1995-Reunion

This reunion was the 3rd reunion and took place on the 22nd and 23rd April. We stayed at the Cambrian Arms and enjoyed a nice meal in the upstairs room before going down to the bar and singing lots of songs we knew from the 60s with the landlord, Mike Fisher playing on guitar. On the Sunday morning we travelled to Blaendolau to play a game of football. This is the report from the Cambrian News.  

"On 23 April an ex-Aber Students team played out an exciting match against an Aber and District League Veterans X1 at Blaendolau. The result was 3-2 to the ex-students and a big boost for Aber youth soccer as the match raised £95 for the Aber mini minors soccer.

The ex-students team was made up of players from the late 1960s who played for Arabs, Astra and Plyn. The game was keenly contested, with skill and flair much in evidence from both sides.

The scoring opened early in the first half with ex-student striker Tony "Blaster" Bates displaying his fine goal scoring instincts with a hard struck shot from the edge of the box which bulged the net at the Penparcau end.

Soon Dai Witney's magical skills brought out the best of the Aber and District veterans and a period of pressure resulted in a close-range header from "Nipper" Sutton to make it 1-1.

The ex-Aber students then regained the lead. After some clever build-up on the right by "tricky dicky" German the ball ran loose to Derrick Spragg (famous in Aber circles as being the scouser who could speak Welsh) who was playing in the uncustomary position of left back. A fine looping shot hit with the outside of his right boot found the top right-hand corner to make the score 2-1.

The second half continued in the pattern of the first with both teams creatring fine chances. Spike Jones went close for the ex-students and, at the other end pressure paid off for the veterans when they levelled the score with a well taken goal by guest youth player Huw Bates.

With time running out and referee John Ansell (ex-student and manager of Astra) looking at his watch, the ex-students won a corner on the right. From the well struck cross, Ken Passmore leapt high and headed in the winner to make it 3-2 to the ex-students."

After the game we went back to the Marine where we enjoyed some refreshments provided by Nerys, the landlady, who is also Bruce Roughton's sister-in-law. 

(left to right)

Back - Jerry Evans, John Ansell, Derrick Spragg, Bruce Roughton, John Roberts, Bob Culley, Keith Bevan, Ken Passmore

Front - Howard Philips, Richard German, Spike Jones, Tiggy Bates, Bates Junior