Exauce Dimonekene and Dale Gardiner reflect on time with STM Sports

Two of STM Sports’ first-team members have reflected on their time with the club.

On Monday, news filtered through that the club would be shutting their doors, bringing to an end their 14-year existence.

The Llanrumney based side folded just five months after playing in the Nathaniel MG Cup final.

In their debut season in the second tier they earned a fourth placed finish in the Cymru South but were demoted after not securing a Tier Two Certificate.

In the immediate aftermath of their demise, goalkeeper Exauce Dimonekene and long-serving player-manager Dale Gardiner gave their thoughts.

Goalkeeper Exauce Dimonekene, who played a massive part in picking up the Division Two title in the 2018/19 campaign, will always have fond memories of playing for the club.  

“It was an unbelievable experience and a honour,” said Dimonekene, who joined the club in August 2018 from Caerau Ely.

“I used to watch them a season before I joined and how confident they were playing football, the togetherness they had as a team and coming into the team and you saw the quality that they had.

“It made me fall in love with football again, they were so passionate about football and they wanted to stick to their philosophy and not play the welsh league way.

But what made the club so special?

Dimonekene added: “The people that run it, they were very hands-on, Geza and Nigel, and the few fans that would literally follow us wherever we would play.

“STM built a little community and united St Mellons, the fact they had the kept the players that had been with them from the very start as a Sunday league team and how they did it with little money compared to other teams, goes against the norm for a club like that.

“To be successful and also the players how they were best of friends off the pitch we felt no pressure when we were playing because we were with our mates on the same pitch moving the ball around enjoying the moment.”

Former co-manager Dale Gardiner echoed Dimonekene’s comments.

“I think it was the togetherness,” said Gardiner.

“I know people say that a lot but the changing room we built in the last few years were so close, they would have done anything to help each other. 

“A lot of players had never played at a higher level so although they were incredibly talented, they were always looking for advice to make themselves better. No one came into the club thinking they were too big for it.

“We had a way of playing and everyone stuck to it. No one pulled in the wrong direction especially in the last two years and that was a massive help towards our success. 

“To hear people speak about how well we played and our style of play felt amazing, it still does.

“Hopefully people will always remember us for playing the game our own way and comments from people involved with other clubs saying we were a pleasure to watch will always be remembered by us.

“Let’s not forget of course what we did off the field, to make it all work on the field. We all have Nigel and Geza to thank for that.”

Gardiner has played for and managed the club from January 2018, where he replaced Gareth Morgan, and says there were a number of “best moments” he had with the club.

He added: Winning the league title and then having to play at the Cardiff City Stadium in a play off to get promoted.

“I managed to get an early flight back from a boys holiday in Tenerife so I could play in the game and it couldn’t have gone better gaining promotion to the Welsh league.

“Captaining the club was also a massive honour for me personally.

“Having teammates who were also friends look up to me on a football pitch for guidance is something I will never forget. 

“That led me on to taking over as manager of the team and to win the Welsh League Division Two title in my first full season as a manager was an incredible feeling. 

“And when you thought it couldn’t get any better I managed to steer them into a fourth-place finish in the Cymru South and a nationally televised cup final last season.

“When you’re not predicted to get near a cup final involving welsh prem teams or near the top of the league you’ve just been promoted into, these are the standout moments for me. 

“Winning a league as a player and then as a manager was also a fantastic achievement for me personally and I am proud to have done that with my local team where I grew up.”

And Gardiner was full of praise for Nigel Bircham and Geza Hejgato for all the work they put into the club over the years.

“Without these pair, the end would have come a lot sooner for this club believe me.

“Between the pair of them they did everything off the field. From the fundraising to putting their hands into their own pockets over the years just to keep us going.

“During our Cymru South season, Geza would be down at our ground at 8am on a Saturday morning making sure barriers were in place, catering vans were available just so we would pass the criteria each home game. 

“What I will always remember them for though personally, is the great chairmen that they were.

“Ever since I took over as manager they did nothing but back me. They only ever intervened when I asked them to, and again I think that played a huge part in our success.

“They never got involved with team selection or training sessions.

“They knew what my plans were and they trusted me 100%. I just hope I repaid their faith in me with our title win the season before and our achievements last season. 

“The best chairmen I could wish for and they carried out the work between them of what 20 people would do at other clubs. Two magnificent people!”