Google Search this site

Last Update: 2 June, 2008 9:38 AM

22/11/2007
BOOK REVIEW - BETWEEN THE LINES BY GERRARD LEWIS

Features
Author: Gary Baker

Between The Lines was launched in late October and chronicles the events and friendships that shaped Mr Lewis' life and brought him to the attention of the national media when one international superstar of his day rescued him on the pitch after a freak accident.

In fact, the cover of Between The Lines shows England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore handing back Mr Lewis' whistle after he was knocked out during a match between West Ham and Wolves on November 14 1970.

And then there were the times Mr Lewis was involved in conflicts with authority, such as the Football League and Football Association, and a certain Gordon Banks, the greatest goalkeeper in the world in his era, crossed swords with the Port Talbot ref in a match between Ipswich and Stoke City.

Mr Lewis also helped clear snow off a pitch so a Football League game between Bury and Rotherham could take place, met the legendary Sir Stanley Matthews at Port Vale in 1968 and numerous other anicdotes from a wide career on and off the pitch.

But there was far more to Gerrard Lewis than just being the Man in Black in the middle of the pitch.

He retired from teaching at the Bryn Primary School in 1988 and, by then, he had been involved in local and national sport as a football and FIFA referee, the school's headmaster, a Boys Club leader, Youth Warden and athletics organiser.

And before those lofty days of being on the Football League referee's list, Mr Lewis chronicles the many and varied other matches he was involved in, from Baglan v Byass in 1951-52 season which became a marathon of a cup tie, through to games involving Trefelin, Abercregan, Briton Ferry and hundreds of other clubs throughout the various local leagues.

There is also Mr Lewis service as a corporal in the Royal Signals Kumasi in the 1940s, his work with Port Talbot Schools football, local refereeing and his involvement with Aberavon Green Stars RFC.

Sections of the book also recall his close friendships with such people as Clive Thomas, the World Cup referee who also wrote the foreward to Between The Lines, a chapter on Mike Nicholas, the Sandfields Comprehensive School rugby captain who went on to play for Warrington Rugby League club and play for Great Britain.

Between The Lines is also packed with hundres of photographs that provide a fascinating insight to the life and times of a local man going about his work as a teacher and referee during the middle to late 20th century in Port Talbot.

And then there is one special section of the book which is dedicated to Mr Lewis' close friendship a very special Port Talbot man.

He writes: "I did not know it at the time but I was in school and a friend of one of the greatest Welshmen who ever walked this earth. Richard Jenkins was a boy in a man's clothing. Even as a youngster, Richard oozed class."

Richard Jenkins, as we all know, became Richard Burton - and he sets the record straight on a number of myths and legends of the master actor whom he knew from Port Talbot Secondary Grammer School in 1943-44 through for many years to come.

Throughout all of this, Mr Lewis has been supported by his wife Cynthia and son John, who have both helped and encouraged him over the past ten years to put his memories on paper.

Indeed Mr Lewis said that the research required had brought hundreds of photographs and stories to his attention so, as a social history of Port Talbot and as a football and sporting anthology, Between The Lines can have few equals.

Between The Lines by Gerrard Lewis is widely available throughout Port Talbot and costs £9.99.

[Return]	[Print]