With the season drawing to a close, many will be looking forward to a much needed summer break. There is however no respite for Chairman Jeff Thomas and his Executive who constantly have to consider ways of bringing in much needed revenue to sustain our progress both on and off the field. The summer period can be a worrying time with no regular income, for example gate money, to keep things ticking over. Thankfully, events such as the Summer Fete and the Sportsman’s Dinner, if successful, can do much to bolster funds. But you don’t have to be in our Chairman’s company for very long to realise one thing - a successful TOTE, which is a source of revenue throughout the year, can do wonders and be a real lifeline. Jeff has, without doubt, done most to put it on a firm footing. By now, the organisation of the TOTE is in the hands of local newsagent and keen Town supporter Mike Vickers. He was kind enough to answer a few questions for the Programme :

MV : Well, I became involved in February 1998 with a view to increasing sales and creating a greater awareness of the tote. I later drew up a marketing plan which was implemented last July, and I’m pleased to say that sales have increased by over 40% since last August. But much work is still needed as the TOTE should contribute 50% of the running costs and this must be aimed for. From September TOTE details will appear on our Website. The record-keeping and cash handling remains in the hands of Peter Davies.

MV : People will generally support a local organisation if asked, particularly if they know that virtually all winners live in the locality. Others need to be convinced that they have a better chance of winning the TOTE than the National Lottery. If individuals hear of relatives, friends or neighbours winning the prize they will themselves be eager to subscribe.

RAC : Explain the ‘Standing Order’ arrangements to us.

MV : Standing Order payments can be made monthly via bank accounts (Cost £4.33) per month or clients having newspapers delivered by Merrets or myself can subscribe by adding £1 per week to their newspaper bill. I hope to persuade other newsagents to participate in this scheme in the near future.

MV : I agree with manager Tomi Morgan that to become a top team in the LoW we need a squad of at least 18 players. An increase in personnel inevitably leads to increased running costs, the bulk of which should be met by an increase in TOTE sales and this is where the ordinary supporter can help. Firstly, I would ask any supporter who is not currently a member of the TOTE to join now at a cost of £1 per week - a small price to pay for a successful team. Secondly, there may be some supporters who would like to sell TOTE tickets in return for a generous commission. Thirdly, some supporters may be members of sporting or charitable organisations who, like ourselves, are dependent on fund-raising activities to operate. If so, perhaps they would be interested in our Tote Partnership Scheme whereby their organisations would receive 50% commission on all sales every week without outlay whatsoever. Interested parties should contact me at the clubhouse or by telephoning ( 01267 231060.

RAC :What about the prizes? Will they increase, do you think?

MV : Over the last six months the minimum prize has been increased to £200 with the maximum prize rising to £500. No further increases can be considered at present unless there is a substantial increase in sales.

MV : The draw takes place every Monday night at the clubhouse (and Tuesday evenings on Bank Holidays). Winners are normally informed by the club representative who sold the winning ticket or by telephone.

‘RESULTS DON’T MEAN A THING’ is a phrase Dave Rayson and I use regularly through our dealings with young players but that advice should be tempered by the statement that what we are referring to are match results not the end product of youth development policies.

Our results have to be assessed in the production of the young players who, we trust, will take CarmarthenTown forward as the premier club in the LoW and again this season we are reasonably satisfied with our progress. We have stated before that our target is to create as many young players of LoW standard as we can but that it is likely that that production will be limited to perhaps one or two pre season since the standard of the League is continually improving. However, this season both Gethin Jones and Gafin Griffiths have shown the potential to be young players who can compete for a place in the side in the very near future.

In terms of the MacWhirter National Youth League we have had a difficult season for several reasons. First of all we ‘lost’ our very promising midfield player, Grant James from Kilgetty, to Swansea City. John Hollins watched Grant in our match at The Morfa Stadium in September and immediately after the match he offered him a two year contract at The Vetch Field. Mr Hollins obviously can spot a player because since September Grant has played several reserve matches for the Swans and last week he was put on ‘stand by’ for the Welsh Under 18s squad for a tournament in Italy. He has made a tremendous impression at The Vetch but the loss to our midfield was crucial.

Secondly, and again out of our control, has been our fixture list - of 18 matches played this season 14 have been away and without a doubt the effect on our young players has been considerable. Finally the demands we make on young players to take part in various activities, especially the more able players, can have a devastating effect on their bodies especially at a time in their physical development where rest is vitally important, and as a consequence, we have experienced problems with injuries, etc. ‘Burn out’ is definitely a problem with young players and we all have to be aware of the need for rest and careful development.

In summary, our match results have been disappointing but important and significant progress has been made in the development of players and Dave and I trust that supporters will be able to judge that progress in our next few home games before the end of the season.

Return to Match Day Programme

RE : Well, I first became involved about 13 year ago, with the U-12s. Previous to that I’d been with Llangynnwr Youth in the Towy Valley League for five years. We won the League four times out of five. Dai Hannington used to give me a helping hand.

RE : Yes, indeed. Some names come readily to mind. There’s Rhodri Thomas (a First Team member now on an extended foreign tour), Gareth James (a student at Cardiff University) and Stephen Jones (who plays rugby for Llanelli). Other names are Mark Jones (who recently joined the Police Force), Rhys James (working on the ski slopes in Switzerland) who have made first team appearances, and Robbie Evans ( a former member of the first team squad). In 1988 we took the U-12s to Scotland to play some friendlies and took part in a tournament, coming runners-up in the final and Rhodri Thomas picked as Man of the Match. In later years, we toured Spain, Tennerife and Italy. The boys who travelled with Mel Sandell and myself and the many parents were always a credit to the club.

RE : For a period, I was in charge of the U-12s, U-14s and the Third Team at the same time. Peter Turner gave me much help with the U-14s. During my time, the U-12s reached two Cup finals in the Carmarthenshire League, the U-14s won the ‘Double’, i.e. League and Cup in the Carmarthenshire League in 1990-91and the Thirds gained promotion from the Third to the Second Division of the Cardiganshire League, won the Cardiganshire League Cup and also became Champions of the Carmarthenshire League. I was with the Thirds for four years. They were a great bunch of lads and included Malcolm Williams (Operations Manager), Peris Rice (Ladies Team Coach) and Richard Gealy (Manager of Newcastle Emlyn). The comradeship was terrific and we had plenty of fun without being too serious!!

RE : Well, I work part-time behind the bar and do a lot of the maintenance work. Every week I clean the beer lines. I like to think we serve a ‘good pint’. Carling Black Label is the top seller at the moment!

RE : One of the cabins is a Hospitality Suite where I did a lot of the carpentry work and painting and my good friend, Colin Payne, laid the carpet. It’s been a tremendous success. It’s nice to see it full on match days. The second cabin has recently opened as a Club Shop and Offices.

RE :She’s a member of the Ladies Committee and, in fact, a past chairperson. She’s a ‘regular’ in the ‘Hatch’ on match days. Our son, Graeme, also played for the Town’s Youth and Third Teams and turns out now for Johnstown.

RAC : I think it was our Chairman, Jeff Thomas, who said in our annual dinner how pleased he was that one of the ‘backroom boys’ was elected ‘Clubman of the Year’ for 1997-98. It must have been a proud moment Roger.

RE : A very proud moment. The trophy now has pride of place in the Glass Cabinet at our home. It means a lot to me.

RE : I wish the Town well. I look forward to seeing them finishing in the top eight in the League of Wales and eventually playing in Europe.

The sacking of Glen Hoddle as the manager of the England Football team for comments he made about disabled people was welcomed by many, including the Prime Minister and the Minister for Sport. But what was Hoddle trying to say in his off the cuff comments to the Times reporter? Was he trying to explain his ideas about God and why some people are disabled?

For many years now Glen Hoddle has been portrayed by the media as a ‘born again Christian’ with deeply held views about God and his power to affect people’s lives. It is true to say that on many occasions the media have ridiculed Hoddle because of his beliefs, which is unfortunate and unfair. What Hoddle was trying to explain was his belief in what is called the doctrine of reincarnation, or a version of it, which is the doctrine of rebirth based on Karma. In simple language what this doctrine teaches is that how we behave in this life will have a bearing on what kind of life we have when we are reborn. Good behaviour leads automatically to rebirth in happiness, but bad behaviour to rebirth in misery. Hoddle would maintain that disabled people must have behaved badly in a previous life for them to suffer their present condition. This kind of teaching of course does not have any basis in Christianity at all, but is derived from Hinduism and Buddhism. There lies the problem within modern society, when people have a ‘pick and mix’ approach to religion, without truly understanding what the teachings of the different religions are.

Space does not allow the opportunity to expand and explain the theological weaknesses in Hoddle’s beliefs, but suffice to say that what he believes is not in line with traditional Christian teaching. The Christian Gospel talks of a God of Mercy and Forgiveness who closely identifies himself with those who suffer, therefore disability is not a punishment from God. The Christian does not believe in reincarnation but resurrection, therefore after death there is only Eternal life.

Glen Hoddle was a brilliant footballer, a little bit lazy maybe, and a very good manager. The sad thing is that he has been a little bit lazy in his theological thinking, in that he has taken a ‘pick and mix’ approach to his faith (and some would say also to some of his selections in regard to the England team). He has paid a heavy price for what he believes, but not as heavy as those who carry on their lives under difficult circumstances, with such courage and determination and who are such an example and inspiration to us all - the disabled, who are innocent victims loved and precious to God.

SIOMEDIG yw’r ymdriniaeth o’r gêm bêl-droed ar y cyfryngau Cymraeg ac eithrio’r rhaglen radio Chwaraeon ar brynhawn Sadwrn. Heb os, mae Chwaraeon yn rhaglen fyw ardderchog rhwng 2 o’r gloch a 6 o’r gloch bob Sadwrn, gyda John Ifans yn gyflwynydd penigamp. Yn naturiol, mae pêl-droed yn gorfod rhannu amser gyda’r gêmau eraill, ond mae’r adroddiadau a ddaw o bob rhan o Gymru’n gyffrous iawn. Yn anffodus, nid oes yr un rhaglen arall yn ymdrin â phêl-droed o ddifrif yn y Gymraeg.

Mor wahanol yw’r rhaglenni Saesneg. Mae edrych neu wrando ar y rheiny yn eich argyhoeddi ar unwaith sut mae pwyso a mesur llwyddiant timau, medrau a sgiliau chwaraewyr, a chyflwyno barn gytbwys ddeallus. Ar Match of the Day ac ar Soccer Sunday a hefyd ar wasanaeth gwych Teledu Sky fe welwch chi ddarlledwyr aeddfed eu sylwadau a thrwsiadus eu gwisg. Mae eu cyfraniadau’n rhai swmpus a diddorol, ac mae sylwedd i’w trafod a’u dadansoddi.

Beth gawn ni ar y cyfryngau Cymraeg felly? Dyna ichi’r brif raglen ddeugain munud Gôl bob dydd Sul. Mae’r adroddiadau o’r gêmau dydd Sadwrn yn dda a’r pytiau eraill o ffilm am hynt a helynt y gêm hwnt ac yma ar draws Cymru’n ddigon derbyniol yn aml. Ar y llaw arall, mae’r trafod a’r mân siarad yn y stiwdio’n fethiant llwyr. Ychydig iawn (os o gwbl) sydd o drafod pêl-droed o ddifrif. Mae’r gwrandawyr yn cael yr argraff mai jôc yw popeth. Ni lwyddwyd hyd yn hyn i drafod Cymdeithas Pêl-Droed Cymru o ddifrif, ond yn hytrach ei gwawdio hi a’r rheolwr Bobby Gould yn wythnosol bron. Mae llawer iawn gormod o lenwi amser di-bwrpas yn digwydd gyda’r holl jôcs tila yn fewnblyg iawn. Ni chaiff gðr profiadol fel Dai Davies gyfle i ymdrin â sefyllfa pêl-droed o ddifrif, ac mae’n bwysicach nodi fod Ian Gwyn Hughes yn ddeugain oed nag i drafod timau Cynghrair Cymru. Pam na chawn ni ar ein hunig raglen deledu set deidi gyda phawb yn gwisgo’n deidi i ymdrin â phêl-droed o ddifrif?

Mae pwrpas i Ar y Marc ar fore Sadwrn ar y radio gan mai rhaglen ddifyr ysgafn yw hi i fod. popeth yn iawn. Felly hefyd Dylan Llewellyn ar nos Wener. Eto, popeth yn iawn. Ond, ble ryn ni’n ymdrin â phêl-droed o ddifrif yn Gymraeg? Does yr un rhaglen yn ymdrin â rygbi mewn ysgafnder ac yn gwneud jôcs ar ben Undeb Rygbi Cymru - er bod llawer mwy o bosibilrwydd comedi a ffars fan honno!!

Mae gwir angen rhaglenni da ar y ddau gyfrwng i ymdrin â phêl-droed. Cael paneli i drafod ein tîm cenedlaethol a’n chwaraewyr rhyngwladol a’r timau mae nhw’n chwarae drostynt ar draws y byd. Dilyn hynt a helynt ein Cynghrair Genedlaethol gan dreulio amser bob wythnos yn dangos y timau ac yn trafod eu cynnydd neu eu problemau. Mae gan ganlynwyr pêl-droed wir ddiddordeb yn y pethau hyn.

Mae angen chwyldro ym myd darlledu pêl-droed yn y Gymraeg yng Nghymru!

Ar ôl gêm roedd Caerdydd wedi’i cholli gartref yn erbyn Leyton Orient ym 1996 y cwrddais â Marc am y tro cyntaf a gofynnodd i mi a fyddwn yn barod i fod yn diwtor personol iddo gan ei fod yn bwriadu ymddeol fel chwaraewr proffesiynol yn fuan ac yr hoffai weithio ar y cyfryngau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. ‘O, wel’, meddwn i, ‘mae’n amlwg yn barod i weithio.’ Ond yng nghefn fy meddwl meddyliais am ei gefndir. Doedd e erioed wedi cael gair o Gymraeg yn yr ysgol yng Nghasnewydd ac roedd wedi gadael yr ysgol yn 15 oed i fynd i chwarae i Newport County. Fel y cyfaddefodd wrthyf lawer gwaith, roedd cwricwlwm academaidd bron yn hollol amherthnasol iddo a phêl-droed oedd yr unig atyniad! Fodd bynnag, dros gyfnod o ddwy flynedd a hanner fe fues yn rhoi gwersi wythnosol iddo a phob un wers wedi’i saernïo’n arbennig i’w brif ddiddordeb, sef pêl-droed. Weithiau, byddwn yn rhoi gwers iddo ym Mharc Ninian yn syth ar ôl gorffen sesiwn ymarfer. ‘Mae dysgu Cymraeg yn waith llawer mwy caled na chwarae pêl-droed’, meddai wrthyf rhyw dro - ‘athro caled’, meddai!

Dw i ddim wedi cael cymaint o hwyl wrth ddysgu neb â dysgu Marc. Roedd yn ddisgybl ardderchog, er y byddai’n troi i fyny’n hwyr i wers weithiau ac yn anghofio gwneud ei waith cartref nawr ac yn y man. Yn y dosbarth, byddem yn trafod a dadansoddi perfformiadau erchyll Caerdydd ar y pryd. Byddai’n dweud ei farn heb flewyn ar ei dafod am bobl fel Nick Wright a Chlwb Caerdydd yn gyffredinol.

Mae gan Marc gof aruthrol. Doedd dysgu geirfa yn fawr o broblem iddo a buan iawn y dysgodd strwythurau’r iaith. Pan fyddai’n anghofio ambell i air weithiau byddai’n mynd yn grac ag ef ei hun! Byddwn yn dweud wrtho am beidio â phoeni. ‘O na’, meddai. ‘ mae anghofio gair yn debyg i sgorio ‘own-goal’! Ie, roedd yr elfen gystadleuol - rhaid ennill - yn help mawr i Marc. Doedd dim ofn arno i wneud camgymeriadau wrth siarad. Yn wir, un tro fe gafodd un gogleddwr pur enwog yn y byd chwaraeon flas ei dafod pan geisiodd e gywiro ei Gymraeg!

Cefais wahoddiad gan Marc pan oedd yn chwarae i Gymru i fynd i’w gwesty ar nos Sul cyn y gêm ryngwladol i ddysgu’r anthem genedlaethol i dîm Cymru. Yn y garfan am y tro cyntaf oedd gðr bonheddig o’r enw Vinnie Jones a wnaeth ymdrech mor glodwiw i ddysgu Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. Ar ôl i mi eu gadael, cafodd Marc druan y gwaith o helpu’r hen Vinnie trwy’r nos a’r gwesty’n atsain am dri o’r gloch y bore i ‘Gwlad, gwlad...’!

Anghofiaf i byth mo Marc noson rownd derfynol Dysgwr y Flwyddyn yn ailadrodd yr hanes digrif hwn. Yn naturiol iawn ei ffordd, heb nodyn ar bapur, llwyddodd i ddiddanu’r gynulleidfa ac, wrth gwrs, roeddwn i mor falch ei fod wedi ennill y tlws o’r diwedd.

Marc - y pêl-droediwr proffesiynol cyntaf erioed i ddysgu Cymraeg a, mwy na hynny, i ddefnyddio’r iaith. Faint o dîm Caerfyrddin sy’n siarad Cymraeg? Does dim problem gyda Chwmbrân, gyda Marc yno i’w dysgu’n gyson!