Frank Burrows sat in the stand at Barry Town’s Jenner Park assessing the potential of striker Eifion Williams, a Welshman who links Vale of Glamorgan club and Caernarfon Town.
The two clubs are close to 200 miles apart, but Williams was a goals ace for both.
Huws Gray Alliance leaders Caernarfon are at home against Welsh Premier League Barry in a JD Welsh Cup third round tie at the Oval on Sunday (2.45pm).
Williams had already played for Caernarfon, firing 63 goals in 75 league matches, and was banging in goals for Barry when Cardiff City manager Burrows went to take a personal look.
The Bluebirds were keen on Williams, but Burrows was not quite convinced at a time when youngsters Robert Earnshaw and Christian Roberts were emerging at Ninian Park.
Nottingham Forest, Chester City, Crewe Alexandra, Hartlepool United and Portsmouth were among the clubs monitoring Williams, while he eventually made a £70,000 move to Torquay United.
Bangor-born Williams scored 131 goals in 130 Welsh Premier League appearances before stepping up to the Football League.
He played for Caernarfon Town and then quit his job on a building site to sign for Barry Town in 1996, firing 68 goals in 59 appearances.
Natural finisher Williams netted 24 goals in 107 appearances for Torquay before heading to the North East of England on a £30,000 transfer to Hartlepool United, scoring 50 goals in 175 starts and 33 substitute appearances.
Below: Eifion Williams plays for Caernarfon Town v Barry Town
Today, the 42-year-old Williams still lives in the Hartlepool area. He worked for the local youth offending service and taking up a physical education teacher role at Dyke House College.
Newly-promoted Barry are on 17 points on the Welsh Premier, two ahead of Newtown, Aberystwyth and Prestatyn with Carmarthen on four points at the bottom.
Manager Gavin Chesterfield and his Barry team have big matches against Bangor and Carmarthen coming up, but first they face a tricky cup tie in North Wales (2.45pm). Live television coverage will start on S4C at 2.30pm.
The New Saints are through to the fourth round heaving beaten Penrhyncoch 6-0 at Park Hall on Friday.
Alex Darlington led the way with a hat-trick, while Wes Fletcher, Blaine Hudson and Aeron Edwards were their other scorers.
Penrhyncoch had a player sent off for dissent during the first half.
JD Welsh Cup third round:
Result:
The New Saints 6, Penrhyncoch 0.
Fixtures
Saturday, December 2: Buckley Town v Flint Town United (2.30pm), Penybont FC v Cardiff Metropolitan (2.30pm), Llandudno v Gresford Athletic (2.30pm), Bangor City v Cwmamman United (2.30pm), Aberystwyth Town v Bala Town (2.30pm), Prestatyn Town v Ruthin Town (2.30pm), Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant v Cefn Druids (2.30pm), Connah’s Quay Nomads v Cwmbran Celtic (2.30pm), Porthmadog v Panteg (2.30pm), Airbus UK Broughton v Goytre FC (2.30pm), Pontypridd Town v Haverfordwest County (1.30pm), Newtown v Guilsfield (1.30pm), Llandudno Junction v Penydarren BGC (1.30pm), Ammanford AFC v Carmarthen Town (1.30pm).
Sunday, December 3: Caernarfon Town v Barry Town United (2.45pm).