SARON Juniors Football Club played host to a charity game in aid of a foundation created in memory of a former player.

The game, held on Sunday between a Saron XI and an Ammanford XI, was to raise money for the Jac Lewis Foundation.

The charity was set up in memory of former Saron and Ammanford player Jac Lewis.

The foundation aims to support children and young people in the Ammanford area.

Saron Juniors’ chairman, Jeff Saunders, said: “Jac started playing for football for Saron, and remained at the club for a number of years, starting from under 8s and onwards. His dad was formerly a coach for the club, as well as a safeguarding officer and a former chairman of Saron Juniors. He has a very strong association with the club.

“We decided to have a charity match to support the Jac Lewis Foundation. Ammanford set up the foundation with the view to providing support to children and young people in the area. It is a great cause for us to support.”

The game, between a Saron XI and Ammanford XI, featured a number of Jac’s friends on both sides.

The day featured a music DJ and refreshments, and was attended, among others, by Councillor Karen Davies of Llandybie Community Council and Jonathan Edwards MP.

All money raised was donated to the Jac Lewis Foundation.

Sunday’s charity match between a Saron XI and an Ammanford XI also saw the official opening of Saron Juniors’ new football pitch.

The new pitch, secured via grant funding and fundraising by the club, will enable the club to play more regularly than ever before due to improved drainage.

Jeff Saunders, Chairman at Saron Juniors Football Club, explained the need for the new pitch.

He said: “We are a junior football club and have been running for 27 years. At the moment we have about 120 children at the club.

“In the last couple of years there was an asset transfer of the pitch from Carmarthenshire County Council, the club were unable to take it up so Llandybie Community Council stepped in for us.

“In that time the club managed to secure some grant funding from the Mynydd y Betws Windfarm Community Fund, and some section 106 money from Carmarthenshire County Council.

“We also received some money form Llandybie Community Council and then the club managed to raise some money as well. In total the work came to about £56,000.”

A new drainage system has been installed under the pitch, which has been levelled and turned.

Mr Saunders said the work was “desperately needed”.

He added: “I have been coaching at the club for ten years, taking a team from under 7s through to under 17s.

“We played on some really poor surfaces. If it rained on a Friday there was no way we would be able to play on a Saturday.

“This new work will allows us to be able to play more games throughout the year, and prevent us having to call off games for the children.”

Prior to the charity game on Sunday, a number of Saron Juniors’ younger sides took part in a number of games to open the pitch.