So long, Stradey - and thank you

STRIDING OUT: The Scarlets run on to Stradey Park for the last time to a colourful reception

As Stradey Park in Llanelli hosted its final game before demolition, Margaret Keenan joined the crowds to bid farewell to a revered rugby cauldron.

Close on 130 years of playing rugby at Stradey Park came to a close in an evening punctuated by high emotion and low temperatures and a victory for the Scarlets as they beat Bristol by 27-0.

Before the EDF Energy Cup group match got underway, more than 20 former captains of both Llanelli and the Scarlets region crossed the pitch with Llanelli schools under-11s, among them scrum-half Handel Greville, who captained the team in 1948-49.

Heroes like Delme Thomas, who led the side that famously beat the All Blacks in 1972 also took his place in the parade, together with the ever-popular quiet man Phil Bennett, who was also marking another milestone - his 60th birthday.

STRADEY FACTS Llanelli and the Scarlets played 2,578 games at Stradey and won 2,029 Some 170 Wales internationals and 21 British Lions have emerged from Llanelli When the club first moved to Stradey in 1904 the Scarlet shirts were already associated with the team The shirts were worn for the first time in 1884 against an Irish XV The Scarlets became the region's official title in September 2008 The new stadium's first game will be on 15 November when Llanelli play Cardiff The Scarlets' debut there will be against Munster on 28 November

Derek Quinnell was there with his son Scott, as were Phil Davies, Rupert Moon and Ieuan Evans. Officials managed to track down John Leleu only at the last moment and he flew in from Spain the night before the ceremony to make sure he could attend.

They were presented with original quartered jerseys, individually named and numbered - but the real gift was surely the enthusiastic reception from the spectators.

These were some of the sporting giants who helped create the most memorable victories at Stradey, not least against major touring sides like the All Blacks and Australia.

As the current team thundered up the tunnel to the accompaniment of Welsh folk singer Dafydd Iwan's song 'Yma o Hyd, it was clear a victory was the only acceptable outcome.

There is something about Llanelli that seems to inspire real loyalty. One of the people well-known for his long-standing association to Llanelli as a club and the Scarlets as a region is Gareth Jenkins. He was honoured last night with a presentation for his work as a player and coach.

Family feel

All in all, he has been involved with more than 1,000 rugby games for Llanelli and the Scarlets. His debut was against Harlequins in 1969, the first of 259 appearances, in which he scored 50 tries.

Cheers for Delme Thomas, who captained Llanelli when they beat the All Blacks in 1972

Despite the changes professionalism has brought to the nature of rugby, this place still retains some of that family feel to it.

When families get together for big formal occasions, they often reflect on "absent friends", among them, the great tactician Carwyn James who coached Llanelli to four Welsh cups.

He was unforgettably in that position when they beat the All Blacks in 1972, a victory now associated with the day they "drank the pubs dry".

It is almost a year since Ray Gravell, who was a part of that winning side, died. The much loved former player and broadcaster was unquestionably one of the greatest ambassadors for the sport and for his beloved Scarlets. It seemed only right that his funeral should be hosted at the ground.

For some faithful fans the link with Stradey played such a key role in their lives that they decided death should not separate them from it. And so the ashes of many have been spread on the turf. Earlier this week Scarlets and Llanelli RFC chaplain, Rev Eldon Phillips, conducted a service of thanksgiving to honour those people.

Among those in attendance was Anthony Davies, who flew back from his home in Western Australia for the ceremony. The ashes of his rugby-loving father Syd Davies were scattered at Stradey n the '80s.

For the people who worked behind the scenes at Stradey, it is clear the move to the 15,000-capacity Parc y Scarlets will bring improved facilities and better conditions. But for some it is a particularly poignant time because Stradey represented something like a part of their emotional DNA.

One of the first faces that fans would have seen on match days was that of the ever-cheerful Ann de Fillipo - the ticket office manager.

Llanelli legend Phil Bennett shows off his farewell gift from Stradey

Her mother June worked at Stradey. She remembers her father David bringing her to that first game. As she says, he put the interest in her head and it never faded.

Visitors will also be familiar with the distinctive deep tones of Monro Walters announcing try scorers from his elevated position at the back of the old South Stand. It is said he sounds like his father, who occupied that post before him.

Halfway line

Equally somebody who could always be seen at the halfway line in J5, his usual place, was club historian and statistician, Les Williams. A modest, softly-spoken man, who surely knows more about this ground and rugby in Llanelli than any other living soul.

Les had the same seat for 35 years. He first came to Stradey with his mother Betty on 23 October, 1951, to watch the local team take on South Africa. It is one of the few games he recalls little about, but he was only a toddler at the time.

Neither he nor his mother ever lost their love of the game. And for the last 22 years of her life, Betty Williams sat in the seat next to Les. She died last year, just a day before Grav.

The last match at Stradey will be played in October

For people like this, the club is not like a family, it is part of their family history. But Les says it is important to recognise the significance of Stradey not just to Llanelli, but to the national team.

He says that it is the only ground where Wales remain unbeaten - they played five internationals here, won four and drew one - making it all the more appropriate then that singer songwriter Caryl Parry Jones should perform a song, West is Best, at half-time, composed in memory of Ray Gravell.

Subsequently this musical theme reached a crescendo after the full-time whistle sounded. Two choirs gathered between the posts at opposite ends of the ground.

Cor Meibion at the West Terrace and The Scarlets Choir at the East terrace. As they reached the centre they sang Sospan Fach and finally the national anthem.

At the end of the recent service to remember the dead, the Reverend Eldon Philllips, dug up a small square of earth to take with them on the move.

And so there will be a part of Parc y Scarlets that will be forever Stradey.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version