By Emrys Inker
A Neyland lad who became one of the best football players in the county was Len Roberts, of West Street, Honeyborough.
Len helped Neyland to their double Wiltshire Cup success in 1947 and 1948, being captain on the second occasion, and also featured in the team that lifted the Victory League Cup.
Len's talents were spotted by Pembroke Borough and he became a permanent fixture in defence as the Magpies enjoyed seven glorious years, including doing the Welsh League and cup ‘double’.
This was a time when London Road, Pembroke Dock, hosted large crowds running into their thousands, with many fans coming from Neyland and travelling across on the ferry to Hobbs Point and walking to the ground.
Neyland supporters had plenty to cheer as on one occasion there were four ex-Neyland players in the team that beat Llanelli away in 1955/6: Harry French (goalkeeper), Marwood Marchant, Mal Morris and Len. Marwood (Mars) and Mal would go on to play professional football.
In fact, that was the season the Boro lifted the Welsh League title with Harry, Mal and Len being regulars. Photo 1 shows them: Marwood (back row, third from left), Len (front row, second from right), Harry (keeper - middle - back row)
Other players in the picture include Billy Reed, Johnny Lunt, Frank Donovan (who represented Great Britain at the 1948 London Olympics), Alan Hole, Hugo Steer and Charlie Bowen. Also shown are Affie Llewellyn (front row, third from right), team manager, and Mr T Hancock (of the famous shipbuilding family - front row, third from left), club president. Please note the old-style Boro kit: It features black-and-white quarters of Blackburn Rovers design (the black-and-white stripes appeared later). Winning the Welsh League title was no mean achievement as Boro would play against the likes of the reserve teams of major clubs such as Cardiff, Swansea and Newport.
Photo 2 shows the Pembroke Boro Welsh League side which completed the league and cup double in 1953/4. Back row (from left): Roy Davies, Hugo Steer, Hedley Evans, COLIN DAVIES of Neyland (reserve keeper), Johnny Lunt, Jimmy Morgan. Front: Frankie Donovan, Kenny Absalom, Charlie Bowen, Gwyn Price, MAL MORRIS, Billy Reed. Colin (wearing an ordinary shirt) is pictured next to Hedley Davies from Llanelli, who was first choice keeper - Colin was reserve keeper and played in the Boro’s Welsh League and Pembs League teams.
Len worked at the Hancocks shipbuilding yard. Len was modest, quiet and unassuming, as witnessed by the fact that every day during his lunch break he visited his friend and former teammate, Billy Reed, who became a tetraplegic following a horrific car accident and lived at nearby Front Street, a short walk from Hancocks.