“Was it really 40 years ago?” he thought to himself. There on the bottom of the team photo, however, was the incontrovertible evidence – ‘Wales Youth Tour to South Africa 1980’.
He had played in the win over England Youth and narrow defeat to the France Juniors before heading to South Africa.
Wales Youth 17 – 7 England Colts
Neale Harris (Crynant); Adrian Cambriani (Penlan), Peter Hopkins (Llanelli), Keeron Jones (Seven Sisters), Phil Ford (Cardiff); Bleddyn Bowen (Trebanos), Ray Giles (Cornelly, captain); Alan Edwards (Cardiff), Colin Hillman (Bridgend), Anthony Ellis (Cardiff), John Manders (Cardiff), Shaun Rendall (Ynysddu), Martin Alderman (Pembroke), Rob Preece (Garndiffaith), Jeff Robinson (Garndiffaith)
Reps: Robbie James (Carmarthen Athletic), Martin Burridge (Cardiff), Matthew Curtis (Cardiff), Ian Kelly (Glamorgan Wanderers), Roy Williams (Aberystwyth), Jose Souto (Cardiff)
While it remains one of his proudest rugby moments, helping the Welsh tourists to beat South African Schools in the curtain raiser to the opening Test between the Springboks and Bill Beaumont’s British & Irish Lions at Newlands, Cape Town, it was merely the beginning of what has turned into a life-long love affair with the game.
From Youth rugby he went on to play for Cardiff, Newport, Pontypridd and South Wales Police on the first-class circuit before a persistent knee problem forced him to step down a grade. Not that it stopped him from playing.
Instead, he dedicated the next 25 years, and more than 400 games, to playing for Old Illts, finally hanging up his boots at the age of 51. Playing was his pleasure, but giving back to the community was also hard wired into his psyche after a lengthy career in the police.
That’s why he has spent the past 12 years acting as both team manager and chairman at his club, helping to bring about a dramatic change in fortunes on and off the field. These days the Old Illtydians have ended their days of wandering from ground to ground and have a new changing facility to complement their existing clubhouse, a stronger identity and a bright future.
The purchase of the lease at the Old Library in Splott gave the club a new purpose and enabled them to find a base close to their home ground at Moorland Park. Now they are a rugby club that is truly at the heart of its community.
“We are no longer a nomadic club, we have put down firm roots in Splott and we have become a central part of our community. Gone are the days when rugby clubs at our level can rely on membership and sponsorship,” said Manders.
“The 100 year lease we were able to secure on the Old Library has given us the chance to develop a long-term strategy both on and off the field. We now have a full mini and junior section underpinning our senior sides and an extra facility that is used morning, noon and night by different groups.
“Only 30% of the usage of the Old Library is for sport. We have five charities, four faith groups and have joined forces with the Splott Volunteers group that provides free meals during the week and then looks after our needs at weekends.
“We have 1500 people a week using our new home over and above what goes on with the rugby. You have to look outside the rugby box to survive and thrive these days – working with your community is the way forward.”
Back on the rugby beat, Manders is currently trying to resolve what is going to happen to the club’s proposed end of season tour to Canada. More than £50,000 has been invested by 40 players for the 10 day trip and they are hoping to postpone for a year because of the current coronavirus crisis without losing too much money.
Old Illtydians worked with the WRU Club Development Team and local Communities First Partnership to secure funding from a range of grant providers including Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme, Sport Wales Development Grant and WRU Facilities Grant to provide new changing facilities and convert the Old Library to a fit for purpose community centre.
