The Amman Eight v Ammanford 26/4/03, 127
• Amman United season 2002/03, 127
• Amman Harlequins RFC winnners of Swansea & District League Challenge Cup 1948/49 & 1949/50, 136
• Amman Quins 7s 1967 Welsh Districts Juniors Champions, 138
• Amman Quins v Penybanc 1966/67 final at Betws, 138
• Amman Quins celebrate in clubhouse, 139
• Past v Present Boxing Day 1971/72, 140
• Amman Quins XV 1983/84, 142
• C C Evans Cup Final at Cwmllynfell RFC 2003, 143
• Amman United Youth Team Season 1952/53, 146
• Amman United Youth Team Season 1955/56, 146
• Amman United Youth 7s Team Season 1955/56, 147
• Pantyffynon Youth Team Season 1967/68, 149
• Amman United Youth Team Season 1969/70, 149
• Amman United Youth Team Season 1971/72, 150
• Amman United Youth Team v Constoga High School 1973, 151
• Amman United Youth Team Season 1973/74, 151
• Amman United Youth Team Season 1984/85, 152
• Amman United Youth v Halifax Vandals Easter 1985, 153
• Amman United Youth Team Season 1992/93, 154
• Amman United Youth v London Welsh Youth, 156
• Amman United Juniors under 15s presentation to David Bevan 1972, 159
• Entire squad of Amman United Juniors in 1972 season, 160
• Amman United Juniors inc Shane Williams, 160
• Amman United Juniors at Nantgaredig Tournament, 161
• Andrew Roberts in Amman United Juniors team v a Scottish side at Cwmamman, 163
• John Vince Williams, 164
• Amman United Juniors Under 16s on tour to Ireland in 1996, 164
• Amman United Juniors, before/after- same side under 11 group and under 16 group, 165
• Robert Jones with Andrew Roberts, 166
• Paul Thorburn and Ryan Williams, 166
• Anthony Clement with Arwel Roberts, 166
• Trevor Evans with Matthew Brayley, 167
• Clive Williams with Ioan Cunningham, 167
• Trevor Evans with a Junior girl, 167
• Trevor Evans with Sian Rees, 168
• Martin Jones with Ryan Williams, 168
• Amman United RFC Under 10s season 2002/02, 170
• Amman United RFC Under 12s season 2002/03, 170
• Amman United RFC Under 14s season 2002/03, 171
• Amman United RFC Under 15s season 2002/03, 171
• Garnant Primary School team Season 1971/72, 175
• Garnant Primary School 'A' Team, 176
• Glanamman primary School 'A' Team, 176
• Billo Rees, 180
• Swinton RLFC 1925/26, 181
• Swinton RLFC 1926/27, 181
• Swinton RLFC 1927/28, 182
• Billo Rees scourge of the Australians, 183
• RL Cup Final Programme 1931, 184
• Dai Davies, 184
• D M Davies, 185
• D M Davies and brother Jack, 185
• D M Davies sprint training, 185
• Evan Phillips, 185
• Jack Elwyn Evans, 186
• Ted Ward, 187
• Ted Ward with Duke of Gloucester, 188
• Wales team v England at Wigan 1947, 188
• Ward rugby family in 1930s, 195
• Programme of Memorial Rugby Match 21 April 1948 at Ystalyfera  -  Claude Davey XV v Ivor Jones XV, 197
• Evan (Mock) Morgan, Amman Utd and Llanelli, 198
• Newspaper clipping re Ted Ward's loss to the League, 199
• Newspaper clipping re Ted Ward's death in 1988, 200
• Southend tour 1967, 203
• Fallingbostel  tour 1971, 207, 208
• Ian Penman and Randall Williams at the 75th Anniversary dinner, 217
• The above plus Gillian & Ieuan Thomas at same event, 218
• Invitation Ticket to 75th Anniversary Dinner in 1979 at Top Rank, Swansea, 218
• Ian Penman Seven a side team, 219
• John Gwyn Jones and Marcus Roberts in 1975, 223
• Club Badge, 227
• France v Galles 1975, 233
• Wales B v Tonga 1974 with Trevor Evans captain, 233
• Wales v Scotland 197? with Trevor scoring a try, 234
• Grand Slam Wales 1976, 234
• Wales v New Zealand 1977, 236
• Telegram from Marlene to Trevor in New Zealand with British Lions 1977, 236
• Newspaper report re West Wales v Argentinians at Stradey Park in 1976, 237
• Various programme pages British Lions in New Zealand in 1977, 238, 239
• Programme (signed by players) Barbarians v Australia 1976, 240
• Shane Williams, 241
• Shane Williams with Sir Taskar Watkins - first cap, 243
• Shane scores against Japan, 244
• Shane in Dairy Crest advertisement - Welsh Milk 2001, 245
• Four pictures of Shane in action Wales v Japan and Barbarians 2000/1, 246
• David Jones, 247
• Extract from Glo Man with David Jones, also Amman Utd team 1969/70, 248
• Pen portraits of Amman Utd's Welsh Internationals with photographs; Joe Rees, Jack Elwyn Evans, David Benjamin Evans, William Guy Morgan, Claude Davey, William Davies, Emrys Evans, Gwynfor Evans, Carwyn Rees James, Trevor Pryce Evans, Shane Williams, 249/252
• Gallery  of Amman United players; John Howells, Malvern Evans, Peter Gerrard, Huw Harries, David Thomas, Ian Wagstaff, Jeff Thomas, Jeff Price, Rhys Harries, Huw Marshall, Graham Bundock, Adrian Phillips, Aled Bartlett, Andrew Price, Chris Hughes, Alwyn Davies, Ryan Williams, Matthew Brayley, Stephen Phillips, Steffan Edwards, Ioan Cunningham, 253
• Amman United RFC Committee, 263
• Amman United RFC Trustees 2003, 263
• Amman United RFC Life Members 2003, 264
• Amman United RFC Centenary Book Committee 2003, 264
• Montage of Amman Players and Administration, 277/280
• Aerial view of Cwmamman Park, 281
• GROGG of Trevor Evans as one of the 1970s Golden years players, inside back cover