“When
one of the biggest clubs in Welsh football gives you an opportunity to join
them you have to take it…..”
When Iwan Williams told the Caernarfon Town Board
during the summer that he was bringing in Richard Davies to further strengthen
his management team I was both happy and surprised in equal measures. I knew of
Richard due to his excellent record as manager of Penrhyndeudraeth so he
definitely ticked all the right boxes but was surprised that one of our fellow
clubs in the Cymru Alliance League had not decided to get him in as their
manager. His achievements at Maes y Parc are very impressive and so my opinion
then, and now, is that it’s a real coup for us as a club that he decided to
join.
I had not met him before he came
to the Oval and I believe the only time we may have crossed paths would be
during Penrhyn’s victory over the Cofis in a Mawddach Cup Semi-Final during the
2012/13 season. Although the tie was eventually won by Penrhyn on penalties
after a 1-1 draw, if I’m totally honest they deserved to go through after an
excellent performance, during which our former striker Matty Hughes had been
almost unplayable. That defeat cost us a clean sweep of all the winnable cup
competitions we had entered (Welsh Cup not included) in our treble season and
was a massive disappointment at the time.
We obviously don’t get much
opportunity to talk on match days and so, six months after he arrived I still
didn’t know too much about our assistant manager. With this in mind I thought
it would be nice to get together with Richard away from the Oval and ask him a
few questions about his footballing background, experiences in the game and how
he sees his first few months with Caernarfon Town. Luckily he was happy to take
part in an interview for the blog, and I’m delighted to share it with you here.
OW: Can you give us a breakdown
of your background in the game. Which teams did you play for?
Richard: “To be honest I haven't got much of a playing background, well not one
that’s worth a mention anyway. I’m sure the lads will second this as I’ve got a
season ticket for being in the middle of the circle in our warm-up! My previous
clubs include Porthmadog, Nantlle Vale and Penrhyndeudraeth.”
OW: When did you decide that a
managing career would suit you, and at which clubs have you managed?
Richard: “I started managing at the age of eighteen with Porthmadog Juniors. I
began with the Under 14's and progressed with the same group to the Under sixteens
and really enjoyed the experience. I was then offered an opportunity to join
the Academy at Port and to also manage the Under sixteens. This gave me an
insight into the more professional side of the game when compared to club
football and from there I knew I wanted a future in the coaching side of the
game. After a successful spell with the Academy which included winning the
Welsh Academy trophy, I was given an opportunity to join Penrhyndeudraeth as
assistant manager which I did for two years before making the step up to take
the hot seat at Maes y Parc.”
OW: Who was the biggest
footballing influence on you whilst growing up, and in what way?
Richard: “My biggest footballing influence whilst growing up would be my Dad. He
gave me no choice in who I wanted to support and had me in an Everton kit
before I could walk, and I wouldn't have it any other way! I was fortunate that
there were a few of my mates around the same age that also had no choice and we
were lucky enough that our dads would take us to Goodison Park once we were old
enough.”
OW: Which team do you support,
and who was your favourite player, both whilst growing up and now, and why?
Richard: “I support the pride of Merseyside, Everton! It's tough to pick just
one favourite player when I was growing up but Big Duncan Ferguson and Neville
Southall would be up there. Currently my best player would have to be Seamus
Coleman for Everton and Gareth Bale for giving me an amazing time in France
watching the Euros last summer.”
OW: I believe most followers of
local football will know, or be aware of you, from your success at Penrhyn so
can you tell us about your time there?
Richard: “I initially joined Penrhyndeudraeth as a player in Aug 2009 before
becoming assistant manager to Gareth Piercy towards the end of the 2009/10
season and continued in that role throughout 2010/11.I took over as manager for
the 2011/12 season and we achieved a lot together. In my first season at the
helm we won the Gwynedd League, Gwynedd Safeflue Shield and Bob Owen Memorial
Shield and followed that up a year later by winning the Take Stock Van Hire
Cup. We were Welsh Alliance League Division Two champions, Take Stock Van Hire
cup finalists and FAW trophy semi-finalists in 2013/14 and managed to reach the
final of the FAW a tear later. Last season, we won the Mawddach Cup again.”
OW: Having enjoyed such a
successful time with Penrhyn, what made you decide to join Caernarfon Town, and
how did the move come about?
Richard: “The move came about when I received a phone call from Iwan asking if I
fancied joining him and his coaching team as Gareth Parry had work commitments
in Cardiff and would struggle to attend training sessions and some of the matches.
I decided to take him up on the offer as it was a chance for me to step up to
the Cymru Alliance and test myself. Although I was really happy at
Penrhyndeudreath and had just won the Mawddach Cup, when one of the biggest
clubs in Welsh football gives you an opportunity to join them you have to take
it.”
OW: What knowledge did you have
of the club and did you know any of the coaching staff and players?
Richard: “I knew Iwan and Gareth from the coaching staff and also some of the
local players. I knew a lot about the club due to Iwan being manager and as we
are good mates we regularly had chats on Sundays, asking how each others matches
had gone. I have also had interest in the club from when Steven Smith (Psycho)
was manager a few years ago. I know a lot of the supporters through following the
Welsh national team away so whenever Penrhyndeudraeth didn't have a match I
would sometimes drive to watch Caernarfon if they were at home.”
OW: What were your first
impressions of the club when you joined, and has the club reached the expectations you may have had?
Richard: “My first impression was everything I would expect from a club of
Caernarfon’s size. The fan base is huge, probably one of, if not the biggest in
the Welsh pyramid, and the professionalism shown by the lads in training and
Iwan's preparation shows in the clubs success.”
OW: Was it hard to join the
management team, bearing in mind last season’s success, and how have you
adapted to being assistant manager after being in the manager’s seat with
Penrhyn for so long?
Richard: “It was a bit daunting at start because of all the success last season
but everyone within the club made me feel welcome from day one, for which I was
grateful. Going from Manager to assistant was strange at first but I'm getting
to know the league and I’m learning from Iwan so I’m really enjoying my time here
and hope I can help the team emulate last season’s success.”
OW: Playing wise, is there a big
gap between the Welsh Alliance and Cymru Alliance Leagues?
OW: You’ve already mentioned you were
aware of the club and players before you joined us and I was wondering if the quality
in the squad matches what you had expected?
Richard: “I knew the quality in the squad was high but working with the lads on
a weekly basis you get to see a bit more and they try things maybe they
wouldn't in a game. I think what impressed me most was the accuracy of the long
balls, the technique in striking the ball and bringing it under control.”
OW: It’s been a very good first
half of the season for the team, what have been your highlights thus far?
Richard: “Highlight of the season so far, for me, is the victory at Porthmadog.
It was a nice win as we hadn't really been playing well and had suffered a late
equaliser against Denbigh followed by a home defeat to Prestatyn, so it was
nice to get back to winning ways. And it’s great to have bragging rights at home!
Flint away was a great victory also, to score six at such a tough place was a
good day at the office. I think the most memorable win for myself would have to
be the Holywell away game, to come back from 1-0 down at half time and show so
much determination, character and desire to get back and win the game with only
ten men was very satisfying to say the least.”
OW: Have there been any real
‘disappointments’ in your time at the club thus far?
Richard: “I was very disappointed when we were held to a draw in Denbigh
especially to concede an equaliser in the ninety seventh minute after being in
complete control on ninety minutes with a two goal lead. It was just one of
them freak things in football. Then the next match was even worse as we lost to
Prestatyn, so that was a tough two weeks. The only other real disappointment
that stands out is the defeat to Rhyl in the Cup put I'm confident we can put
that right in the Welsh Cup.”
OW: What do you think of the
club’s supporters, and how much does it help the staff and players that there
is such a strong following at both home and away matches?
Richard: “The supporters at Caernarfon in my opinion are the best in the Welsh
pyramid. I knew the team had a good following after watching them a few times
last season but to be a part of the club and witness it home and away every
week is quality and I know that the players and us coaching staff appreciate
the support. I would also like to give the Clwb Caneris (Canaries Club) a
mention and thank them for the hard work they put in behind the scenes. It is
evident how much Caernarfon Town means to them.”
OW: Iwan has brought the ‘Un
Clwb’ ethos to the club, do you think that everyone at Caernarfon Town is
pulling in the same direction?
Richard: “Yes I definitely think that everyone is pulling in the same direction.
There is a certain buzz around the club
from the Academy all the way to the first team and this includes the ladies
teams, who are flying at the moment. I think that everyone working together is
a credit to Iwan as he has everybody believing in him and his ‘Un Clwb’ ethos
which isn’t an easy task to achieve. It takes a lot of hard work, long hours
and determination to do this but with the effort being put in by everyone at
the club from the Academy to the
groundsman, canteen staff, fans and the Board everyone wants the same
thing as Iwan and that is to get Caernarfon town back where we belong, in the
Welsh Premier League.”
OW: Who’s the biggest joker in
the dressing room?
Richard: “There are a few jokers and characters in the dressing room but the top
three for me would be Kev Bach, Gas and Joe Williams.”
OW: Who’s got the worst musical
preferences in the dressing room?
Richard: “We have a playlist on Iwan's phone for which everybody had to choose
a song for pre match, but I'm not sure who chose what sorry.”
OW: If you were manager of our
current squad would you give Iwan a game?
Richard: “If I was the manager would I give Iwan a game? Ha, ha that’s a good question!
He could certainly do a job and has played in a few positions over his career
so would be a decent versatile player to have in the Squad. Iwan in his prime
would get into my team but currently I think he would be on the bench. Sorry
Gaffer!”
OW: Going forward, what do you
think is a realistic target for the team this season?
Richard: “I think a realistic target for the season is to retain both the League
and the League cup and get a good run in the Welsh Cup, which I know the fans
would love.”
OW: Do you have a message for the
Cofi Army?
Richard: “My message to the Cofi Army would be keep up the great support and remember
it’s a marathon not a sprint. Un Clwb.”
A massive thank you to Richard
for taking the time to answer all the questions and especially for being so honest
when asked about whether or not Iwan would get into his team! On a more serious
note though, as a Town supporter I know that we’re in the fortunate position of
having a very vibrant and dynamic management team and what excites me is the
prospect of where they can take us.
It’s early days for Richard at
the club but he has already proved to be another great signing by the manager!
Un Clwb.
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