Ooohhh Nathan Craig.....An Exclusive interview.

Nathan Craig needs no introduction to anyone reading this blog. Quite simply, he is Caernarfon Town Football Club’s talisman.

A former ball boy at the Oval who became a Welsh Under 21 international and played professionally for Everton and Torquay, Nathan is in his second spell with the club and, since re-joining us in the Summer of 2014 he has been a shining light both on and off the field. 

He is both club captain and Head of the Caernarfon Town Football in the Community Programme and, over the past five years, he has become an integral part of what the Cofis are trying to achieve as a real community club.

I published an exclusive interview with Nathan back in June 2015 where he spoke at length about his first full season with his home-town club and his experiences in the professional game, which you can read by following this link:

http://ovalways.blogspot.com/2015/06/nathan-craig-on-torquay-mcdaid-and.html

Much has happened in the intervening years and, as Nathan has been involved directly in most of it, I thought it was about time to catch up with him for a look back at what has been an enjoyable and successful, but also sometimes difficult, period in the club’s history….

Nathan with Caernarfon Town's main sponsor, 

Margaret, owner of Gofal Bro Cyf

You first played for Caernarfon in October 2011. How did the move come about and what do you remember of your debut and of that time with us?

Nathan: “I got in touch with Arfon Jones the Chairman at the time as I had just been released by Everton and wanted to play week in week out to keep my match fitness up. Luckily he agreed and it was a fantastic feeling to put the Caernarfon Town shirt on for the first time.”

You then had a stint in the football league with Torquay and returned to the Oval in 2014? 

Lee Dixon was the manager at that time and the team was by now in the Cymru Alliance League. Did it feel that the team had improved much by then?

Nathan: “Yes, there were a lot of new faces and a lot of work had been done around the Oval too, which was very pleasing to see. We also had a few of my former teammates from my Everton days such as Danny Murphy and Moses Barnett.”

What do you recall of the 2014/15 season, when the team finished second in the league?

Nathan: “The League back then was exactly how it is now, unpredictable, with everyone beating everyone, which shows how great a competition the Cymru Alliance was, and still is.”

The Football in the Community project was set up in 2014 and you have led it for the past five years. Can you tell us about the importance of this, and explain your role in the project?

Nathan: “I love every minute of it. I see it as I get the opportunity to share the experience I’ve gained over the years through football and give it back to the community. I’m trying to engage with as many children as I can so then I know they’ve all had the chance to experience what we have to offer which is fun football in a safe environment. What’s great about being in and around all the Schools in the area is that we see many of them at the Oval who come from the local primary and secondary schools to support our first team and also it’s fantastic to see the children wearing Caernarfon Town merchandise.” 

What type of opportunities do you offer, and what's your typical day in the role?

Nathan: “We offer Breakfast Clubs and Lunch Clubs at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen School and after-school clubs where we cover Ysgol y Gelli, Santes Helen, Maesincla, Rhostryfan, Bro Llifon and Bontnewydd. We also hold popular half term camps.”

Which age groups do you work with?

Nathan: “The age the kids can start with us at the half term camps is 4 years old, which is schoolyear 0.”

Have you seen through your FITC work that the interest in the club has increased, especially with the team having become become so successful in recent years? 

Nathan: “Yes massively, and that’s all that the local children talk about during the week and especially this season as our games are on Sgorio. They often talk about our previous games and ask when the next home game is as they want to attend and support us which is fantastic.”

Who was your favourite player growing up?

Nathan: “My favourite player growing up was David Beckham, as I am an United fan and Beckham used to play in the same position as mine and, of course, used to take set pieces which I always used to try and copy.”

Who is your favourite current player?

“My favourite player now is De Bryune at Manhester City. His vision and passing range is unbelievable and I’ve been to watch him play this season with a School trip and seeing him live was a great experience.”

Who is the best player you have played with, and why?

Nathan: “I’ve played with a lot of current top-flight players but the best I’ve played with is Joe Allen when I used to play for Wales Under 21’s. His composure on the ball was brilliant and he always made the youngsters feel welcome and comfortable when we made the step up to the 21’s.”

Who is the best you've played against, and why?

Nathan: “The best player I’ve played against would have to be Raheem Sterling. I remember when Liverpool signed him from QPR when he was fifteen and he played his first game for the Youth Team a few days later against us at Everton. He was playing two years up (age group) and had so much talent, and I couldn’t believe how quick he was for a fifteen year old.”

As previously mentioned, you rejoined the club for the 2014/15 season, and the team did well to finish runners-up to Llandudno. How much of a shock was it to see Lee leave the club at the end of the season?

Nathan: “It was a big shock at the time as obviously we had done well as a team on the field that year to finish second behind a very strong Llandudno team. Perhaps Lee thought he had taken us as far as he thought he could.”

The club then appointed Iwan Williams as Lee's successor. What did you know of Iwan, and what changes did he make?

Nathan: “I played against Iwan during our last game of the season against Caersws so I knew about him, and that there were strong rumours circulating that he would be our next manager. I thought Iwan was a very professional manager and he brought this ‘one club’ ethos back in to the club and community which was very important at the time.” 

The 2015/16 season was a special one, with the team winning the Cymru Alliance League. What were your highlights during that season?

Nathan: “As you said it was a very special season and for me personally the highlight was receiving the Player of the Year for the League at the end of the campaign.”

How disappointing was it to hear that the club had failed the Domestic Licence criteria and therefore would not be promoted?

Nathan: “It was very disappointing and really hard to take at the time as we as players had done everything we could to get us up but for some reason off the pitch the club failed to meet the criteria.”

Did failing the criteria make you consider leaving the Oval?

Nathan: “I’m sure that a lot of players were thinking of leaving when the news came out and personally I had a few offers from other clubs in different leagues. However, as a group we decided to stick together and give it one last go and try and get the club back to where it belongs.”

How did it feel to be made club captain for the 2016/17 season, and was this something you had thought might happen, or was it unexpected?

Nathan: “It was unexpected but it’s a privilege to put the yellow and green shirt on never mind being a captain. For me, being a local boy, I feel immensely proud and happy to lead the team out.”

We finished the 2016/17 season as runners-up but won the league cup. How did it feel to lead the players out in the final and to get to collect the cup as captain?

Nathan: “Leading the team out is a proud moment every single game, but to lead us out in the Cup Final and getting to lift the Cup at the end in front of all the fantastic Cofi Army was an unforgettable experience.”

What did you know of Sean Eardley when he joined the club as assistant manager in the summer of 2017 and what effect did his appointment have on the squad and club, in your opinion?

Nathan: “To be honest I didn’t know too much about Sean, only the fact that he had the same role as me at Llandudno in the Community and also that I’ve played in the same team as his brother Neal, for Wales Under 21’s.”

The 2017/18 season began well and we were top when Iwan left in late October. Was his decision a shock?

Nathan: “Yes, obviously, as you don’t usually hear about managers leaving when things are going well, especially as well as they were going for us, as we were top of the League when he left. But that’s football and these things happen, it was then down to as players and as a club to keep going with the momentum we had to get the club back to where it belongs.”

How important did you feel it was for the club to make an early announcement regarding Iwan’s successor, and how did you and the squad feel when Eards took on the job?

Nathan: “It was massively important as we just had to keep doing what we were doing which was winning games and staying top of the league. Yes this sort of change could have made us crumble but we showed the great character we had to stick together and kept the run going with Eards in charge. I thought it was a fantastic appointment as he was already involved with us, so for us players there was no change.”

How did the transition between managers go? Were there any big changes or was everything more or less the same?

Nathan: “Everything was more or less the same, and I think that was key to the success we had. There wasn’t too much that got changed as we all knew everything was going well on the field. It’s credit to Eards as well as there are a lot of managers who get a job at a club and immediately go and sign five or six players but that sometimes can disrupt things. So, he obviously believed in us as players and a group and what a perfect way to pay him back by getting the Club promoted.”

Having missed out on promotion two years earlier, did you and the team feel the pressure of going for the title last year?

Nathan: “No, not really. We didn’t feel the pressure as we all believed we had the ability to get the club back to where it belonged.”

How much of a relief was it that the club passed the Domestic Licence criteria last season?

Nathan: “A massive relief to be honest, especially after the disappointment of failing it when we last won the league. Getting us the licence was all down to the hard-working backroom staff, board members and volunteers of our great football club.”

How did it feel to finally clinch promotion to the Welsh Premier League?

Nathan: “It was a lot of weight off my shoulders as the reason I signed for Caernarfon in the first place was to get the club back to where it belonged,  competing against the best in the country.”

What have been the main differences this season? 

Nathan: “This season in the Welsh Prem the pitches are better plus it’s a lot more tactical as we get footage of every games so every teams do their homework."

Has it surprised you to see how well the side has adapted to the Welsh Premier League?

Nathan: “No, not at all. I have always believed in us and we just give one hundred percent every time we wear the shirt as it means so much. All we can do is give our best but the talent we have got is fantastic and we know on our day we can beat anyone.”

Who do you think is the side’s unsung hero, and why?   

Nathan: “In my opinion, and obviously everyone’s opinion is different, it has to be Ryan Williams. He got released by Wrexham and had a long time out due to injury last season but this season he’s been phenomenal. To play in so many different positions and do a great job wherever he plays, our unsung hero has to be Ry. I see him as a younger Clive Williams as he was, and is the same, a very good, versatile footballer.” 

Do you have any superstitions on match days?

Nathan: “No, I’ve never had any superstitions which is a bit unusual as most footballers tend to have some.”

What is your ultimate target as a Caernarfon Town player?

Nathan: “My target when I first joined was to get the club back into the WPL and when we did that last summer the target then changed short term into staying up first season and long term to compete in Europe!”

Nathan receiving his WPL Player of the Month Award

for November from Sean Eardley.

If you had to choose between winning the Welsh Premier League and the Welsh Cup, with Caernarfon, which one would it be, and why?

Nathan: “By winning either one you guarantee a European tie, which would be fantastic. But I think to be crowned Welsh Premier League winners would be the one as you’d then be champions of Wales.”

Which is the best goal you’ve scored for Caernarfon, and why?

Nathan: “The one against Barry Town home in the Welsh Cup last season as it was from a fair distance and at a very important time in the game.”

Which is your favourite match for Caernarfon and why?

Nathan: “Both times we defeated Bangor away.”

Nathan with Darren Thomas.

Who is the best Caernarfon Town player you have played with?

Nathan: “There’s a few that stand out but I have to say Darren 'bach'. On his day, with a ball at his feet, there is no one better, he’s unplayable.”

Grass pitches or 3G?

Nathan: “Grass pitches 100%.”

Malcolm Allen or Owain Tudur Jones?

Nathan: “Malcolm Allen!”

Defence or midfield?

Nathan: “Sitting Midfield.”

I know it’s early days, but do you have any ambitions to go into management when you’ve finished playing?

Nathan: “Yes, managing my own son in the next two or three years!! To be honest I haven’t thought about it as I still enjoy playing my Football.” 

If you could choose only one word to describe what the Cofi Army means to you, what would it be?

Nathan: “Everything.”

A huge thank you to Nathan for taking the time to answer all the questions I put to him, and for being as honest with his answers as we’ve all come to expect.

I’ve obviously concentrated on his football related experiences at the Oval in the interview but want to finish by saying that he has been a massive help to me as the club’s media officer and is always someone I can rely on for assistance whenever needed. I have lost count of the number of times Nathan has made himself available for media work and gone out of his way to do so, and this has certainly helped raise the club’s profile in recent years.

Diolch yn fawr iawn Nath!