98) Taibach Rugby Club

Continuing with the line and wash sketch theme here. Taibach Rugby Club allegedly was a favourite haunt of Port Talbot's most famous son, Richard Burton (although Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins runs him a close record, and Oscar nominated Michael Sheen isn't that far behind either). In this century alone two British Lions players have come through its ranks, so the club is obviously doing something right. More importantly, it was also the venue for my son's 18th Birthday party - which was longer ago than I care to discuss at this moment. 

88) Leisure and Fitness Centre

This £13 million facility opened on the Aberavon seafront in January 2016. Essentially, it was built as a replacement for the Afan Lido Leisure centre, which burned down in 2009, and was demolished in 2011. The Council always promised to replace the Lido, even though this credit crunch, Granted, the old Lido had a full size pool, whereas the new Leisure centre only has a 25m pool. Having said that it is, to my mind, a far more appealing looking building, and it has an impressive range of facilities, and seems to be very popular, judging by the full car park at 8am on a Friday morning. 

84) Tata Steel Sports Club, Margam

The club has gone under a series of different names, as ownership of the steelworks has changed hands, from the Steel Company of Wales, to British Steel, to Corus, to Tata Steel. I can’t really say how much, if any, connection exists now between the club itself and the steelworks – I know for example that Tata Steel RFC are completely financially independent from the works. This shows the clubhouse, and to be honest it has seen better days. Speaking of the Rugby Club, this has been a great ‘nursery’ club for younger players, a number of whom have even gone on to play for Wales later on in their careers.

46) Talbot Athletic Ground

This picture was another which I made from the top of Tydraw Hill. The sports ground you can see is the Talbot Athletic Ground, the home of Aberavon RFC. I liked this view because, as well as taking in the rugby ground, it also looks out to the docks, and gives you an idea of just how close we are to the sea even in the centre of the town. On another personal note, the rugby club is important to me, since it’s the venue for a Thursday night quiz which I regularly play in, and set questions for from time to time.