Gaz, Pen-Pics and Seamus O’Shaunessy.

I’ve just realised that February marked six years since the club was saved from folding by Arfon Jones and the committee. And here we are, two thirds of the way through the team’s third season in the Cymru Alliance League and top of the table with just ten matches to go. Ten cup finals from reaching our dream of getting the club back to the Welsh Premier League. I had better not pinch myself in case I wake up….

Of course, if someone had offered me this position at the beginning of the season I would have jumped at it and yet there’s a part of me that is trying not to think too much about what might be at the end of the season. There’s a famous old adage in football that I think is probably the best, and soundest advice in the game: To take one match at a time. It’s meaning is obvious and sensible, but just how hard is it as a supporter to not to look further ahead and imagine what lies ahead?!

Try as I might to adhere to the saying, I just can’t help but thinking about the remaining matches we have in the league. Caernarfon are four points ahead of second-placed Cefn Druids, and although they do have one match in hand we still have to visit the Rock to face Huw Griffiths’ side. This, of course, means that the title is in the Cofis’ own hands which is all we could ask for.

And, having seen Town’s recent victory over Holyhead on Saturday, I think we have a real chance of going all the way!

However, before looking at the fine victory over the Harbourmen I think it’s worth taking a quick backwards glance at last week’s abandoned match with Caersws.

Seamus O’Shaunessy?

First of all, I must confess to being happy that the referee called the match off when he did. The  worsening weather was making it increasingly dangerous for the players, not to mention making it impossible for them to play. On a personal, and selfish note, I also feared that continuing with the match may have cost us points as it had all the hallmarks of a goalless draw. Town always try to play the ball on the ground but it had become impossible to do this from the opening ten minutes onwards and, whilst not wanting to be dismissive of Caersws, I always feel that such bad conditions can be a great leveller between teams and I could see them possibly earning a point by sticking every player behind the ball and working hard to frustrate Town.

Interestingly, after Buckley had used Patrick Kielty in goal against us the previous week, Caersws decided on a guest goalkeeper of their own, somehow persuading professional wrestler Seamus O’Shaunessy to help out. This didn’t seem to phase Jamie Breese though, as he clearly wasn’t about to back away from any confrontation, as seen in the photo to the left.  

I had not originally planned to write a match report for the website as it would obviously be a non-event in the record books, and to be honest there was not too much to report on! However, I ended up completing one and, although it won’t mean much to anyone else, I have to add to the report that my man of the match was Toby Jones. Toby has had to bide his time on the bench since returning to the club recently and was obviously chomping at the bit against Caersws, and it showed! The heavy, and wet, pitch don’t really suit Toby’s style of play and yet I thought he stood out on the day, and was looking lively in the attacking third of the pitch. We all know how good Toby can be, and I am sure it’s only a matter of time before he starts getting back on the score sheet.

The pen-pic is on it's way, Gaz....

It was obviously disappointing that the weather spoiled, and ended, the match but it was certainly the correct call from the ref and the biggest disappointment of the day for me was the injuries sustained by Clive Williams and Kevin Lloyd. I spoke with them both on Saturday and they hope to return to the squad very soon, which is a relief, as we’ll need all the players available for the remainder of the season.

Before moving on, I must own up to a slightly worrying moment when Gareth Edwards told me he had a bone to pick with me. The object of his discontent was that he’d been reading the match programme and noticed his pen pic had not been included with the remainder of the squad. Gaz is an imposing figure at around 6’5” and, to be perfectly honest, I was already thinking of a quick retreat when I took a leaf out of every football manager and politIcians’ book and passed the blame on to someone else, in this case the club secretary, Geraint Jones. Thankfully, I saw a hint of a smile on Gareth’s face as I stumbled out my excuses and can only say that we’ll have to put the record straight and make sure it’s in the programme from now on!

And so, onto Saturday’s excellent performance against a dogged Holyhead side at the Oval.

Recent encounters against Hotspur have been very tight affairs with draws and odd-goal victories the norm, and there was no reason to expect anything different on Saturday. For once against the Harbourmen though I  always had the feeling Caernarfon would be too strong for them. That’s not to take anything away from Holyhead as I think they’re a very competitive side with great organisation throughout the team. And, in Carl Jones, they have one of the league’s top stoppers in goal. Watching the keeper partaking in some banter with the supporters behind his goal can also be great fun, although things do tend to get a bit heated at times!  

On the day, however the Canaries were too good for them, despite what I thought was a concentrated effort by the visitors to try and bully Town out of their usual playing style. They were a real physical challenge for Caernarfon but, not for the first time this season, the players refused to be give an inch and got their just rewards.

Holyhead seemed content to sit back in their own half and wait to counter-attack in search of finding a goal which I think is slightly negative but they’re good at playing this way so who can blame them?

Jay Gibbs was excellent against Holyhead.

Still friends.

Iwan made four changes to his starting line-up and whilst one returnee, Darren Thomas, was named the supporters man of the match, it was Nathan Craig who got the vote from me. With Chris Williams having returned to action in the left-back berth, Nathan was given a more advanced role on the left side, and his deliveries from that position, were excellent. The fact that he provided assists for both goals on Saturday speaks for itself and I would agree with Iwan’s post-match assertion that, technically, he's the best player in the league'. Nathan is enjoying another impressive season for the team and, in addition to his numerous assist during the campaign he’s also chipped in with nine league goals! A special mention to  Jay Gibbs too, who played as well  as I've seen him this season against his former club. 

Talking of the manager, he was on the end of some banter from the chairman before the match and was even reminded by Arfon that he still has Lee Dixon’s phone number just in case things start going wrong on the pitch! Thankfully, they were still on speaking terms even after this threat, as seen in the photo above!  

Ready to play in his skins.

Although the rain kept clear on Saturday, it was still bitterly cold at the Oval and everyone, apart from Kevin Roberts, felt it. Town’s bone-crunching midfielder, however, is made of sterner stuff than all of us mere mortals, and was ready to play in his boxer shorts until the manager sent him back to the changing rooms to put his kit on! Kevin wisely took his advice but I’ve been told he wasn’t too  happy about it…. 

I saw Grahame Austin after the match and he told me that he’d struggled to get back to his position for the restart after scoring his goal which, to be honest, had been apparent to everyone in the ground. To be fair to the captain however, he had also been bear hugged by Superfan John Watkins during the celebrations and this would have taken the breath out of anyone, so he’s excused this time around! 

Grahame Austin celebrates his goal against Holyhead.

A two hour drive awaits us on Saturday as the team travels to Rhayader and, whilst not looking forward to the journey, I can’t wait to see the team in action again. I’ve only been to their Weirglodd Ground once before, being the final match of last season, and I thought it had a certain charm. I  don’t think I’m wrong in saying that the stands have seen better days, but it’s a nice setting and everyone was very welcoming, apart from one or two spectators who Grahame Austin had to put in their place during the match!

We won that match 2-0 and I’m sure we’d all settle for the same result this time around.

Come on the Town!   

          

     

Breesey, Paps and Kielty!

I signed off the last blog with a quote from Rocky Balboa: “It ain’t about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.  That’s how winning is done….”

I used it because the Canaries had just suffered a disappointing home defeat to Guilsfield and Sylvester Stallone’s words seemed apt, given that it’s all about bouncing back from adversity and moving forward. I was pleased to read a Tweet from Town manager Iwan Williams soon afterwards stating that ‘Moving forward is what we’ll keep on doing’.

I’m pleased to say that, in the two matches since that reverse against Danny Barton’s side, the Cofis have done just that, as they bounced back with excellent victories over Porthmadog and Buckley Town. 

The visit of Porthmadog to the Oval on January 30^th was always going to prove a tough challenge for Caernarfon. Craig Papyrnik is doing a good job at the Traeth and some will think they were unlucky to lose to against us earlier in the season. The match had been played in near torrential rain which had made it difficult for the sides to play much football and, although Caernarfon had enjoyed more goalscoring opportunities than their hosts on the night, Port had felt aggrieved when a last gasp ‘equaliser’ by Cai Jones had been ruled offside by the referee.

Anyway, the encounter at the Oval two weeks ago was an absolute thriller and, for me anyway, perfectly summed up the term ‘local derby’. Both sides were fully committed, both with their football and their tackles and, with an impressive five hundred and sixty seven spectators having walked through the turnstiles, there was great atmosphere at the ground. 

I should point out that the crowd at the Oval was the biggest of the weekend in the Welsh Pyramid System and the photo included here (left) shows a scene not often seen in the top tier: spectators queuing to get into the ground! I hope the FAW takes note of such things because it's a sure indication that, given the opportunity of seeing attractive matches, people will turn up in numbers.  

Darren scoring the opener against Porthmadog.

Caernarfon were very much in the ascendency in the first half and really should have been three or four goals up at the break but a combination of the visiting keeper and the woodwork meant that a lone goal by Darren Thomas was all they had to show for all their creativity. I was well placed for a photograph of the netfinder but, not for the first time, I had the wrong setting on, and so the shot  I took did not come out quite as I expected. It may not have been good enough for the club's facebook page but at least I can show it here. 

The second period was very different as Port enjoyed parity in possession and  played with more urgency and purpose going forward. Having said this, the Cofis still created the more clear cut opportunities to score and it came as a relief when Kevin Roberts added a second goal, heading in from close range. Unfortunately, I missed the goal with my camera because any kind  of header from Kev ‘Bach’ is a real collector’s item, never mind a net finder! Incidentally, the cross from Rob Jones for the goal was sublime, which is not such a rare occurrence! 

"Back it in the box, Rob, and I'll get my head to it!"

Port managed to halve the deficit when Julian Williams struck a rocket into the top of Pritchard’s net and, despite one or two near misses, and a few missed opportunities of our own, we held on to the three points. I read the match report on Port’s website and thought it was excellent. I know how hard it is to write a report, especially after a defeat, and it can sometimes be easy to blame the referee, the pitch and everyone except the team, but the writer, Geraint Williams, is fair in his analysis, although I would not agree with him that the visitors had controlled the second half territorially.

It’s easy to criticise other clubs for being parochial and, from time to time I have mentioned one or two instances that have disappointed me ie Guilsfield’s 'Three Wise Men', but it’s also just as easy to commend someone for being a good sport and a decent person. Porthmadog manager Craig Papyrnik is one of these people and I have to say he impressed me after the match when he shook hands with Nathan Craig and I and wished us the best of luck in the title run-in. He didn’t have to do that and I can think of many who wouldn’t, so it was a good way to end the afternoon. I’ve noticed his team have now lost their last three matches and I hope they can soon turn around their form. They’ve certainly got a better chance now that Jamie McDaid has joined them.

Last week’s League Cup tie with Holywell was called off due to a waterlogged pitch and, although we had tried to re-arrange the match for last Wednesday, other parties were not happy with the proposal, so we’ll have to wait until 9^th March to play the Wellmen. It will be interesting to see how they shape up now following the departure of Steve Lewis. Talking of ‘The Beast’, he scored a hat-trick for Bangor recently and his third goal was a scorcher, lobbing the keeper from thirty five yards. The general consensus has been that it was a wonderful finish from Steve but one well-known Caernarfon Town supporter who was at the ground and saw the goal from a few feet away, is having none of it, and insists it was a fluke and that the Beast only attempted the finish because he was too tired to run for goal! I’m not going to say who the Cofi supporter is, and I think it’s best to leave things like that….

On the day we were defeating Porthmadog, Buckley Town were doing us a favour by drawing with  one of our main title challengers, Cefn Druids. Buckley are a good side so it wasn’t such a surprise that they’d shared the spoils with Druids but it was certainly very welcome news for everyone of a Caernarfon persuasion as it meant we were two points ahead at the top of the league, although Druids have a match in hand.

As it turned out, the Claymen were to be our next opponents and again I believed it was going to be a tough match. I feared another cancellation was on the cards when Buckley posted on their website during the week that their pitch was waterlogged and therefore the fixture was in doubt.

Thankfully, this did not prove to be the case and, despite the heavy pitch, Caernarfon turned in a very impressive performance to win by a comfortable 5-0 margin.

Patrick Kielty or Ben Jones?

Talk before the match had been of the supposed number of players Buckley had unavailable for selection, although I think it’s always best to take such things with a pinch of salt. Having said this, I did start to wonder that things were so bad that Tom Taylor had been forced to call up Patrick Kielty to play in goal for them! I have been assured that it their regular stopper Ben Jones (photo) between the sticks and not the Irish comedian and tv presenter, although I’m still to be convinced! Whilst not really worrying too much about the hosts’ line-up, I had certainly not expected to see Nathan Craig, Jay Gibbs, Darren Thomas, Toby Jones and Joe Williams all named on the bench for the Cofis!

Into the starting eleven came Chris Williams, Kevin Roberts, Kev Lloyd and Zyaac Edwards and I’ll be honest and say it looked a very brave selection from the manager. Not due to the talent and capabilities of those he picked but because so many of his regular starters would be sitting it out together. I should also add that another regular starter in the side, Rob Jones, was unavailable through suspension and so the team had a very different look about it to the usual line-up.

Jamie Breese celebrates the opening goal at Buckley.

The players proved Iwan’s selection was on the money and were good value for the thumping victory. Jamie Breese was named man of the match and rightly so, topping off another hard-working display with a well-taken hat-trick. Incredibly, Jamie had failed to score in the last five matches and had been looking frustrated at this in recent weeks but he was back to his goalscoring best on Saturday and, as a bonus, the goals have put him top of the league’s scoring charts. Having 'Breesey' back amongst the goals is a great sign and, if he can continue for the remainder of the season, and I have no doubt he will, we’ll have a great chance of achieving our goals.

It’s not often that supporters can relax much whilst watching their side, but the second half on Saturday was one of those rare occasions, and I even spotted Kevin Lloyd smiling at an offside decision (left)! 

Special mention should go to Chris Williams on his return to the side after a five month absence due to injury and Zyaac Edwards (left), who was very impressive on his debut. I have been slighty worried that the loss of Ellis Healing could had a big impact on the squad but, having seen Zyaac in action on Saturday, I think he’ll be another fine addition and should be a like for like replacement for Ellis. He has great ball control and looks a quality player who will perfectly fit Iwan’s system. Incidentally, if Airbus can afford to loan us Zyaac, and Ellis before him, then they must be a very special side with an incredible amount of quality!

Four points ahead and eleven matches to go....

It was a great day all round on Saturday because Caernarfon chairman Arfon Jones offered me a lift to and from the match and, as always, we had been joined by the Chairman of Vice, who regaled us with stories, both humorous and obscene, of his days on the beat. Added to this was that Arfon switched on the car seat heaters on the way home, and this helped thaw me after my stint as an ice statue during the match. It really was that cold! And, just to cap off a fine day, news got through to us that Cefn Druids had been held to a 1-1 draw by Holywell, which meant that we increased our lead at the top of the Cymru Alliance League to four points.

I know, we have another eleven league matches to go and anything can happen. There are so many good teams in the league that there are no easy matches but every other team in the Cymru Alliance would swap place with us now.

Six years after going within a few days of folding, the team has a chance of getting back to the top tier. There’s sure to be lots of twists and turns to go before the final whistle of the final match of the season, but we can dream, can’t we?

Rocky Balboa and Three Wise Men.

It’s never an easy task to be overly positive following a disappointing defeat and after Saturday’s reverse it would be easy to park this latest blog until the team has had a victory. Hopefully this will come on Saturday when we face Porthmadog, although it’s certainly not going to be the easiest of tasks.

However, it can be no worse than having to write the match report last Saturday evening, where I did my best to sound more positive than I felt, whilst also trying to give Guilsfield as much credit as I could muster. As the club’s press officer I have to be as fair as possible but you and I know that this is virtually impossible because I’m a supporter first and foremost. Anyway, having managed to put the report together I thought I might as well have a go in writing this blog and at the very least get the Guilsfield defeat dealt with and out of the way, blog-wise at least. So, here goes….

Firstly, it doesn’t need a brains trust to say that the team was not at its best against the Guils and Danny Barton’s side took full advantage to take the points. I was at the match when we beat them 4-0 on their own ground in October and such was Caernarfon’s dominance that day that the scoreline could have been much wider. I have seen Guilsfield many times over the past three seasons and they had always impressed me, so it was surprise that we had won so comfortably three months ago. However, they’ve been on a decent run lately and I thought they were back to their normal selves at the Oval last week. They are very much a team that play in the opponents faces and in fact mirror their managers own playing style, combative and lethal in front of goal. They were excellent on Saturday and deserved the points.  

Dave Littleford tips a Nathan Craig free-kick over the bar.

Having said this it’s also fair to say that the Canaries created a number of goalscoring opportunities  and, on most other Saturdays, I’m sure they would have got at least a point. It was an odd match because, despite going a goal ahead through a well-worked Danny Brookwell goal, Caernarfon just seemed to lack the usual spark, although one thing the players are never short of is effort, which they certainly provided enough of. When the visitors went ahead a minute into the second

So near yet so far as this Darren Thomas
effort finished inches wide. 

half I still felt we’d be able to turn things around but as the match entered its final quarter and the score remained unchanged it did seem it might just be one of those days when a team can’t quite hit its stride. Certainly, I felt the writing was on the wall when our talisman Darren Thomas missed an opportunity that he would probably take ninety nine times out of a hundred, shooting inches wide from eight yards from goal.

Another odd occurrence on the day was that for once I was glad it was my turn to clean the dressing rooms! I admit it’s one of the least enjoyable parts of being on the club’s committee but needs must and we all take it in turns to do our bit on match days. You can imagine it’s not the best of jobs but  five years experience of doing it has taught me to give the players plenty of time to ‘gell’ up before  venturing in to clean the room!

I saw the players as they headed out and could see that each one of them was just as disappointed as the supporters at the result, and that’s a good sign. I’ve never seen any Town player in the last five years looking as if he didn’t care about a defeat and maybe this is why we’ve been so  successful in that time?

Gareth Edwards was voted the Canaries Club's
Player of the year for 2015.

Those who know or who have spoken to our centre half Gareth Edwards will be aware that he’s a really nice guy and the epitome of the term gentle giant. He always has a smile but couldn’t manage one when I saw him after the match, such was his disappointment. However, he made a great point by saying that nothing is ever won or lost in January and he should know, having captained Cefn Druids to the Cymru Alliance League title just two seasons ago.

Champion.

I was delighted to hear that the big man has recently been voted the Canaries Club’s Player of 2015. Judging from his twitter feed, the accolade meant a lot to Gareth and it was very well deserved. He has been an absolute rock in the Town defence since signing in the Summer of 2014 and is finally getting the plaudits he deserves. Watching the team warm-up on Saturday, it was interesting to see his training bib, which bore the word ‘Champion’. Very apt given the supporters’ verdict!

Three Wise Men.

And before moving on from Saturday’s match, I must mention an old acquaintance who travelled from Powys to support his team. In the blog where I covered Town’s victory over Guilsfield three months ago I mentioned a purple-faced gentleman of advancing years who obviously knew the game better than the officials and was unhappy with them to the point of shouting a stream of vitriol and obscenities for two or three minutes after a goal against his team. This carried on for the remainder of that match. And for the majority of Saturday’s match! Unfortunately, there were three wise men this time as he brought some friends along to the Oval so you can guess the rest….

One In, One Out.

Ellis Healing. Footballer. Dancer.

Following the recent departures of Jamie McDaid and James Bell we’ve had another player leaving the club in Ellis Healing, who has headed to a new life in Australia. The young striker has been excellent this season and his loan signing was a a canny move from Iwan. When I saw him during his debut against Prestatyn I thought he might be a bit light in stature for this league but I could not have been more wrong! His trickery and skill were eye catching during matches and he’s had a big influence on the way the team has played. Fitting perfectly into the manager’s preferred style of play, he’s been excellent and I’m gutted he’s left. Ellis even managed to fit in an appearance on prime-time national television when he appeared in ‘Take Me Out’ recently and whilst he certainly didn’t disappoint on the show, his dancing skills left a lot to be desired. Ellis will be playing for Armadale FC in Australia and is sure to be a big hit with them.     

Good Luck Toby!

Ellis’ exit saw Iwan bring Toby Jones back to the club and it will be interesting to see how things work out for him this time around. The striker was one of Iwan’s first signing last summer but, despite his best efforts he could not quite settle in the team and left for Conwy in October. Toby enjoys a big reputation in the Welsh pyramid system and has all the attributes to be a big player for Caernarfon in the run in. It was good to read his comments upon his return, and especially that he is determined to play a big part in the team’s push for promotion. I think he’s a great addition to the squad and a front four of Toby, Darren Thomas, James Breese and Danny Brookwell sounds good to me!

Garden Gnome Fleet Expands.

The interview with Iwan that I posted earlier this month has proved extremely popular and the feedback has been brilliant. I know that Iwan spent

Chris Williams.

a lot of time answering all the questions and I really think his honesty and enthusiasm shone through. He has already promised to do this again soon so hopefully we may get a second interview at the end of the season. Unfortunately, it seems that before then he will need to gather the players and discuss their choice in headgear, which is not the best! He made it clear in the interview that he was not impressed with some of the players’ woolly hats, likening them to a fleet of garden gnomes, but it seems that there are two recent additions to the fleet, as both Kevin Roberts and Chris Williams were both sporting dodgy hats last Saturday. I will look at future developments with interest!

Kevin Roberts. 

Bouncing Back.

And so we now look forward to the visit of Porthmadog to the Oval on Saturday and there’s every chance it’s going to be a real thriller. Some have said that Town’s victory at the Traeth earlier in the season was a tad fortunate but I think we deserved it, certainly if we go by the way of goalscoring opportunities created. The match was played in torrential rain throughout and the Cofis came from a goal behind at half time to win, thanks to a James Breese brace. Port are a good side and, having won their last two fixtures, they’re up to eighth in the league and will be full of confidence.

It goes without saying that Caernarfon will need to improve on last saturday's performance to get a positive result but I am confident that Iwan and the team will step up to the plate and give us a big performance. Every setback this season has seen a positive response from the team and I am sure this will be the case again this time.

I was watching the Rocky Balboa film this week and think this quote from the iconic character says it all:   

“It ain’t about how hard you can hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done….”

  

   

A Steep Learning Curve: Exclusive Interview with Iwan Williams.

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

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

How has your first few months in the job been?

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

"I had prepared for the hard work."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The referees……only joking!

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

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

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

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

Joe Williams and Rob Jones recovering after a training session.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rob Jones.

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

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

Danny Brookwell.

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

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

Darren Thomas has been "top-drawer".

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A special night at the Bangor University Stadium.

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

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

What has been the biggest disappointment thus far?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Iwan with Town's Head of Academy Haydn Jones. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Garden Gnomes?

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

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

Summer football, or are you a traditionalist?

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

Jamie Breese donning one of his snapbacks.

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

Which FAW course are you now on?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   

Prestatyn, Departures and Photos.

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

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

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

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

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

Nathan being congratulated by his team mates. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul.