1930’s
Then, in the Thirties came the formation of that celebrated ex–schoolboys side Trebanos Barbarians, who, like their prototypes, placed accent on attacking play and in the process produced great performers. Who for instance, would deny that Arthur Kift as an outside half was the complete footballer and when he elected to join Newton Abbott in the years of industrial depression, he surely forfeited the opportunity of international recognition. He was, for years, almost a permanent installation in the Devon County XV.
Then there was WT Jones (Willy Tom, who served as Treasurer in his beloved Trebanos club for 40 years) who caught the attention of those in charge at the Gnoll. He was a great player and a prolific try scoring winger, until the outbreak of war was to curtail a successful career as a ‘Mourner’. During the war Will was stationed in Cheshire in the RAF, where the Squadron Leader was an avid fan and Director of Wigan Rugby League club. Eventually he found out who Will was, and introduced him to Wigan, where Will played on the wing under an assumed name and received £3 a game plus every Saturday off. This was not to last! Senior officers uncovered that Will was a star in Welsh rugby and he was confined to rugby union with his camp side and the RAF. W.T.Jones returned after the war and played for Neath and Bridgend.
A controversy arose between Pontardawe and Trebanos when four members of Trebanos’ brilliant back division defected to play their football at Pontardawe in 1936, Danny Bowen, Arthur Kift, Mandy Kelly and WT Jones, and it was many years before the quartet were forgiven.
Even in those days the club had a flair for unearthing talented backs of erratic genius and one so, was Danny Walters, who went on to play for Swansea before moving to join London Welsh.
(The club would be most grateful to receive any 1930’s photographs)
Please wait as the server processes your request. Do not attempt to refresh the page.
Processing
Processing