Nodiadau Medi / September Notes
Aberystwyth Town 9/9/98 Connah's Quay Nomads 19/9/98 Haverfordwest 23/9/98
Haverfordwest County 23/9/98
Whilst bidding you all a warm welcome to tonight's match, I would like to reflect on last Saturday's display against Connah's Quay Nomads which, in my humble view, was just about the best display I have seen from a Town team since we joined the LoW. I don't think we should get carried away, but the way the side created their goals was a joy to behold with fine individual skills and precise passing contributing to a fine build up to these scores. Our manager, however, is a wily old warrior, having seen it all before, and has his feet firmly on the ground, for John forcefully maintains he's still working on achieving a right balance in the side. Still, if we can keep banging in the goals we will be on the right track.
So it's 'Cup Tie time' again as we welcome our West Wales rivals to Richmond. There was a feeling of disappointment when the LoW fixtures appeared that our home match against the Bluebirds - one of our most eagerly awaited fixtures - would be played on the last Saturday of the season by which time the match could be rendered as purely academic. Thinking positively, however, let's hope that when the time comes the match will have some meaningful end product for the victor. But tonight we meet in the Gilbert Cup. Despite an excellent sponsorship deal with the James Gilbert Company I feel that the competition has not quite got off the ground with average attendances well below those of LoW matches. I recall Welsh Cup matches in the 50's in which participating Football League clubs such as Cardiff and Swansea fielded reserve teams, but in 1967 when the Welsh Cup winners took part in the European Cup Winners' Cup for the first time we had a different ball game with the Welsh Cup competition assuming a far higher profile. I am wondering whether an incentive could be attached to the Gilbert Cup to make it more meaningful. Perhaps the Council of the FAW could grant automatic entry for the Gilbert Cup Winners to the FAW Premier Cup? The chances are, of course, that the winners would finish in the top eight, guaranteeing entry anyway, but League placings could remain unresolved until the final weeks. This innovation would be a step in the right direction to increase interest in the competition to the benefit of the Sponsors who are providing a great service to the LoW.
Well, times are changing with more glamour being introduced to the game of association football. Yes, Ladies Football in Wales is developing at a rapid rate and Carmarthen Town are not slow in keeping up with this! We have absorbed into the Club a Ladies Team which previously played as an independent unit at the ground of the Police HQ. The team which competes in the Texaco Ladies Pembs League plays home matches at Bro Myrddin (across the road) on Sundays and are captained by Lisa Rice. The secretary is Denise Davies and prospective players are invited to contact her on ( 01267 222790. Amanda Bowen is treasurer. Peter Phillips and Richard Jupp are joint coaches, Malcolm Williams is team co-ordinator and Peris Rice lends a hand! The concept of a Ladies Team within the Club is an excellent one which can give us a higher profile in the community.
Finally, a word on Albert Davies, a life member of the Club and a faithful supporter. Well, Albert has not been seen at Richmond since last January when he was admitted to hospital for six weeks. Albert is quite well these days but now has to stay home to look after his wife, Beryl, who has been unwell. Dare I say it, but we may well see Albert at the Caersws match. Best wishes to Albert and Beryl.
Connah's Quay Nomads 19/9/98
A warm welcome to this afternoon's game, especially to our friends who have made the long journey from Deeside. The early 'term-time report' sees us performing to just about par, with two wins and two defeats from our four games so far. The pre-season excitement generated within the Club by the influx of some excellent signings has been tempered by a somewhat unlucky defeat at Cwmbran and a thoroughly disappointing home performance against Aberystwyth. Still, I thought our performances against Inter Cable-Tel and Conwy were excellent.
Well, despite considerable speculation regarding our playing surface, not least of all from a Ceredigion Press source, our first home game went on as planned. Full marks to Julian Mouseley & Co., and also to our Operations Manager, Malcolm Williams, for ensuring that the pitch was playable on the night - quite an achievement given its condition just a month ago! Despite spending a lot of his spare time overseeing and making arrangements for the work to be carried out, Malcolm also indulged in a certain amount of 'manual' work himself. As the 'Sporting' (Evening Post) so resplendantly reported last Saturday there are visions of a Wembley like appearance for the ground!
Further to the administrative changes outlined in last week's notes, I would like to report another appointment made in the close season - that of a club co-ordinator. Malcolm Llwyd Williams (Malcolm No 2 to some of us!) agreed to undertake this responsible role which involves a considerable number of tasks relating to match days. For home matches, for example, he has to arrange in advance gatemen, raffle sellers and check their kit isin order. Then on match days he has to make sure everything is in place as far as footballs, kit, training tops, dug out, flags, nets, etc., are concerned as well as supervising gatemen and escorting the referee on and off the field (although I don't think this is necessary here - but rules are rules and must prevail). There is no respite for Malcolm either in away matches, where he is in charge of the bus, arranges breakfasts on long journeys and delivers and collects the kit. So any queries, you know who to contact!
Last Saturday's trip to Conwy was indeed a long journey - probably the longest we will experience this season. We were greeted by a spick and span and refurbished Morfa Stadium with a newly built 500 seater stand behind the goal and a smaller version along the touchline. With a permanent TV gantry and studio in place we were indeed casting envious eyes on what had been done. Our chairman, Jeff Thomas, speaking to his Conwy counterpart (with a twinkle in his eye, may I add!) felt our Club was some three years behind in ground development terms. I think our chairman will lead this Club forward in achieving our aims in perhaps a shorter time-scale. He has already been in dialogue with supporters and vice-presidents and a good rapport has been achieved. Congratulations to the North Wales Club for their initiative in investing in their ground. The Football Trust had contributed but I wonder how important it was to participate in the FAW Invitation Cup last year (now FAW Premier Cup) with its resultant financial rewards.
Finally, one of our most faithful supporter, REG PHILLIPS, was taken ill last Saturday and admitted to Towy Ward. I'm pleased to say he is on the road to recovery and should be back with us soon.......... See you next Wednesday evening!
Aberystwyth Town 9/9/98
May I bid a warm welcome to our supporters and to the players and followers of Aberystwyth to our first home game of the season. So the 1998-99 roller coaster has begun and once again old rivalries are renewed and old friendships and acquaintances revived!
As far as the LoW and ourselves are concerned it has been a summer of some considerable activity with many 'plusses' and indeed a few 'minuses' to boot!. There are two contentious matters that have been documented - the elimination from the LoW of Ebbw Vale who have subsequently given up their fight to be reinstated, and the protest by Porthmadog against their relegation to the North Wales Joinery Cymru Alliance League on the grounds that it was not in accordance with LoW rules. The Club however is now playing in the Alliance and we wish them well in their quest this season to gain promotion back to the top flight.
The 'plusses', however, are considerable and one of the foremost is the bit of juggling that our team manager and other officers of the Club have done to attract some new players to our ranks. You are, of course, well aware of the new boys that have been recruited and let's hope that the injection of these proven talented players will provide the answer to our quest to achieve a top eight position to enable us to qualify for the FAW Premiership or even better a top three position for Europe.
There have been some departures in the summer - Colin Pascoe to a full time coaching job with Cardiff City, Ceri Williams, a tremendous competitor with us, is now captain of Bridgend Town, Gary and Dewi Davies, and, of course, Mark Delaney who to our great delight is hitting the headlines in the Nationwide League with Cardiff City. And to continue .. there was a very successful Sportsman's Dinner attended by over 250 people with guest speaker Ian St. John, and the Summer Fete and Gala, both events being superbly organised. Our appreciation is extended to Neville Southall who attended the Fete as a guest at no cost at all to us. The major activity of the summer was the establishment of the Millennium Fund. Finance raised from this scheme will, hopefully, enable the Club to upgrade Richmond Park to the standards required by the LoW, and, of course, an important factor in this proposed development is acquisition of the lease of Richmond Park.
The close season has also seen some changes in our administrative structure. Hugh Jenkins has voluntarily vacated the Chair after 5 years service with dignity to be replaced by Jeff Thomas, the driving force behind some of the activities referred to in these notes. Hugh will now assume the position of Executive Vice President. Colin Payne has vacated the Vice Chair and his place is taken by Alun Williams who also continues as Season Ticket Secretary. Colin, with the Club for 30 years, can now devote more time to the Social Club administration. Malcolm Williams, who was the Club's General Manager, has now assumed the post of Operations Manager. Malcolm has worked extremely hard this summer in the implementation of the drainage scheme at Richmond Park and was also heavily involved in the organisation of the Fete. Finally, I'm afraid our third team in the Carmarthenshire League has been disbanded due to an accumulation of factors, not least the lack of a playing field of the required standard, Richmond being fully committed to first, reserve and youth team games............................. Enjoy tonight's game!