IAN Milsom would be the first to admit that he is not an outstanding player in his chosen sport of cricket or previously in golf either, but his colleagues at Neyland Cricket Club would be the first to say that he is an integral part of their ethos with his great good humour and willingness to work hard on the club’s behalf.

The same could be said in previous spells with St Ishmaels and Herbrandston before he moved to live in Neyland with his wife Melanie, who he would immediately list as his greatest support throughout his sporting life.

The Milsoms have two children in Laura (19) who is studying textiles at Swansea University and is a keen Ospreys’ fan, plus 16 year old Ben, who plays cricket and rugby for Neyland, and is already following in his father’s footsteps by cutting the outfield at The Athletic Ground in support of Rob Bellerby, something that Ian has done for a number of years.

Ian, who is known to all as ‘Minky’, started out in cricket at St Ishmaels when the late Hughie Devonald, who was a firm family friend, took him along to play for Tish Seconds alongside other great characters in Fred Cogger, Tommy Wood, Keith, Glyn and Mike Pawlett, Hughie and Gerald Llewellyn, Paul Devonald, and, later on, Alan Spence.

“At first I always carried my kit along in case they were short and if I wasn’t in the team I used to score for them - but eventually I managed to get a regular game in the seconds and really enjoyed myself there.

“But I also had some good pals in Herbrandston and I joined them because Melanie lived there and it meant less travelling, and I enjoyed the company of the likes of Dai Thomas, Jonathan Mortimer, Nigel Banner, Paul Hood and the late Peter John.

“I started looking after the cutting of the outfield and tending to the machinery because I had qualified as a fitter/turner at Merlin Motors, and gradually started to take my share of the wickets, and surprised a few team mates when I also started to score some runs.

“I went back to Tish for a while because I worked with Glyn Griffiths and he asked me to play there alongside some smashing blokes like Peter Bradshaw, Robbie Thomas, Andrew Palmer, Mark and Adam Davies, Neil Phillips and Robbie Cockburn.

“My best bowling figures came when I grabbed 9 for 11 against Llangwm Seconds and had my first half century - but I also won the giant bat with a large round hole in it for having the most ducks in a season!”

But then the Milsoms moved to Honeyborough and since he already knew the likes of Mike Tennick and Rob Bellerby in Neyland he decided he would finish his playing days there.

Ian had already had experience of captaincy with Tish and Herbie Seconds and it wasn’t long before he was leading the second team at The Athletic Ground and seeing talented youngsters like Sean and Patrick Hannon, Patrick Bellerby, Paul Miller and others make the break through into senior cricket.

Outside of his cricket, Ian loves watching rugby and played as a prop for a useful Milford Haven Central team that included quality players like John Rogers, John Morgan and the late Andrew Prettyman.

“I loved being part of the team but I didn’t see much of what was going on because I was usually head down in the scrums or at the bottom of a pile of bodies in the rucks,” admitted ‘Minky’ with a chuckle!

In football he played throughout the juniors with Danny Humphries and then Bobby Morgan at Milford Athletic but had to stop playing because of his work commitments.

He also loved playing golf during the school holidays in his time in school with John Dyble jnr and Kevin Harrison, and by the time he was in his late teens had reduced his handicap to 12.

“John was a far better player than I ever was,” said Ian, “and if he had turned professional I would have caddied for him - but now I am so busy I just pop out to the Mayfield Driving Range with Ben and have a coffee and slice of cake afterwards!

“I have also played a bit of squash and badminton but now it is cricket that occupies all my time in the summer months.”

He is also going to be quite busy in the winter because with Neyland having registered three teams in the Indoor Cricket League it is a fair bet that he will be roped in as team manager/captain of the C team, again charged with the responsibility of getting as many teenagers interested to keep them involved in Neyland Cricket Club in readiness for the 2017 outdoor campaign.

That new season will see ‘Minky’ in charge of the club’s third Xl and he will encourage the likes of son Ben, James Smith, Jake Booth and Nathan Sutton to keep developing their undoubted skills.

He will also continue to serve for his sixth season on the club’s management committee as a junior coach with the under 11s, 13s and 15s and continue in his role as Youth Organiser.

“Martin Rees and Jack Capon were great ambassadors for the club until they sadly passed away, with Alan Spence another great example to younger players, as Martin Jones is going to be as the new Cricket Development Officer for the county club.

“Sean Hannon is an excellent club captain and others in the first team who exert and influence for good are his brother Patrick, Andrew, Gregg and Paul Miller, who has done so much work off the field in organising grants etc which have made the club one of the best organised in the county.”

Ian Milsom is quick to sing the praises of others in helping make Neyland Cricket Club the fine sporting organisation it is but there is one he regularly omits to mention in its success story - and that is Ian Milsom himself.

But there is no doubt that he is a great servant, on and off the field, is a lovely personality who never gives less than 100% - and long may he continue, now that he is approaching his own personal half century, to be someone who typifies all that is good in our cricketing scene in Pembrokeshire!