11 July 2005

The Welsh Football League have agreed a two-year sponsorship deal with Macron. It was announced during the league's annual general meeting last week that a deal was imminent with Macron and franchise holders West Wales Print.

This forms Macron's second link with the area as they will also be supplying Swansea City with kit over the next three seasons.

West Wales Print, owned by Neath Athletic manager Andrew Dyer, and Macron will be putting £40,000 over two seasons into the coffers of the Welsh League and its 54 member clubs.

Each club will get equipment worth £250 each season, while the league will receive £5,500.

"Every club will now receive something tangible over the next two seasons, and we are grateful to Macron and West Wales Print for their support," said Welsh League secretary Ken Tucker.

"We are delighted that the name of Macron and West Wales Print will now be linked with one of the best run football leagues in the country," said Andrew Dyer.

TONY POOLE
 

The Welsh Football League are set to announce new sponsors in the near future. That proved one of the main revelations during an uneventful AGM staged at the Maesteg Park club last Saturday.

Motaquote terminated their sponsorship at the end of last season, and in all probability Macron and West Wales Print will fill the void.

A few minor points on a deal - worth £40,000 over two seasons - has yet to be settled but the 54 member clubs will each receive equipment to the tune of £250 per season.

All 11 alteration to rules from the league management committee were passed with resounding majorities - the most radical being 2pm winter kick-off times and 2.30pm during the remainder of the campaign.

The move was felt necessary in order to get an improved level of publicity on Saturday evenings and prevent other leagues from stealing a march.

The other major development for next season is the introduction of the Youth League with 31 participating clubs.

Sponsorship from Macron will extend to the youth league, but it is hoped that former backer MacWhirter will maintain links in sponsoring the cup tournament.

But during his address, treasurer Kieran O'Connor warned the membership that they are unlikely to see another operating profit of £7,000 on next year's balance sheet.

"The youth league is seen as an investment, but it will come at a cost," he explained.

The introduction of the youth league has led to higher levels of administration and former chairman Tony Griffiths has been brought in as fixture secretary.

Paul Willoughby (Ton Pentre) stepped up to receive a league merit of award while Maesteg Park's David Griffiths was handed life membership.

The three new clubs from the feeder leagues - Cambrian & Clydach (South Wales), Cwmbran Celtic (Gwent) and West End (West Wales) - were welcomed on board.

Afan Lido returned from the Welsh Premiership while Grange Quins headed in the opposite direction.

The season gets underway on August 13 and is due to be completed on May 13 2006.

Finally, voting for the eight-strong management team proved extremely tight.

And for a first time in living memory there was a dead heat for the eighth and final place between the two new candidates - Steve Rumble (Blaenrhondda) and Eric Thomas (AFC Porth).

However, Rumble defeated former management committee member Thomas, 28-20, on the second poll.

Votes cast in the first election were as follows:

John Thomas (Ammanford) 47, John Harris (Neath Athletic) 46, Jonathan Wilsher (Pontardawe) 45, Bob Fry (Ely Rangers) 44, Alfred Germain (Pontypridd) 44, Mike Windsor (Caldicot) 44, Alan Watkins (Llanwern) 40, Steve Rumble (Blaenrhondda) 38, Eric Thomas (AFC Porth) 38.

TONY POOLE
 

Holders Goytre Utd have been handed a bye in the first round of next season's Shamrock Travel Cup. The Port Talbot village side were one of 10 clubs given a bye into the second round of the tournament that will be staged on October 22.

The first round on September 24 involves 22 pairings with the clash between Gwent side Goytre FC and Pontardawe proving a repeat of last season's semi-final.

On that occasion Pontardawe took the honours, only to miss out against Goytre Utd in the final at Ton Pentre.

Afan Lido face Morriston Town at the Dingle, and there is also a derby theme running through the encounter between Seven Sisters and Ystradgynlais.

Two of the league newcomers face each other head on in the Rhondda Valley - Cambrian & Clydach taking on Cwmbran Celtic - while there are all top-flight clashes involving Maesteg Park at home to Ely Rangers along with Ton Pentre entertaining Dinas Powys.

TONY POOLE
 

Aberaman v Pontypridd, Abertillery v Newport YMCA, Barry Town v Garden Village, Briton Ferry v Merthyr Saints, Caerau Ely v Bridgend Cambrian & Clydach v Cwmbran Celtic, Cardiff Corries v Penrhiwceiber, Croesyceiliog v Caerleon, Cwmaman v Gwynfi Utd, Goytre (Gwent) v Pontardawe, Llantwit Fardre v Treharris, Maesteg Park v Ely Rangers, Morriston v Afan Lido, Newcastle Emlyn v Neath Athletic, Penrhiwfer v AFC Porth, Porthcawl v Pontyclun, Risca v AFC Llwydcoed, Seven Sisters v Ystradgynlais, Ton Pentre v Dinas Powys, Tredegar v Caldicot, Troedyrhiw v Bryntirion Ath, Uwic v Garw. Byes: Ammanford, Betws, Blaenrhondda, Chepstow, Goytre Utd, Llanwern, Pentwyn Dynamos, Taffs Well, Treowen, West End.

(Matches to be played on September 24).
 

Kick-off times will be one of the issues to be discussed at the Welsh Football League's annual general meeting at Maesteg Park tomorrow. One of the topics on the agenda is bringing kick-off times forward in a bid to improve media coverage on a Saturday evening.

What the league management committee are proposing is bringing forward 3pm starts to 2.30pm. And from November to March they want games to get under way at 2pm instead of 2.15.

But this is bound to meet with opposition from West Wales clubs who face long journeys to Gwent and vice-versa.

The other big issue surrounds a league backer now that Motaquote have completed their term of sponsorship.

There is every reason to believe that a new company is on board and this is likely to be revealed.

However, Clayton Jones, of Shamrock Travel, will continue to back the league cup.

As is the norm, the eight-strong management committee will be appointed with seven of the occupants standing for re-election.

They are Bob Fry (Ely Rangers), Alfred Germain (Pontypridd), John Harris (Neath), John Thomas (Ammanford), Alan Watkins (Llanwern), Jonathan Wilsher (Pontardawe) and Mike Windsor (Caldicot).

Out of contention is David Griffiths (Maesteg Park), who is being given life-membership, while the two other candidates are Steve Rumble (Blaenrhondda) and Eric Thomas (AFC Porth).

The three champions clubs from the feeder leagues will be welcomed - Cambrian (South Wales), Cwmbran Celtic (Gwent) and West End (West Wales) - along with Afan Lido, who were relegated from the Welsh Premier League.

TONY POOLE