TERRY Simons has dedicated almost his entire life to Pontypool rugby club but until now has never been asked for his opinion.

But this season the man they call ‘Tiger’ has picked one of Pooler’s strips.

“I live for Pontypool rugby club,” the 78-year-old says.

He first went to Pontypool Park at the age of 10, to watch a New Zealand Air Force side play Monmouthshire.

“I was supposed to be in school but I was up there in that tree,” he says pointing to behind the posts at the band stand end of the ground. “I got a leathering from my dad for that,” he laughs.

In the intervening 68 years he has done the lot; from making the tea to running the line, and now he is the faithful kit man, taking the kit home to clean come rain or shine and making sure Pooler squads for more than six decades have been ready to run out in a pristine version of the famous red, black and white.

But never in that period has he been asked for his opinion.

Until this season that is when team manager Shaun Rees and head coach Mike Hook asked him to select the club’s new away kit, which you can see him proudly and exclusively launching here.

“I’m a down to earth man. I’ve never been asked before and I’ve never asked, but I was very happy to do it. It was an honour.

“Those colours, they’re our traditional colours, the proper colours. It looks a good kit to me,” he smiles.

While no one seems to know how such a gentle and generous man picked up such a fierce nickname (“Dai Bishop called me it when he was head coach. I don’t know why,” Mr Simonds said) there is one thing the club are sure of.

“The club can’t run without people like Tiger, “ says Mr Rees.

“It means a lot to us that people are prepared to put in 20-30 hours a week as a volunteer.

“They’re a dying breed. They’re Pontypool through and through, lifelong supporters. We couldn’t do it without them.”

So when Pooler run out in their away strip next term, the quiet man of the Pontypool boot room, will smile his usual quiet but infectious smile, and then scurry back out the limelight to carry on his hard work.

Out of the spotlight.

But he does have one confession to make.

“It’s actually Mrs Tig who does the washing of the kit!”

Coach lends support to campaign PONTYPOOL RFC head coach Mike Hook knows one of the keys to the success of the Target 1,000 campaign will be his squad’s performances on the field.

As we revealed last week, the Free Press has linked arms with the club to try and get 1,000 fans back in Pontypool Park.

If the campaign is successful, it could potentially bring significant benefits to both the town and the club.

And Hook is fully aware that winning rugby, is one of the essential elements if the campaign is to succeed.

“I think it could be a great boost for the town and for local businesses and obviously for us,” he said.

“For the town to get really involved with the club again would be brilliant for us. You can see how much the support inspires the boys when there’s bigger crowds in there. They really were an extra man.

“ But obviously winning and being successful goes hand in hand with getting more people in so it’s on us