One of King’s Men. An Interview with Phil Wilson.

If you mention Caernarfon Town Football Club and the FA Cup to most people over thirty five years of age in Gwynedd with even the slightest interest in the beautiful game, there’s a very good chance that the first name that will spring into their minds is John King.
Mr King, of course, was the manager with the golden wand who weaved his magic and transformed a struggling Town side from bottom of the Northern Premier League into one of the top non-league sides in the British game during his short, but historical, stint as manager.
The crowning glory of that stint came when he masterminded the side to the third round of the FA Cup in 1986/87 before the Canaries got knocked out in a replay against Barnsley at Oakwell, succumbing to a solitary Rodger Wylde strike in front of over eight thousand fans, of which I was one.
The manager, and the wonderful team he put together for us to support will forever be held in the highest of esteem by Town supporters, and rightly so. They put the club on the back pages of the national press and on national television and, for those few months, we were amongst the big boys in the World’s greatest cup competition!
Next year marks the thirtieth anniversary of those halcyon days and I am very happy to be able to publish an exclusive interview here with Phil Wilson, a mainstay of the side who was also Mr King’s first signing when he took over at the Oval.
Phil went on to take over the hot seat after Tommy Smith failed in his attempts to replicate Mr King’s success, and has enjoyed a long, and very successful career in the game. I’ll let Phil tell you all about it and also of course, about his time at Caernarfon Town.

Question: First of all, can you give us an overview of your career in the game Phil?
Phil: “I started at Tranmere Rovers and played in the A, B and reserves sides. I had a bad knee in my last season there and I played when I should not have which did not do me any good. I had my cartilage out and went moved on to play in the Cheshire League for New Brighton and Winsford. I was a Striker and was scoring a lot of goals and a number of league clubs came in for me so I ended up going to Blackburn. I would not sign full-time though as I was half way through my teacher training at college. I started very well with Blackburn and had some first team games in pre-season. I was not really a goal scoring striker and so they moved me to right wing where I played well. But it never really worked out there and after going out on loan to Wigan, who were then a top non-league team, I moved to Runcorn and started playing in modfield and this is where I played until the end of my career.
Before the Conference we won the Northern Premier League and lost in FA trophy semi-finals three times. We were one of the best non-league teams in the country and I played there for six great years. Altrincham, when the Conference started, paid a decent transfer for me and we won the Conference but I had a falling out with the manager and went for a short spell to Mossley, where we won the Northern Premier League and lost in the 1980 FA Trophy final at Wembley. I then got the move I wanted by going to Northwich, also for a decent fee. I had had four very good years with them in the Conference and played in two Trophy finals at Wembley, beating Bangor in the 1984 final.
When I was thirty six, with a bad knee and drifting down the leagues John King, who was my manager at Northwich, wanted me to go as player coach with him at Caernarfon. It gave me a new lease of life and you know the rest! I even went back to playing in the Conference with Northwich when Tommy Smith took over at the Oval. I then managed you for two seasons, one of which was very successful. I was still playing at Rhyl at thirty eight when Stalybridge Celtic offered me the manager’s job. We won the league and I managed them for two seasons in the Conference. Other manager jobs I held were at Leek where we won the Northern Premier League and got to the Conference, I was at Northwich for two and a half years in the Conference where we finished high, I returned to Stalybridge and won the league again and we got promoted to conference. I was next at Southport and managed Lancaster to promotion to the Conference North before my final job at Barrow. I went back to Blackburn as a European scout after that and I am still there now, doing all the match assessments on our opponents.”

Q) You obviously had a very impressive playing career and I was wondering what were your highlights as a player?
Phil: “The Highlights were playing at Wembley three times, winning three league titles, a number of first and second round ties in the FA Cup and a couple of third round ties including Caernarfon.”

Q) How did your move to Caernarfon come about Phil?
Phil: “I was thirty six and dropping down the leagues and John King phoned and asked me if I fancied it at Caernarfon.”

Q: Things did not start too well at the club for Mr King, results wise, and legend has it that he was having second thoughts about it soon after arriving. I have also heard that you were instrumental in him staying. Can you give us an insight in what happened and how you managed to persuade Mr King that there was some potential here?

Phil: “They were bottom of the Northern Premier League, he went to watch them and they lost 9-2 at home. Our first game was Macclesfield away and we lost 7-2. I played. I drove him to the game and on the way home he said he was packing it in as it was a hopeless cause and it would be too difficult to turn the team around. I took him down to a Rugby club I played squash at and persuaded him to give it a go. Part of the reason was I wanted to continue playing at a good standard but if he had not stayed he would not have had that FA cup run and it was that run that put him back in the limelight, in the papers and on TV and this got him the job at Tranmere. The rest is history what a fantastic manager he was .
Let’s get something straight, he did not stay because of me, but we talked about who we could bring, players like Kenny Jones (who was older than me), Steve Craven and Ray Woods and we eventually built a great team. Martindale, Higgins, Salmon and Russ Hughes, together with Huwey (Huw Williams) and some of the other good local players. I was past my best but I was reinvigorated, I loved it! I played in some very good non- league teams but that side on the day was as good as any.”

Q: As a mainstay of the side, it must have been an exciting time to be playing for Caernarfon?
Phil: “I am positive that if we had not gone so far in the FA Cup we would have won the league easily and been promoted to the Conference. Those two years and my first season Managing Caernarfon were great years.”

Q: I sold programmes at the Stockport tie and remember arriving at the Oval a few hours before kick-off to sit in on a police briefing and you were running around the pitch on your own. I’m pretty sure you missed out on that match and was just wondering what do you remember of that day, and the whole Cup run itself?
Phil: “I was warming up at the Stockport game because I had been injured for a couple of weeks and was not fit. For us to go and win at York was a fantastic result as they were a decent first division team. The Barnsley tie, our chance was at home and we had a couple of opportunities to win and I was an inch away from getting on the end of a free kick. 1-0 flattered us in the replay.”

Q) You mention that John King was a great manager and I know that everyone would agree with that but I was wondering what made him stand out so much? What were his strengths?
Phil: “John King was a great Manager he made you want to play for him. He had lots of experience and knew how to get the best out of you.”

Q) How far do you think Mr King could have taken the club had he not returned to Tranmere Rovers?
Phil: “If Kingy had stayed at Caernarfon I think he would have produced a team that would have won the league and been promoted to the Conference. However, Caernarfon would never have been able to financially compete in the league, just like Bangor found out. It was his fate that he was able to go back to the club he knew best.”

Q) Can you describe a typical day for you as a player for Caernarfon on match days? How did you get down here, and with who? Also, where did the team train Phil and how many times a week?
Phil: “We would leave the Wirral at 11:30 and drive to pick up some of the Liverpool lads at a hotel near Ellesmere Port. We would go to Caernarfon and go to a pub, the Black Boy I think, and meet all the lads for tea and toast at 1:00. Then we would go to the ground for 2:00. Kingy liked having all the lads together to build team spirit.”

Q) Where did the team train and how many times a week?
Phil: “We trained at Deeside on a Tuesday and Thursday when there was not a midweek game and he only brought the local players through for big games, so they normally trained with the Reserves at Caernarfon. I normally took most of the training.”

Q) What do you remember of the Oval ground, the club itself and some of the characters there at the time?
Phil: “The Oval pitch was not up to today's standard but was ok. The ground was good especially when there was a good crowd. I remember scoring a header against Shrewsbury to win in the Welsh cup and the stand by the social club was nearly full. It was the year when I was manager and we lost to Cardiff in the semi-finals.
There were a lot of hard working people there and they were always very friendly. I remember a young John Watkins.”
Q) What happened to the members of the famous FA Cup side, Phil and do you still keep in touch?
Phil: “Russ Hughes went on to play for me at Stalybridge, as did Steve Craven. Ray Woods played for me in the team that finished third when I was manager and he went on to Wigan and later Coventry. Did you know Higgy, Martindale and for a short spell Steve Craven all played for Tranmere with Kingy, and both Martindale and Higgy did so for a number of years and had great success there. I, at 38, played for Northwich with Austin Salmon in the conference before returning to Caernarfon when Tommy Smith left.”

Q) You had a successful period as manager of the team too, especially in your first season, and brought in some very good players. What do you remember of that team and how did you find the experience of managing and creating your own side? I think we finish third in the NPL in your first season in charge which was very impressive!
Phil: “I enjoyed managing and don't forget the year we finished third I was still playing. Do you remember me bringing a young Ian Woan to the club, and he went on to play for Nottingham Forest and is now assistant manager at Burnley. I also got him to go to Runcorn where, after a few months, he got a move to Forest.
My first sacking was at Caernarfon the season after we finished third in the Northern Premier League, which was better than the FA cup team. We lost in the qualifying round of the FA cup away in the North East and after the high expectations from two years previously I was sacked. I learned there was no loyalty in football. It is funny that in my first season managing Stalybridge I took over with the team in the bottom two in November and we played at Caernarfon in the final match of the season. We won and they went down and probably never reached the heights again.
When I came back later on to help Terry Murphy out, the then manager who was ill, it was a bad move for me. I had been managing in the Vauxhall Conference, the top non-league in the country, and then player manager at 39 in the first division of the Northern Premier League. My heart was not in it, and I left in pre-season to go and manage Leek Town.”

Phil in action whilst player manager at Caernarfon. Photo by Richard Birch.

Q) You obviously played and managed at a very high level of football and I was wondering what your day job was and did you find it hard to try and juggle both careers?
Phil: “I was a PE teacher and then later an Advisory teacher for Looked After Children. I did not find it hard because football has always been first in my life whilst my teaching paid the mortgage.”

Q) How do you think today's equivalent of the Conference League, the National League, compares with the one you played in?
Phil: “The Conference has become a full time league with only a couple of clubs now being part- time. I was one of the few part time managers even when I was managing in it in the nineties and early in the 2000's. I would not go full-time because managers get the sack and I would still have a teachers job to fall back on. Incidentally, I was only sacked three times in twenty years. The league is no better than it was except it is now full-time. In my day the top non-league players were better off in the non-league with a good job and earned more money. They did not want to be full time.”
Q) You must have seen many changes in the game over the years and I was wondering what you think of the game today? Has it changed for the better?
Phil: “The game does not seem to have the characters and leaders that were around in my day Technically it has improved but heart and determination is lacking.”
Q) When did you join Blackburn Phil, and in which post, and what does your job entail these days?
Phil: “I joined Blackburn after my last job at Barrow, It was only supposed to be until I found another club but I never ever went for another job. I was going all over Europe watching games as well as a lot Premiership matches, I had no pressure and after about a year I was happy to continue to do it. I have been there nine years and now we are no longer in Premiership I do all the match reports on our next opponents.”

Q) Finally, can you sum up your time with Caernarfon Town in one sentence?
Phil: “As I have said earlier the three years I had there, two with Kingy and then the season we finished third, were some of the happiest I had as a player because at my age I thought I was finished and I proved myself wrong.”

A massive thank you to Phil for taking the time to answer my questions and being so honest with his answers. As someone who looked on from the terraces as the team he played in, and later managed, proved a match for everyone over a three year period in the eighties, it was great to hear his side of the story, and also to learn about his long career in the game. I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I did!

Ray Woods, a Massive Step Forward and Kev Bach - Again!

The legendary Ray Woods. 

After what seems like a particularly long pre-season preparation period we’re just days away from the new season and, just like everyone else connected with Caernarfon Town Football Club, I’m very excited at what lies ahead. 

I must say that, as much as I’ve enjoyed all the pre-season friendlies over the past five weeks, they’re no substitute for the real thing and I’ve been counting the days to the big kick off ever since the league cup final in May. I’ve attempted, in the last two blogs, to describe what’s been going on, in and around the club, since then and I hope that the club’s various press releases and social media updates have been a help in keeping everyone relatively up to speed with everything. All that’s remains for me to do now then is to quickly cover the last two friendlies and mention a few things that have happened and may be of interest since the last blog.

The defeat to The New Saints at the end of last month was followed with a run-out for the reserves  against a decent Llanrwst outfit. It was an excellent performance by the youngsters and I was particularly impressed by their attitude in the second half, when they found a way to win after losing  their two goal lead. Iwan had decided to include one or two senior players in the starting line-up to help the youngsters settle and they did this in great style, scoring twice without reply in a very good first half. The manager brought the senior players off at half-time and Llanrwst got back on level 

Corrig scores his second against Llanrwst. 

terms by enforcing a more robust approach but, just when it looked as if the Roosters would go on to win, Town’s youngsters showed their mettle and fully deserved their late winner by Herbie Hofstede. Everyone had played well but Corrig McGonigle stood out for me, finding the net twice and setting up the winner. He has been very impressive so far and seems to be a real goalscorer, and who doesn’t love one of those in the side?

GAP Connahs Quay had been scheduled to visit the Oval for our final warm-up match on Saturday but, due to being stuck in traffic on the A55, they could not make it to the ground so the match was called off. There was no blame at all on Connah’s Quay but it was such a disappointment  to call it off less than two hours before kick-off although, thanks to social media, I think we managed to get the message out to most of the club’s supporters. 

Ray Woods near the spot he struck from a free-kick for the Cofis. 

Despite the disappointment, however, on a personal level I still had an enjoyable time at the ground as I got to meet one of the club’s greatest ever players, Ray Woods. Those who are old enough to remember John King’s brilliant team of the mid-eighties that propelled the Canaries onto the back pages of all the main national papers and onto our television screens will know how good Ray was. He was undoubtedly one of the team’s brightest stars, causing havoc as he ran at defences on the right wing and I can well remember seeing him taking on, and dribbling past left backs at will. He was so good, in fact, that he went on to play for Coventry City in the then equivalent of the Premier League, becoming manager Terry Butcher’s first managerial signing, the former Ipswich star paying Wigan £200,000 for Ray’s services. The last time I saw Ray was when he lined up for the Sky Blues against Liverpool at Anfield in the early 1990’s, he had an excellent game on the right flank and was just as good as I remembered him from his Oval days. Unfortunately, a troublesome groin injury led to repair damage to his stomach and a change of manager resulted in Ray’s time in the top flight coming to a premature end as he returned to Wigan after three years at Highfield Road.   

Now fifty one, Ray had hoped to catch his old side in action on Saturday but things didn’t quite work out that way. However, he still spent a good hour at the ground and it was great to meet someone who I’ve held in such high esteem for the past thirty years. Having just married two weeks ago, it was also really nice to meet his wife Faye and they have promised to visit again in the not too distant future. Before they left the Oval, Ray walked onto the pitch and we discussed his time with the club. It was brilliant to hear him talking so fondly of the club, and the team he played in and he shared a few great anecdotes, whilst also mentioning a goal he scored for the Cofis all those years ago from a free kick at the Hendre End. I was also pleased to hear him say that the ground looks wonderful these days and how pleased he was that it had been developed so much. Of course, it was a golden opportunity for me to take a photo with one of my heroes as a teenager and I didn’t pass it up! Before leaving, Ray also posed with this season’s new shirt and was rather impressed with it! (see top of blog entry).

Town's new keeper, Mike Jones. 

The following day I received a message from him to say how much he’d enjoyed the visit to his old ground and that it had felt very much like going back home. A really nice thing to say and, if at all possible, I will hope to carry out an interview with him for the blog in the not too distant future. Ray Woods, what a player he was!  

Before moving on from those halcyon days of the eighties, I’m pleased to say that I’ve recently been in touch with another member of that legendary team, Phil Wilson, and Phil very kindly agreed to an interview with me which I hope to publish in the next week or two. Just like Ray, Phil is a real gent too, and has plenty of interesting to say about his time with us and his long career as a player and manager.
Back to the present team now, and this week’s match with Nantlle Vale. The Canaries were much too strong for Vale, and whilst I didn’t learn anything new about the side I’m sure it helped both teams to reach the fitness levels they’ll require for the season. Following Saturday’s cancellation it was important that the players had a final run out before the real action begins and so it served a purpose. Just as importantly it also gave our new goalkeeper, Mike Jones, an opportunity to play behind the defence for the first time, which can only be a good thing. Incidentally, I had a quick chat  with Mike on Saturday and he is really excited at joining Caernarfon and seemed quietly confident we can do well this season. He has a great attitude and I’m sure will be a success at the club.

Iwan and Jay with Margaret Jones of Gofal Bro Cyf.

It’s also been a nice surprise to see that Kevin Roberts has returned to the fold, having originally decided to return from the game during the summer. I was disappointed to see him go last month so am really pleased that he’s back with us. I’m sure I’m not the only one who will be looking forward to seeing a few more of his bone-crunching tackles over the course of the campaign! 

Away from the pitch, there’s been a very exciting development at the club with the announcement that Gofal Bro Cyf have become our new main sponsor. As was stated in the official press release, the sponsorship deal is the biggest in the club’s history and in my opinion it’s a massive step forward for us if we are going to compete with the top clubs in the country. It was nice to meet the company’s proprietor, Margaret Jones, and her staff at the ground on Saturday and it’s good to know that we’re being backed by such a reputable company and, just as importantly, by such nice people. Let’s hope we can give them plenty of coverage during a successful campaign! 

Gareth Edwards in the new training kit.

We only had one home and one away shirt on the day and so I was limited as to the photos I could take so Jay Gibbs thankfully  agreed to pose for a few shots in addition to the usual ‘sponsors photo’. I don’t think Jay was too comfortable at taking the photos but he stuck it out, and did a great job. I would have hated to play against him (not that I was ever good enough to have done!) because he is such a competitive character, but off the field he is a gentleman and always very helpful, and I was very grateful that he helped me out on Saturday. Thanks Jay!

The new kits will be available to buy soon but, for now, if any of you fancy getting yourself the new training gear the players are using, here’s the link to where you can order them directly:

http://www.totalteamwearuk.com/clientshops/caernarfontownfcacademy/default.htm

This time last year I wrote a blog entry titled ‘This Can Be Our Year’ where I stated that the 2015/16 season could a very successful one for Caernarfon Town. If truth be told, whilst quietly confident about our prospects there was also an element of the unknown as we had a new manager and a few new players in the squad. This year, however, I know exactly what kind of manager Iwan is and the calibre of players we have at the club and, whilst I’m well aware that other teams will have strengthened during the summer, I am confident that the 2016/17 season will be a very exciting one for the Cofis and that we have a good opportunity to return to the Welsh Premier League at the end of the new campaign.

It’s going to be a long season, but everyone at the club is ready for it!

Come on Town!!  

Friendlies, Kev Bach and the Right Track....

When Town manager Iwan Williams announced the side’s pre-season fixtures it was pretty obvious that July would be a very busy month and so it’s proved, with the squad playing no less than eight matches in the twenty days following my last blog.

Going back over the years I’ve supported Caernarfon I’ve not really been a great supporter of  friendlies, mainly because there are no league points or another cup round at stake. In fact, up to six years ago I had rarely made much of an effort to watch any but, due to my added involvement with the club I’ve only missed one in the past six summers, and I certainly see the warm-ups in a completely different light these days.

Some of this has been due to the quality of opposition we’ve faced, the past two years especially, and I also appreciate much more how important the matches are to improve the players’  fitness and  help new additions settle into the squad and the club.

Incidentally, for whatever reason we’ve had difficulties in the past in attracting quality opposition for our pre-season matches and, as a supporter, I couldn’t see why. We had an excellent ground and a decent team that would test most opposition and yet, despite our best efforts, not many clubs would even reply to our requests, let alone agree to visit us. Our match secretary, Geraint Jones, did everything he could to attract top teams but it was a struggle.

Thankfully, this has changed since Iwan arrived and he has managed to arrange a number of high profile fixtures with quality opposition. Last year the team was tested with matches against Welsh Premier League sides Rhyl, Airbus and The New Saints in addition to a handful of local derbies, whilst this time around the manager has been able to attract four top tier teams, an English National league side and more derbies. It would take more than one blog to look at each match in depth so I’ve decided it would be best to concentrate on the highlights and one or two matters that deserve to be mentioned.    

Salford City were first to visit the Oval and they were a very good oufit. Despite the wintery weather,  more than five hundred people walked through the turnstiles to see us take on the side that is part- owned by five former Manchester United players and, despite the result, I thought the Canaries did well. Having enjoyed just two training sessions prior to the match there was a difference in the sharpness of the teams and I think this was a major factor in the result. Having said this, it was certainly a good marker for Iwan and the management team and a really good workout for the players.  

Kevin Roberts.

It was a bittersweet day for many supporters as, although the match marked the start of preparations for the new campaign, it also heralded the end of Kevin Roberts’ career with Caernarfon. The midfielder has enjoyed four excellent seasons at the club and has become a firm favourite with the supporters as a result of his all-action displays in midfield, punctuated by weekly bone crushing tackles in the heat of combat for anyone who tried to get the better of the team! Lee Dixon brought Kevin to the club and he has become synonymous with the club’s recent renaissance, which has seen him help the side win seven trophies in that time. A really nice guy, he will be missed by the supporters and team-mates I’m sure and my only hope is that he may decide to help the club in some capacity in the future. He’s told me that he’s out of football for good and is contemplating joining the egg-chasers at Bethesda Rugby Club. Scrum or fly half would be his position I assume although, knowing Kev he’d probably love having a go in the front three in the scrum! On a serious note, what a great player's he's been for us! Diolch yn fawr Kev Bach!

One final comment on this match is how impressively Corrig McGonigle took his opportunity to get on the scoresheet. The ball was travelling away from goal when he quickly swivelled around it and struck into the net from a tight angle and in that moment I could see why he scored over a hundred goals last season. He is definitely a finisher!

Llanfairpwll (5-0) and Glantraeth (6-2) followed during the week and a number of the reserve side were given an opportunity to shine, which they did courtesy of some fine football on the way to two comfortable victories. Over the course of the two fixtures eleven goals were scored and two conceded and I’m sure that the youngsters who played will have enjoyed lining up alongside some of the more established first team players such as Nathan Craig, Jay Gibbs, Jamie Breese and Clive Williams. I was particularly pleased for young striker Aaron Davies Thomas, who scored in both matches and his smile whilst walking out of the Oval after the match proved just how much it meant to him.

Cofi Messi.

Welsh Premier League side Aberystwyth Town were next up and the step up in quality from the midweek matches was fairly obvious as we found ourselves two down at half time, although there was very little to choose between the sides before the break. The second period saw the Cofis put the Seasiders under the cosh for long periods but they could only manage a single goal from  Jamie Breese to show for their efforts. Aber are managed by former Town assistant manager Matthew Bishop and it was good to see ‘the Bish’ back at the ground. The Cofis performed really well and I thought Darren Thomas was the best player on the pitch on the day. I’m not sure if he felt he had something to prove his former club but he certainly put their defence under a lot of pressure, running at their defence with his unique box of tricks.

I was in two minds about making the trip to Llangefni as the sun was out at its brightest and the temperature was pretty high. It seems to me that most people complain all year around about the  weather and how badly everybody wants to see the sun but I can guarantee you that you won’t hear me saying it! With no hair on top and freckles all around, the sun is not my friend and so it was very much a last minute decision to head over the Britannia Bridge for the match. I was accompanied by the former Chairman of Vice, who is happily regaining his health after illness, although his recent cruise around the Baltics had hardly helped him, judging from his less than complimentary overview of the trip!

I didn’t enjoy following the action as much as usual in the hot and sticky conditions and felt sorry for players of both teams for having to play in that heat. However, things improved after half time and cooled down a bit and I was glad I’d made the effort to attend as the winning goal, from Darren Thomas, was well worth it, the Cofi Messi finishing with a first time volley from twelve yards after a deep cross from Toby Jones.

I also have to mention how good Llangefni’s ground looks these days. I haven’t been there for a few years and was immediately struck by the improvements they’ve made.  Whereas it had looked quite run down on my last visit, it now looks nice and clean, with excellent facilities. Great stuff and I hope they enjoy a successful season and manage to challenge for promotion back into the Cymru Alliance League.

Not one to shirk a challenge, Iwan had asked another Welsh Premier League side, Bala Town, to pay us a visit and four days after the Llangefni encounter, the players lined up against Colin Caton’s men. I’m sure I won’t need to remind you that the Cofis knocked the Lakesiders out of last season’s Word Cup but since then they’ve gone from strength to strength, finishing as runners up in the Welsh Premier League, just seven points behind TNS and earning themselves a slot in the Europa League qualifying round in the process. They had enjoyed just two weeks off after the end of last term before preparing for their matches with AIK of Sweden and, just like Salford, they looked a tad sharper than the Canaries on the day. The 0-5 scoreline was flattering because we had a number of opportunities to score but their goalkeeper was in marvellous form, making a number of excellent saves, the best to keep out a Nathan Craig free-kick from finding the top right corner of his net.

Despite the strength of the opposition it was good to see Iwan give some of the younger players a run-out in the second half, and I thought Sam Ashworth was particularly impressive. Still just sixteen years of age, he is a real footballer who loves a tackle and I’m sure he’s at the right club to progress

Sam Ashworth. 

further. Like Corrig McGonigle, Sam was with Bangor City last season but it’s always been very difficult for local players to make the breakthrough there, especially under the stewardship of Neville Powell. I imagine that the situation this will only get worse there too for local footballers now that the new owners at Nantporth have taken over. Time will tell, of course, but early indications are that there will be an increasing volume of traffic heading down from the Wirral area over the coming years. Bala are a very strong side and I can see why they pushed TNS so hard last season. The differences between the side were the fitness levels, which were marginal but made such a difference, and their lethality in attack, when they punished three loose balls in midfield by finding the net. 

Llanberis proved resilient opponents in midweek and they even sneaked in front when Guto Llywelyn found the target with an excellent free kick. Iwan had selected a very strong side and, despite the early setback, they responded in kind, dominating most of the match and eventually securing a six-two victory. I spoke with the Darans’ assistant manager Geraint Jones after the match and he told me that Town’s pace and movement had given them real problems, especially in the second period when his players had started to tire. I’m sure there’s a chance this could be a continuing theme throughout the course of the new season, as Iwan certainly has a few flyers in his squad who can prove very difficult to play against.

I’m writing this almost immediately after the side’s latest match, which saw us take on Welsh Champions The New Saints. I don’t think I need to say too much about Craig Harrison’s team as they have become the benchmark for all teams trying to become the best in the country. Craig brought a strong side to the ground last night and I must say they were excellent. Town did well in the first half, entering the break just a goal down but the substitutions made immediately after the restart made a huge difference as the fresh legs gave them the impetus to run away from us and eventually end up 5-0 winners. Despite the scoreline I thought Town competed well and, if truth be told, these friendlies are all about recapturing match fitness and bedding in new players, and I’m sure that, with the amount of running the Cofis did, the former is certainly within reach now!

As hard as it may be to believe, I heard someone saying at the TNS match that the team must have regressed because we defeated them last summer! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what I was thinking when I heard this but it goes to show that some people do actually look at these fixtures in different ways. I know that I certainly see these matches very differently to how I used to!

Alex Lynch. 

A quick mention to our goalkeeper for the match, Alex Lynch, who helped us out due to a temporary goalkeeping shortage at the Oval. Alex is a former Welsh Under 17 international who starred for Wycombe Wanderers in their Division Two play off penalty shoot-out victory at Wembley last May and very kindly agreed to put the gloves on for us last night. He had an excellent game, and I'm sure it won't be long before he's back in the football league. Thanks and good luck Alex. 

I think it’s brilliant that Iwan wants the players to face the very best opposition and that, just as importantly, he is not afraid to put every one of his squad onto the pitch, no matter what the score, and how strong the other side is. Yes, there is a place for local derbies too, especially now that we have a reserve side but these matches are all about fitness and gelling as a team. I would imagine that playing against strong teams will achieve this much more than by putting ten goals past every side. Of course, it’s always nice to win matches but it’s not the be all and end all at this time of year. 

Mike Jones

It hasn’t all been about what happens on the field since the last blog, because there has been lots going on off it too. The dressing rooms have been given a makeover, the ground  will now be known as the Roberts Oval for the next year, we have new main kit sponsors to be announced soon, new home and away kits, and we’ve even had Nathan Craig cutting the grass in the absence of our groundsman, Wyn Owen, who was on a well-deserved holiday with his family.

Iwan has been keeping me busy by ensuring I’m always keeping the supporters up to date on the club’s website and social media presence and, just as I was about to start writing this blog today, I was able to announce that former Prestatyn goalkeeper Mike Jones has signed for the club. I’m not sure how many hours the manager sleeps but it can’t be much!

Cory Williams.

Finally, I am thrilled that Cory Williams has returned to the Oval for his second spell with us. Cory's an excellent striker and I think he'll be a great success in this team, where I'm sure he'll link up well with the other forwards we have. He's also a really nice guy, comes from Caernarfon, and is without doubt another great addition to the squad!
It’s all go in and around the club but one thing’s for certain as we approach the new season, we’re moving in the right direction….      

New Arrivals, Departures and Effigies.

The 2015/16 season ended for Caernarfon Town on Saturday, 14th May and, as I reported in the last blog, the team signed off in style by clinching the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance League double with victory over Flint Town Utd in the league cup final at Conwy. 

It hardly seems possible that seven weeks have gone by since that sunny and very enjoyable afternoon at the Morfa Ground and yet here we are, just days away from the team’s first pre-season friendly in preparation for the 2016/17 campaign. 

The end of a footballing campaign usually signals a slowing down of the work that goes on at a football club but anyone thinking that this close season has been a time of rest and cigars for the Canaries would be very much mistaken. Far from it in fact and, having been part of the club’s committee for over six years I can honestly say it’s been the busiest time I can recall. I’ll add a caveat here by saying that my main job at the club is press officer and therefore I can only really go by the work that comes my way and I’ve never been so busy! 

Ever since Grahame Austin carried out the final act of last season by lifting the league cup on May 14th, there have been meetings, introductions, announcements, changes in personnel, both on the pitch and off it and of course the usual copious amounts of rumours that always do the rounds at this time of year. Some of these rumours may have had a grain of truth, but all the ones I’ve heard have been way off the mark! 

Modelled on our captain?

As always, I’m slightly behind schedule with the blog and, with the team back in action this Saturday I think it’s about time to catch up and, in so doing, provide a quick overview of what’s been going at the Oval in recent weeks. Before carrying on I must mention that the team’s recent success has seen a surge in interest in the Canaries and it seems that one local entrepreneur has even taken to introduce a range of modelling garden ornaments based around our captain, Grahame Austin. There’s one item that stood out so much in a local gardening centre that I thought it deserved to be shared with you here (left). 

The first big news of the summer was actually announced days prior to the end of the last campaign and, if truth be known, it was probably one of the most positive press releases the club has issued in a long time. Town manager Iwan Williams had made no secret of the fact that he wanted a reserve side and this had become a priority for the club. The reasons behind the importance of a reserve team is obvious so I won’t go over them here but, when he joined us last summer, we simply couldn’t re-introduce the team, for a variety of reasons. This is no longer the case, however, and I have to say that I’ve been especially impressed with the way our manager has gone about the task, beginning with the initial announcement. 

In the initial press release Iwan made it clear that the re-introduction of the reserves was being done to not only to give local young players an opportunity to represent the club but to also become a part of the first team squad: “I’m delighted that I will now not only have a squad of seventeen players to choose from but will have thirty plus, as I’ve always stressed that if you’re good enough and committed then you will get your opportunity.” From a personal point of view, I love watching local players donning the yellow shirt so his words were music to my ears and, judging from the feedback I’ve heard I’m not alone in feeling this way. 

Of course, the question of who would be coaching the team was a matter that needed clarifying and we didn’t have to wait long for the answer as Iwan confirmed that the second team will be training with the first and that his management staff will be strengthened by the arrival of former Penrhyndeudraeth manager Richard Davies, who will also be assisting with the development of the reserves. I believe that bringing Richard to the Oval is a real coup for us as he is highly thought of in local football circles after enjoying a very successful spell at Penrhyn. I’ve only met him once and he seems a really nice guy and, from what I’ve heard, he will be brilliant for us. The only downside with Richard is that he’s a big Everton supporter so we’ll have to mark his card pretty soon on that one, although I’m sure Iwan will have something to say about that, as he’s also a ‘blue’. 

The manager didn’t stop there, however, and he soon announced a trial match for the reserves, which would give all local players the opportunity to join us. There were over thirty players showing their talents at Treborth Playing fields and a number of them have signed for the club, including James Phillips, who the manager is expecting great things of. James played for the reserves under Bryn Williams in recent years and also made a handful of appearances for the first team. I was disappointed when he left because he’s an excellent footballer, with great touch and lots of pace. He’s also a really nice person so it’s great to see him back, and I’m sure he’ll flourish in our present set-up. 

Iwan with our new striker Corrig McGonigle.

In addition to James, there have been three other new additions to the first team squad in recent weeks, all of whom should make a decent impact on the side. Corrig McGonigle was the first summer signing and, although I didn’t know too much about him before he signed, I’ve heard and read plenty about our new striker since!

Corrig scored over a hundred goals last season, in the colours of Pentraeth, Bangor City Youths, Coleg Menai and Welsh Colleges and his netfinding prowess saw him win the prestigious Bob Brodie Trophy for being Anglesey’s top scorer in senior football. Just as impressive is that he won the award by establishing a new goalscoring record in the competition, with sixty four strikes. Daily Post reporter Dave Jones has stated that Corrig is a great signing for the Cofis and that will do for me! This is a link to Dave’s article on the young goalscorer from April of this year: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/corrig-mcgonigle-record-breaking-goal-11257765

Michael Johnston was next to put pen to paper and I definitely know more about him, due mainly to his excellent track record in the Welsh Premier League with Bangor City. Michael won the WPL title and three Welsh Cups whilst with the Citizens and, as a former Tranmere Rovers player and Welsh Under 17’s, 19’s and 23 international he is obviously a class operator who will strengthen the squad. 

Paul Pritchard. 

The latest new signing is goalkeeper Carl Jones, who joins us from Holyhead Hotspur. When Paul Pritchard said he was leaving the club there really was only one replacement I wanted, and it was Carl. I’ve seen him play against us on a number of occasions in recent seasons and he has always been excellent, so I was thrilled when Iwan told me who our new number one would be. Although Carl is still only in his early twenties he already has plenty of experience behind him and I’m sure that Mike Innes will help him develop even further in the future. I’ve mentioned Carl in the blog previously as one of the league’s best goalkeepers and I firmly believe this. He is a real shot-stopper and excellent on crosses and will, I’m sure, be a great success at the Oval. 

We’ve also had departures from the Oval recently, with Paul Pritchard, Kevin Lloyd and Rob Jones all having left, and seeing players leave the club is always the worst part of supporting a team. We can all cope with defeats and setbacks because the next match is only just around the corner but, in most cases, once a player leaves a club, they don’t tend to return so we’ll probably only get to see the guys again when they play against us for other teams, if at all. 

For me, Pritch is the best keeper we’ve had at the Oval in the thirty plus years I’ve followed the club. Russ Hughes, a member of John King’s famous FA Cup team, will always be a favourite of mine but, whilst he was only with the club for a few months, Paul has played for us for six seasons in total and, during that time, he’s been outstanding. He has improved with age and has been a star during his time with us, particularly during his second stint. What a keeper! 

Kevin, Cofi through and through

Kevin Lloyd has returned to Llanrug United and, although a Cofi through and through and desperate to play for the team, he was honest enough to admit that he can’t provide the commitment Iwan needs going forward. Kev phoned me recently and asked me to share a message with everyone, and I hope he won’t mind me saying this, but he sounded close to tears when we spoke. Another who has improved with age. 

Finally, Rob Jones has also left, and whilst he doesn’t have as much history with the club as Pritch and Kev, there can’t be any doubting his commitment to the cause last season. He signed in the days following his virtuoso performance against us for Conwy last September and proved a vital cog in midfield as we won the double. A real gentleman off the field but, according to one local referee I spoke with recently, an absolute handful on it! 

Good luck to all three double winners at their new clubs.

Rob Jones. 

One of the longest, and most arduous treks we have to make as Caernarfon Town supporters is down to Caersws and, although I always enjoy my visits to the actual ground itself, I cannot say the same about the journey there. Therefore, having already volunteered to attend the league’s AGM on behalf of the club, I was less than enamoured to learn it was to be held there in early June. Thankfully, I had fellow Board member Marc Roberts to share the journey with and, against all initial expectations, I had a pretty great day! As a club I think it’s fair to say we haven’t been the best at attending such events and so the league committee would probably have been suspicious at our plan to have no less than five attendees there. The traffic on the way down the A470 was horrendous on the day which held us back by a few minutes and I had to smile when our secretary, Geraint, phoned to say that the league officials were enquiring as to our whereabouts! To be fair, they had reason to be slightly worried as, without Iwan and Nathan Craig in attendance most of the trophies to be handed out would have been left gathering dust! 

Iwan and Nathan pose with their awards at the AGM.

The meeting itself was surprisingly short and it was great to see Iws and Nathan receiving a host of awards. Nathan deservedly won the league’s player of the season and Iwan was full value for his manager of the year award, whilst there were also awards for winning the league and cup. The only negative on the day was one representative of a fellow Cymru Alliance league club flaunting the Domestic Licence certificate in front of me, which I thought was crass and uncalled for.I want to make clear that the individual was not my friend, Mark McKean from Cefn Druids, so I’m sure you can work out from which club he was from!

The fifth Caernarfon Town representative on the day was Terry, who likes to be known these

days as ‘Terry Ten Clubs’ owing to the number of clubs he’s helped out over the years. Having seen him at many grounds across North Wales over the past two seasons and the warm welcome he receives everywhere I know he is very popular amongst officials at other clubs and it seems that his popularity has now extended to the Little Chef restaurant chain, where they have seemingly started placing effigies of him in their dining area. We found one sitting by itself in the ‘Chef’ at Dolgellau (photo, left) and to be fair I think it’s a decent likeness…. 

Matters off the pitch have continued to move apace after a hectic final three weeks to the last campaign. There have been departures from the committee and, thankfully, additions and we’ve been holding regular meetings throughout the close season. It’s not for me to announce official news on my blog but I’m sure that all the changes to the make-up of the committee will be confirmed in due course and I can guarantee everyone that we’re all doing our very best to take the club forward. 

It’s no secret that Iwan asked for certain assurances before committing himself to another campaign with us and we’ve been working hard to ensure that we’re providing everything he needs to take us onto the next level. We know we’ve got the right man in charge of playing matters and we’ve got to match him off the field as well. This is obviously an ongoing matter but a lot has already been done, with more to follow.

Before signing off I feel it's important to thank the supporters and Canaries club members who have been working so hard at the Oval over the last weeks. Things have not been easy due to the recent changes at the club and I would dread to think where we'd be without those who have been helping the committee and it shows how committed everyone is to push the club forward. The same can be said for the groundsman, Wyn Owen, who looks after our pitch so well. I took a photo of the pitch three weeks ago, and it looked amazing even then. (Photo, right.) The club's motto is Un Clwb and how true it is!   

And so that is my very brief overview of what’s been going on at Caernarfon Town since our last competitive match, back in May. The football may have stopped but the Cofis haven’t and I can’t wait to see the team back on the Oval turf this weekend. The visit of Salford City to our ground this Saturday is an exciting prospect and it will be great to see the players again after a very short break. New opposition, new players and a new season. I can’t wait!

Cofi Army!

Danny, the Boss and the Final Word.

A full month after the end of the 2015/16 season I am, albeit rather belatedly, able to post this final blog of a spectacular campaign for the Cofis. I’ve already twice tried to write this ‘last word ‘ but my first two efforts, as so often happens, ended up being much too long, and were posted as separate entries, being the last two blogs. However, with just the league cup final to look back on, I think I may just about manage it this time, so here goes….

With the league title trophy already safely tucked away at the Oval, or, if rumours are to be believed, in the club President’s bedroom, the side headed to Conwy’s Morfa Ground in search of a coveted league and cup double.

Squaring up to the Canaries in the final were Flint Town United and, although it’s fair to say that Caernarfon were favourites to get their hands on the Huws Gray League Cup, it was certainly not a given that they would as the Silkmen had looked a very good side when we had played them in the league, especially on their own ground early in the season. Despite having lost six successive league matches between March and April, which included a 4-2 defeat at the Oval against us, Aden Shannon’s outfit had won their last three matches going into the final and would certainly provide stiff opposition.

Toby looked sharp in the league Cup final.

It was slightly disconcerting during the week leading up to the final to read silly rumours on social media about managers of other clubs contacting Caernarfon players to enquire about their plans for  next season. It all seemed a bit like a case of one or two people trying to unsettle the side before a big match because I can’t imagine that any decent manager would do anything so silly.       

I enjoyed a new, and very unexpected, experience on the day of the final when my wife, Valmai, also known as the Boss in our household, declared that she would be accompanying my son Iwan and I to watch the match. Having immediately suspected an ulterior motive (an early morning shopping spree in Llandudno maybe?) she assured me there was none and that she simply wanted to see this great side I’d been banging on about all season. Fair enough, but I did have to point out that Messi was cup-tied following his short sojourn to Aberystwyth, so the country's best number ten I’d also been banging on about would not be on the field! 

The match was not the greatest and, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t care. All I wanted was to see Grahame Austin lift the cup for the second time since he joined us three years ago and this is exactly what he did after a tight, and unspectacular contest.

The sides began cautiously which was understandable given the stakes, but Danny Brookwell and Toby Jones were looking very sharp on the flanks and it came as no surprise that it was the former who opened the scoring when he powered past a defender before slotting the ball past the keeper in the sixteenth minute. It was a great finish by Danny and I was lucky enough to manage a decent photo of it. It’s not a Richard Birch-quality shot but, as I haven’t seen any others of the goal I’m pleased I was alert at the time!

Danny slides in the opener against Flint. 

Toby, Nathan Craig and Jamie Breese all had decent efforts following the opener whilst Clive Williams struck the bar just before half-time but, in reality, there was very little goalmouth action for the remainder of the match. To be honest, Flint enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half and Caernarfon were content to soak up the pressure and play on the counter-attack, where Toby and Danny were proving such a threat.

The players celebrate Nathan's goal from the penalty spot. 

The match was all but settled seven minutes from time when Danny was brought down in the box by  John Hill and Nathan Craig stepped up to double the lead from the penalty spot. Despite conceding a wonderful consolation goal by Stewart Carroll late on for Flint, Nathan’s netfinder proved enough to secure a second piece of silverware for the champions.

If I’m being honest, I thought the players in yellow and green looked a little tired and who could blame them after such a challenging last month of the campaign. I accept that the legacy of a wet winter meant every team in the league had been forced to play a high number of matches in a short period of time but only one set of players also had to cope with the massive disappointment of a failed Domestic Licence application keeping them out of the Welsh Premier League. This must have had an effect on the players and so I think they did exceptionally well to keep playing, and winning, despite the circumstances.

Jamie Breese couldn't quite manage to put away this opportunity.

Taking into consideration the opportunities created during the ninety minutes, I think Caernarfon just about deserved to win, although I know that whoever writes Flint’s match reports certainly wouldn’t agree with me! According to the Silkmen’s reporter their defeat was largely down to refereeing decisions and their own profligacy in front of goal and, whilst everyone is entitled to their opinion, I certainly don’t think the referee had such a pronounced bearing on the result. Most  matches consist of a number of key moments involving the players and this was indeed the case in the final. Clive hit the bar for Town, Jon Culshaw cleared a Nathan Craig corner off the Flint line, Jamie Breese twice went close to scoring when well placed, and Paul Pritchard made two fine saves to keep the Cofis ahead when just a goal in front. Near misses and mistakes are par for the course and obviously have a massive influence on results. The referee of course can also influence things with his decisions but I don’t think he did this time as his two big calls seemed straightforward to me. The first was his decision to give Phil Clarke an early bath for a reckless challenge on Danny Brookwell and the second was the penalty he awarded for John Hill’s foul on Danny in the box. I don’t think the man in the middle had any choice in either matter and it’s a shame that any suggestion to the contrary had to appear in the report.

Danny Brookwell.  

One final point about the match concerns the man of the match award, and the bewilderment that a supporter standing next to me showed when he asked why it hadn’t been given to Danny Brookwell (above). I can’t answer that, and can only guess that whoever made the decision was obviously looking for something other than an eye catching performance by Danny that saw him scoring one goal and help create another. I would also add Toby Jones as an equally deserving recipient but it goes to show that the game is all about opinions.  

Of course, my job as the club’s media officer was only half completed at the final whistle as I needed to ensure a few decent photos were captured of Grahame Austin receiving the cup, the team celebrating and, if possible, some individual shots for the players with the silverware. I love my post with the club, it’s the best one I could have, bar managing the team and wearing the number nine shirt and I think Iwan and Breesey are pretty much nailed on for those, so really I’ve got the best job available to anyone. That said, it can also be slightly stressful on this kind of occasion because I was responsible for taking the club’s photographs for the website and social media and I really would hate to let anyone down with poor shots. However, on this occasion I just about got away with it and got some nice photos although it was largely thanks to the players posing for individual photos after the match.

Grahame Austin collects the league cup for the second time as captain of Caernarfon Town.  

In all, it was an excellent afternoon, and securing the double in lovely sunshine and in front of the Cofi Army was a great way to end a memorable season for Caernarfon Town. Looking back to twelve months ago and our first interview with Iwan for the managers’ post, I think we all felt he would be an excellent appointment but I doubt that any of us could have guessed quite how good he would prove to be in such a short period of time. There are numerous highlights to look back on over the course of the campaign and one of mine happened before a ball was kicked competitively. Iwan’s appointment as our manager was the best decision we’ve made in a long time and ranks as a definite highlight of the 2015/16 season. He had a hard act to follow but he’s done it, and taken us to a totally different level.

Clive Williams paying for his efforts as he tries
to kneel down for a photo with the silverware.  

So, the 2015/16 was finally over. The Cofis had won the double, the new manager had been a revelation, the team proved to be our best in a very long time and my wife had finally been to a Caernarfon Town match. What more could I have asked for as a Caernarfon Town supporter? 

As I hopped off the Caernarfon Town rollercoaster in preparation, and not a little fear, of a period of weekend shopping and day trips with ‘the boss’ I suddenly reminded myself of the hard work that needs to be done during the close season. Iwan contacted me just a few days after the final and it was very much a case of ‘business as usual’ and, to be honest, this is how it’s been for the past month, and I really wouldn’t have it any other way! 

I’ll be looking at what we’ve been up to in the next blog entry….

One Club Ethos and World of Sport Wrestling.

I finished the last blog by recounting how the Canaries secured the Cymru Alliance League title with an emphatic victory over nearest rivals Cefn Druids on their own ground. This was not quite the end of the season though as, whilst the league had been well and truly won there was still the exciting prospect of having the ‘double’ to play for, with the side having also reached the league cup final, which was to be the final match of the campaign.

There was no chance at all however that Iwan and his squad could take a breather before the attempt to pick up a second piece of silverware as they still had two league fixtures to play before facing Flint in Conwy and the first of these was a tough looking encounter with Holywell Town.

World of Sport's Wrestling Banter made a return at the Oval....

Everyone who reads this blog regularly will know what I think of the Wellmen and their manager and, if there’s any team you’d prefer not to play two days after winning a league title, they’d be amongst the frontrunners! They are a seriously competitive side, playing an abrasive in your face style and John Hasseldin knows how to push his player’s buttons. I’ve recently come to the conclusion that has more than a touch of the pantomime villain about him and this was re-affirmed when he and his team afforded the Cofis a guard of honour prior to kick-off. As most of our supporters will know, he is never slow at having a dig at us on social media but credit where it’s due, this was very classy of him. Of course, he was back to his usual touchline antics during the match but even that was more ‘World of Sport wrestling banter’ than anything else. 

Messi.

The match itself was no classic but it seldom is between these sides, although Town ran out comfortable winners in the end. It had been a workman-like performance in the opening half but, once Darren Thomas opened the scoring a minute before the break, there was only ever going to be one conclusion. Holywell were dogged throughout, but Town have shown throughout the season that we can more often than not find a way to get a positive result, and there is none better than the Cofi Messi at providing the spark that makes something happen out of nothing. Like every other supporter I was thrilled to see him return to the Oval after a brief sojourn with Aberystwyth and, whilst Jamie Breese, Jay Gibbs and Danny

Brookwell have, quite rightly, been enjoying the headlines during the season, Darren has been his usual, sparkling self, igniting the team in his inimitable style. The goal was typical of him, showing a cool head when the goalkeeper stopped his first effort and, despite being surrounded by three defenders, he found time to go past two men before finding the net from twelve yards. He also popped up with an assist for the second goal when he headed the ball across the six yard area for

Jamie Breese.

Breesey to finish off and it was left to Jay Gibbs to have the final say, the midfielder scoring from an impossibly acute angle, although the Holywell players claimed they had stopped playing due to an injury to Jamie. It’s a shame the referee failed to notice their efforts for the game to be stopped but it didn’t change the outcome of the match and the only downside to an enjoyable afternoon was the injury to our number nine. If there was a silver lining to be had as he limped away from the ground, it was that, with the title already in the bag, Jamie had twelve days to recover before the cup final, so was still in with a chance of taking part.

Caersws provided our final test of the league campaign and, where the Holywell encounter had been more of a war of attrition, our match with the Bluebirds was anything but! The afternoon started well when the players were welcomed onto the pitch by players and staff of the club’s Academy, who stood in the circle centre to acknowledge the team’s success. The first team players seemed as pleased by the reception as the youngsters and if ever there’s been an example of the ‘One Club’ ethos Iwan is pushing through at the club, this was it. It was excellent to see the first team and  Academy players and staff lining up for a photo, and it’s definitely been one of the highlights of my time supporting the Cofis. Brilliant stuff!

The players are welcomed onto the pitch by staff and players of the club's Academy. 

Celebrating Danny Brookwell's opener against Caersws.

The match started with a bang, as Town got out of the blocks faster than John Terry when there’s a trophy to be lifted and photographed with. The Cofis surged into a four nil victory inside eighteen minutes and, at that stage, the team was playing as well as I’d seen them during the season. Uncharacteristically, the players seemed to switch off for a few minutes and this let Caersws back into the match, as they fought back to trail by just 5-3 at half-time. Typically, the players got back into the groove after the break and found the net three more times before the final whistle. Darren Thomas had undoubtedly been the star of the show and he hit an excellent hat-trick to cap off a fine display.

The league's representatives began proceedings immediately after the match by presenting Iwan with his manager of the month award for March, which was richly deserved after his side's 100% success rate of five victories, in which they scored seventeen goals and conceded just two. 

Iwan receives his Manager of the Month award for March.

The league trophy was then handed to Grahame Austin in front of the home supporters at the Clubhouse End of the ground and that ‘One Club’ ethos shone through for the second time on the day as the players celebrated with the supporters. It was an excellent way to round off the title winning campaign and, from a personal point of view, I loved every minute of taking photos of the players with the fans, and individually with the cup. It was a memorable afternoon in every way and my big  hope now is that Iwan and the team can repeat the feat next season so that we can finally get back into the Welsh Premier League. Five hundred and ten supporters walked through the turnstiles to see the match and there aren’t many, if any, teams that can match that in the top tier. The team and the supporters deserve to be there and the club’s Board simply has to make sure that we’re in a position to get there as soon as possible, with the 2017/18 season unquestionably the objective!

The Canaries Club held their presentation evening for the players immediately after the match and it was the perfect way to celebrate the team’s achievements. I’ll be writing a report on the event for the club’s website soon but must mention here how good it was to see the club’s former chairman, Arfon Jones, in attendance. He was rightly given a standing ovation when he took the microphone and was his usual forthright self when addressing everyone. I’ve been on the club’s Board with Arfon for six years and no one has worked harder than him in dragging the team from obscurity to where it is now. The club’s been a massive part of his life, especially during the time of his stewardship of the Canaries, and I certainly hope we’ll still see him at the Oval and on our travels next season. In the meantime, he can practise his swing on the golf course and, from what everyone has told me, he desperately needs it!

Whilst on the subject of the presentation evening, it was great to see Caersws staying on at the supporters club for the duration of the awards and I thought it was a great gesture by them. Of course, Iwan played for the Bluebirds last season and from what I gather is friends with their manager Graham Evans, so I’m sure it would have meant a lot to our manager that is former club  made the effort to hang around.

The 2015/16 Huws Gray Cymru Alliance League Champions.  

I had intended to include the League Cup final in this blog but, as it’s probably already overlong, I’ll include it in the next entry, which may also include some recent news, including Iwan’s never-ending appetite to improve the team, both on and off the pitch.

Un Clwb.