OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS Premier Officials have come under severe pressure - in my opinion unwarranted. Officials in charge have split seconds to make a decision, without the benefit of three or four different angles of play as on TV. Similarly, League of Wales officials are under some pressure, even without the enlightenment of TV. Managers and coaches put great pressure on officials, some more than others. Soccer has always been a fast and open game and mistakes will happen. We are in an age where winning is everything. Whoever loses, someone must take the blame, usually the officials!

In the last few seasons, the standard of football has got better, very much better. I will also go further and say that the standards of refereeing have improved very much, and that is down to the hard work Keith Cooper, the Referees’ Officer for Wales, does. After 26 years as a top flight referee, including a long spell in the Premiership, and five years as a FIFA referee, there is no better man to lead the present team of officials. Of the 21 LoW officials, three are FIFA referees - Keri Richards, Brian Lawlor, and Kevin Parry - and another eight are on the Referees’ Assistants List. This is not a bad percentage at top level.

As assessors, we not only assess the officials but also the club, the standard of dressing rooms, ground organisation, security of referees and their assistants and crowd security, as well as pitches (and I must say that Town’s pitch is very much improved) , subs numbers and provision of stretcher.

Then we get on with the game and the referee’s role in it. We decide the degree of difficulty, then the justification, his personality and perception of the game. We also consider his disciplinary control, his tactical attitude, his physical condition and last but not least his interpretation of the laws of the game. The two assistant referees are also assessed on their performance. Being assessed by the likes of John Gow and Roger Gifford, ex League Officials, and joined this year by Keith Burge, has got to improve the standard.

I personally hope that the new millennium will give me the opportunity to assess FAW Premier Cup games at Richmond Park like the one I had the privilege of being involved in recently - Aberystwyth v Wrexham. Then on to Europe!

Can I end by wishing all at the Club a prosperous New Year - knowing Tomi, it will not be for his lack of trying that I do not achieve my stated ambitions!

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CARMARTHEN TOWN LADIES have now completed the first part of their season in the Texaco Pembrokeshire League. With new players settling quickly, the Ladies got off to a mixed start. The first game saw us travelling to Goodwick who have a strong team and are hot tips to win the League this year along with Haverfordwest. Town’s spirit was not dampened by a 6-0 defeat. The game brought about league debuts for Hanna Dingley, Clarice Rice and Catrin Jones. In the next game, the Ladies came up against another strong team, Tenby, a number of whom are part of the Pembrokeshire Excellence Centre, one of three in Wales. In a very tough game, kindly sponsored by Club Chairman Jeff Thomas, Town deserved the 1-1 draw, Tracey Martin scoring.

The Ladies second away game of the season late September was against a very physical Camrose team. We won more convincingly than the 3-2 scoreline suggests, Sara Lewis and Tracey Martin (2) gaining the goals for us. There was a debut for Siân Bowen, who came on to replace Katherine Jones who has made an outstanding start to her second season. Wendy Thomas, last year’s Player of the Year, took up position in the centre of midfield.

During a break from the league programme Town played Neyland in the Preliminaries of the League Cup, but lost 3-2 on penalties. The team spirit showed through with nobody allowing themselves to get downhearted. Cup match sponsors were the Stag and Pheasant, Spilman Street.

We then returned to league action against table-topping undefeated Haverfordwest, loosing 4-0 in a very competitive match! Our thanks go to Queen’s, Queen Street, for their sponsorship. In th next two games the Ladies came up against Templeton and Lawrenny. Against Templeton we dominated but failed to capitalise on our chances. Once we did break through the final result was 5-0, with a hat trick by Sara Lewis and two strikes from Lisa Thomas. Lawrenny was much the same story, with neither team able to get hold of the ball, but Town finally broke through in the second half to win 2-0, thanks to Tracey Martin. At the end of November the Ladies came up against an on-form Pembroke team, and had to battle against the elements as well as the opposition. With four regulars missing,, the team showed the potential they have for the second half of the season. The 4-0 scoreline reflects the excellent performance of Wendy Thomas in the Carmarthen goal, keeping a blank scoresheet by pulling off saves which did not look possible.

The Ladies finish the first half of the season in seventh place in the League. They now take part in an indoor league for December and January. They would like to thank all sponsors. If anybody wishes to sponsor the Ladies for a match they can contact Jonathan Lewis ( 01267 221709. The team are always on the look out for new players. Everybody is made to feel welcome whether new to the game or experienced. Training takes place at the Carmarthen Leisure Centre (Astro turf) on Thursday evenings at 7.00pm. Do consider coming along!

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IT’S JUST OVER 12 MONTHS AGO that Keith Hayne’s book Come on Cymru was first published. The culmination of many months of hard work, the book, consisting of a selection of writings by fans of Welsh football at club and international level, proved a great commercial success and the level of sales made a follow on inevitable.
Come on Cymru 2000 builds on that success and is a far better book in many respects. Comprising all new material with the exception of what the author calls a couple of ‘highlights’ from the previous book, it includes chapters from supporters of our Nationwide teams, the national side, coverage of last season’s Welsh Cup final and a Welsh perspective on the 1998 World Cup finals in France.
In addition to work from the fans there is also a chance for those who make their living commenting on the game itself to give their views, with contributions from Radio Wales’s Steve James and the Evening Post’s Jonathan Wilsher amongst others. The latter gives a revealing account of the life of a sports reporter in recalling his coverage of Swansea’s play off defeat by Scunthorpe last season. There is also a chapter by Welsh Football Magazine’s Dave Collins in which he explains how an Englishman came to become so passionate about the game in Wales.

The word passion is a recurring theme throughout the book. You may not agree with all that is written, but there is no doubting that the contributors care deeply for the game in Wales. Indeed, there is much that you, as a supporter, will recognise and much to bring a smile to your face. The humour is balanced by more serious discussion, with the subject of racism in the game covered. Also of interest is a chapter on the growth of the use of the world wide web and football, with a detailed look at the unofficial internet sites of Wrexham, Cardiff and Swansea, though sadly no mention of Carmarthen’s site.

The book itself is forwarded by former Welsh International and current Llanelli manager Leighton James, who expresses his delight at introducing ‘this excellent review of Welsh soccer from the grass roots to the International scene’. He is not the only one in the book to question the lack of a major sponsor for the League of Wales.

Come on Cymru 2000 is available now in most bookshops. It is published by Sigma Leisure and can be ordered direct from then on ( 01625 531035. Priced at £6.95, I would definitely recommend it as the perfect stocking filler for any supporter of the beautiful game in Wales.

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THE EXTENT TO WHICH the League of Wales has established itself can be measured by the number of players who have progressed to the Premiership and Nationwide Leagues in the past few seasons. This, of course, is pretty obvious to Carmarthen Town fans who turn dewy eyed at the mere mention of Mark Delaney.

But what of the players who were around at the start of the League of Wales, in the days when pteradactyls, Abergavenny Thursdays and Llanidloes Town stalked the planet? How many of them, if they were ten years younger, wouldbe attracting the attention of professional teams?

Any list would be top-heavy with strikers. It is goalscorers not goalstoppers that traditionally attract attention - which makes Mark's progress even more noteworthy. Who knows where Dave Taylor could have ended up with his Golden Boot? The only League of Wales player ever to make sporting headlines throughout Europe has ended up as a tax collector rather than a tax exile.

And what about Kevin Morrison? The all-time top goalscorer in the League is just the sort of battler a team wants when the chips are down. But many of his most prolific years coincided with the time the League of Wales spent in the shadows, and a sojourn to the bright lights of Wolverhampton proved to
be an all-too-brief diversion. The recent departure of team-mate Andy Evans to Barnsley might have triggered off thoughts of "what might have been" in Kevin - and probably also the Aberystwyth Treasurer.

No list of strikers would be complete without mention of Tomi Morgan, of course. The 'King' of Carmarthen and Ceredigion has made his mark on the League of Wales as both player and manager since its early days. Who's to say that Tomi's talents could not have been translated to a higher stage?

Finally, the exception who proves the rule - Inter Cardiff goalkeeper Gary Wager. Gary has only graced the League for a season or so, but I'd put money on him keeping more than a few clean sheets in the Nationwide League even now. How nobody snapped him up in his Merthyr days remains a complete mystery and just goes to show that if you want to get on as a player, it's better to pop them in the net than pick them out of it.

The lost generation are hopefully the last generation to miss out on the big time. As the League of Wales progresses, let its ambitious players look to the likes of Mark Delaney rather than the Llanidloes no. 8. Whoever he was.

STATISTICS gathered by Soccerfile Wales show a distinct upward trend in attendance figures at LoW games in comparison with both the same matches last season and the end-of-season LoW average. Undoubtedly, attendances at Friday night matches have much to do with this upward trend.

The main reason for this is extremely obvious - Saturday matches suffer from too much competition. Saturday football is a popular participation sport in Wales and many potential League of Wales followers actually play football on Saturdays. Many others watch their local league team in action but would like to watch their nearest LoW club as well. A clash of interest.

In North Wales many hundreds of fans trek to watch Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton on Saturday afternoons, all of whom are potential LoW customers. Switching matches to Friday night is a proven winner and Sunday matches could also be a fruitful move were it not for TV competition. Clubs must look closely at these options and whilst travelling distances would restrict the choice of fixtures for a Friday evening, those that are possible should be switched even if for an experimental period only. Derby matches most certainly would benefit.Whilst the attendance figures have maintained an encouraging upward trend over the last seven years the level of increase is too low for complacency. Clubs must maintain their strenuous efforts to bring more people through the turnstiles.

The success of former LoW players in the Nationwide and Premier League has given the League much needed credibility. However, a big name sponsor would give the League an enhanced profile and is essential if the LoW is to continue to grow and attract increasing numbers of spectators. Mel Ap Ior SOCCERFILE WALES (Adapted)

Aberystwyth top the attendance table. Their foray into Europe and redevelopments at Park Avenue together with a team well positioned in the league has helped boost figures by an impressive 42%. Bangor's efforts to attract fans back to Farrar Road seems to be paying dividends. It remains to be seen, however, whether the trend continues given Bangor's lowly position in the table. In mid Wales Newtown & Caersws seem to be suffering falling gates despite mid-table respectability. Rhayader's position in the league is clearly reflected in declining gates. In North Wales Conwy shows a modest increase (4%) with Rhyl and TNS achieving an impressive 42% & 21% respectively, Rhyl's figures benefiting from 'local' clashes with Bangor and Cefn Druids. Whilst CQN have a 16% drop in gates Caernarfon appear to be in freefall with a massive 52% deficit in numbers. Much hard work will be required, on and off the field, to woo the fans back to the Oval.

In South Wales the general trend is falling gates. Inter Cardiff have the lowest average attendance figure in the League of 105 whilst Afan Lido and Barry record declining attendances of 11% despite being well placed. Cwmbran, however, have achieved a healthy increase of 35%, no doubt a reflection of their League position and new management.

Newcomers Cefn Druids and Llanelli have respectable figures. Druids have had consistent crowds whilst Llanelli's figure is somewhat buoyed with a 766 attendance for Aberystwyth's visit. Haverfordwest's average of 329 is clearly bolstered by the 979 attendance for the first game of the season against 'Town'.

'Town's' figures are encouraging. The success of the team and the acquisition of Richmond Park enabling major ground improvements to take place have boosted the club's high profile resulting in an 18% improvement and an average gate of over 400 per game. The success of last year's Cup run and the continued success of our Season Ticket and Vice President's schemes are clearly evident in the figures. With some very attractive local Derbies and big names to come 'Town' can look forward to building on an excellent start to the season.

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WE APPROACH the end of the millennium and like it or not we are living in an age where we have the world at our finger tips. The digital revolution in the world of television will mean that we will be able to watch ‘ the beautiful game’ every hour of every day. Football has become the ‘Opium of the People’ and Rupert Murdoch’s empire will ensure that our insatiable appetite for football will be catered for. The super clubs of England’s over hyped Premier League will grow richer and believe me it is only a matter of time before Manchester United become a more recognised brand than Coca-Cola.

Of course this increasingly extensive coverage of football should benefit the League of Wales and full marks to the BBC for the way the Welsh team’s games are covered and also for its coverage of the Premier Trophy. However, I must confess that I get a distinct case of paranoia whenever Carmarthen Town’s treatment by the media is discussed. For years we have heard the moans and groans of the Swansea Jacks harping on about the Cardiff media mafia conspiracy against them. As a parochial West Walian this never really bothered me but lately I have been left in no doubt that there are forces at work which are denying this wonderful club and its supporters the recognition it deserves.

Consider the following facts :-

It annoys me therefore that the BBC seem to have set up base camp at Aberystwyth’s Park Avenue ground and at the Cwmbran Athletic Stadium leaving me in no doubt that they would like the title won by one of these two clubs. I must admit that Aberystwyth played some excellent football against Wrexham recently. I also think that Mark Aizlewood is a perceptive analyst and an up and coming manager, but these factors alone do not justify the almost blanket coverage that these two clubs receive on ‘Gôl’ every week. Perhaps they think that our success is a flash in the pan and the style of football played is not attractive. I would respond by saying that this is an evolving team that can only get better and it would be beneficial to all parties concerned if the team’s progress was given greater coverage.

Carmarthen Town is not a flash in the pan club. Everybody involved here is striving to ensure that we are ready to face the new Millennium – it is time for the media to respond to these efforts!

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Caersws-born Philip Evans has lived in Bronwydd since 1985 but has followed the fortunes of Carmarthen Town only since their final season in the Welsh League in 1995-96.

Philip’s playing connection with Caersws FC goes back to 1996-97 when first representing the village club’s successful youth team, although many happy Saturdays were spent watching the entertainment served up by Caersws teams in the ten years prior to this.

Philip states : ‘The fact that I have not lived in Caersws since leaving university in Cardiff in 1975 has seen no diminishing of my interest in The Bluebirds’ results and progress even though I now live 80 miles away.’

Another person with Caersws connections is Philip Sargeant - currently a Midland Bank / HSBC Manager in Lampeter and living in Peniel, near Carmarthen. Phil is now a keen golfer but played for Caersws’ first team in half-a-dozen games about 12 seasons ago,. Phil also turned out for Pontardawe Athletic in the Abacus Welsh League, scoring on both his visits to Richmond Park. However, the highlight of playing for the Tawe Valley side was the visit of Wrexham to the Recreation Ground in the 1981-82 Welsh Cup which the Football League side shaded 5-1!

Both Philips met up for the first time three seasons ago when their sons Wynne Evans and Alex Sargeant were playing in Carmarthen Town’s Under-10 team. And here lies the real connection between Caersws and Carmarthen Town Football Clubs, because Alex represented Caersws Under- 9s team for a full season while only seven years of age! Alex is now progressing through the junior ranks at Carmarthen Town and last season was a key member of the Town’s Under-12 League side. He was in the Town team that represented Carmarthen in Brussels, Belgium, towards the end of the 1998-99 season.

Both Philips hope to be at today’s game to see their former team perform with the traditional attacking style that goes back to the 1950’s when Phil Woosnam (the inspiration for at least two generations of Caersws players and supporters) first displayed his talent at the Recreation Ground, Caersws and other Mid Wales grounds.

Y gwahaniaeth amlycaf i’w weld rhwng arddull Mark Hughes a Bobby Gould hyd yma yw’r ysbryd newydd sydd yn y garfan. Ym mhob un o’r clybiau y mae wedi chwarae iddyn nhw mae Hughes wedi bod yn enwog am ysbrydoli ei gyd-chwaraewyr - tacl galed neu gôl i godi tîm, a nawr mae’n ymddangos ei fod e’n cael yr un effaith fel rheolwr.

Roedd ‘na adeg o dan Bobby Gould pan y byddai ildio gôl wedi achosi panic llwyr, newid system a cholli patrwm - ond nid felly ddydd Sadwrn. Cadw’r patrwm, bod yn amyneddgar ac yn bwysicach fyth bod yn gwbl ddisgybledig - tasg anodd iawn pan fod Cymru’n cael cyn lleied o’r meddiant. Roedd perfformiad John Robinson yn adlewyrchu’r rhinweddau hyn i gyd. Er iddo fe gael ei wthio, ei lorio a’i gicio gan amddiffynwyr Belarws drwy’r prynhawn fe ddaliodd at ei dasg yn ddiflino am awr a hanner. Roedd ôl paratoi trylwyr ar y perfformiad. Pawb i’w gweld yn gyfforddus â’r system, pawb yn gwybod beth oedd eu cyfrifoldeb a phawb yn rhoi cant y cant. Fe gafwyd yr elfen o lwc sydd ei angen ar bob rheolwr pan gafodd Saunders ei gôl, ond ar sail perfformiad yr ail hanner roedd Cymru’n haeddu’r gôl ddaeth â’r tri phwynt.

Ond cyn inni feddwl bod dadeni fel yr un ar y maes rygbi rhyngwladol ar ddod - cwpwl o bwyntiau i gadw’n traed ar y ddaear. Tra bod Coleman a Melville wedi cael tipyn o ganmoliaeth ar ôl dydd Sadwrn, dim ond un blaenwr oedd gan Belarus yn eu llinell flaen. Roedd pump o’u tîm cyntaf allan trwy waharddiadau neu anafiadau a ‘dyw Belarws heb ennill gêm yn y rowndiau rhagbrofol hyd yn hyn. Ond efallai mai’r gofid pennaf oedd bod Cymru dro ar ôl tro wedi ildio’r meddiant yn rhy hawdd o lawer.

Ar yr ochr bositif mae Hartson a Savage i ddod fewn i’r garfan a’r gêm dyngedfennol yn erbyn y Swisdir yn cael ei chwarae yn y Cae Ras sydd wedi bod yn faes mwy lwcus i Gymru nag unrhywun o’r lleill. Byddai cyrraedd y gêmau ail gyfle’n sicrhau swydd barhaol i Hughes, ac hyd yn oed o fethu gwneud hynny byddau gorffen yn drydydd yn sicrhau grðp ychydig yn haws ar gyfer y rowndiau rhagbrofol y tro nesaf. Felly pwy a ðyr, Cymru’n erbyn Lloegr yn y gêmau ail chwarae? Ac i goroni’r cwbwl, pwy ond Mark Delaney i sgorio unig gôl y gêm!

RAC : Many congratulations, Wendy, on being selected as the Carmarthen Town Ladies’ Team ‘Player of the Year’ for 1998-99. First of all, tell us a little about yourself.

RAC : When did the interest in football start?

RAC : You play in goal. It must be tough going! Do you have many injuries, for example?

RAC : Tell us a little about the Ladies Team. In what league do you play? What is the standard like? Whose the manager?

RAC : Have you got a large squad? Is it difficult to attract new members?

RAC : How hard do you train?

WT :The team trains once a week - on a Tuesday night at 6.00 pm at the Leisure Centre. All individuals also do their own training elsewhere.

RAC : What is the team’s target for next season?

RAC : Have you any personal ambitions?

RAC : Ladies Football seems to be gaining in popularity. Do you see this trend continuing?

TOWN OFFICIALS Nigel Williams and Kevin Lewis, together with Supporter and Sponsor Richard Newman, embark on a Sponsored Cycle Tour of Wales next month to raise money for our Millennium Ground Development Appeal

Their journey starts from Carmarthen on Tuesday, 28 September 1999 and they will pass through Aberystwyth, Porthmadog, Caernarfon, Bala, Newtown and Rhayader before returning to Carmarthen on Saturday, 2 October 1999. This is a distance of approximately 350 miles!

The event is one of a number taking place this year to raise funds for the Town’s Millennium Appeal. This Appeal, of course, has been set up to raise funds towards the redevelopment of Richmond Park to enable us to meet the League of Wales’ new ground criteria and thereby retain our league status.

Every effort is being made to raise awareness of the event through media coverage and a leaflet drop in the Carmarthen area.

The lads are encouraged by the support and backing they are already receiving. They particularly would like to thank Denzil Evans Motors, Priory Street, for the loan of a support vehicle for the tour.

Nigel Williams said ‘We appeal to all supporters, members, sponsors and the sporting people of Carmarthen and surrounding area to help us by making a contribution to the event and at the same time helping to secure top class football in Carmarthen.’

The lads thoroughly deserve our support. For further information on advertising and sponsoring the event, please contact the Carmarthen Town Millennium Appeal, Cwm Tawel, Bronwydd, Carmarthen. Donations in the form of cheques should be made payable to the Carmarthen Town Millennium Appeal Ltd and forwarded to the same address. Sponsorship forms are available from the three cyclists.

Enjoy the trip, lads and many thanks for undertaking this venture for the future well-being of our Club!

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