ALUN CARTER’S new book ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: The Rise and Fall of Pontypool RFC’ was official launched yesterday in front of around 80 people, including some of Pooler’s great players from the past.

It is former Pooler and Wales forward’s Carter’s follow-up to his critically-acclaimed and award-winning ‘Seeing Red: Twelve Tumultuous Years in Welsh Rugby’, co-written with Nick Bishop in 2008.

The duo have teamed up again to write ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, which in now out, published by Mainstream Publishing.

Among those present at the launch at Cwmbran’s Parkway Hotel were two members of the legendary Pontypool front row immortalised by singer Max Boyce in props Graham Price and Tony ‘Charlie’ Faulkner as well as former Wales captain and respected broadcaster Eddie Butler.

The trio starred for the world famous club during their 1970s and1980s heyday when coach Ray Prosser transformed the side from Welsh whipping boys into one of the most feared and successful outfits in the British Isles.

Carter, whose book ‘Seeing Red’ was an intriguing insider’s view of Welsh rugby between 1998 and 2007 when he worked as the national team’s head analyst, is back with his old club as an advisor after working as Worcester Warriors’ team manager.

‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ chronicles Pooler’s many highs from glory days in the 1920s, 1950’s and the Ray Prosser revolution of the 70s and 80s, with its emphasis on a prodigious work ethic and a famous black humour, to the difficult times adjusting to the professional game.

But the signs are good that they could be on their way back and a fine start in the Swalec Championship sees them second in the table and they pushed champions Ebbw Vale hard before the Steelmen won a close encounter 19-13 at Pontypool Park on Saturday.

Also among those present at yesterday’s launch were the current generation of Pooler personnel, including current head coach Mike Hook, team manager Shaun Rees and corporate director Ben Jeffreys.

Carter’s book is an enjoyable work and tells the Pontypool story through the voices of the important people of the time like 1959 Prosser, or ‘Pross’ as he was affectionately known.

And Price and Butler give their insights and anecdotes, as do other towering figures like 1970s Wales star, openside flanker Terry Cobner, to a rich history.

Among those unsung heroes to be recognised as well are their late and much-loved physiotherapist Eddie Mogford as well as Max Horton, Pooler’s captain between 1949 and 1951.