A Steep Learning Curve: Exclusive Interview with Iwan Williams.

With the recent bad weather resulting in a virually non-existent fixture schedule over the past six weeks, I thought it was time to ask Caernarfon Town manager Iwan Williams if he would be happy to sit down and share his thoughts on his first nine months as manager of the Cofis. 

I was pleased, and not a little chuffed, when he agreed and set about putting together a list of questions that I wanted to ask him. Never one to shirk a challenge, Iwan answered each and every one in great detail and in so doing I believe he has provided a revealing insight into his first months   as manager of the Canaries. I hope everyone finds this as interesting as I do!
Diolch yn fawr iawn  Iwan! 

How has your first few months in the job been?

Iwan: Tough! It’s been a steep learning curve for me since becoming Manager of this fantastic Football Club but one that I’ve enjoyed. Thankfully, there have been more ups than downs thus far, and long may that continue!

"I had prepared for the hard work."

You have been playing at a high level for a number of years and will obviously be aware of the heavy workload managers at this level are burdened with, but has the job been different to what you had been expecting and if, so, in what way? Have you been faced with any unexpected surprises?

Iwan: I’ve played for some fantastic managers over the years and still speak to most of them on a weekly basis, and they continue to give me good advice. I had prepared for the hard work and stressed to the club’s Board and my family that I was going to put everything into it.

I think it all depends on what you want out of the job I suppose. I’ve set myself goals and objectives which won’t be achieved by cutting corners.

What has been the most pleasing aspect of the job thus far?

Iwan: When I was named as the new manager, I knew people would question the Board’s decision and rightly so given I have no previous managerial experience. Having said that I think I’ve managed to change some peoples’ perceptions, which is always good.

However being top of the pile at Christmas having endured a relatively poor start to the season has to be the most pleasing aspect up to now. That is down to the players though, as I can only do so much until they cross that white line on a Saturday.

We still have a lot of work to be done but I firmly believe we’re on the right track.

What has been the most frustrating part of the job up to now?

The referees……only joking!

Having experienced the injury crisis we did in September, not having a Reserve side or a permanent Under 19’s side to dip into and utilise has been very frustrating. We had to cancel training sessions to keep the fit players wrapped in cotton wool and went into some matches with less than eleven  who were fully fit. This meant that we had to bring new faces in whilst the injured players recovered, so having to balance and keep everyone happy has been a tough and frustrating task. Hopefully that will change next season and in my eyes it has to, not only for the benefit of the first team but also because of the number of talented young players around the Caernarfon area.

I know you have a strong philosophy on how you want the team to play and this is how the team team began at the beginning of the season. However I have seen slight changes in the formation in certain matches and was wondering if this something you had planned for or was it something you’ve felt you’ve needed to adapt along the way?

Iwan: As a manager you have to know how and when to adapt. As a team, we have a core philosophy which we try to stick to. However, with the winter months causing heavy damage to pitches we’ve had to change some of our tactics. We’re never going to be able to play the style I want us to play all through the season, so sometimes we have to play percentages. Before every game, we assess the condition of the pitch, the players we might face, then adapt our tactics and pick the team accordingly.

From listening to you speaking about the game, and from what I’ve heard from the players, you have a very professional attitude which I believe shows in the way the team plays and the players conduct themselves. Can you explain the things that make a difference and why you feel it is so important to be as professional as possible?   

Joe Williams and Rob Jones recovering after a training session.

Iwan: I’m a big believer in preparation and recovery, regardless of the standard you play at. We introduced pre-game team meetings away from the changing rooms to make sure the players switch on for the matches properly. We also introduced post-game protein shakes to recover especially during winter months or when we play three games in seven days. Its little margins that make the difference in football and I also believe that it helps attract players if they know that you’re trying to do things the right way. If we want to be in the Welsh Premier League, then I believe it’s important to prepare the players now for some of my expectations should we manage to get there.

Gareth Edwards poses with Ken  Doherty
as he gets ready for some extra running.

With this in mind, what do you think about the players being spotted at various times recently stocking up on their calories in McDonalds?
Iwan: Haha!! ‘The foreigners’ (Gaz, Ellis, Rob and Joe) as I like to call them, continue to assure me that they were invited to go for a meal with snooker legend Ken Doherty. However, I doubt that he would invite them to McDonalds!

Just ask them about 70/70’s at training! The more comments or pictures I see on social media of them eating and drinking unhealthily, the more running they do in training!

The personnel has changed within the team since the Summer and you’ve brought in a number of players into the squad. Can you explain your thoughts about bringing in Rob Jones, Danny Brookwell, Darren Thomas and Kevin Lloyd to the club?

Unfortunately, at this level players come and go on a regular basis, and again without a Reserve side we as a management team cannot stand still. You have to be active and watch as many matches as possible to continually improve your squad.

Rob Jones.

I had played with Rob Jones at Connahs Quay so knew what he had to offer. He started the season at Conwy and when we played them in September he bossed the game in every aspect which immediately made me want to bring him on board. He also has the experience to go with his ability,  having played for Connahs Quay and Bangor for a number of years in the WPL.

Danny was a different story. I played for Llanfairpwll years ago when Danny came and did pre-season with us as a young lad when he was home from the Marines. I knew back then that he had something special about him.

Danny Brookwell.

When I heard he was back for good and playing at Glantraeth I went to watch him a couple of times. In one of the games he scored a goal from the half way line and then nearly got sent off for kicking out. I saw enough to confirm to myself that he had good enough ability, and could handle himself physically, to deserve a chance in the Cymru Alliance, and he hasn’t disappointed.

There’s not much I can say about Darren Thomas that people don’t already know. I’ve played in the same team as Darren and know what he’s capable of so when players of his calibre become available, you just have to make room for them. He’s been top drawer since coming back in and I think he’s enjoying his football more than ever. His performances certainly prove that.

Darren Thomas has been "top-drawer".

"Kev Lloyd has been fantastic since he re-joined." 

Kev Lloyd was a thorn in the two games we’ve played against Llanrug since I took over at Caernarfon. He scored in both games also. People questioned the thought of bringing him back as he had a reputation of being disruptive. I can honestly say that I’ve seen no signs of this. In fact it’s been the complete opposite. He has been fantastic since he’s re-joined and if anything I’ve criticised him for being too much of a team player by looking to play his team-mates in instead of going for goal himself. Kev loves the club, and the supporters and the celebrations after he scored against Denbigh proved that the relationship is mutual.

You also signed Tom Taylor recently and explained that it would take time for him to regain match fitness following injury. What is the latest regarding Tom?

Iwan: For me, Tom has the potential to be the best Centre Half in the Welsh Pyramid and I was pleased he wanted to join us. He trained with a Welsh Premier League club in the summer and unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury. He had surgery and is now looking to get back to match fitness. We’ve sent him out on ‘loan’ to Llangefni to get competitive minutes and I will monitor and look to bring him back into the squad as soon as he is ready.

What has been the highlight of the first half of the season for you?

Iwan: Being top at Christmas and developing such a great changing room where players are genuinely working hard for one another. 

Can you pick out the team’s three best performances so far?

Beating Bala at home in the Word Cup has to be up there. They fielded such a strong side that night and having gone a goal down early on and then come back to win the game in the manner we did was very pleasing.

A special night at the Bangor University Stadium.

Beating Bangor away at The Bangor University Stadium was a special night for everyone connected to the club. The following we took that night was incredible and an experience that will live with me forever. We also only had eleven players fit for the game so to out-battle them in the manner we did was exceptional.

Personally though, I have to say that my most pleasing performance was Away at Prestatyn recently. We took a beating from them at home in the second game of the season and got taught a lesson. That was a defeat I took very hard. To go a goal down early on and come back to win the game against our title rivals was again brilliant and credit must go to the squad for their mental strength. It put the 2-4 defeat at the Oval to bed and proved to many people how much we’ve developed as a squad since the start of the season.

What has been the biggest disappointment thus far?

Iwan: The Welsh Cup game at Goytre has to be my biggest disappointment to date. The Welsh Cup is a competition I loved to play in, so to go out in the manner we did was disappointing. We controlled the whole of the first half and missed countless chances. The rest is history!

Who has been the best team you’ve faced this season?

Iwan: Prestatyn were big, strong and dominant in our home game against them early on in the season.

I also admired Gresford’s performance against us at the Oval. They came with a game plan and stuck to it very well. They frustrated us immensely and I admired their keeper’s performance.

I remember talking to you at the Oval before your announcement as our manager and you told me that you were nervous about managing such a big club. Do you still feel this way?

Iwan: I tend to get nervous about things regardless of what I do. I think it’s because I’m desperate to do well.

To get the call welcoming me to the Oval from the Chairman was something I never expected, so to actually be appointed Caernarfon Town manager so early on in my managerial career was something I was grateful for. I was nervous because I was desperate to repay the faith shown in me by the Board. I still get nervous before every game, and tend to not sleep the night before. Fear of being a failure is something that I fight against on a daily basis whether it’s at work or with Caernarfon, so that nervousness will never leave me.

Have you been surprised by the level of support the club has?

Iwan: Not at all. I firmly believe that this club has the best support in Wales. I still smile when looking back on the photos of them all at the Bangor game! If we were to get to the WPL I believe we’d outnumber any club on their own patch! It’s not just the number of fans that Caernarfon Town Football Club has that’s impressive, it’s the passion they bring with it.

Iwan with Town's Head of Academy Haydn Jones. 

Your motto is ‘One Club’ and you have certainly been taking a keen interest in all aspects of the club since joining us. What do you think of the work Haydn and Nathan carry out with the Academy and Football in the Community respectively, how important is their work, and how have you been involved?

Iwan: What Haydn, the Academy coaches and staff and Nathan have done over the past couple of years is fantastic. They’ve developed two successful entities which have given the young footballers in Caernarfon and the area a pathway to eventually feed into the first team whilst Nathan’s Football in the Community Project has brought the Caernarfon Community closer to the club. I’ve tried to delve into things as much as possible with the Academy by showing a keen interest in attending their games and getting to know some of the children. For Nathan, I managed to gain sponsorship for him to buy new equipment etc. It’s important that we support both of them from a first team perspective as much as we can, and I will continue to do so.

You have also taken a keen interest in the Canaries Club. How have you been involved with them and what are your thoughts on the work they are doing?

Iwan: The Canaries Club are a very special group of people. When I met them before the star of the season  we sat down at the ground and spoke about football. I was seriously taken aback with how passionate they were towards the club. The amount of fundraising and work they’ve done, and the support they’ve shown me is one of the main reasons why I want to get this club back to the WPL as quickly as possible.

How frustrating has the last two months been, with all the postponed matches at a time the team had been playing so well?

Iwan: Very. We have momentum at the moment and have not lost in the league since September, so you can’t help but worry that when games get called off on a regular basis, it might disrupt us. However, with the mentality and work ethic these lads possess I don’t think many things would disrupt them once they step onto a football field. They are fully focussed on winning matches and it’s only a matter of time until we play all of our opponents anyway.

How have you tried to keep the team as match fit as possible during such inactivity?

Iwan: Yes, we’ve had to be innovative in trying to work around these postponements and keeping the group ticking over together. It’s been difficult to find a venue to suit when fixtures don’t get called off until the morning of the match. For example, when our home game against Flint got cancelled I managed to get us into the Main Hall at Canolfan Brailsford for a training session (see photos). The venue wasn’t ideal to work on team shape and patterns of play but we made the most of it and combined small sided games with a bit of fitness work.

Can you discuss the training match behind closed doors at Airbus, and the reason why you played it? Also, I believe some of the team’s Under 16’s were given a run out? How many of the youngsters played and how did they do? 

Iwan: Having not played since the Denbigh game on the 18^th of December I was a bit concerned about going into such a big game against Prestatyn lacking competitive minutes. I’m on the A Licence with Airbus’ Assistant Manager and he offered us the chance to travel up there to play them in a friendly at short notice. I jumped at the opportunity and so did the players. We managed every player’s minutes taking into account the Prestatyn game was to follow a couple of days later, and also brought some youngsters with us to sample the environment and to gain experience. Aaron Davies Thomas and Huw Williams from our Under 16’s side came, so did Ashley Owen who represented the Under 19’s and he is someone I will keep a close eye on between now and the end of the season. All three handled and conducted themselves very well and were a credit themselves as well as Haydn and the Academy.

Garden Gnomes?

Obviously it’s important that the players stay healthy during this weather and, judging by this photo you took recently, I assume you’ve told them all to wear hats? Who’s got the best headgear in the team?

Iwan: I am big on players looking after themselves and staying healthy but I have to be honest, wearing those woolly hats was not my idea! I thought we had a fleet of garden gnomes sitting at one side of the dressing room at Mold when Darren, Jay and Nathan turned up in those awful hats. So the answer is no-one possesses the best headgear! Having said that, Jamie Breese trumps the three of them as he keeps turning up in awful snapbacks which he wears the wrong way round and can only still be fashionable in Welshpool or America. The four of them though, haven’t got the slightest idea about fashion like I have!

Summer football, or are you a traditionalist?

Iwan: This is something I’ve been vocal about recently given how frustrated I’ve been over the amount of games we’ve had called off. In the past I don’t think that anyone could argue when I tell people that,  as a player, I was as traditional as they come. I

Jamie Breese donning one of his snapbacks.

loved a derby match in the wind and rain, but nowadays, being a student of the game, I’ve completely changed my opinion. My argument is that if we were to switch to the summer then matches would not be called off (or not as often!), it would attract bigger crowds, the standard of football would be better and for the WPL clubs competing in Europe, it would mean they would be stronger and fitter when the ties come round as they’ll be half way through their domestic season. Just a thought!

Which FAW course are you now on?

Iwan: I’m on the UEFA A Licence course which I will be completing in May.

Have you been taking part in analysis work during recent Wales Under 16’s matches?

Iwan: Yes I was part of the analysis team that studied the Welsh Under 16’s during their participation in the Victory Shield. It’s for coaches to enhance their learning on a Continued Development Programme where they call you in and give you topics to study during the game. Then at half-time and full-time you spend time with some of the coaches running through your findings which can help them gain some information on topics the Under 16’s need to improve on as they prepare for the next match.

We’ve just passed the half way mark in the league season and the team is currently joint top of the table with Cefn Druids. How will you and the team approach the second half of the season, and do you think we’re in with a chance of getting back into the WPL? 

Iwan: We’ll approach the second half of the season the same as the first. We have fourteen cup finals left and if we apply ourselves properly and continue to approach the games as professionally as possible then there is no reason why we cannot get back to the WPL.

I must mention that we not only have a talented group of players at present but the morale and togetherness within the dressing room is up there with the best I’ve experienced. They are willing to work hard for one another and if they continue to do that then the quality will look after itself.

Finally, do you have a message for the club’s supporters?

Iwan: Thanks for your continued support. Keep following us in numbers as you have done throughout. We share the same goal as you and are determined to repay your support by doing everything we can to achieve promotion. Diolch.

   

Prestatyn, Departures and Photos.

There can be only one place to start the new year, this being the team’s impressive 2-1 victory over Prestatyn in the first match of 2016.

It’s been a few days the encounter with our fellow title hopefuls but I’m still as excited now as I was at the final whistle on saturday! If I had to choose three words to describe the match they would be pulsating, squeaky and bum.

I had been looking forward to my first visit to the Motion Finance Stadium for some time, although I can now say it had not been without a little trepidation. When the teams had met at the Oval back in August I think it’s fair to say that Prestatyn all but played Caernarfon off the park. We had shown glimpses of real class in possession but had been bettered by a team that looked stronger and faster than us on the day. Much has happened since then, of course, but I have no doubt that Prestatyn are the best team we have faced this season. With this in mind, and despite the fact that the Canaries have been in imperious form for most of the past four months, the pessimist (or should that be Caernarfon Town fan?) in me feared a repeat of that early setback could be on the cards.

Iwan took advantage of a break in play
to change to a diamond formation.

It goes without saying that I have every confidence in Iwan and his players but, twenty minutes into  Saturday’s match I wondered if we were in for another bad day at the hands of the Seasiders as the home side started superbly and had gone ahead with an early goal. They seemed to be on top of Caernarfon in midfield, with Michael Parker very impressive in pushing his team on.  Thankfully, there was a break in play half way through the half and this gave Iwan an opportunity to gather his midfield players together and slightly change their roles. In his post-match comments, the manager mentioned changing the formation to a diamond in order to get tighter to their opponents and whilst I think I know what he means (!) whatever he told the players seemed to do the trick as the game changed for the better for everyone of a Caernarfon persuasion.

Nathan being congratulated by his team mates. 

Nathan Craig’s leveller, from a corner, was one of those goals where you see the ball hitting the back of the net, but it takes a split second for it to register! Only Nathan himself will know if he meant to score but what I do know is that if he told me he did, I would believe him! He really is that good, and I agree with Iwan’s comments this week that he is one of the best players in Wales.

After his obscene drag back for the winner, Prestatyn
put three players on Ellis Healing!

The winner from Ellis Healing was a very different type of goal, but equally as good, where Caernarfon showed their quality as a team. Some slick passing between Jamie Breese, Nathan and Rob Jones saw the ball on the edge of the penalty area and at the feet of Darren Thomas. The little magician’s pass into the six yard area to Ellis Healing was as delightful as the goal itself. Ellis played the old ‘drag-back’ trick on his marker before tucking the ball into the onion bag and the way he beat his marker reminded me of how kids play in the schoolyard before some overbearing ‘little Fergie’ try and coach their natural talents out of them. I have mentioned in the past that Ellis could pass as an Adam Lallana lookalike but, due to the way he's been playing recently I was say that Lallana is now in danger of being known as the poor man's Ellis Healing! 

Whilst the second half was not exactly a re-run of ‘The Alamo’ it was still very much a case of the Canaries soaking up lots of pressure and hitting Prestatyn on the break. Having said this, although the hosts enjoyed lots of possession I think their keeper probably made more saves than Paul Pritchard after the break. And talking of ‘Pritch’, he was magnificent on the day, pulling off half a dozen top class days and proving once again why he is so highly rated, even if his kits are just a bit suspect!

Cofis Number One, Paul Pritchard,
was in imperious form.

So, a very enjoyable first visit to the Motion Finance Stadium that ended perfectly as the victory saw Caernarfon return to the top of the league, albeit on goal difference over Cefn Druids. The only downside was that I couldn’t manage much by way of decent photographs. I used the best two, both of the manager, on the club’s website and, just to ensure that my efforts were not entirely in vain, I’m including them here. As you can see, they’re not the best!

The first week of the new year has not just been about Saturday’s victory however, as we have also seen the departure of two players from the squad, although it seems that only one of them has left on a permanent basis.

There was some talk amongst the supporters at the Prestatyn match about Jamie McDaid’s decision to leave the club. Everyone loves to see the best local players in the team and Jamie certainly fitted the bill. However, he has decided to try his luck at another club and although I’m disappointed that he’s leaving there can be no doubt that he does so having made his mark in the side, certainly last season when he was the team’s top netfinder. I have always find him to be a nice guy so hope he does well wherever he ends up and I’m pleased to hear that he will still be helping Nathan with his  Football in the Community work.

The other player to have left recently is James Bell, although I believe this is due to him needing minutes on the pitch rather than anything else.  James started the season really well  (and who could forget his man of the match performance against WPL side Bala in the Word Cup?) but has had a few niggly injuries and it makes sense for him to go to another team to gain match fitness. Iwan has spoken many times about how much he rates the young playmaker and I’m sure he’ll be back in the yellow shirt very soon. The fact that he’ll be looked after by former Caernarfon player Warren Gibbs will also mean he will taken care of properly which must have been a factor in the move.

Last season, Town’s challenge for the Cymru Alliance League title floundered during a patchy January when the side lost ground on the front runners after some
disappointing results. If the Canaries are  to mount a serious title challenge this time around, it will be important for the side to keep up the momentum built over an unbeaten run of ten league matches which dates back to September.

This is easier said than done, however, and looking at our fixtures this month, it’s not going to be easy. Flint, Guilsfield and Porthmadog will all be visiting the Oval in January whilst there is also an intriguing trip to Cefn Druids to look forward to. That old cliché about there being no easy matches these days is certainly true for this league! 

Before finishing, it was great to hear that the Caernarfon Town family received a new addition on Boxing Day. Huge congratulations to our Number One Paul Pritchard and his partner Ceri on the  birth of their daughter Elia Beth and we look forward to seeing Elia at the Oval soon. 

Paul. 

Random Highlights of 2015 Part 1.

The past twelve months have been quite eventful for Caernarfon Town Football Club and I hope that through the blog I’ve been able to accurately describe what it’s been like following the club from my perspective as a supporter of the team and a member of the club’s Board. As 2015 comes to an end, the advent of 2016 also marks the blog’s first birthday and I thought it might be a good time to cast a glance back at the past year. However, rather than repeating what I’ve already said over the past thirty blog entries I want to mention some of the highlights and otherwise from where I’ve been standing, usually on the cold touchline, with my camera and note pad!

So, this was 2015, in a very random way, as seen from the Oval Ways Headquarters…. 

Favourite Goals.  

We’ve seen a few great goals scored by Cofi players in 2015 and, of course, Darren Thomas’ strike  against TNS would definitely have been amongst the front runners were it not for the fact that it  happened in late November 2014. However, I think it warrants at least a mention in this inaugural, and totally unofficial, celebration of Town’s best goals due to the fact that  I, and over 30,000 other people,  saw it on the big screens at half-time during the Wales v Belgium match in Cardiff City Stadium in June. What would Belgium’s national team have done for a similar strike from one of their strikers on the night? Anyway, my top three goals for 2015 are: 

Ywain Gwynedd’s bicycle kick strike against Llandudno at the Oval during our 3-0 victory. I know some of you will be thinking that an overhead kick by Yws was probably nothing special as the ball must only have been about three feet from the ground but to be fair to the Cofi Keegan, it was a wonderful finish and amongst the best I’ve seen at the Oval. I’m not sure if he scored again for the team after this one but if he didn’t it was a wonderful way to finish! (The photo on the right shows Yws celebrating his strike with Steve Lewis.) 

Jamie Breese’s winner against Denbigh Town this season. This may be a surprise to some but it’s here not just because it was an excellent finish but, just as importantly, the team and player himself needed it! After an impressive pre-season, the team had not gelled as well as everyone had thought, and one point in the first two league matches had given us all a reality check.

The teething problems had continued into the match at and, when the hosts took the lead early on, I had a feeling things were about to get worse. However, the players clicked into gear in the second half and when Gareth Edwards levelled, the match was set up for a late winner. Enter one Jamie Breese. The goalgetter had seemed a little frustrated in the previous matches but he came into his own on the night and bagged the points with a clinical finish. The photo (right) shows the winner going on and, in addition to proving my limits as a photographer, I hope it gives everyone an idea of what it looked like. One thing is for sure, the strike immediately seemed to lift the players and supporters and from that moment on, the team improved on a weekly basis. 

Nathan Craig’s free kick against Denbigh at the Oval just before this Christmas. I was sitting behind the goal when Nathan’s effort flew into the top corner of the onion bag and was stunned by the strike. The keeper didn’t move and when two well-respected football people told me after the match that it was the best free-kick they had ever seen, then you just know it was something special! I spoke to Nathan afterwards and he told me that he was aware of the direction of the wind and just decided to hit the ball as hard as he could and hope for the best! I’m sure there was more to it than that but, as everyone will know, Nathan is one of the most modest people around and he seemed somewhat embarrassed by being congratulated on the strike! There is a video of the goal somewhere on facebook and it's well worth seeing! I don't have a photo of the goal, but do have one of Nathan standing at the end he scored, obviously checking the Oval angles last Summer and making plans for this season!   

If pushed for a favourite out of the three, my pick would have to be Nathan’s free kick. Absolutely top class!

Iwan Williams masterminded an impressive victory
over Bangor with a threadbare squad. 

Favourite Moments.

Two moments that stand above all are the Word Cup victory at Bangor and the return of Darren Thomas to the club. Rather predictable choices I’m afraid but equally understandable in my opinion.

Playing Bangor City is always a massive occasion and being drawn away in the Cup was a big match for everyone connected to the club. Let’s be honest about this, there is no love lost amongst supporters of the clubs and this has not been helped by the fact that the Citizens have had plenty of success in recent years whilst we have been through a very tough time until three years ago. Add this to the fact that they are our nearest rivals, then any victory over them is always more than welcome! That

Iwan welcomes Darren Thomas back to the Oval.

we deservedly beat them on their own ground, and with a threadbare squad was very sweet indeed!  

The other high-point has been the return of Darren Thomas to the Oval. I was gutted when he left for Aberystwyth in the summer but as thrilled as everyone else when he decided to come back and help us push for promotion. In my opinion, Darren is the most exciting player in Welsh non-league football and it was a real coup to get him back in the yellow shirt.      

Favourite Photo. 

Firstly, I don't think I need to explain that I’m not a photographer and most of the shots I take during matches are dreadful. In fact I would guess that the area's best photographer, Richard Birch, gets more good photos during one match that I have been able to get in the last five years but I console myself in the knowledge that mine are better than nothing! Every now and then, though, I do manage a decent shot and my favourite from 2015 is when I captured the ball on its way into the net from Nathan Craig’s boot against Llandudno in February. When even Mr Birch says it’s a decent photo, then I have to be happy! 

My favourite photo from 2015 as Nathan scores yet another cracker,
this time against Llandudno in a 3-0 victory last february.

Well, that's it for now and I hope that one or two of my choices have brought back some good memories for Caernarfon Town supporters. If not, then maybe I'll pick something that does in the second part of my random highlights from 2015, which I'll be posting soon. 

Paul. 

Three Keepers and Ellis Healing at Centre Half?

Friday’s night’s impressive victory over Denbigh Town at a wet and blustery Oval is the only place to start this time around. I mentioned in the last blog that, after an excellent run of results, Denbigh had suffered three successive defeats, including two 1-6 reverses. Despite this, I think most spectators would have expected a tough battle against Gareth Perry Thomas’ side and this is how it panned out in the first half.

Playing with their backs to the wind I felt the Canaries struggled to get into their usual playing style and, despite leaking fourteen goals in three matches, the visitors’ rearguard looked solid enough. With most of the balls played to Jamie Breese either falling into the hands of keeper Elliot Power or sailing out of play (due to the wind, and not the players ability I should point out) I felt we might have had to settle for a point on the night. However, when Darren Thomas managed to sneak a goal late on it would at least give the team something to hold on to in the second period and, as Town have the league’s best defensive record I suddenly felt there would be every chance of us getting the points.

And then, the second half happened! We scored six more goals. Against the wind. And it could have been more!

Considering the difficult conditions, heavy rain and blustery wind, I would go as far as to say that the Cofis’ performance after the break was amongst the best I’ve seen in many a year. Once Nathan Craig doubled lead with a simply outrageous free kick it was game over for the visitors, who seemed to lose heart immediately. It was a five star performance from Caernarfon from then on and an excellent way to finish their home fixtures for the year. Nathan’s free kick was the highlight for me, followed closely by Kev Lloyd’s goal. Kev had not scored since returning to the club in October and I think it’s fair to say that everyone was as desperate as he was for him to find the net. He has played well since coming back and been praised by the manager for his performances and it was brilliant to see him score again in the yellow shirt. His celebrations spoke volumes about how much it meant to him and it was good to see all his team mates celebrating so much with him. In fact, Grahame Austin rolled back the years (about ten in my opinion!) to sprint the length of the pitch to congratulate Kev, although he did struggle on the way back for the restart! 

I had been looking to get hold of Iwan before the match for a photo and although he is always approachable and helpful I often find it quite awkward to do this on matchdays as the manager is always the busiest man in the ground before kick-off. Having held a team meeting beforehand in the Boardroom I was aware that time was particularly short and so I’m sure being asked to pose with a Santa cap and beard for a photo was the last thing he wanted. Thankfully, he was as accommodating as always and, judging by the response the shot has had on social media, I hope he’ll agree it was worth doing! Iwan comes across to me as being a progressive manager who is always looking at ways of improving the team but I’m not sure that the formation he was looking at for the Denbigh match would have

Healing at Centre Half? 

suited the players. Three goalkeepers with Ellis Healing at centre half is definitely an interesting idea but I’m pleased he decided to stick with a more orthodox line-up!

Before moving on I must mention Darren Thomas’ celebrations after his third goal. Darren is not usually prone to bouts of excessive showmanship and so it was quite a surprise to see him stop suddenly after his netfinder before suddenly completing a forward tumble and ending on his back. It all looked particularly innovative and quite unlike Darren until I realised that he was, in fact, suffering from cramp.

Cramp or an elaborate goal celebration?

He received plenty of help from his team-mates but I noticed that this time Grahame Austin decided against another full pitch sprint towards a team mate!

Which brings me nicely to the annual Dave Jones Football Awards. I have enjoyed reading Dave’s end of year summaries over the years and was delighted, and proud, to be included in this year’s list, as Best Press Correspondent. Last year, Dave named Oval Ways and Treble Days as his book of the year, so it was nice to be named again in the list and get Caernarfon Town amongst some very big hitters. I was not alone either, as Grahame Austin was given the ‘Evergreen Award’ and Iwan was named as the ‘Manager to Watch’. Both deserve their recognition more than I do although thankfully Dave did not see Grahame taking an age to return to his own half after congratulating Kevin on his goal as he may have had second thoughts! On a serious note, I feel very proud to be part of the list and look forward to one day catching up with Dave, who is such a vital part of the grassroots game in North Wales.

Those who read my last blog entry, titled ‘A chameleon car and state of the art lawnmower’ may recall that I mentioned the gift made by the Football Association of Wales to Bangor City of pitch covers and a state of the art lawnmower. Not long after I posted the blog I received a tweet from the FAW’s Head of Competitions, Andrew Howard, who pointed out the equipment had been paid for out the Welsh Premier League broadcast money and not from the FAW’s budget. This had not been made clear in the newspaper article I had read, which included a quote from FAW Secretary Gwyn Derfel, but my point remains unaffected, being that the equipment was bought for a club that enjoys big gates, and therefore decent gate receipts. Gwyn Derfel stated that the FAW needs to assist clubs with grass pitches which is good, but it was not too long ago that they gave the same club £350,000 to spend on a 3G pitch, as part of a scheme to improve playing surfaces in Wales. I gather this 3G pitch is used for training purposes by the Academy, which is brilliant, although I’m not sure if the first team use it? I’m certainly not criticising the Citizens but do believe it’s a shame the FAW can find money from one pot to help one of the biggest clubs in North Wales whilst smaller outfits, and particularly those in the lower leagues, are finding it almost impossible to improve their facilities. As I pointed out to Mr Howard in my reply on twitter, if the FAW can use the broadcast money in this way, it may be a good idea to look at trying to secure television coverage for matches at more of a  grass roots level.         

It’s been brilliant seeing photos on social media of supporters wearing the Caernarfon Town kits Father Christmas has brought them this year. Judging from the shots, Jamie Breese and Kevin Lloyd have been popular choices although I think we may well be seeing a few shirts around town in the next few weeks bearing the numbers three and ten, those usually worn by Nathan Craig and Darren Thomas respectively.

Finally, I just have to include a photo of this year’s best Caernarfon Town Christmas jumper. I’ll keep the very happy recipient of this Christmas gift to myself for now but whoever designed it is a true artist!        

     

A Chameleon Car and State of the Art Lawnmower.

By the time I head to the Oval on Friday night (18/12) four weeks will have passed since I’ve seen the Canaries play, and I’m suffering withdrawal symptoms. Oh, how I’ve missed the touchline coldness, the ice cube feet, the banter and, most of all, the beautiful game played by the team. Yes, I’ve been watching a few matches on the box but no amount of prima donna football on Sky TV, where every team boasts its own Greg Louganis, and nearly every manager is whingeing about yet another ‘World’s Worst Ever’ refereeing decision, can really compensate for the absence of grass roots football.  

The pitch at  Llanfair Utd. 

When I last saw the side, Mold had been put to the sword and we were flying. Playing well, scoring freely and top of the league, the next match could not come quickly enough. Then the weather, and Storm Desmond hit, and it’s been Christmas Shopping time for me!

Well, that’s not strictly true, as I was well on my way to the league match at Llanfair two weeks ago before receiving the dreaded call to say that it had been called off. I usually enjoy hearing from John Watkins, but this was one call I did not want from the Club President.

With the Chairman and Chairman of Vice as company, the general feeling as we set off for the match was of surprise the pitch had passed its early morning inspection. It had been raining incessantly for two days and if truth be known we had expected it to be called off. Nathan Craig posted photos from the ground on facebook and we feared the worst but, hoping against hope, we continued through the driving rain and were just twenty minutes from our destination when John phoned.  

I have had the pleasure of travelling to matches with the Chairman of Vice on a number of occasions in recent years but he had failed to mention his car was some sort of chameleon prototype as it definitely turned from silver to blue for a few minutes after we heard the news! The chairman was his usual calm self of course, and he even magically produced a flask full of steaming hot Oxo which seemed to cool the hitherto equally steaming Chairman of Vice, and his chameleon car!

On a serious note, having looked at a number of photos of the pitch and discussing it with those who arrived at the ground, the playing surface was in a really bad way and I’m surprised the match was not called off much sooner. Of course none of us can control the weather but the pitch must have been near to unplayable earlier in the morning and, considering the horrendous weather forecast and amount of travelling Cofi players and supporters had to do, I would have to question the match official for not using a tad more common sense. I am not sure the home side would have had any influence on the initial pitch inspection, made at 8:45am, and so in my opinion the official who made the decision certainly got it wrong.

We were supposed to play Goytre in the Welsh Cup the following Saturday but this time common sense prevailed and the match was called off twenty four hours before the tie. This was no surprise after Desmond had been doing his worst for a few days but it was good that, unlike the previous week, Aa timely decision was made and we were all saved from a wasted journey on the crystal maze that is the A470.

The match was put back a week and, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to make such a long trip last Saturday, I had selfishly been hoping all week for another postponement as this would have resulted in the tie being switched to the Oval this week. However, the weather, and Goytre pitch, had improved sufficiently for the match to be played and, as you will all now know, it wasn’t a happy day for the Canaries.

I can’t comment on the match itself but have been told that Caernarfon started well and were the best side in the opening half, although the second period was a very different affair. Getting knocked out of the Welsh Cup is always disappointing and the manager, Iwan Williams, summed it up perfectly in his post-match thoughts:'Going out of the Welsh Cup is a bitter pill to swallow. The Welsh Cup is a very special competition with a lot of history and tradition so I'm bitterly disappointed to have gone out in the way we did.”

Of course there will be some saying that getting knocked out of a cup competition will help the team’s title push but I don’t agree with that, and never have. Promotion to the Welsh Premier League has always been the priority for Caernarfon Town this season but it was still good to hear the manager say how disappointed he was at the Cup exit, and that he didn’t revert to the oft quoted line about how ‘the team can now concentrate on the league’. I can’t recall Bob Paisley ever saying such nonsense when Liverpool were winning everything in the seventies and eighties, likewise Ferguson with United and Mourinho with Chelsea, when he was still ‘The Special One’! So, credit to the manager for this, and also for making it clear how important this weeks’ training session is for the players, with places up for grabs in the team this week.

On a personal note, I had to rely on texts from John Watkin for updates on the score and I have to admit I’ve had better experiences! The photo of Jamie Breese to the left perfectly encapsulates how I felt each time I read his messages!  

Wyn the Groundsman.

The weather has been much better this week and therefore there’s a good chance that the Oval pitch will be ready for the visit of Denbigh on Friday night. There are many unsung heroes behind the scenes at every football club, and at Caernarfon Town, our groundsman, Wyn Owen, is someone who deserves to be put in that category. Everyone who has been to the club in recent years will have seen for themselves how

The Groundsman.

good the Oval pitch looks and, from having spoken with players on a regular basis, visiting teams included, the surface is amongst the best in North Wales and on a par with teams in the top tier of the Welsh Pyramid. This is through the hard work of the groundsman, and whatever help he can get when requested. So, a big shout out to Wyn for his excellent work on the pitch.  

Level Playing field?

This brings me nicely on to a recent headline in a local newspaper which announced that the Football Association of Wales has provided Bangor City F.C. with three pitch covers and a state of the art lawnmower. A very nice gesture by the governing body to help out one of the Welsh Premier League clubs in this way, and I can only assume that it is just the first step towards providing similar assistance to all the clubs in Wales. After all, it hardly seems fair that they should provide such help to a club that attracts large home crowds, and therefore gate receipts, and yet they leave smaller clubs with little or no income revenues to fend for themselves. Good on the Citizens for getting some help but I imagine that the cost of the FAW’s recent assistance would go a long way to helping a lot of clubs survive. I know that Caernarfon Town could do with a new ‘state of the art’ lawnmower so maybe we’ll be receiving a call soon?

Before signing off I just had to mention this photo of Caernarfon's Chairman and President showing real interest in committee member Terry Roberts. The shot mysteriously appeared on my laptop just as I was posting this and I have asked both Arfon and John about the subject of their fascination. Both are adamant that they were trying to help Terry with his coat zip and I suppose we'll all just have to take their word for it....

So, onto Friday and a big test for Iwan and the team as they try and bounce back from last week’s defeat. I know that the manager and his staff will be pulling out all the stops to ensure a continuation of the league form that saw the Cofis hit the top of the league in November. Denbigh are a good side but have hit a poor run of form, losing their last three fixtures, which have included two 1-6 defeats. However, I don’t think we should read too much into this, as they have had a number of impressive victories this season against highly rated teams, including a cup win over WPL side GAP Connahs Quay.

Being the first match for over a month at the Oval, I’m sure there will be a decent crowd under the floodlights and I can’t wait to see the team in action again. Hopefully, the weather will be good with us in the days leading up to the match and if it does start raining heavily again, maybe Wyn could ask the FAW for a fast-track on those pitch covers?

Come on the Town!  

Prince Philip, Messi, Jay Gibbs and Nathan’s hat-trick.

It was good to see Jay back against  Llandudno Junction.

After my detour last week of an exclusive interview with Town striker Kevin Lloyd the blog is getting back to normal this time around as I take a look at the Cofis’ last four matches.

The last regular entry followed the comprehensive victory at Caersws that put the Canaries top of the Cymru Alliance League. The following week saw us hosting Llandudno Junction in the second round of the Welsh Cup and I think everyone had been expecting a really tough challenge from a team that was previously unbeaten in thirteen matches, of which they had won an impressive eleven. However, after a competitive opening half an hour I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Caernarfon dominated the action and ran out comprehensive, and comfortable, 4-0 victors.

The whole team played well on the day but, in my opinion, Jay Gibbs stood out as the star man, running the game from midfield and finding the back of the net twice. Jay was returning to the side following a three match suspension and, having seen him watching the Caersws match from the stand and probably kicking every ball with the team, I was not surprised he was so good against the Railwaymen. Everyone who has seen Jay will know how good he is and whilst I’ve heard one or two people say he should sometimes try and curb his natural competitiveness on the pitch, I think his attitude is brilliant and exactly what you want from a midfielder. I’ve never played at a decent level of the game but there must surely be a fine art to playing with such drive and passion whilst also trying to avoid being booked, especially in today’s climate when a broody look at the referee can result in a card! Far from erring on the side of caution I think Jay should just keep on going as he is.

Although the manager has made it clear that winning the league is the priority this season, a good run in the Welsh Cup would be wonderful for the club, both for prestige and financial reasons. The team has been rewarded for the victory over Junction with an away tie at Goytre in the next round and I’m sure they will prove formidable opponents. It’s a 140 mile trip to their Plough Road ground and I’m pleased to hear that Iwan has decided the squad will travel down the night before, which seems a sensible thing to do. I can’t remember too many occasions when Caernarfon have decided to stay overnight before an away match and it’s good to see such a professional approach from the management. Hopefully, it will make a difference on the day against a side that is top of the country’s Southern equivalent of the Huws Gray Alliance. I don’t know much about Goytre but, having seen photos of their ground on their website, I hope it doesn’t rain because I can’t see many sheltered areas there!    

A Cracking Cheeseburger and Not Much Else.

Top Burger at the New Stadium.

The Cofis returned to the bread and butter of league action following the cup victory and I have to admit that the match at Holyhead was not the best. I enjoy going to the New Stadium and although Caernarfon have not always had the best of results when playing there, a warm welcome and a cracking cheeseburger are always guaranteed at the ground!

Having looked forward to a good encounter between two footballing sides, the match turned out to be somewhat of a disappointment. This was mainly due to the strong wind that enveloped the ground, making it extremely hard for the players to accurately pass the ball for anything other than the shortest of distances. To use a footballing cliché, it was very much a game of two halves, with the hosts bossing proceedings with the wind at their backs before the break whilst the Canaries were on top in the second period. Kevin Lloyd very nearly clinched the points for Town late on but he could not quite manage to get his effort in, having done well to get on the end of a Nathan Craig cross.

Not many teams will return from Holyhead this season with anything more than a defeat and therefore a draw was not too bad but such is the increased level of expectancy amongst us all these days that there was probably a slight feeling of disappointment on the way home that we didn’t win. It really was just one of those days when nothing much happens in front of goal and, not for the first time this season, I kept thinking during the match that Caernarfon could have done with former player Darren Thomas to work some magic and create a goal. That said, I still think it was more of a point gained than two lost.

Nathan Craig in front of the Main Stand at  Holyhead.

Although the action on the pitch had not been the best, spectators were treated to some unexpected entertainment just before the final whistle when one of the stewards walked over to the Main Stand and ordered a fellow steward to walk down from his perch at the top of the stand, and proceeded to share some rather stern sounding pearls of wisdom with him! I’m not sure what it was all about, and whilst it was all very odd it gave most of us a laugh!

Just two more things to mention about the afternoon.  Although half of Holyhead’s New Stadium is rather spartan it possesses an impressive Main Stand that must rank amongst the best in Welsh football. The club also has an excellent goalkeeper in Carl Jones, who I believe is second only to Paul Pritchard as the league’s best stopper. I do think he enjoys a tad too much banter with supporters during matches, but I have yet to see him have a bad game so it obviously doesn’t affect his performance.

Just Like Christmas Morning as Messi Returns.

Rumours had been rife since early November that the aforementioned Darren Thomas was on his way back to Caernarfon but I put it down to wishful thinking on the part of the supporters, myself included. I have often referred to Darren in this blog and everywhere else for that matter, as the ‘Cofi Messi’ and I was as disappointed as everyone else when he left for Aberystwyth in the Summer. I didn’t blame him because he wanted to play in the Welsh Premier League and he is certainly good enough to do so, but had always hoped he would do it with us.  

Then, on the Monday following our trip to Holyhead, Iwan sent me a message to ask if I could get to the Oval later in the day as he hoped we could make a special announcement about a new signing. Obviously, Darren’s name came to mind and a few hours later I was in the Boardroom taking photographs of him with the manager. As a committee member I was delighted that we were signing one of the best players in Welsh non-league football but as a supporter it felt a bit like Christmas morning when I saw the Cofi Messi was back!

As I very much doubt that Iwan would put me in his side on a Saturday afternoon, being the club’s Press Officer is the best job I could ask for at the Oval and breaking the news on the club’s website and social media outlets was pretty exciting. Judging from the amount of likes, retweets, views and comments the news enjoyed, I think every other Caernarfon Town supporter felt exactly the same as I did! Only time will tell of course but I do feel getting Darren back to the Oval could go a long way to helping us back into the top tier at the end of the season.

There was definitely a feel-good factor at the ground for Messi’s first match back in the yellow shirt and whilst the weather was not the greatest, the team certainly didn’t disappoint the supporters who had turned up. The Cofis were simply unstoppable on the day and routed Rhayader 7-1 in front of 272 souls who braved the elements. As expected Darren slotted straight back into the team and it was great to see him back, although it was another of Caernarfon’s highly rated favourites who shone the brightest on the day. Nathan Craig has been excellent so far this season and although he starts matches in the left-back berth, he is much more than a full-back and his deliveries at set pieces and from the left flank are consistently high quality.

Nathan’s Hat-Trick?

Nathan capped a fine personal performance with two goals against the Redkites and did his best to claim a hat-trick on the grounds that it was his goalbound effort that Rhayader player manager Dylan McPhee headed into his own net for Town’s fourth goal. To be fair, he had a point. I believe the official FIFA ruling such matters is ‘Shots that are on target (ie goal-bound)and touch a defender or rebound from a goal frame and bounce off a defender or goalkeeper are not considered own goals’. In this instance, Nathan’s effort was goalbound and was deflected off a defender into the goal.

Nathan's second goal against Rhayader. 

Caernarfon Town president John Watkin was present when Nathan discussed this with me and he was adamant that the goal should be attributed to McPhee as an o.g. Later that night I thought I’d have some fun and sent John a text to say that the match report would have Nathan down as the goalscorer and, just as expected, he phoned me immediately to put me straight! Nathan has never scored a senior hat-trick and although I did my best to try and help him with this, I’m afraid I had to relent as, such was John’s conviction on the phone about the goal I genuinely don’t think he would have slept that night if I had not listened to him!   

A Bit Like Prince Philip.

When I offered Caernarfon chairman Arfon Jones a lift to Mold for the match on Saturday his response went along the lines of “No, we’ll go in mine as I want to travel in a real car!”  And he meant it! I wasn’t complaining as I couldn’t really argue with his point but there is always a downside to riding in Arfon’s car because it does make you feel a bit like Prince Philip. As the County’s most recognisable man, it’s impossible for the chairman to go more than a few yards before having to wave, very much like the Queen, at his adoring public! Thankfully, there were two more committee members sitting in the back to partake in some banter with, including my friend the Chairman of Vice, who can always be relied upon to provide a few memorable, if totally unrepeatable, anecdotes!

The side’s last visit to Alyn Park had not been a happy one and I’ve heard some say that the 1-4 we suffered there last January contributed to heavily to the team failing to win the league. At the time, former manager Lee Dixon had made a few changes to his squad and whilst there’s no getting away from the fact that the performance on the day up to the usual standard, looking back at last season  as a whole, it proved very much a one-off.

Danny Brookwell gets brought down in the box for Town's penalty at Mold. 

I don’t think anyone expected a repeat of last season’s reverse and, from the very first minute, it became pretty obvious that Saturday would be different. Despite the impressive victory over Rhayader, Iwan changed his starting eleven and brought Kevin Lloyd and Danny Brookwell into the side at the expense of Jamie McDaid and Ellis Healing. I heard a rumour that Ellis was unavailable for selection due to a prior engagement but did not expect to see him lining up for Liverpool against Manchester City in Adam Lallana’s shirt on in Sky’s tea-time offering! And to be fair, he did well too!

Jamie Breese taking a breather at Mold.

The team continued its fine form from the previous week and outplayed the hosts who were left chasing shadows as a result of the Canaries’ quick possession football. As it was so cold at the ground I decided to take advantage of Mold’s half-time hospitality and must say they provided a warm welcome. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for their striker Lee Healey, who let his frustrations get the better of him near the end of the match as he recklessly flew into a challenge on Jay Gibbs. He was rightly sent off for the foul and it’s disappointing that as a result Jay may now have to miss a few matches due to a broken bone in his foot. Just as disappointing was the match report on Mold’s website that stated Healey had been harshly sent off. The author must have been looking the other way…. 

All in all, I think it’s been a pretty enjoyable month following the Canaries and, judging by the way the team is improving, there’s a good chance it will carry on into December.

Harry (left) and Paul (right) were thrilled that the
Chairman had agreed to pose for a photo! 

Looking at the strength of the squad, and the quality he now has on the bench in addition to on the field, Iwan has a really tough job on his hands to not only pick his best side for matches but also to keep all the group happy whilst trying to slowly re-introduce injured players. Of course, this is much preferable to having just twelve players to pick from as happened earlier this season (and I can’t resist the temptation of pointing out that eleven was all we needed at Bangor!) but this once again reinforces the need for a reserve side. Fingers crossed we’ll see one at the Oval next season?

Before finishing I think it’s worth mentioning that last week’s interview with Kevin Lloyd has proved one of the most ‘viewed’ blog entries on here which just goes to show how

Clive Williams. 

popular he is with everyone. I spoke with his father on Saturday and he was pleased with how it all worked out which is always a good sign! Hopefully one or two other members of the squad may agree to do a similar piece, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed for another exclusive interview soon! 

Finally, a quick thought for one of my favourite players, Clive Williams, who has had to miss the last few matches due to illness. 

A top player, and really nice guy, I hope he’ll be back in action soon!  

Kevin Lloyd: No More The Maverick?

What is a maverick? 

The definition of the word in the Oxford Dictionary is ‘An unorthodox or independent-minded person’ whilst the online Urban Dictionary defines it as ‘Someone who refuses to play by the rules and isn't scared to cross the line of conformity.’ 

To me, maverick means someone who has an independent streak and is a bit of a rebel. It’s a word I have felt in the past perfectly sums up Kevin Lloyd. I first met Kev when he joined Caernarfon Town during the Summer of 2010 and had heard beforehand that he could be a somewhat surly character. I have personally not seen this side of him in the ensuing five years but he certainly had one or two interesting moments on and off the pitch during his first spell at the Oval. 

I loved his attitude on the pitch, where he refused to give an inch to the opposition and particularly enjoyed his constant banter with some of our rivals for the Welsh Alliance League during the 2012/13 season! 

Knowing how much he enjoyed playing for the team he and his family supports I was disappointed when he left the club not long after that promotion campaign but he’s done well since leaving and it’s been great seeing his success at Llanrug United, where he had an excellent goalscoring record. Of course, he added to his impressive goal return with a netfinder against the Canaries in the recent Welsh Cup tie at Eithin Duon and I think his impressive display in that match may well have helped earn him a return to the Oval. 

I mentioned in a previous blog entry that I’d have to ask Kev how he felt after scoring against Town that day and I’m pleased to say he was more than happy to answer that question and a host of others about his time at Llanrug, his unexpected return to the club and how he feels he’s changed since his first stint for the Cofis. 

O.W.:You had a successful stint at the club from 2010 to 2013 and were a part of many triumphs for the team. What are your highlights of that time? 

Kev: The highlight was winning the league in that treble season during Lee Dixon’s first season at the Oval. Winning the treble that term was brilliant but the league had been our priority and the club may not be where it is now had we not done it. Another highlight was playing under Clive Jones when the team was full of Caernarfon lads. 

O.W.: As a Caernarfon Town supporter it must have been hard for you to leave? Why did you decide to go to another club? 

Kev: I had not been playing regularly for the side and I just felt that things were not working out as well as I wanted. I wanted to play ninety minutes every week and enjoy my football again but felt I had to leave the club to achieve that. I went to Llanrug because I knew the players, and some of my friends were playing there, such as Dylan ‘Midge’ Owen and Darren Phillips. 

O.W.: How did it go at Llanrug, and what were your highlights whilst there? 

Kev: I had a great time there, scoring sixty seven goals in one hundred and one matches and we won the Cookson Cup and FAW Trophy during the time I was there. The FAW Trophy victory was my highlight there. It was a great day for the club and also for me personally as I scored two goals and was named man of the match. I also really enjoyed beating Holywell Town in the final of the Cookson Cup, which they weren’t too happy about! 

O.W.: How did it feel to score against Caernarfon in the Welsh Cup earlier this season? 

Kev: It felt nice to score, but also not so nice to score against Caernarfon. Since I’ve returned the players have given ‘Pritch’ some stick for that goal, so it’s all good now! 

O.W.: How did your return to the Oval come about? 

Kev: “Caernarfon put in a seven days notice to speak with me soon after the Welsh Cup tie and to be honest I was shocked! I had not expected to play for Town again and thought that the Welsh Alliance League was my level. Once Iwan came in for me I didn’t have to think about moving as there was no decision to make! To be fair to Llanrug manager Mark Jat he knew as soon as the approach had been made that I would be leaving and he was happy for me. My Dad is so pleased that I’m back which also means a lot to me.” 

O.W.: How did it feel to be back in the squad for the Buckley match? 

Kev: It felt brilliant to get on against Buckley (see photo, left) and the support the Cofi Army gave me when I ran onto the pitch was superb. I felt nervous to begin with but was fine once I got my first touch of the ball. I was gutted to hit the post because a goal would have been brilliant in my first match back, but the main thing was that the team won and we did, so it was a perfect return! 

O.W.: Did you know the manager before you signed? 

Kev: I knew Iwan only through having played against him over the years but had heard lots of positive things about him and have been impressed with how he’s doing things. He’s a really nice guy and I’m so pleased he’s given me this opportunity. I don’t want to let him down and will be doing my best for him and the club. 

O.W.: Have things changed at all since you left? 

Kev: I think things are being run more professionally. The training is really good and not at all like I’ve had before. We do lots of ball work, playing patterns and tactics and everyone is expected to turn up and take part. Iwan makes sure we work as a team in everything we do, such as going on the team bus together and attending team meetings to discuss matches and tactics. 

O.W.: The team has changed a lot since you were last here, what do you think of it? 

Kev: The squad has definitely been strengthened over the summer. I have played with Nathan, Grahame, Jamie McDaid, Pritch, Kev Bach and Darren before and so know how good they are and really the whole squad is very strong. Gareth Edwards has really impressed me, he speaks well and is very experienced, and Jamie Breese is a really good player with great workrate. I was really pleased to see Darren returning to the club last week because we’re friends and I never thought I’d get an opportunity to play in the same side as him again. 

O.W.: Has the Kevin Lloyd of 2015 changed much from the person who left the club in 2013? 

Kev: Yes, I’ve grown up a lot in recent years. My attitude is much better than it has been in the past and I now realise that it’s all about the team and not just about me. I’m part of a team here and understand and enjoy it. I don’t want to let Iwan, the players, the club and the supporters down and will work hard and do my best for everyone. 

O.W.: And finally, do you have a message for the Cofi Army? 

Kev: Yes, please carry on supporting us and hopefully we can win the league for you and get the club back to where it belongs! 

This is where the blog should end but, having stated at the beginning that I have in the past felt the word Maverick perfectly summed Kevin Lloyd up, I must say that I’m not too sure that it does these days. Yes, there’s still an edge to him on the pitch, and you can be sure that opposing defenders are still going to have their hands full when he’s about, but his answer to a question about his goals for the season suggests that he may no longer be the maverick and is very much more of a team player these days. 

Kev:“Winning the league is what we all want and, although I’m Cup tied I really want us to do well in the Welsh Cup. We haven’t done well in it recently and it would be great for the club for us to enjoy a good run in it this year.” 

A massive thank you to Kevin for answering all the questions before saturday's match at the Oval and although I'm sure he would much rather have been partaking in some banter with his team-mates, I hope he'll agree it was worth it. Diolch yn fawr Kev!