Llandybie Rugby Football Club RON JAMES

The declaration of war meant the suspension of all sporting activities and in common with most Rugby Union Football Clubs in the United Kingdom, Llandybie closed the shutters for the duration.
Fortunately, however, the game did not cease in the village. On the contrary, it grew from strength to strength through the Llandybie Boys Cluban organisation formed just before the war years and which had a most able leader in Mr. Glanfor Rees. The Boys Club's rugby team was to prove as valuable a 'nursery' to Llandybie R.F.C. as the old Llandybie Colliery team was to the club in the mid-1920s and the early 1930s. It produced several excellent players, who in the years soon after the war became the backbone of the reformed Llandybie R.F.C. Among these were Wyn Evans, who later captained Llanelli and playe  for Wales; Geraint Stephens, who played for Neath, Swansea and Llanelli; Byron Davies; the twins, John and Idris Morris; Eirwyn Thomas; Evan John Davies; David F. Jones; Gwynfor Evans; Arthur Morris; Walford Davies; Glan Michael; Donald Evans and Phillip Thomas.
The committee resumed its' work as early as August 1944 - when the National Eisteddfod was held in the village. At a meeting held in October of that year it was reported that Llandybie R.F.C. had been"thanked( by the Pembrey R.A.F. team for the fine welcome accorded to them. .:
During the following season the committee decided to find another playing field instead of the Cilyrychen ground which had been used for several years, and just before the opening of the 1947-48 season, permission was granted to use a field at Ty-isaf Farm, Derwydd,. At the end of that season, however, it was found that profits were dwindling, and the view expressed at the Annual General Meeting that the Ty-isaf ground was too far from the village was reflected in yet another move. In season 1948-49 a pitch was marked out on a field alongside a lane leading from Blaenau Road to Piode Farm. This pitch was known as the Blaengwine Field. In previous years the club used the playing field above the c.P. School and before that 'Ca' Johnny Lloyd and also on a field at Llangwyddfan.
Season 1949-50 was a period of change in the history ofLlandybie R.F.C. for it was in this that the club decided to make the Social and Athletic Club their official headquarters and to form a Youth XV. '
The first decision brought in its train the disappearance of the old fashioned 'tin tubs' method of washing after the game, and the second\vas to prove one of the most important decision ever made by the committee, for the Youth xv quickly developed into a valuable nursery for the first team and has contributed much to the club's success for 40 years.
In his pre-annual meeting report to the committee, the treasurer, Mr. Alcwyn Griffiths, revealed a deficit of £80 in the season's workings and put the 	blame for the state of affairs on the seriously declining gate receipts.
The club's desperate financial plight lasted for two more years.
One bright note had been struck at the beginning of season 1953-54 by Mrs.
Davies of Sunny-bank. On hearing that the club did not have spare shorts for the players, Mrs. Davies offered to make six pairs free of charge. The offer was gratefully accepted.
Mr. Alban Jenkins, who was the chairman during the crisis years, with his committee, was advocating building a grandstand in order to draw more crowds to see the matches. Although plans were drawn up, they were not proceeded with, for a new and far more visionary idea was being put forward and within three years the dream of a licenced clubhouse became a reality. Like many 'novel' ideas, the dream of a clubhouse - something unheard of in those days - took a long time to germinate and it was not officially discussed again until 15th August, 1957, when all committeemen agreed that a clubho.use would be an excellent thing for the club. Before this, however, the pontoon run by Mr. Pyner had become quite popular and the financial position of the club had shown a steady improvement.
	The 1954-55 team was quite successful. Led by Vernon Butt, it had finished
in 3rd position in the championship table.
	In 1955-56, under the captaincy of Benny Hughes, the team reached the
semi-final of the championship, only to lose to Crynant.
Season 1956-57 heralded the Scottish connection. An annual.fixture between Llandybie and Grangemouth commenced in 1957 with a visit of the Llandybie club to Scotland and it is still going strong. After the death of Mr. Alban Jenkins in 1961, the clubs were given an added incentive to do well on the field of play, for at stake each year since then has been the Alban Jenkins Memorial shield.
Season 1956-57 was a year of hectic planning for the committee, and the season that followed was a year of hard, voluntary labour, under the critical eye of Mr. Alban Jenkins. Agreement was reached with the committee of the Llandybie Memorial Hall Association for the lease of a parcel of land for 25 years. The task of laying the foundations and erecting the building was completed just before the start of the 1958-59 season, and the trustees of the clubhouse were elected at a meeting on 30th June, 1958. These were Messrs. Alban
Jenkins, Reg Evans and Andrew Davies.
	The licensed bar opened at the new clubhouse in October 1958: Llandeilo
R.F.C. were invited to play the club after the official opening of the clubhouse
by the oldest surviving player, Mr. D. B. Davies,on November 19th - a match which Llandybie won by 8 points to 3. The captain during that season was Geraint Stephens, who thus had the distinction of leading Llandybie on
2two historic occasions. The latter was the first venture of its kind by any member club of the West Wales Rugby Union. As well as being historic, the opening was to herald a new and highly successful era in the history of Llandybie R.F.C.
After taking possession of their new clubhouse, Llandybie got down to the task of rebuilding their team. Many of the players who had served the club for several years were now preparing to make way for the younger lads who were coming up from the Youth xv.
In February 1966, the club mourned the death of its President, Miss A. J Stepney-Gulston, M.B.E., JP., of Derwydd Hall. Miss Gulston had been President since 1919. Mr. Lionel F. Rees, JP., took over as President.
It was a story of moderate results in the following seasons whilst the rebuilding programme continued, and it was not until 1968-69 that the very young team began to produce results everyone knew it would.
Under Norwyn Thomas, who was leading the team for the third year, Llandybie reached the semi-final of the West Wales Rugby Union Challenge Cup competition losing to Hendy by 8 points to 3.
At the end of 1968-69 season it was forecasted in a press interview - "that the best was still to be seen of the young side." This prophecy was soon to become a reality - but not before a series of disappointments and near misses. The first of these was in the 1969':'70 season, losing a thrilling West Wales Cup semi-final to Crynant by 8 points to 6.
In 1969, the club bought a 5-acre field from Mr. GeorgeThomas, Maesdewi, for £5,000. Llandybie R. F. C. had realised yet another dream - of ownirlg their own playing pitch which the committee decided to call the Maesdewi Ground. As Mr. Lionel Rees said, "We have secured the future ofLlandybie R.F.C. for all time."
In season 1971-72 - under the leadership of Mel Leech - Llandybie found themselves in both West Wales semi-finals - the Championship and the Cup. After defeating Amman United in the Championship semi-final they lost, after a replay, to Penclawdd in the final by 4 points to 3. It was Penclawdd who also ended their run of success in the Cup competition, winning by 9 points to
6, after the village side had lost hooker Gerald Rees through injury in the second-half.
Again, in season 1972-73, Crynant came between the club and the West Wales Trophy - this time the Championship Shield - winning by 7 points to 3.
At the end of season 1972-73 the players chose Jeff McA voy as their captain for the following season, and it was to be his privilege to lead Llandybie in the club's two most glorious years.
His insistence on the team playing the 'open' game reaped rewards in his first term as captain, for during that season Llandybie won all their West
Wales Rugby Union Championship matches and finished at the top of the league table to win the West Wales Rugby Union shield. Also during this year Llandybie won the Eurof Davies Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the team scoring most points in the championship each year.
Llandybie scored 448 points in 18 league games - an average of almost 25 points a game. Yet again, however, the main dream of a 'Grand Slam' had evaporated with an early defeat in the cup competition.
The exciting rugby played in season 1973-74 was one of the best in the history of the club. One of the best. . . for more was to come. At the end of
that memorable season when the players selected Jeff McA voy to lead them again the club looked forward to another year which, hopefully, would be crowned with success (when that new season dawned it also heralded a new type of championship). In short, the club was once again in search of the elusive 'Grand Slam'.
Season 1974-75 became the most memorable in the history of the club, for it was the team of that period that made the old dream come true by defeating Carmarthen in the final of the West Wales Rugby Union Challenge Cup competition at Stradey Park, Llanelli, by 10 points to 7, and by beating Waunarlwydd in the final of the Championship by 14 points to 6. The dual win meant that Llandybie had in faGt won the 'Triple Crown', for now there was no need to play the all-winners final for the President's Cup.
	The winning of the 'Grand Slam' was celebrated during the close season
with a dinner-dance at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.
In season 1975-76, no honours came Llandybie's way with regards to trophies, but they were promoted to Section A. During this season ten players retired and once again it became a time for rebuilding.
From the 1975-76 season until season 1982-83, the team went through a lean period. However, seasons 1982-83-84 saw the club win the West Wales League Cup, the Eurof Davies Trophy, the J. D. Thomas Cup and the Bertie Davies Cup in 1983-84. No cup honours have come the team's way between 1983-84 and 1989-90, although reaching the semi-final of the Cup in season 1988-89. The team are gradually working their way up the League Table at presen t and are in Section 'B', hoping eventually to be good enough to get into the new League Section which started in September 1990.
The club are now in the process of installing floodlights on the Maesdewi Field and plans are ready to be submitted to build a stand as well. The clubhouse and dressing-rooms are owned by the club, and apart from rugby, the club supports a ladies and gents darts team, pool team, and has a two-table snooker room (two teams) plus a games room and a luxurious lounge.
	Mr. Eric Williams is in his 4th year as Chairman and he leads by example.
He has come out of the same mould as the late Mr. Alban Jenkins.
	Mr. Ron.James is in his 28th year as Secretary and he has had the pleasure of
jserving as secretary under Mr. Alban Jenkins, who did more than anyone to keep the club going in difficult and sometimes critical times during the postwar years, and Mr. Lionel Rees, with his business brain and foresight, who has made rugby secure in the village for all time.
	Mr Gwyn Watts is in his 22nd year as Financial Secretary and Mr. Handel
Thomas is in his 18th year as Assistant Financial Secretary.
	The club runs five rugby teams: 1st XV, 2nd XV, Youth XV, Under 16 XV
	and Under 14 XV.
	The following Llandybie players have won international honours:
	Senior International Cap: Wyn Evans.
	welsh Secondary Schools Caps: Ken Howells, W ayne L wis, Stephen Jenkins,
Emyr James, Richard Thomas, Stuart Griffith.
	Welsh Youth Caps: Tegwyn Morgan, Jeff Thomas, Anthony Evans.
Wyn Evans.