PUB sports are a very popular pastime for a large number of people, and a club which is firmly at the centre of many of these activities in the Caradon area, is the well-known AFC Dobsons, in Liskeard.

Apart from the club steward, the venue is all run by enthusiastic volunteers, and just like the football club to which it belongs, it is full of winning team spirit.

Surprisingly, the roots of the club go as far back as the Second World War, and Liskeard's Home Guard Club, which used to run in premises in Barn Street. The secretary was none other than Reg Rawlings, father of Dave Rawlings, who is secretary of Dobsons.

When interest eventually dropped off at the Home Guard Club, a member, Des Dobson, owner of a garage and electrical business at Addington, started off a club in one of his sheds, in which he put a snooker table. The facility quickly became popular with relatives and friends and started to expand, and by 1985 the premises had three full size tables for snooker and billiards.

It was at this point that Des approached Liskeard AFC and asked if they would like to take over the club as tenants and run it for themselves. The commercial manager Alan Mayne, took up the offer, and the club became AFC Dobsons, and has been run by the football club ever since. Chairman at the time was Adrian Wilton and the treasurer Phil Broad. Des died in 1989.

Relaxed

The constitution states that there must be more AFC officials on the committee than ordinary club members, and the football officers fill the same role at Dobsons.

Current president is Nancy Rawlings (pictured above right with husband David), with Dave Hick (Ticker), as the chairman, and Bernard Harding, who sponsors the football club's transport, is vice-chairman. The club has about 400 members, but Nancy says it would be nice if more younger people came along.

'The youngsters are the future of Dobsons and the football club,' she said. Membership starts at 13 years old, with an annual fee of just £1 for under 18s and £5 for adults.

Ticker, who was chairman for 10 years and then had a break before taking on the role again last year, said the club has a very relaxed atmosphere, but the committee does insist on a dress code.

'By that we mean smart casuals,' he said.

Tucked away at the top of a narrow lane, it is surprising to find the spacious premises, with its own car park. All part of Des Dobson's former stores and workshops, there is the main room with an excellent bar, a carpeted area with seating, and a modern wooden floor, laid down for the purpose of dancing, about two years ago. This room also has the impressive glass display cabinet, full of trophies and shields won by Dobson's various teams, and the football club. Leading off is a small but well equipped and modern kitchen, and the committee are keen to point out that the club is available for hire for private functions such as weddings and parties, for up to a 100 people.

The club also has a separate room which houses the skittles alley, and another in which are two pool tables. Dave Rawlings says the modest profit made is soon to be spent on some decorating in the main bar, which will comprise a fresh coat of paint on the walls and some new carpeting.

Running the bar, which sells Bass beer at prices on a par with other clubs in the area, is the steward, Gloria Pengelly, who is one of, or could even be, the longest serving member. She used to help voluntarily at the club in the days of Des Dobson, and when the football club took over, became the steward about six years ago when Alan Mayne left to take up a new position at Liskeard Conservative Club.

'I've been at the club for about 24 years,' said Gloria, 'and I really enjoy it, especially when the Friday night gang are in, of which I am a part.'

Another long-serving member, Gerald Radford, explained that the gang are a group of about a dozen friends who meet up at Dobsons on a Friday for a drink, some good-natured banter and to catch up on the gossip.

'I would recommend Dobsons to anyone, it is very friendly here,' he said.

The special part about the club which makes it so friendly, is that apart from Gloria, every other aspect of the club is run in a voluntary capacity by the members. Hardest working of these is Ben Cock, who as the 'drayman', does all the heavy lifting and carrying behind the bar which he stocks up each day.

Sports

'He has done this for many years,' said Ticker. 'Everyone appreciates what he does and we would be lost without him.'

Dobsons is of course very sports orientated with skittles and darts being the main interests. There are currently four teams playing in the winter leagues on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. As well as being secretary of the East Cornwall League, member Shirley Stokes also organises a popular internal summer league at the club, which is sponsored by Park Motors and very keenly contested. This summer 16 teams took part.

On the darts front the club runs four teams in the Liskeard and District League, with two playing on Fridays, one on Tuesdays and a ladies team on Wednesdays. Dobsons is often used for finals nights, being one of the few venues which can have five or more darts boards on the go at the same time. There are also two mixed euchre teams, and hopefully there will be two pool teams playing in this season's league.

Member Wendy Powell unusually plays in one of the men's darts team, and also likes to play skittles and euchre.

'I've been coming here for about four years,' she said. 'It's a great club to be part of.'

A fundraiser for Dobsons is the 100 Club organised by Paul Burchell, and functions enjoyed by members include bingo sessions on Tuesdays at 7.15pm and Sundays at 8pm, the regular caller being Gerald Mitchell, and there is also line dancing for the more energetic. On Saturday nights there is usually live entertainment provided by a band, with Country and Western being a popular choice.

Kick off at Dobsons takes place seven nights a week at 7pm, games ending at 11pm, with extra time until 11.45pm on Saturdays.