Gruff John The Big Interview Part 1

For the past decade, Caernarfon Town has kept to a strict policy of ensuring the first team is predominantly made up of local players and every manager over the past ten years has signed up to and followed up on it. The success the club has had during this time, on and off the pitch, is proof that the policy has worked and so, every summer, I always look forward to seeing who we bring in, fully expecting to see the latest talented local player joining our ranks. Gruff John is a name that most Caernarfon supporters will have know for a number of years, not only because of his time at the Oval as a youngster but also due to his consistently excellent performances over many seasons for Porthmadog. There have been many rumours over the years that we had been after his signature and so, like most Cofis I’m sure, I was delighted that Gruff joined us last summer.

I met him at the Oval for an interview and photographs on the day he signed and something that stood out for me is that he was so determined to show the Caernarfon supporters what he had to offer as a member of the squad. Gruff’s performances this season have shown that he has plenty to offer and that determination to prove himself has made the transformation from Cymru Alliance League to the Cymru Premier League seamless.

Gruff is another of those unsung heroes who goes about his job quietly but effectively and I am really pleased that he agreed to an interview for the blog. There’s no point in asking a dozen questions just about favourite soap operas etc so, as always with these player interviews, I’ve given Gruff a fair chunk of questions to answer, thirty in all, and they’ll be published in two parts.

Huge thanks to Gruff for taking the time to take the time to so this and I do hope you all enjoy the first part as much as I did in putting it together…….        

Which teams have you played for, from school days to this season?

Gruff: “I played for Bethel FC in junior football up to sixteen where we had a huge amount of success. Over this time I played for Caernarfon academy and then on to Bangor academy. I had a lot of success with the school football team in Ysgol Brynrefail over the school years, winning three Welsh Cups and playing in five finals. When I was sixteen I was with Wrexham FC for a short period. In the same season I captained the North Wales team and later on went on to receive international caps with Welsh schools and the Wales semi-pro under eighteens team. I then went on play for and captain the under eighteens team in Caernarfon. In senior football I started at Llanrug and then played for Porthmadog for six years.”

Although you have mainly played for Caernarfon this season in defence, you have also played in midfield for us. What is your preferred position and why?

Gruff: “I’ve played so many different positions it’s very hard to pick just one! Managers have always referred to me as a versatile player which I take as a compliment and I just try to do be the best job I can in any position and learn as much as I can. For Eards this season I’ve played LB, RB, CB, CM, CDM and even came on up top, and in every position I’ve had to deal with something new which is great for developing as a player. I’d say by now my preferred positions would be right back and CDM, I enjoy defending but do like to contribute in attacks and get a few assists and goals in!” 

Who has been the biggest influence on your footballing career?

Gruff: “It’s quite hard just to pick one because I’ve learned different things from different coaches and people over the years. In junior football I learned a lot about aggression within football and getting that winning mentality under Paul Williams with Bethel, but at the same time in Bangor academy under Mel Jones I learned a lot about shape, tactics and doing your job correctly, so both contributed to developing myself as a player. Then in senior football I always look back at Aled Owen who introduced me to senior football with Llanrug and helped me with the move to Porthmadog where he gave me the confidence to play at a higher level at a young age. At Port I had to learn quickly with Gareth Parry about self-discipline and learn the style of play they had, it was tough but as I got older and understood more about the game it definitely helped me improve as a player. When Craig Papyrnik came in as a manager we had a great squad and a good feeling around the club, we played for each other and he made sure of that. He has a great passion for the game and he believed in me as a player which showed in my performances last season, I had more confidence and for that I’d say he’s had a great influence on my game in the last couple of years. But above all I’d have to say my biggest influence is my grandfather. From when I was young he’d drive miles and miles to come see any game he could and would enjoy every game. He's always been there with any important decision with football and will always ask what's going on. By now he’s gotten too old to be able to come watch but I’m so glad that I got the move to Caernarfon Town because now he can watch the live games and highlights which allows him to enjoy the games again.” 

Which professional team do you support?

Gruff: “Liverpool, the Premier League champions, I hope!!!”

Who was your favourite player growing up?

Gruff: “My favourite player was and will always be Zinedine Zidane. I always loved watching him play, he looked like he glided over the pitch with his effortless dribbling skills and pin-point passing, and he had the best first touch and technique. He was such a clever player and went past players without touching the ball just by moving his body and he'd score loads of screamers, just pure class!” 

Who is your favourite current player?

Gruff: “It has to be between big Virgil Van Dijk and Kevin De Bruyne but I'd probably have to say De Bruyne overall. Anytime a team plays against Man City and he gets on the ball I think he's going to make something happen. He has the ability to create something from nothing which is exciting to watch. He reminds me of the centre midfield players I've enjoyed watching over the years and there is nothing arrogant about him which I like, he gets on the pitch and destroys teams, simple.”

Your played for Caernarfon as a youngster, when was that and did you enjoy the experience?  

Gruff: “I played for Caernarfon for the first time when I was around nine or ten where I played for the academy. I played with some players in the that academy team that have also played for the first team by now, Alex Jones and Jamie McDaid. I also played for and captained the Caernarfon under eighteens team. The manager was Bryn 'Bibs' Williams and the assistant manager was the Cofi Army's Jamie Richardson so there was never a dull moment! All the lads in the team were local lads and had either played together or against each other in past seasons. We had a brilliant squad full of good quality. The best of our successes I'd say would be winning the North Wales Coast Cup and winning 8-1 in the final, no team could get close to us in the competition. It's nice to have those memories and being able to play again now on the Oval.” 

You made a name for yourself at Porthmadog and how hard was it for you to leave them.

Also, how did your move to Caernarfon come about last summer?

Gruff: “It was very hard to leave Porthmadog, it's a great club with loads of good people involved. I was there for six years so I've had brilliant experiences on and off the pitch with the team and have made some life-long mates. Similar to Caernarfon, Port has volunteers working so hard for the club and they all do it for the love they have for football and Porthmadog FC which is amazing. They were always very kind and supportive and helped me a lot when I got injured two years ago for which I am very thankful to them. I've also had the pleasure of meeting some great players and managers and coaches there over the years. I'd probably say that last season was my best season with Port so it was especially hard to leave over the summer but I'd always said I wanted to play in the Welsh Premier and so what better way to do it than with my local club? Fish contacted me first and asked if I would be interested to have a chat with him and Eards before pre-season, so this is what happened and it all went form there. I liked the sound of their plans for the season and they listened to and encouraged my ambitions as a player. Once I had the meeting with Eards and Fish and knew what I was there to do, my mind was made up. “

What was your initiation song after joining us?

Gruff: “To be honest I've not had to sing yet, but the lads have seen some videos of me singing and have heard me singing in the car on the way back from games so they know I've got a beautiful singing voice! If I were to sing I'd pick 'Can't help falling in love' by Elvis or I'd go with anything from Bryn Fȏn! Two legends!” 

What, if any, changes have you seen at the Oval between since you played for us as a youngster?

Gruff: “With the success the club has had over the last couple of years there has obviously been big changes made and the club has developed so much by doing this. The professionalism around the club has improved and the standards have gotten higher which means the club is going in the right way to improve further again. The one thing that has stood out to me as a player is the quality of the ground and the pitch itself. I played on the Oval so many times as a grew up and the pitch did not get better, but when I signed this season I thought the ground had improved and that the pitch was in great condition and has been kept in this condition throughout the season.” 

Did you know Sean Eardley or any of his management team before you joined us?

Gruff: “I didn't know that much about Eards before I joined and had only seen pictures or videos of him with the team from last season. I knew more about Fish and remember him from the Port and Penrhyn games but I had never really spoken to him, I only remember him shouting at me from the side! I knew Rhys from school days in Ysgol Brynrefail, and a big shout out to him for looking after my ‘hammies’ this season! Despite not knowing the management team that much, once we met up and had a chance to chat it didn't really matter because everything moving forward was easy and we've gotten to know each other throughout this season, they've been great.”

Had you played with any of the players already at the club before, or knew some of them?

Gruff: “I had played with Cai 'trwyn' Jones , Daz and Sion Brads before at Porthmadog. I had only trained with Leo when he came to Porthmadog training sessions in pre-season, normally he'd beg me to teach him a few things before he went back to Wrexham!! I knew who Ryan was because he used to play against my little brother and I'd seen him around town a few times, he loves a good pint! I had played against a few of the other lads but didn't really know any of them.”

I carried out an interview with you when you signed and you told me then that you wanted to show everyone what you can do on the pitch. Do you think you’ve been successful in doing this?

Gruff: “I think I've showed in most games what I can offer and showed that I can do a job in defence. I do feel I have more to show in my attacking abilities and what I have to offer going forward. Obviously it’s my first season with the lads so the main thing I wanted to do this season was to do the job that was asked of me for the team, and learn from game to game and I feel I've achieved this. It's been a great season and I've really enjoyed learning about different teams, new styles of play, playing against quality players and learning something new from each battle and game. I hope that I can continue to develop and learn about the league and teams and continue to show what I have to offer for Caernarfon Town.”

You also said that you were aware of the club's support before you joined us so has it lived up to your expectations? 

Gruff: “Yes and more! The reaction I had when I singed was unbelievable, I had messages from loads of fans on social media and people would come up to me in Caernarfon introducing themselves and wishing me luck for the season. I'm a local lad so it was nice to get such a positive and welcoming reception from the fans. Also the sound around the ground in games is amazing, whether it be from the Cofi Army or some familiar faces around the ground, the buzz they bring to games is a massive extra for us lads. The boost we get from a chant or a clap pushes us that extra bit further to make sure we get the result!”

Gruff celebrating his goal against Barry Town

How did it feel to score in front of the Cofi Army?

Gruff: “When I scored the first goal I didn't know what to do! A lot of the lads run towards the Cofi Army, I'm not used to doing anything like that so I just stood there smiling and I think the lads saw that so just ran towards me. When I got my second which nobody expected, I just stood there laughing as the lads ran towards me again, so I've told myself the next goal I score I'm going straight for the Cofi Army! Both times I've scored, the volume from the Cofi Army has just made me smile and I've had this massive buzz after each time. The support is just class and there's always a laugh to have with them after the game.”

The second part of this interview will be published in the next week, and Gruff will be announcing his squad of the best players he has played with, his hardest opponent and a host of other football and non-related matters….

Rumours, Managers and Bitters....

If you thought, or hoped, that the Oval Ways blog was dead and buried I’m here to prove you wrong. As unlikely as it has seemed since I wrote the last entry ten months ago I have finally got round to writing a few thoughts down and, whilst I have no definite plans for the blog’s future, my guess is that I’ll continue to pop up from time to time to share my perspective on all things Caernarfon Town.
Certainly, during this challenging period when we all have to make adjustments due to the Covid 19 virus, I will try and offer some kind of semi-regular Caernarfon Town related reading to pass a few minutes of your time.     

My previous blogs have always been a continuation from the last entry but, as I have ten moths to catch up on, it makes more sense (and take less effort) to offer a one paragraph summary of the key points during this period….

We experienced more defeats than victories in our post-season friendlies and Eards added Mike

Gruff John

Pearson, Gruff John, Sam Jones and Shaun Cavanagh to the squad. The team began the season well and did enough in the first half of the campaign to qualify for the Conference for the second successive year. This was important because our small squad was depleted through injuries later on and we just about managed to cross the line. Ben Clark arrived in November (and left in March) and Cai Jones and Shaun Cavanagh left in January. Huw Griffiths joined as first team manager on transfer deadline day and we have reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup.

Of course, there have been many other important developments and challenges on and off the pitch that have kept everyone at the club on our toes but, from a personal perspective, I’ll go over a few things that have stood out for me over the past ten months.

The first, and probably most important, is the team reaching the top six for the second year in succession. In many ways, most notably off the pitch, we are still on a steep learning curve when it comes to the Cymru Premier League, and so achieving our status in the top tier for a third year has taken a lot of pressure off everyone at the club.

Staying out of the bottom two is probably the one realistic target of every club trying to establish itself in the league and whilst it became obvious early on in the campaign that we were looking good to achieve this goal, getting into the Conference for the second half of the season is a huge boost on many levels.

In footballing terms, it ensures the competitive element of all our remaining fixtures with teams trying to win the league, qualify automatically for European football or, at the very least, clinch a home tie in the play offs for Europe.

Financially, in the short term, it ensures a decent financial reward from the FAW for finishing at least sixth whilst potentially it could be a game changer for us as the reward for taking part in a Europa League qualifier is £202,000. I understand that a chunk of this initial prize money would need to be used to cover the costs of playing overseas but there should still be a surplus significant enough to make a difference to the club.

I once spoke with a director of a club that had played in Europe and he told me that the £200,000 prize money had been more than welcome and would have pushed them on had they not needed most of it to clear their debts! When looking at things from that perspective I think we are in an excellent position!  

New season, new third kit.

As a supporter, of course, I’m desperate for Caernarfon to play in Europe. For many years we have all had to look on as Welsh clubs qualify and take a handful of supporters overseas. The clubs themselves cannot be faulted for this but it’s been disappointing to see and, even worse, we’ve seen these same clubs play their home ties with just a sprinkling of people in attendance. With the impressive support Caernarfon enjoys, imagine the boost it would provide not only to the league but to the Welsh domestic game to see the Cofi Army in Europe?

The great thing is the team has already secured a play-off and we are in the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup, so we’ve still got two opportunities to get our passports out this year! We’re just two matches away from a first competitive overseas appearance, which is already a fine achievement, but one I know Eards and the boys won’t yet be content with! And if we do make it this time around, how exciting would it be to see the impact it would have on the club and Welsh football?

Eards has been without classy defender Mike Pearson since September

Before continuing to other things, I think it’s important to point out the excellent job Eards and his management team have done to get us into this great position. Everyone knows that we don’t have a big budget at the club and therefore the managers’ hands are tied in many ways. He has decided to go with a smaller squad that most, if not all, clubs and, as always, his decision has been proved correct. However, what it does mean is that we do have to rely on the continued fitness of the players and, unfortunately, we have had a number of absentees for long periods in recent months. Despite this,  everyone has pulled together and proved that quality really is preferable to quantity. For some matches, Sean has been unable to call on up to seven first team regulars and yet the team has managed to get the results we required for a top sixth berth.

We’ve had long period of absences to key players such as Leo Smith, Gaz Edwards, Nathan Craig, Jamie Crowther and Noah Edwards and have been without Mike Pearson since September, which just goes to prove that whilst the squad is light, the quality in it certainly isn’t it!    

Being part of the Cymru Premier League is what every ambitious club thrives for but with the added  exposure and expectancy of being amongst the top twelve comes the expectancy for professionalism and responsibility.

An aspect that has disappointed me greatly on an almost weekly basis over the past two years has been the behaviour of defeated managers in post-match interviews. I realise that talking in front of the cameras just minutes after a defeat must be very hard but every club has signed up for it and so managers should expect, and be prepared, for it.

I’m been told that managers are given pointers by the FAW on how to conduct themselves but, if that’s true, their failing miserably to get their message across. Some of the interviews I’ve seen on Sgorio have been incredibly embarrassing and I often wonder how ridiculous those managers feel after watching them back?  

More often than not, it’s the usual suspects who disappoint, making no effort to praise or congratulate their opponents and just making themselves look like bitter old losers. I think it’s becoming a bigger problem as time goes on and the FAW should really clamp down on it. It’s not a good look, and neither is the constant shouting and blinding from the dugout at certain grounds. There’s nothing wrong with industrial language but if you’re at a ground, or watching on the tv, and all you hear is one booming voice shouting one expletive after another, for ninety minutes, it does get tedious. Everyone is aware of it and yet it continues.

On a positive note, I believe the standard of officiating has improved this season and, in my opinion,  the stand-out referee has been Bryn Markham-Jones. Cheryl Foster has always been head and shoulders above everyone else but, from what I’ve seen, Markham-Jones is certainly on a par with her these days.

I can’t let the subject of match officials pass without mentioning the cost of those we had for the recent Welsh Cup tie against Cefn Druids, which was an unbelievable £665! I mentioned this on Twitter recently and most people agreed that the amount was ridiculous. I won’t repeat what I’ve already said on there but is it really any wonder that clubs are finding life difficult financially when we are given such invoices to pay out of our gate receipts?

One major talking point in recent weeks, outside of the club anyway, has been the arrival of Huw

Griffiths into the management team. However, not one Caernarfon Town supporter has asked me why Huw has joined us, and everyone I have spoken to is just delighted that we have secured the services of such a respected figure in the Welsh game.

The reason we went after Huw is obvious. He’s a highly rated and experienced manager with a proven track record and we felt that Sean, Fish and Rhys would appreciate someone sharing the burden of managing the team, and the club’s expectations. It really is as simple as that.

The usual keyboard warriors were having a go at the club for getting Huw in, sprouting the same old tired rubbish, sprung from petty agendas, but the Board made the decision on the basis that we were adding a different element to an already very strong management team. And, just as importantly, Eards was in full approval of what we were trying to do. It’s important to make this point as Sean is absolutely pivotal to what we want to achieve as a club, and it is imperative that he is happy with any ideas and decisions that impact the coaching staff. 

As for Huw, he has settled seamlessly into his role and seems to have been at the Oval for years rather than just six weeks. I had spoken to him a number of times in recent seasons and always found him friendly and approachable, and that’s exactly the way he’s been since joining us. The club is lucky to have two high quality manages working side by side and, if everything goes to plan, they’ll manage to get us into Europe this Summer and to even greater heights in the future.

Now, if anyone knows Sgorio presenter Dylan Ebenezer, can you please point him towards this blog and to the last four paragraphs, so that he can hopefully revise his theory that Huw’s appointment was due solely to UEFA licence implications?

I’ll finish this time around by mentioning the amazing way the Caernarfon Town supporters, and people of the town itself, rallied around to help the club after the recent vandalism at the Oval. Everyone with an interest in the club will have seen the news, and photographs, on various media outlets and must have felt as sickened as I was. It was mindless vandalism and it’s hard to imagine why anyone would carry out such acts, but someone did, and we had to deal with it.

As always, the supporters sprung immediately into action, helping us clear the mess and re-renovate where required. They also set up a Go-Fund Me page to raise funds for the implementation of CCTV at the ground. Over £1500 was raised in a short time and Tyrone, Jamie and the guys are arranging for the cameras to be put up in the next week or two.

People from outside the Oval mention the close bond they see between the club, players and supporters but, unless you’re a part of that holy trinity, it’s hard to understand exactly how close everyone is, and how much the Cofi Army is part of what the club is all about.

‘One Club’ is not just our ethos, it’s our reality.     
Stay Safe and Keep The Faith!

Unsung Heroes and Worst Dressers. Part 2 of the Jamie Crowther Interview.

It has come as no surprise to me that the first instalment of my exclusive interview with Caernarfon Town's vice captain, Jamie Crowther, proved successful with supporters of the club. 

Jamie's been a popular figure at the Oval since his arrival in January 2017 and is a huge influence on the team. 

In this second, and final, part of our interview, the big midfielder talks unsung heroes, bad dress sense and most difficult opponents, amongst other things. 

It goes without saying that I thank Jamie for taking the time to answer every question in such an honest, and detailed manner and I hope everyone enjoys reading his answers as much as I have.... 

You've said that you were aware of the club's support before you joined us so has it lived up to your expectations?

Jamie: “Without doubt it has and more. I said previously about the bond between supporters and players and it seems to be growing even more. Obviously having local lads playing for the club is great as the fans know them away from football but for the likes of myself who isn't from the area the reception I had when i first joined and continue to have is excellent. It's not even just the home games though that the fans get behind us, there's those who literally travel up and down the country to support us and honestly as player's that means so much to us. I always think to myself when I play that people go out to work all week and then will spend their hard earned money on watching us play football, while we might not play well every week as a team we will work as hard as we can and put in as much effort as possible and I know that the fans appreciate that.”

Although the core of the team has remained the same since you arrived there have been a few changes to the squad and I was wondering how the present squad compares to the one when you arrived?

Jamie: “I think that this current squad of players we have now is excellent and we just seem to be getting better and better. The more experience that the younger players like Ryan Williams, Brads, Sam Jones are getting the better they are becoming. One thing that's impressed me is the signings we have made from the Cymru North coming into the side adding extra quality and also doing really well at this level. Although I only played ten games I think it was the year we won the league that squad was excellent, Kev Bach and Kev Lloyd are two players that I think back to when I think of that team and what they did for this football club. Not only were they good players but also great lads in the changing rooms.“

Did you know Huw before he joined us in January and what do you think he brings to the management team?

Jamie: "The summer I left Cefn Druids to go to Stalybridge Huw came in as manager and I had a few training sessions with him and that was the first time i came across him. Over the years I have obviously played against his teams who are always well organised and fit. In our push for Europe this year his experience is going to be vital. I think he's settled really well into the group and what he's done as a manager previously is something that gets him instant respect. I think it also helps that he speaks Welsh because otherwise Daz would be really struggling in the shape sessions! Just that extra pair of eyes and opinion on the game is massive also and each one of Eards, Fish and Huw have their own personality and it works really well together."

What are your three favourite matches for Caernarfon Town and why?

Jamie: "Its quite hard to narrow it down to only three games really, my number one is easy but I'll go in reverse order...

3) My debut against Queens Park away scoring 2 was a great start to my Caernarfon career however this season beating Penybont 3-2 at home just pips it. We hadn't really played very well on the day and even though Penybont are in a relegation fight they are a tough, honest bunch of lads. However with the game at 2-2 we had a free kick with only a couple minutes to play, Nathan took the free kick and forced the keeper into a save and like a true fox in the box I managed to somehow tackle it in and we won the game 3-2! That poachers instinct I keep telling Eards about....

2) Last season beating Connahs Quay Nomads 1-0 a

way early on in the season was a terrific win thanks to a Breesey goal. I think that result really gave us the confidence to kick on in our first season back. Nomads away for me is the toughest game of the season. Winning against your old club is always nice but the manner of that win was excellent, we had to battle and dig in and showed great character to defend the immense pressure Nomads put you under by putting balls into your box.

1) My favourite game is easy and is probably the best game I have ever experienced. Supporting

Wrexham as a kid I always said I wanted to experience playing in a Wrexham v Chester derby unfortunately I never got that chance (maybe one day as a manager) but playing for Caernarfon v Bangor mattered just as much. I probably didn't realise how much it meant to the fans of both clubs until the week leading up to the game. To go to Bangor and get the win was fantastic, one thing I remember from the game was warming up in the pouring down rain and you could hear the Cofi Army walking down the road to the game singing it suddenly hit me that this is a proper derby and as a player I knew the chance to play in a game like this probably wouldn't come around again. It was extra special for me as my Dad and best mate Rick were right in with the fans and while I managed to set up our big dopey centre back Gaz for the winner I also got man of the match from Malcolm Allen on Sgorio. The celebrations that followed that win were unbelievable and out round Caernarfon in our tracksuit I never paid for a drink all night it was some hangover the next day!"

Which one match would you prefer to forget as a Caernarfon Town player?

Jamie: "The one match I want to forget is easy and that is v Prestatyn in the cup this season where I got myself sent off for having a go at the referee. If one of the lads I coach did that I would go mad at them but it was naive and we all make mistakes!"

What do you think are the main differences between the Cymru League North and the

Cymru Premier League?

Jamie: "I think fitness is one of the biggest differences between the Cymru North and Cymru Premier. At this level now it's not enough to just be able to train once or twice a week you have to make sure you look after yourself in terms of going to the gym/doing your own running and making sure you prepare correctly for games. The use of analysis in the Cymru Premier is key also, being able to look at different formations the opposition team plays and then that informing your training session is something the management team are really keen on."

What were your expectations for the team in our first season back in the Cymru Premier League and do you think we have surprised a few people by achieving a Conference position in our two seasons back in the top tier?

Jamie: "The first day of pre-season the year we came up Eards asked us what our target was for the

season individually, I said that day to just stay in the league consolidate and then push the following season. Not that i didn't think we were good enough but I know how tough the league is and you have to be on your game week in week out. We also had a very inexperienced squad at this level at that time but once we got going we were great. I think last season we definitely surprised a few but not this season. People now see how good a squad we have and we have suffered a few injuries this year but lads that have come in have been excellent and to be successful as a team you need a good squad of players."

Who do you think is the side's unsung hero?

Jamie: "Ryan 'John O'Shea' Williams without a doubt. It was no surprise to me that he collected all the awards last season and he got my vote for players player of the year. I absolutely hammer him about being just like John O' Shea the former United player because he can play in so many different positions and you need players like that. This season though I think I could be right in saying that he's the only outfield player to play every minute of every game? That says alot and hes cemented his position at centre back there. For me I cant believe he hasn't been considered for the Wales C squad. We have one of the best defensive records in the league with him a part of yet I never hear his name mentioned, it baffles me. It's great that he is a local lad also and his mum and dad travel all over the country to watch him play and hes going to go on and be a great future captain of Caernarfon without a doubt."

Name a starting eleven, and two subs, of the best players you've played alongside in your career thus far?

Jamie: "This is the hardest question ever to have to pick an eleven of players I have played with and there are quite a few lads I play with now that will make it."

Goalkeeper - Alex Ramsey, although I have never known someone to moan as much as he does.

Right Back - Joe Williams, Mr. consistent Joe is one of the best defenders in a 1v1 situation

Centre Back - George Horan, a real leader and winner and would head a brick if you threw that in the air for him to head

Centre Back - Gaz Edwards, I had to put my other car school mate in but again a real leader with gaz and George at centre back we wouldn't concede many but it would also be the slowest race I have ever seen if them two had a sprint race against each other.

Left Back - Kev McIntyre, played hundreds of games in the football league and was coming to the end of his career but had unbelievable quality.

Right Wing - Gaz Evans, I have played a lot of games with Evo over the years but while he couldn't trap a bag of sand I would want him in my team every week.

Centre Midfield - Danny Harrison, again a player who has played all his career in the football league and someone who I learnt so much from watching and playing with week in week out.

Centre Midfield - Sean Williams, currently playing at Altrincham but for me could be playing much higher, I use to win the tackles and then let him get all the plaudits in midfield together haha

Left Wing - Shelton Payne, at Colwyn bay we needed to win the last 6 games to not get relegated, with his goals that season he literally dragged us through games and was unplayable.

Striker - Rob Hopley, club captain at Colwyn Bay and I have never seen anyone work as hard as him on the pitch, every game he would come off battered and bruised but also a really nice fella.

Striker - Andy Cook, I have been desperate for Wrexham to sign him for years, currently playing in the football league and again I wouldn't want to be a centre back having to mark Rob and Cooky upfront who are a real handful !!

Subs:

Leo Smith - If Leo doesn't go on to play in the football league then I give up on football, he's been exceptional for us this year and would love him to go back to Wrexham and play even though I have told him he should be aiming higher than them now.

Daz Thomas - The most natural ability I have ever seen in a player and I bet half the time he doesn't know how he has done some of the things he does. He is probably sick at listening to me scream at him from behind to go left or right or mark a certain player but he is so gifted.

In addition to playing, I understand you have been coaching for a number of years. Which badges do you have Jamie, and is this an area where you want to develop further?

Jamie: “Yes alongside playing I absolutely love my coaching. I have worked at Airbus academy for over 10 years now and hold the role of Head of Youth while also head coach of the U16s. Last year I passed my UEFA A License which was a great course for me. The FAW Trust have a great education system here in Wales and that's why we are seeing so many big names come over to Wales to attend the courses. On my course I had the likes of Lee Bowyer, Juan Pablo Angel and DJimi Traeore and the knowledge these guys have of the game is great to be able to tap into as they are still working as coaches or managers at the highest level. With the development of the education system it is also allowing for better coaches in Wales in turn helping us to produce better players for the future and hopefully over the next few years we see more and more players come through our academies and represent the first team in the Cymru Premier League. For my own future in terms of coaching I have always made it clear that I want to go into management. I have played for a lot of managers some good some bad but I have always learnt from them and taken bits here and there. I knew that I was a natural leader and even from an early age so I think as I get older coaching is something I really want to take seriously, I have recently just turned 28 although none of the lads believe me and take the mick saying I look older but I think I still have a couple of years of playing left in these legs.”

Who has the best dress sense in the Caernarfon Town dressing room?

Jamie: “To be fair the best dress sense I think I will have to give to my car school mate Rambo. On a night out he never has a hair out of place and absolutely loves a denim jacket. Again when we were in Manchester for our end of season trip couple seasons ago he actually rang the club to make sure he could get in with the gear he had taken up with him!!! Some dedication to making sure he looked good.”

Who has the worst dress sense in the dressing room?

Jamie: “Worst dress sense is easy but is a tie between two......Fish and Brads. Fish because he needs to realise that he's now not 18 anymore and walking round dressed like he's a football hooligan when we go out is not a great look. As for Brads am not sure what shops he goes to or where he gets his gear from but its horrendous and I hope he has the receipts to take it back. I think all the lads would agree with me on this , but I know Fish will be raging when he sees it and am sure I will receive a light hearted message from him !! I could probably stick Eards in here as well now I think of it.....I know he works in a school but why he feels the need to wear his work clothes on a night out and dress like a teacher is beyond me!”

What’s your favourite film?

Jamie: “If I am honest I am not a massive film person, I quite like old World War films like Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk, Fury that type of film. I think it's because I have so much respect for anyone that has served for our country and watching these types of films brings a sort of realisation as to what people went through and go through now to someone like myself.”

Other than the Oval, which is the best ground in the Cymru Premier League?

Jamie: “I really enjoy playing at Newtown’s Latham Park, am not sure why as I don't think I have ever won there as a player, if Chris Hughes reads this he will be made up and am sure I will take some stick for it in work but he hasn't heard the end of it from me after we beat them 3-1 the other week! I must add that I have won a couple of finals there as a coach though so my luck there isn't all bad!”

Who has been your hardest opponent, both player and team, whilst playing for Caernarfon and why?

Jamie: “There is two really who I would have to pick for this. The first is Danny Redmond at TNS, the first time I played against him last season at home they beat us and I had to man mark him, he had just come into the league from Scotland so didn't know much about him but I don't think I really got near him all game, I was chasing him around and couldn't get close enough to make a tackle until I got one opportunity to kick him after about 30 minutes, I made sure he was ok we had a bit of a laugh then I spent the next hour chasing him again! The second is a born and raised Cofi James Owen who is also one of my good friends. I hate playing against Jay because he doesn't give you a second on the ball and is in your face ratting around he is honestly one of the brightest players in terms of understanding and reading the game, it probably makes up for him being not so bright off the pitch and is probably the only player who kicks it out of play more than i do! But when I go into management Jay will be someone I turn to for advice and maybe I could tempt him to come back coaching with me.....”

Grass pitches or 4G, and why?

Jamie: “Definitely grass over 4g pitches for me but that's probably because we are spoilt at The Oval as Wyn does an unbelievable job on the pitch and it's a carpet each time we play on it.”

Tell us about singing Stand By Me after matches?

Jamie: “I’m not really sure how it came about if I am honest. But after each win we nominate someone to sing usually based on a performance, if someone has scored or if we have a new player come into the changing rooms. I think little things like that are great for team spirit which is something we have in abundance in our changing rooms not just with the players but with the management staff also.”

Welsh Cup or Cymru Premier League, and why?

Jamie: “The league is your bread and butter isn't it and it's what you fight for week in week out to ensure you finish as high up as possible to get a chance to compete in the play offs for a place in Europe but there is something special about the Welsh cup that provides you with added spice in games. Obviously last year we had the opportunity to play Bangor, most recently we had a great win v Cefn Druids on a very wet and windy Friday night which was a bizarre night, firstly for seeing me score which doesn't happen very often, Brads with a diving header which meant he is now even closer to becoming bald and a video of our Captain Gaz right in the middle of the Cofi Army behind the goal going mental when we scored! Obviously we now have a Welsh Cup semi-final to look forward to V Cardiff Met at Newtown which I am sure will be a great occasion.....as long as we get to that final!”

And finally, do you have a message for the Cofi Army?

Jamie: “Upon doing this interview as a nation we are currently experiencing a difficult time where there is lots of uncertainty around what is to come in the next couple of months. Football at this moment in time is no longer a priority and I hope that everyone stays safe and well in the coming weeks/months. When football does resume again we have some massive fixtures to look forward to. Firstly we have the opportunity to get ourselves into a Welsh Cup final and secondly another opportunity for Europe as we will enter the play-off games. Believe me as a group of players and staff we will be working as hard as we can to try and provide an opportunity for this football club to experience a European campaign. Since I have been here it has been one hell of a journey already and I really wish that the journey continues with a road to Europe and as fans you are a crucial part of this journey with us! The support myself and my family have received personally since joining has been amazing along with the support of the team and I know that this will continue and I hope to see you all soon! Stay Safe and Thank you!!”

The Jamie Crowther Interview. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

When Sean Eardley phoned me in late January 2017 to say that he had a new signing to announce I'll admit that the name Jamie Crowther did not ring any bells. "Crowths will be a great signing for us Paul, he's a good player and will fit well into our dressing room." 

As Caernarfon Town's media officer I have the best job in the club (outside of playing in the yellow shirt) and obviously the most exciting part of it has always been sharing news of the latest additions to the first team squad. 

As I knew little of Jamie I decided to attend the team's training session that evening at the Shed in Colwyn Bay to meet him and carry out a video interview. The first thing I noticed is that, despite his new environment, he seemed confident, though not in a conceited way. And that's the way Jamie has remained, in and around the Oval. Over the past three years he has established himself as one of the mainstays of the side and, whilst he goes about his business in midfield in a quiet manner, and seems to me an unsung hero of our recent success, his rare absences from the side is usually felt immediately. 

I recently sat down with Jamie to discuss his time at the Oval and all things football. Here's the first of our two part interview....

  

Which teams have you played for, from school days to this season? 

Jamie: “This could be a long answer as I have had a few clubs! I first made my debut in what was then called the Welsh Premier league at the age of seventeen I think I was, for Cefn Druids. That season we were relegated as the following season was to be the first they made the league restricted to twelve teams. 

I then moved over to play in England and signed for Stalybridge Celtic in the Conference North, I spent a year at Wrexham then signed for Colwyn Bay when they were in the English pyramid in the Conference North. After two seasons there I then signed for Barrow AFC before moving to Connahs Quay Nomads in the January of 2015 where I was signed by Allan Bickerstaff. After a successful eighteen months there helping the club get into Europe I moved to Bala and had an unforgettable experience for them playing against AIK in Sweden in the Europa League. Unfortunately, that summer my little girl had to have an operation and after starting the season with the Lakesiders I didn’t play again until the January when I signed for Aberystwyth. I then spent a short time at Airbus before signing for Caernarfon in the January of 2018.” 

Have you always played in midfield and, if not, why did you move to midfield? Also, what is your preferred position? 

Jamie: “Yes, I have always played in midfield even from a younger age. A few managers have tried to get me to play at centre back over the years but, as Eards will tell you, I like to have a good moan when I play there!! No, I think as a player I can be quite flexible in the positions I can play and since signing for Caernarfon I think I have played in pretty much every position. I am just waiting for Eards to give me a chance to play up front now.” 

Who has been the biggest influence on your footballing career?

Jamie: “There have been quite a few influences on my football career and I think it would be hard to pick just one. When I was playing junior football I played for Holywell Town FC and joined Airbus academy at Under twelves under a coach called Anthony Wallis. At that age its more about keeping players involved in football because of fun and also he set the foundations really of me working hard to improve myself as a player. Some of the principles that Anthony installed in us as young players I now use in my own coaching environment. 

I played for Frank Sinclair at Colwyn Bay and he was massive for my career. He really trusted me even at a young age and helped me to develop massively as an individual in terms of understanding the game at senior level and more so just giving me an opportunity to play week in week out. When Andy Morrison came into Connahs Quay Nomads I obviously knew quite a lot about him from his time at Airbus but he totally changed the way that I looked at the game, probably more so my coaching but the detail and passion he had for the game was like something I had never experienced before. 

For numerous years before signing for Caernarfon I hadn't really been enjoying playing my football but Eards and Fish over the three seasons I have been here have got me enjoying playing again and if it wasn't for them I know I wouldn't be playing now. 

Finally my Dad, he was never a pushy parent but if I wanted to go out and practice he would always be willing and has literally drove me up and down the country as a young player and still comes to watch my games and support now.” 

Which professional team do you support?

Jamie: “I support Manchester United and, whilst we are going through a difficult period, I do think that Solskjaer is building the principles of Manchester United back into the club which have probably been forgotten since Sir Alex retired. I also as a kid would go and watch Wrexham and for a number of years myself and a few mates would go and support them home and away.” 

Who was your favourite player growing up? 

Jamie: “My favourite player growing up was David Beckham and, as a Manchester United fan, I would always have 'Beckham 7' on the back of my shirts. I would always be on the local park practising free kicks like him. Hopefully after reading this the management might let me take one in a game as I keep asking.....but while Nath is still sticking them into the top corner, like against Newtown, I might have to wait a little longer.“ 

Who is your favourite current player?

Jamie: “Even though I support Manchester United my favourite player at the moment is Jordan Henderson. He had some big boots to fill replacing Gerrard as captain but this season I think he has been exceptional and it shows a true test of character when he has had some serious critics in the past and now people are seeing what he gives the team. He is massively their unsung hero.” 

Eards welcomes Jamie to Caernarfon Town

What did you know of Caernarfon Town when you signed for us?

Jamie: “After playing against Caernarfon for Airbus in what was Eards first game as manager the one thing I did know about Caernarfon was their unbelievable support. We were 3-0 up at half time in that game but in the second half I just remember the Cofi Army behind the goal almost dragging the ball into the back of the net.” 

How did your move to the Oval happen?

Jamie: “That season I had played a few games for Airbus, I actually decided that I wasn't going to play that season but Airbus were struggling with injuries and ‘Shosh’ had asked would I come in and just play a few games for them which I did. Just before Christmas I stopped playing again as I just wasn't enjoying it and hadn't been enjoying playing for a number of years. For the first time in years I had Christmas off and enjoyed the time with my family with no football to worry about. In the January Caernarfon approached me and Eards asked if I would like to come in until the end of the year as a bit of cover as they were looking to win the league and get promotion back to the Cymru Premier.” 

Did you know Sean Eardley or any of his management team before you joined us? 

Jamie: “Yes I had known Eards for a number of years before signing for him. He actually coached me at the age of 16/17 while playing for North Wales Under 18's. Over the next few years we would actually coach against each other as he was working at Llandudno academy and me at Airbus academy. I would just like to say am not sure that in the games we coached against each other that he never beat me! I had never come across Fish before signing for Caernarfon but we have grown close and the work that the management team put in behind the scenes, and that includes Rhys, is really appreciated by all the players.” 

Jamie on his debut for the Cofis. 

Had you played with any of the players already at the club before, or knew some of them? 

Jamie: “Yes, I played with Gaz Evans when we were both at Colwyn Bay, he's not changed his game at all he still keeps crossing the ball out of play! I sort of knew quite a few of the lads having played against them really, Rambo I knew already from coaching, we actually did our B license together quite a few years ago. I have had a couple of nights out in Chester with Mike Pearson again many years ago when he lived in Chester with James Owen playing for Barrow. Hopefully we will soon have Peo back fit as I believe he's one of the best centre backs in the league.”

You made an instant impression on the team when you arrived, what do you remember of that first season with us? 

Jamie: “I think scoring two goals on my debut really helped me settle in with the squad and fans. I was more of a box to box midfielder when I first signed and chipped in with a few goals and assists that season. The one thing that really stood out to me in that first season was the culture at the club and it was like something I had never experienced before. Firstly was the bond between the players and the supporters and how passionate the fans are about this football club and how much they want them to succeed. But even in harder times they will still support the players as long as they see them working hard out on that pitch. Second, the changing room environment was great. Most players at that time had been together for a long period of good and bad times but the whole group made me feel welcome. The way the manager drove this, while we knew when to be professional we also knew when to have fun and this can be summed up by our end of season team night out. 

It was a fantastic night picking up the league trophy against Gresford at Airbus, and although we didn't win on the night we played really well. The support that day was fantastic as well, fans taking half days at work to make sure they could get down and support us. As players and staff we then went over to Manchester to celebrate which was all organised fantastically by Gaz Edwards. However the less said about that weekend the better, especially Gaz's train ticket situation that the players made a song about, and my initiation song 'Aerosmith, I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing' which was sang loud and proud after a day at Haydock races on an organised coach that we hadn't organised....”

The second part of our interview will be posted soon, and will include Jamie's thirteen man match day squad of the best players he's played alongside, his favourite, and least favourite matches for the Cofi, and Caernarfon's worst dressed player......in his view!