| Llanelli's Vic is happy with his lot |
| Wednesday 18 February 2009 |
|
LOOKING enviously at Manchester City's multi-million pound spending status is a former Llanelli star who has proved to be one of the most valuable assets at Stebonheath. Vic Gomersall is now Llanelli's dedicated commercial manager as well as being the bubbly personality making the public announcements, informing the fans of the teams and scores during home matches. His voice can also be heard loudly urging the Reds on, frequently providing much-needed humour in tense situations. If he could turn the clock back and start playing now at a club prepared to spend in the high millions for players, he would be a very wealthy man!  Hopefully, Vic will forgive me for providing a hint of what age he is through reminding fans that his successful playing career started with Manchester City at Maine Road during the time when England ruled world soccer.He made his debut for the Blues as a teenager in the 1960s and battled for the left-back position with Welsh international Cliff Sear. Gomersall soon became just as well known in Wales when he joined Swansea for a £5,000 transfer fee and became a favourite at the Vetch for many seasons. He scored six times in 178 appearances, which included FA Cup games against Arsenal and Leeds. The left-back also played for Chelmsford in the Southern League, helping them to win the title in 1971. After his Football League playing days, the Swans profited as a result of his efforts on the commercial side, but it was during the mid-70s that the Reds started benefiting from his skills on and off the field. After winning the Welsh League championship in 1970-71 under manager Gwyn Grant, Llanelli had several inconsistent seasons and narrowly avoided relegation in 1976. It was during that summer that Grant added quality players to the squad, one of them being Gomersall. His experience at left-back proved highly influential as the Reds captured the championship in two successive seasons, with ex-Wales international Brian Evans and the inspirational Gilbert Lloyd key figures in this golden era at Stebonheath. Gomersall rightly felt they could achieve more at a higher level and he was disappointed at the management board's reluctance to do so. It prompted many departures from a winning combination that had also toppled a full-strength Swansea City side. Gomersall ended a successful career with stints at Haverfordwest and Pontardawe. But the once-shattered dream for glory with the Reds has in recent seasons become a reality for Gomersall. This season they are bidding to emulate the club's achievement when he was playing by winning the Welsh Premier League for the second successive season. This has been made possible by the club being more financially secure, and Gomersall has tirelessly played a part in helping achieve this. It was the late president John James who initially rescued the club from closure after the League of Wales was introduced, before Panda Motors owner and former Swansea City chairman Robert Jones produced a takeover package. Gomersall worked closely with him to get sponsorship and advertising revenue in order to make the finances more secure. He continued with those duties when current owner Nitin Parekh of the Jesco Group realised Llanelli soccer's potential and bought the club from Jones. Although the backing of the enthusiastic businessman has made it possible for manager Peter Nicholas to have a budget to create a successful squad, the club's financial security still needs the backing of businesses and patrons. Gomersall is still trying to make sure this happens. He is one of the best-known Reds personalities in the area as he is regularly seen around the town proudly wearing the club tie, trying to find more revenue through offering hospitality packages and seeking sponsors and advertisers. He didn't have much time to watch the games at Stebo until recently as he was always working his way around the ground selling raffle tickets. The enthusiastic members of the supporters' club carry out those duties now. Gomersall instead now provides the names of raffle ticket winners during his duties as the announcer with the other voice on the mike, Alan Evans, another dedicated official, alongside him. As the Reds head to Europe and another Welsh Premier title, Gomersall continues to be very much a part of the winning combination. Popular left-back Vic Gomersall was an influential figure in Swansea's 1969-70 promotion success. Signing professional for Manchester City in July 1960, he contested a first-team slot with Cliff Sear and moved to the Vetch Field for £5,000 in August 1966. He played against Arsenal and Leeds United in FA Cup matches and was a Welsh Cup finalist in 1969, scoring six times in 178 League games for Swansea prior to joining Chelmsford City in August 1971. He helped them win the Southern League title in 1971-72 and also played for Llanelli, Haverfordwest and Pontardawe [www.swanseacity.net]. [This article appeared in the South Wales Evening Post, 12 February 2009]. |