A SOURCE of inspiration to all the current and future young players. Barry RFC chairman Jon Venners hopes that will be the effect of a mural at the clubhouse, designed by Hurts So Good, which is now taking shape.
The mural features three players who started out with Barry, and who have gone on to wear the red jersey of Wales, two of them current internationals.
The current players are Mason Grady, now on World Cup duty in France, who made his international debut in this year’s Six Nations Championship, and Niamh Padmore, who made her debut in this year’s under-18s Six Nations, the first female Barry player to win a Wales cap.
Their portraits flank that of Geoff Beckingham, who won three Wales caps, two in 1953 against England and Scotland, and the last in 1958 against France.
A hooker, he was a member of the Cardiff side that beat the All Blacks 8-3 in November 1953.
The portraits were done from colour photographs.
The idea for the mural on the end wall of the clubhouse came following Principality Building Society’s offer last year of Street Art Murals for three sports clubs.
Barry didn’t get chosen, but Venners was impressed with the one he saw at Rumney RFC, and as Hurts So Good were working on a project with Barry’s Reservoir Youth Club, he asked if they could do something similar at the ground to brighten up the clubhouse end wall.
“A number of Barry players have reached the pinnacle of their career by playing for Wales,” said Venners.
“I wanted something kids can look up to an emulate, something to inspire them.
"I want every kid who walks up the drive to be inspired, boys and girls, to achieve their highest level possible.”
Hurts So Good worked on the Rumney RFC project with Cardiff artist Bradley Rmer.
At Barry, much of the work has been carried out by Kyle Hill.
“When these works of art actually have an impact on the surrounding area, they do what they are supposed to do, brighten the area and inspire people. And it’s a talking point,” said Hurts So Good’s Ceri Stokes.
Venners thanked Rhys Jones of the Vale Youth Service, which supported the Youth Club project and mural with a grant, and is in sponsorship discussion with a local company.
The original plan had been for four portraits, but Hurts So Good were unable to work from a black and white photograph.
Prior to the portraits being done Curtis Shier, of UPVC Spraying Wales, gave the wall a base coat.
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