ON Sunday, October 9, Matthew Lamb will be a special guest at the Wales v Georgia football international at Cardiff City Stadium - and at half time the head coach of the Fishguard Sports’ girls section will receive his award as the Welsh FA Community Football Coach of the Year for last season.

It is fitting reward for a stalwart of local football, who is known to all as ‘Minty’, after his teams at the club’s new Tregroes Park headquarters won all three girls’ leagues for which they entered.

“I had terrific support from the club, all the parents and especially from Ben Leahy and Zac Davies, who coached a team apiece,” said Matthew, “and so I accept the award on behalf of everyone involved at the club. I am currently vice-chairman to Owen Duggan and the club is in great hands with our current hard-working committee.

“It was nice to also receive a few texts to say well done from the likes of Brian Morris and others down the road at Goodwick United, where I also enjoyed playing and coaching for a number of years."

The national award came as a surprise for Matthew because after he had been nominated for, and won, the Welsh FA Community Coach for the South West region he was delighted but thought that was the end of it - until he had a text from a Welsh FA official asking for his home address.

“I thought it was because last season I had been fined £20 for being late sending in my league entries and this was going to be a reminder - so was surprised when I had a phone call telling me my name had gone forward alongside coaches from other regions, and I had won!”

So now Matthew will be off to Wales v Georgia match with wife Marie, also there as reward for her support, at the formal pre-match dinner and then the match - where ‘Minty’ will go to the pitch at half time to receive recognition from what is almost certain to be a capacity crowd.

“It will be great to be there and I might even take my boots, just in case Chris Coleman needs an extra player,” he joked.