Bill Carne recently popped down to the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium in Haverfordwest to discover that Declan Carroll’s eager to help the Bluebirds soar. . .

Haverfordwest County’s push for promotion this season received a boost with the signing of Declan Carroll, who had previously played in midfield for Aberystwyth Town in the Welsh Premier League and so is be a useful acquisition to the Bluebirds now he has regained full fitness.

He turned out in the win over Goytre and was delighted to get through 70 minutes and followed up with 45 minutes in the County’s success against Caerau (Ely) in Cardiff before he sustained a knee injury which kept him out of the games against Tata Steel and AFC Porth. He then received treatment from the club’s sports therapist Katy Griffiths and was eager to get back into action as quickly as possible – and recent performances have really pleased manager Wayne Jones and his assistant Sean Cresser.

Although he was in the squad for most of Aberystwyth’s matches in the Welsh Premier League last season, Declan hails from Pembroke Dock and so was making a round trip of 172 miles for every training session and home matches – and even further afield for away games, most of which are played in North Wales.

“It was at least a two-hour trip there and the same back,” said Declan, “and even worse in bad weather or getting behind a lorry or tractor on the winding roads around Cardigan Bay. Coming back after matches was the worst because I would stiffen up and started to suffer back problems which didn’t help me in terms of performance.

“But I didn’t want to letdown manager Tomi Morgan, who had taken me with him from Carmarthen Town and sorted me out a year’s contract where I played alongside experienced players like Wyn Thomas, Mattie Collins, Antonio Corbisiero and Stuart Jones. Every match was a tough battle against professional teams like New Stars or other North Walian outfits like Bangor City, Prestatyn Town, Airbus and Gap Connah’s Quay.

“We eventually finished third from bottom to stay in the Premier League and I really enjoyed the challenge, with the undoubted highlight being when I scored against the Nomads and set up another goal in a good win which was televised on the Welsh programme ‘Sgorio’. I was chosen as man of the match and as well as getting a bottle of champagne was interviewed on television – but in English!”

Declan has been used to travelling in football because after starting out playing as a six year old at under 10 level for Monkton Swifts he was spotted by the Swansea City Academy and played there for a while before he stepped down because of the twice-weekly trips to train at BP Llandarcy or Elba Sports Ground in Gorseinon. He rejoined the Swans from 11 to 15 and says that his parents Kevin Carroll and Colette Waters were brilliant in taking him wherever he needed to go to play.

Then came the news that every aspiring young footballer dreads – Swansea City had decided he wasn’t required anymore because he was ‘too small’ – something that 6’1” tall Declan can now laugh at. Whilst with the Swans he was part of a team which twice won the Ian Rush Festival for their age group and Declan says he will never forget his time with Swansea City because he learnt so much there.

Declan then played for Carmarthen Town Youth team when Tomi Morgan was in charge of the first team and he was picked for the senior squad in a couple of pre-season friendlies – but didn’t fancy more travelling and so dropped out of the action there.

It was only when Tomi Morgan returned to Aberystwyth and phoned Declan to see if he fancied a trial that he decided he had to put up with the travel and give it his best shot. He turned out in a couple of trials and then in a friendly against Swansea City where regular left back Sean Thornton broke his ankle – and Declan found himself clutching a year’s contract!

The season went well, apart from a couple of niggling injuries, but after playing in pre-season this campaign he decided that the travel was too much so he contacted Haverfordwest County manager Wayne Jones to ask if he could play for the Bluebirds. Declan was invited over to the Conygar Bridge Meadow for a chat, liked what he saw and was soon involved in training.

“I had already played with the likes of Rob Morgans, Ricky Watts and Steff Williams at county junior and youth levels,” said Declan, ”with most of the games played at Haverfordwest, so it is nice to be back there.

“It is easy to see how supportive the crowd is and the rest of the players and management have made me feel welcome and the last few games have been good for me and the team.

“My aim is to help Haverfordwest County get back into the Welsh Premier because I am only 20 and still have ambitions left in the game.”

Talk to Declan Carroll for a short while and it is easy to see how eager he is to pursue his footballing career at the Conygar Bridge Meadow – and we look forward to him doing really well for the Bluebirds!