TRIBUTE:

Former Merlins Bridge centre half Denzil John has died  and one of his lifelong friend and team-mate Dekker Thomas paid his respects.

Referred to as Tally, he was tremendous character who played for only one senior club in Pembrokeshire League, and that was Merlins Bridge, who he captained to their first ever First Division title and Senior Cup glory back in the 1970s.

The Wizards finished runners up in the league in 1978 to Goodwick United, and the same season they won the Senior Cup for the first time after beating Kilgetty 2-1.

Tally then led the Bridge to two consecutive league and cup doubles in 1979 and ’80.

One of his closest friends Dekker Thomas fondly recollects some of the tales of this old school character.

“What a man,” said Dekker. “There was never a dull moment when Tally was around. He was as hard as nails and was a tremendous leader both on and off the pitch.

“I remember the hard tussles he regularly had with the likes of Goodwick’s Stuart Wilson and Hakin’s Roy Dawes and then enjoyed a pint in bar with the pair after every game.

“Tally loved a pint and a fag.”

There are many stories branded around about no-nonsense Tally as Dekker chuckled as he told Telegraph Sport a few yarns of things he had got up to back in the day.

“There was the time when he came in the changing room with what can be best described as ‘home-made shin pads’. His wife Maureen was a nurse in Withybush hospital, she must have had them made with Plaster of Paris, they covered the whole of his shin and took him at least half an hour to tape them to his legs, and when he tried to run he reminded me of a stiff legged shire horse.”

Then there was the time the club raised money for a tour abroad with a sponsored bike ride around the county.

 “Tally turned up with this cracking top of the range racing bike, and on the seat was this huge foam wrapped around it with him saying ‘I’m not getting a sore arse boys!

“We rode through local places, starting at Haverfordwest over to Pembroke and Tenby. He then had had enough and duly plonked himself inside the back of the following van and sinked a shed load of cans and smoked fags all the way to the end.”

Tally played in a match at the Obs, home of Hakin United to officially open their new clubhouse.

Dekker added: “Typical Tally, he played the first half, but didn’t show for the second as he went in the clubhouse for a well-earned few pints and a fag.

“They just don’t make them like Tally John anymore.”

Telegraph Sports sends sincere condolences to wife Maureen and daughters Louise and Rea.