TWO men from Begelly had a surprise encounter with former US president Bill Clinton on a recent trip to watch Wales play football in Ireland!

Gareth John from Begelly was in Dublin with his father Mike and thousands of other Welsh football fans for a vital World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland when they bumped into the former American president souvenir shopping!

Gareth, who now lives and works in Cardiff, said: “We were strolling around Dublin sight-seeing and buying presents on the morning of the game when we came across a motorcade, including police outriders in Nassau Street in Dublin. Locals told us that Bill Clinton was shopping for souvenirs and when he came out of the shop, I snapped a photo of the president.”

The former US head of state had attended the funeral of former Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness the day before and was in Dublin for meetings with the Irish Government.

“Dad’s been involved in local football in Pembrokeshire for many years with Kilgetty FC and when we attend Wales games, he invariably bumps into someone he knows, but not normally like this!” Gareth added.

“He is a former president of the Pembrokeshire Football League, so in a way it was just one ex-president meeting another!” he quipped.

Gareth and Mike are long-time regulars at Wales football games and were both in France for last summer’s European Championships.

Gareth added: “We’d organised the trip to Dublin to mark two significant birthdays we’re celebrating this year, my 40th and dad’s 70th. We also met a few other celebs whilst there, including radio presenters Owen Money and Eleri Siôn, and former Welsh international Malcom Allen, but bumping into Bill made it especially memorable! It was just a shame that Wales couldn’t secure a win to top the weekend off!”