FOR over half a century one man has been synonymous with Mid Wales football.
Newtown-based Montgomeryshire League secretary Bernie Jones has been at the forefront of grass-roots football in the region for 50 years and has no plans to retire.
“Football is part of me,” said Jones. “When I first retired from playing football I really wanted to stay involved in the game and it has gone from there.”
There was little to suggest a lifetime in football would follow when Jones kept goal for his home village club, Llanwddyn in the early 1960s.
“I was never one for running but enjoyed my time in goal and went on to have 34 seasons,” said Jones.
Jones enjoyed spells at Llanrhaeadr, Llanfyllin Town, Welshpool Amateurs, Newtown, Carno, Caersws, Kerry, Newtown Northside, Abermule and Penybont in a playing career spanning three decades.
During his playing days Jones had also developed a respect for the role of the referee and soon picked up the whistle.
“While I was refereeing in Radnorshire I was still playing in Montgomeryshire,” said Jones, who began his career as a 13-year-old in the Montgomeryshire Amateur League.
Jones was soon treasurer and secretary of the Montgomeryshire Referees Association and his reputation for being a man to rely upon saw him appointed secretary of the Montgomeryshire Amateur League.
Here Jones formed a working partnership with Llansanffraid legend Edgar Jones, in spearheading the development of grass-roots football in Montgomeryshire.
“Edgar and Tegwyn Evans provided me with so much support over the years and really were the backbone of the Montgomeryshire League,” said Jones. “I have also always enjoyed a great relationship with Dai Alun Jones on the Central Wales FA.
Over the years Jones has witnessed plenty of change and not all has been welcome.
“During my playing days lads were desperate to play,” said Jones. “They would be gutted if they came along on a Saturday and there was no place in the team that day.
“Nowadays players are not committed to their clubs and come a weekend it seems too easy to distract them with a shopping trip with the girlfriend or a day down the pub with their mates.
“It is even more disappointing when lads like this do not let their clubs know that they will not be available to play.”
Jones has always led the referees from the front-line and insisted that officials continue to be taken for granted.
“Players and clubs must accept that without these men and women that competitive football in this area would end,” said Jones.
“All these people are volunteers who travel the length and breadth of Mid Wales to officiate and deserve respect.”
During the past 20 years the Welsh Football Association finally developed a pyramid system, which ensured the game in Mid Wales would never be the same again.
Jones is adamant that the pyramid has been equally cursed and blessed.
This season has seen the Montgomeryshire League decimated by the formation of the Spar Mid Wales League second division, with five of that number this week receiving substantial grant aid to develop facilities.
“The league has been hit by the changes to the pyramid, but equally facilities at many grounds will be improved which is surely for the betterment of all Mid Wales.
“However I also feel standards have improved in the Montgomeryshire League. This season we have only one pitch which doubles up as a farmer’s field and even that is a good pitch.”
However Jones believes the days of village clubs relying purely on local players are gone.
“We used to have a 10 mile radius rule, which meant all clubs had players who ate together, drank together and socialised together.
“All this made for a tremendous team spirit and guaranteed the football club was a focal point of the community.”
Jones has no plans to step aside and will continue to give his all for his beloved Montgomeryshire League and referees’ association.
However Jones insisted there needs to be a review of football in Wales, in light of the national team’s demise under John Toshack.
Although the Toshack era is now over his replacement Gary Speed faces a massive challenge, in inspiring a disenchanted Welsh footballing public to back the team.
Jones said: “The future Welsh national team players are out there, just as they always have been, but there needs to be a system which ensures these lads are not missed.
“Even if such a system was part of a 10 year plan to improve Welsh football, I think that it would be something worth doing.”
Among those paying tributes to the achievements of Jones were his lifelong friend and colleague Tegwyn Evans, who is chairman of the Montgomeryshire League and FAW life vice president.
He said: “Put simply I think everyone in Mid Wales knows Bernie.
“His services to football in the region are even more remarkable when you consider the health problems he has had over recent years.
“To say he is a first class chap would not do him justice, because the way he has administered football with a smile on his face reflects just how valued and broad-backed he is.”
Welsh FA president Phil Pritchard added: “Bernie has put so much into local football over the years and continues to do a vital job, which deserves so much respect.
“He came into the job as a referee and has always done his utmost to represent referees in Mid Wales.”