Chris Lloyd has been involved with the Robins for many years and he has picked a very talented squad who would be a match for any team in the Pembrokeshire League.

Here is Chris’s selection in his own words.

“Pennar have had a rollercoaster ride so far this century having suffered the lows of relegation to Division 2, to the highs of their Senior Cup success against local rivals Monkton Swifts in 2008. I managed that team in partnership with Gavin Southcott and upon being asked to select a Pennar side I immediately called him to ask his thoughts and we went back 10/15 years to our discussions on team selection (usually on a Friday night at my house over a coffee), but fortunately we didn’t differ too much on our players.

“It is to the cup winning side that the basis of our team of the century is drawn from. We had that starting 11 and thought who else has played for us that would get into that side.”

GOALKEEPER – STUART JAMES

No 1 and first name on the team sheet as he likes to say would be Stuart ‘Twin’ James. Twinno has been the Custodian for most of the 21st century and developed into one of the bigger characters in the changing room. His big personality and experience has been missed this season, and he’s not too bad between the sticks either, pulling off big saves and giving the side a good solid platform to go and play football. Big competition for Twin was Michael Murray, but Twin longevity see’s him our number 1.

SWEEPER – DARREN SHAW

Playing a 3-5-2 formation we would have to play Darren Shaw as our sweeper. Darren played in the midfield in his early years but nestled into the sweeper role superbly and read the game excellently. I often said he could play that role in an armchair he was that comfortable there and his cool, calm disposition on the ball was second to none. He wasn’t bad at picking out a pass for the centre forward either.

CENTRE HALF – RICHARD HUGHES

The first centre half selected would have to be Richard Hughes. Dicko would be in any club’s team of the century as he’s been one of the most formidable centre halves of his era. I’ve seen a few over the years and he could stand shoulder to shoulder with any of them. Strong in the tackle, reads the game well and exceptional in the air. I don’t think there are many centre forwards who got the better of him.

CENTRE HALF – NIALL O’CONNOR

His partner at centre half would be Niall O’Connor. Conka was an old school centre half. He’d take no prisoners on the field and would head a concrete block if asked. Great man marker and would give his all to the cause. He often popped up with a goal or too along the way.

WING BACKS -CRAIG AND LEE BROCKWAY

The two wing back positions would be taken by two brothers who I believe were game changers for us when they came from Angle. Lee and Craig Brockway. Lee predominantly played on the right but they alternated at will and both were very comfortable in doing so. Both had incredible engines and worked tirelessly up and down the flanks supporting the attackers and getting back to help the defence when Gav bellowed at them!

Lee, the elder of the two, had silky skills and seemed to have the ball on a shoestring. His crosses were pin point from the flanks and he would be any full backs nightmare to mark.

Craig, or Nipper as he’s known, had similar technical ability to Lee but was more direct and often found space in the pockets to hurt the opposition with his eye for the short pass or one two.

CENTRE MIDFIELD – MATTHEW JONES

The first of our three centre midfield players would be Matthew Jones. Matty often played at centre half too and played the more defensive role of the three. He would break up any attacks through the middle and often set the ball rolling for us to go at the opposition. Strong, deceptively quick and very good on the ball too.

CENTRE MIDFIELD – DAI PATTERSON

Need I say anymore? Our captain. The one player any manager would want in his team. A born winner who would dispute any decision. I often joked that he’d argue who won the toss at the start of a game if it went against him. He is well known amongst the referees and throughout the county for his vociferous style of play, but what is often overlooked is the fact that he was an excellent football player. Box to box engine who would more often than not be clearing the ball off his own line one moment and tapping it in at the back post seconds later. One word, superb!

CENTRE MIDFIELD – PAUL LOWE

The third midfielder in the side would be Paul Lowe. Lowey was the maverick in the side who could win you a game single handed. We often styled our play to suit him. He would do things on the pitch and we would just look on in disbelief. Very skilful and went passed player with ease and scored a few too.

CENTRE FORWARD – DEAN DRISCOLL

The first of our centre forwards would be Dean Driscoll. Deano, or Disco, wasn’t prolific in his goal tally but everything we did went through him. He held the ball up very well and brought the other players in to play around him, making space for them and his deft touches around the box unlocked defences at will. Great attitude and made the defenders marking him lives a misery for 90 minutes but would be the first to shake their hand on the final whistle.

I must add that it’s no coincidence that the trio of Driscoll, Shaw and Patterson generally played together, and success seemed to follow. They won the senior cup at Pennar (1997), had success at Milford United in the Welsh League and were pivitol to the rise of Monkton and their 4 successive league titles in the noughties. 3 great players who I was lucky enough to both play alongside and manage teams with them in.

CENTRE FORWARD – WAYNE BRUNTON

The final player in the 11 would be our second centre forward and a player who was our top goal scorer for season after season after season, Wayne Brunton. Wayne was quick, excellent in the air with a wicked left foot. He was as comfortable racing through on goal looking to slot it past the keeper as he was drilling home a twenty-five yarder away at the Obs (which is something he often reminds us about). A defenders’ nightmare with his pace and constant movement. Great player with a great goal scoring record.

SUBSTITUTES

ANDREW GREEN

The three players listed all played season after season for Pennar and should consider themselves unlucky not to be in the starting 11, but two of them played in the Cup final win in 2008 and have had their starting places taken by two of the biggest names to come from this side of the bridge in Shaw and Hughes.

Andrew Green would be one of the first names on anyone’s teamsheet. Greeny could play anywhere through the middle. Centre half (great in the air for someone only 5’3”), midfield or centre forward. He could do it all. Brave in the challenge and scorer of great goals.

JAMES PROBERT

James Probert also played in 2008 and partnered Green and O’Connor in defence. Jimmy or Spunky as he’s known, was a very good uncompromising centre half who would run through brick walls for the cause. Very good footballer having played centre midfield in his earlier years with good feet and great passing range. Played for years at the club and went on to manage the club too.

MIKE POWELL

Mikey Powell only came to Pennar after the 2008 success but cemented his place in what was a very good side very quickly. Played centre of the park and was like a terrier snapping at the heels of players through the middle. Strong but fair, small in stature but left his mark on many opposition. Great passer of the ball and very rarely gave it away.

To manage this team I couldn’t really see any further that Gavin Southcott and myself, one because we worked together with what I believe was the best team Pennar have had this Century and secondly because, between us, I think we have managed Pennar for 15 or 16 of the 20 seasons so far.

There are numerous great players who haven’t made the 14 over the last 20 years, Gareth Lewis, Ben Adams, Dean Busby, Steve “Squashie” Allen to name a few, and young players coming through like Connor Roberts, Rory Williams and Ross Jones who I hope will go on to make the teams of decades to come.