Karl Davies certainly believes in putting something back into a range of sporting loves because as well as being a football referee with the Manderwood Pembrokeshire League he also lavishes care on the nearby West Dragons' pitch as the club's groundsman.

He readily admits that he was 'hopeless' in his time as a striker with Merlins Bridge AFC but has also been a very useful green bowler and a Welsh Champion with the Haverfordwest Bowls Club, played rugby for Milford Haven, as well as being a keen marksman at Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club!

But it is football that occupies much of Karl's spare time because the West Dragon's ground is literally just over his garden fence and he spares at least six hours each week in keeping the pitch in pristine condition after first getting involved as he went to watch the Dragons play on the old Grammar School sports field.

"We are always looking to update our machinery so that I can guarantee a super surface, because I am still using a home-made line marker which needs changing," admitted Karl, "but we do have a smashing ride-on mower after we were given a generous grant from LNG.

"But we are always looking to fund raise and we are lucky that we have Jamie Palmer leading the way after he and bother Lee started the club with the support of their mother Jane, and we recently had a sponsored walk to raise funds for another tractor.

On the subject of support, Karl would also nominate his wife Morfudd for her help in his sport, despite the fact that it is something of an understatement to say that his much better half is not a sports' fan!

His determination to have the West Dragons' pitch in the top echelon of local pitches is all the more praiseworthy because Karl is also committed to his role as referee; something he has done for a while now, starting in 1985 under the encouragement of Eddie Oliver, the then-league secretary.

"I reffed for almost a decade but then business commitments meant I had to stop, but when West Dragons started up I found myself roped in to officiate at a few friendlies and clubs recognised me since I wore a high-viz yellow top because so many teams incorporated black in their colours, and soon I was getting phone calls from other clubs asking me to help them too.

"Then three years ago Brian Hawkins, who is now the league secretary, contacted me to go on the ref's list again and although I had to resit the referees' exam I decided to give it a go and I've enjoyed being involved ever since.

"I still have my bright yellow top and have added a fluorescent blue one as well," he admitted, “but the league officials do nag me a bit about them sometimes!”

It is nice to report that at 60 years young Karl rounded off the season by reffing his first final, as Hakin United's talented under 16 team beat their counterparts from Tenby at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium.

Ask Karl how long he intends carrying on with his groundsman and refereeing work and his answer is immediate.

"As long as I keep enjoying them," he says with a chuckle!

His current sporting colleagues might be surprised to learn that in his younger days he was a more than useful long distance runner who once came second in the Dyfed under 16 cross country championship in Carmarthen - and competed for the old Preseli Harriers.

Karl also played rugby as a flanker with Milford Haven RFC, where the late Brian Rees was a great help, and he eventually took up green bowling at Haverfordwest because he lived close to the greens in Upper Hill Street.

“It was the late Peter Howells who asked me to take up the game and I also had great help from Peter Jenkins when I started out as a lead, gradually moved to second and third player in rinks matches before ending up as skip, with the responsibility of tactical decisions.

"I also had three enjoyable seasons with Whitland, starting in the second division, and it was whilst there that I enjoyed what I still regard as my biggest achievement in the game when I took three relative novices and as total underdogs won the county fours title.

"This qualified us for the national finals at Llandrindod Wells and although we lost to the eventual winners in the quarter final we pushed them all the way. I also won the county under 25 singles and the county triples with great old timers Gordon and Earl Thomas."

One of Karl's major sporting interests now is target shooting, which is very carefully run at Haverfordwest Target Shooting Club, especially with regard to the youngsters who are now made welcome and are doing well as they benefit from the experience of expert exponents in John Munt and Alan Davies.

"I've been involved for five years now," Karl told us, " and I've enjoyed using the facilities at  army facilities on the Penally and Castlemartin ranges, where we could fire from distances of 400 and 500 metres, and up to 600 metres in certain circumstances.

"But over the last three years I have taken up 'Black Powder Shooting' which involves me measuring in the right amount of gunpowder and a cloth patch before ramming in the lead ball  and then firing from 25, 50 or even 100 metres on the club’s recently constructed range.

"This method of firing demands that we take great care of cleaning weapons after being discharged, with 13 shots allowed and the best 12 to count.

"I recently competed in the Welsh Muzzle Loading Championship on our home range, firing my Swiss-made Haige .33 calibre pistol and I was very rusty after a fairly long lay-off because of football but learned so much from John (Munt) and Co that it was well worth attending."

Karl is also the proud owner of a .22 target rifle which was used in the 1964 Olympic Games in Japan and whose owner won the gold medal.

"It had its sights missing and I've had to put in lots of work on it but it is a treasured possession now," he said.

One only has to chat to Karl Davies for a short while to see that he is a character of sport who loves his involvement - and we wish him continued involvement because our sporting county needs such players and officials as him to keep things moving forward with a sense of fun as well as total commitment!