Friday 12th September 2025 ko 19:15

West Wales Premier League

ROCKSPUR FORDS 3 (Morrell 5 Davies 45 Rees 51)

Miller sent off 53 (2nd Booking)

CWMAMMAN UNITED 0

Att 135 at Penyrheol Leisure Centre, Gorseinon, Swansea

Entry £3

Programme £2

If the West Lancs Hop was an introduction, then the West Wales was a farewell- at least for now. There was nothing sinster about that fact, the problem was that we’d run out of clubs to visit!

So much so, in fact that we ended up having to pad out Saturday with a game from the Ardal South West and another from the Carmarthenshire League. The irony of that wasn’t lost on me, I remember the final Carmarthenshire League Hop in 2018 that managed to have no club from Carmarthenshire in it. Then there was the issue of our proposed Friday evening watching Llandarcy. That got kyboshed by the landlords as they didn’t fancy more than one game being played on Llandarcy Park over the weekend- thanks guys!

But there was Rockspur and Penyrheol…. We’d seen them at their spiritual home at Townhill playing pitch neighbours Penlan with just the odd card, but Rockspur had moved off, league rules prevent groundshares, even on different pitches within the same complex. They’ve found a temporary base at Penryheol Leisure Centre in Gorseinon, but it is far from ideal for spectators.

It is the typical floodlit cage, but there’s no room for spectators within the fences, and the best vantage point is on the hill above the far touchline. It is a long way from being ideal for a hop game, so GroundhopUK put it to the vote as to whether we should go. On one hand it did mean we’d complete the league, and those floodlights would allow a Friday night game, but on the other, well just look at the pictures!

The vast majority came out in favour, which pleased me, if only to help Rockspur who after all are playing at the leisure centre through no fault of their own. And while the club were unable to offer anything like the catering we’d normally like to see, they did make money through the gate, the programme and some very well marketed brollies!

We got a good game too, with the hosts being too strong for our friends at Cwmamman United despite playing much of the second half with ten men. I enjoyed the evening as imperfect as it was, but then I ended up eating at the motorway services afterwards. But then life isn’t always easy is it?