BACK in the day when Pen-y-Pound was known as the Welsh Wembley, the Abergavenny Thursdays were represented by a golden generation of players led by manager Ray Lawrance. Footballers such as Tommy Hamilton, Des Norton, Ossie Higgins, Brian Evans, and of course, Danny McCarthy were household names to many a local fan when the Thursdays had a certain glow and ruled the roost as Welsh League Champions.

In name the Thursdays are no more but their spirit lives on in the form of Abergavenny Town. Many involved with the club were saddened recently to hear about the passing of former player Danny McCarthy who was regarded as the finest footballer to have ever put Abergavenny on the map.

McCarthy played for the Welsh League Championship wining team of the late 1950s before being headhunted by Cardiff City as a teenager.

Thursdays stalwart Ray Warren who has had a life-long association with the club as both player, manager, and trustee, told the Chronicle, “Danny had a special place in the heart of any aspiring footballer in the town because he grew up in Abergavenny at the bottom of Old Barn Way in Ysgoborwen.

“He was always the most talented player around and it was no surprise when he went to play for the Thursdays who at that time were Welsh League champions.

“He was soon spotted by Cardiff City playing in the Welsh League and I believe that the ‘deal’ involved a payment to the Catholic Church because Danny had attended the Catholic school and at that time they were making a point of encouraging young footballers.”

Prior to McCarthy’s signing, Thursdays manager Ray Lawrance revealed that Swansea and Aston Villa had also been extremely interested in securing the Thursdays’ man services but the winger held out for the Bluebirds.

Lawrence said at the time, “We shall miss McCarthy but the time is right for him to move and the boy can go where he prefers. It may surprise many people who have been rather skeptical about him that he is leaving the Thursdays. But it does not surprise me or those ‘inside’ football because we think he has great potential.”

McCarthy made his debut when he was 18 and played seven games for Cardiff in 1960-1962 in the then old First Division of the Football League, playing in front of crowds of 60000 plus at Ninian Park.

Injury hindered his progress and he was released in 1962 and after a spell at Merthyr Tydfil came back to play for the Thursdays.

Ray Warren remembers, “Sadly he lost his appetite for football and decided to commit to work and family. Although his time was short playing the game at top flight he is affectionally remembered as a youngster off the estate who made the big time. He really was a role model for the rest of us and although we did not see much of him playing his name carried a lot of weight. He was a modest and true gent who will have a hero status as long as there is a ball kicked at Pen-y-Pound.”