A good afternoon to all our supporters and a welcome also to the officials and players of Rhyl FC who have made the long journey from the North Wales Coast today. Well, we managed to avoid any ‘banana skins’ at Chepstow in midweek as we, this time, overcame the challenge of the CC Sports Welsh League Club in our Welsh Cup Replay. Despite the comprehensive looking 5-2 scoreline in our favour, the match, believe it or not, was a more evenly contested affair than the first one last Saturday when we had dominated the first 70 minutes before letting the game slip away in the final 15 or 20 minutes. The difference last Wednesday was that we took our chances in a clinical fashion to score some splendid goals and it was great to see Gareth Phillips scoring for us in his penultimate game before returning to the Vetch Field after today’s game.

There have been one or two matters that have disappointed us recently. I know that the FAW and the LoW Board of Directors are anxious that the game is not brought into disrepute by controversial or offensive articles published in match day programmes but I was concerned at aspects in a certain press report in a North Wales newspaper aimed at the circumstances leading to our own Steve Wiliams being sent off recently. When Bangor City visited us a fortnight ago I must say that I found their officials to be extremely friendly, courteous, jovial and having a feel about our game of Association Football. I am not being patronising by expressing these sentiments and I was therefore taken aback by Bangor City’s outbursts in the NW press regarding the incident which led to the sending off. Such castigations could have an affect on disciplinary discussions and put pressure on the FA Authorities. Likewise I was disappointed to read an article by a well known LoW manager again expressing some outspoken views regarding that incident. Such prognostications can be tainted with a little hypocrisy, for example in our match against Bangor just moments before the dismissal of Steve one of our players was subjected to a tackle which could not be recommended to the faint hearted. And again, did any of you see BBC’s Match of the Day a fortnight ago involving two leading Premiership Clubs in England where another tackle caught the attention ( - only a yellow card!). The point I am making is that such wild tackles occur frequently which show the unacceptable face of Football but why single out one individual for special attention?

At our match last Saturday it was nice to see Ugo Vallario, Secretary of FOSCFA, accompanied by some other Swansea City supporters. Well on Sunday morning a few of us from within the Club went to the Vetch Field to see the Cardiff City game. I know that some of you here today who support the Swans would agree that Mark Delaney was a revelation. His display, especially in the first half, illustrated why he has already picked up some ‘Man of the Match’ awards at Ninian Park this season. Quite a few of you have expressed some surprise that we did not receive a fee for Mark. I can tell you that Mark was non-contracted at Carmarthen, this being his own choice, but after saying that I will tell you that during the time he was at Carmarthen he received a number of excellent offers from other LoW clubs but he was extremely loyal to Town and stayed with us. We wish him good luck in his Football League career and can I make a predication that he will be capped by Wales one day.

Finally, today’s programme includes articles by Gareth Hughes and Alun Charles, both now living in West Wales but with close ties with Rhyl. Particular thanks to Gareth, an avid Lilywhites follower, who gave us so much help to put our programme on a firm footing when we first entered the LoW. Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gareth!

Back to Secretary's Notes

A welcome to you all including our visitors from Monmouthshire on another Welsh Cup day. We are down to the last 32, so there’s everything to play for and no doubt that view is shared by our opponents today. Last Saturday saw us produce quite a good performance at Holywell and once again with a little rub of the green we could have returned with the three points instead of the one. Indeed, our Assistant Manager Ieuan John reports in this week’s programme that it’s always the odd goal that’s denying us the points time and time again. As I have said before, I think that the present side is the best side we have had since our admission to the LoW and once we start scoring these ‘odd goals’ instead of conceding them then confidence will start permeating within the side. It was a long journey to Holywell last Saturday and with our playing record so far not being as good as it should be, coupled with the TV broadcast of the Wales v Springboks, it was not surprising that just a few ‘die-hards’ accompanied the side to North Wales. Nonetheless, the welcome was convivial and the Holywell Secretary Cassie Hughes gets a mention in today’s programme. See our Programme Editor’s excellent article on the contribution to Association Football by the fairer sex.

I am sure that Chepstow took no longer than a mere 90 minutes to get here today, although had they not followed my advice and come off the dual carriageway into Carmarthen via the Nantycaws turning on the old road into Town, this time might have doubled! Some of our older supporters will no doubt recall when Chepstow were previously in the Welsh League in the 60’s. We used to start from Carmarthen at 8.00am and wend our way on the long journey to Monmouthshire via the regular picking up point at Morriston. There was no M4 in those days, of course, and if I recall the only luxury of a dual carriageway en route was a small section at Stormy Down. Thankfully, even though the great North-South divide remains, the East-West one has now disappeared!

As it is Welsh Cup day, with the subsequent winners or runners up qualifying for Europe, it may be pertinent to refer to UEFA’s initiative regarding the revamping of the European competitions mainly to counteract the threat of an Independent Company’s proposals to set up a European Super League outside the jurisdiction of UEFA. It seems the European Champions League will include more clubs than at present and with the LoW champions still being able to qualify (albeit via some preliminary rounds) this move will no doubt be welcomed. The proposed amalgamation of the Cup Winners and UEFA Cups could result in a problem for Wales. Whilst the LoW second placed team would gain entry there might not be a place for the Welsh Cup winners. There’s no doubt that it this comes about our beloved Welsh Cup with a rich history and tradition would be seriously devalued. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen!

And finally, our guest writer this week is Mel Sandell. I well remember Mel joining the Club in the early 80’s and winning a place in our Welsh League side after just two games in the reserve team. Mel had previously played for Fairford Town in the Hellenic League before moving to Carmarthen with his work as an Antique Furniture Restorer. Mel played with great distinction for Town for some ten years. I recall with some emotion Mel’s last game as Player/Manager at Skewen. As the teams came on the field the players formed a guard of honour and clapped him on to the pitch. I don’t think that Carol his wife missed a match whilst Mel played in Town’s Colours.

As usual, I will commence my notes by extending a warm welcome to our visitors - the players, officials and followers from the city of Bangor... Well, the last few weeks in footballing terms were good for us as we progressed in the Welsh Cup and gained an excellent draw in the League at Newtown. Also, our National side is on a high following two victories in the European Championships in the space of just five days. But that was where the rejoicing abruptly ended. For we have learnt from our Chairman that our quest to bring our ground up to the standards required by the LoW was not proceeding as smoothly as had been planned.