WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

18 July 2005

Goytre's first taste of pre-season football was sweltering under the scorching sun – but that didn't affect the quality dished up by both sides –  against Llanelli, the aspiring aristocrats of the Welsh Premier League.

And the fact that Goytre conceded three goals in the final eight minutes – they were beaten 4-0 – after manager Steve Morgan made a number of changes hardly did justice to their contribution in a surprisingly lively, skilful and entertaining game.

And there was the added attraction of watching a Llanelli side, after escaping relegation, are now setting their ambitious eyes on European soccer  – a massive turnaround for manager Nicky Tucker after he left Taffs Well to achieve mission impossible at Stebonheath Park which hasn't experienced such excitement since the near forgotten days of the late Scottish legend Jock Stein.

Llanelli are looking to establish eight or nine full time players before the start of the season and hopefully full-time within a year – thanks to the big influx of pesetas from a Spanish consortium, hoping to pose a major threat to champions TNS. They have had six Spanish players on trial for the past two weeks and three or four of them are likely to be taken on full time.

And what a contrast between the finances of the two sides – Goytre players coughing up subscriptions to play, until this season.

There's certainly no spare cash washing around at many of the clubs in the Macron Welsh League, particularly in the Third Division.

Considering that Llanelli were having a third run-out and they are well ahead of Goytre in the Welsh football ladder, this was a good workout for Morgan's side and they might well have scored inside the first minute and just before the interval, of a well-supported match, many taking-in the new facilities which are taking shape and should all be up and running by the start of the season.

Morgan said: "I put some of the second team boys in towards the end for a bit of experience and that told. But Llanelli upped the tempo – big time – in the second-half. But our boys battled and all-in-all I was pleased."

Goytre, concentrating more on local talent this season, need not feel dejected and they look to have made good signings in goalkeeper Ryan Mackerness, unable to command a first-team place at Caldicot last season, and Kevin Berry from Race.

Former Cwmbran Town player Richard Hurlin scored one of Llanelli's goals and two came from Rudy Alberto Manso who looked a certainty to be gracing the Welsh Premier League next season, and Scott Thyer.

Goytre's next friendly is at home to Pontypridd this Saturday.

Llanwern gained an encouraging win at Ellwood, the Gloucestershire County League side. Llanwern won 6-2 with Azeez Anifowshe scoring a hat-trick in a ten-minute second-half spell and their other goals came from Gareth Southern (2) and Marcus Power. Llanwern, who fell behind, led 3-1 at half-time.

Caerleon opened up with a 2-1 home defeat against mid-Wales side Kington where Adriano Girolami, the former Caerleon player, is now player-manager. Chris Pearce, Caerleon's top scorer last season, gave the home side an interval lead.

WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

16 July 2005

Newport YMCA have four home pre-season friendlies to prepare for life in the top-flight of the Macron Welsh League – but missing is an annual money-spinning meeting with Newport County.

YM, now competing in the Welsh League's First Division, kick-off with a meeting against mid-Wales outfit Kington followed by the visit of Hereford-based Pegasus Juniors.

Croesyceiliog are the visitors on August 3 – a match initially pencilled in for tomorrow – followed three days later by a meeting against Cwmbran Town.

YM open their league programme at home to Pontardawe, who were also promoted, on August 13 followed by a home Caerleon clash three days later.

WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

14 July 2005 

Go-ahead Goytre, who have almost applied the finishing touches to their additional facilities, kick-off their pre-season preparations with a home friendly against multi-national Llanelli on Saturday (kick-off 3.0pm).

Llanelli, who beat the drop from the Welsh Premier League under Nicky Tucker, appointed Lucas Cazorla Luque, director of football and an international group Jesco now have the majority shareholding at Stebonheath Park.

Ambitious Llanelli also have plans to become a full-time outfit and already Tucker has been to Spain searching for players. They have five triallists in their squad to play at Goytre, the Macron Welsh League, Division Three outfit.

Llanelli are also likely to include Gethyn Jones, the former Newport County midfield player from Tredegar.

Paul Greenhalgh, Goytre chairman, said: "It is a bit early for us, but they telephoned us and asked if we could, so we agreed."

And later in their friendly list the Gwent club entertain their First Division namesake from near Port Talbot – after the two teams missed out on meeting in the final of the Shamrock Travel Cup last seasons. Goytre went down to Pontardawe while Goytre United went through at Briton Ferry's expense and lifted the trophy.

Goytre are at home to Pontypridd on Jul 23 with the all-Goytre clash five days later. They entertain Cardiff-based Ely Rangers on July 30, Cwmffrwdoer (h), August 3, UWIC, August 6 and finishing with a trial match on August 10.

Ian Rosser is the new second team manager and training takes place every Wednesday (6.30pm).

But off the field, Goytre have been even busier. Greenhalgh said: "The work at the clubhouse is nearing completion, including increasing the size of the bar area, making it a large function room, new kitchen and toilets and our facilities will be as good as any in the league."

The experienced Chris Lilygreen is the new manager at Chepstow Town following the double departure of management duo Mark Price and Barrie Vassallo near the end of last season.

However, he may try and persuade long-time friend Vassallo to give him a helping hand.

Lilygreen plans to be more of a manager than player – but he's aiming to achieve his ambition of playing at the ago of 40. He said: "I don't think you'll see too much of me on the park but it was always my intention to play when I was 40.

"I scored 13 goals last season – including a hat-trick against Blaenrhondda – and I know I should have had at least ten more. I can still lose defenders in the box. "

WELSH LEAGUE ROUND-UP

08 July 2005

John Lewis who just missed out on promotion to the Macron Welsh League's top flight has departed as Tredegar Town manager after 18 months in the job.

The much-travelled Lewis, whose Football League career began with Cardiff City, decided to stand down because of work pressures.

Lewis said: "I just have not got the time. I have got a lot on  my plate and I really need to spend all my time building up my business.

"If I cannot do a job 100 per cent then I will not do it and I just cannot give that commitment to the club. I was bitterly disappointed at missing out on promotion but my decision had nothing to do with that and whoever takes over they will inherit a good squad of players.

"It is a club with terrific potential but it needs investment if it is to go forward. I think it has improved quite substantially and it is now far more professional. It is a terrific club with nice people running it."

Last season Tredegar moved to a new ground with one of the best playing surfaces in the league but they just failed in their bid to go up from Division Two.

And another Welsh League club making a summer managerial change is the newly-named Abertillery Excelsior – previously Tillery – who have appointed midfielder Jason Morgan, in his second spell with the club, as player-manager following the decision of Tony Seymour to stand down as team boss.

Morgan was previously the assistant to Seymour.  Morgan will be assisted by Anthony Phillips and Simon Lewis will be the coach. David Sheen runs the Gwent County League team, assisted by Roger Fisher and Darren James.

Keith Williams, Abertillery secretary, said: "Tony did an excellent job for us."

Abertillery have decided to reduce their senior sides to three and instead will field an Under-18 team in the North Gwent League.

Abertillery also have a major youth set-up with two teams at Under-16 level, and then at U-15, U-11, U-10, U-nine and U-eight.

Richard Catlin, club administrator and treasurer, said: "We now have three tiers in place – senior, youth and colts and we are trying to get a girls team up and running at Under-12.

Welsh League club Risca have a home quarter-final tie with holders Newport County in the Gwent Senior Cup.

Gwent Senior Cup, first round: Clydach Wasps v Caldicot Town, Croesyceiliog v Treowen, Goytre Newport YMCA.
 

Quarter-finals: Risca v Newport County, Croesyceiliog or Treowen v Goytre or Newport YMCA, Tredegar v Abertillery Excelsior, Clydach Wasps or Caldicot v Cwmbran Town.

The annual meeting of the Knauf Insulation Gwent Central League – which must be attended by all member clubs – will take place at Pontypool town hall on July 14 (7.15pm).

The league starts on August 20 with the replay of the P and P Pest Control Open Cup, semi-final between Goytre and Usk Town, the latter claiming Goytre played an ineligible player.  The Gwent County FA have ruled the game must be replayed, the winners facing New Inn. Goytre won the original game 2-0.

 

WELSH LEAGUE AGM

04 July 2005

These are exciting times for the Welsh Football League, the size of the organisation mushrooming considerably since opening its doors to a youth set-up which includes taking on board teams from the now defunct MacWhirter Youth League, writes Ray Parker.

And for the first time every section of the league is sponsored, it was revealed at the league’s annual meeting held at Maesteg Park Football Club on Saturday. 

Following backing from Motaquote Insurance for two years, the league will now be known as the Macron Welsh League after obtaining a deal with Swansea-based West Wales Print, who are the Wales distributors for Bologna-based Macron, backers of Italian League side Bologna.

Under the deal the league will receive £5,500 a season, while clubs will receive kit – including match and training balls – worth £13,500, working out at £250 for all 54 clubs.

MacWhirter have not severed their connections with youth football and will sponsor the youth cup competition, while Clayton Jones’ transport empire will continue to back the Shamrock Travel Cup.  Harris Printers, from Porthcawl, are backing the reserve division cup. 

Ken Tucker, league secretary, said: “For the first time all the league competitions will be sponsored, which reflects great credit upon the management committee. It is also the first deal where all clubs will receive kit.”

The introduction of a youth set-up for the first time in the league’s history has caused a great deal of interest, with a total of 31 teams split into three divisions with an open cup competition. Six teams from Gwent will be competing – Newport County, Newport YMCA, Caerleon, Treowen, Risca and Cwmbran.

Tommy Forse, re-elected unopposed as president, said: “The youth division is an investment for the future and I am sure it will be a success.”

Mr Tucker added: “The league is going ahead at pace, and with the introduction of a youth division this means that we now have 118 teams with over 1,500 players taking part every week.”

Tony Griffiths, a former secretary of the league who established a very comprehensive website last season, is soon moving back to his native Wales, initially based in Newport, from Scotland. And in addition to running the website he is taking over as fixture secretary, a newly created role, for all divisions. 

Thanks to a bunch of rule-busters the league – 80 per cent of the clubs have a clean record – pulled in a record £3,470 in penalties and fines, boosting the total income for the year to £40,690, the league reporting a profit of £9,183.

Two new clubs were paired in the first round of the Shamrock Travel Cup – Cwmbran Celtic from the Gwent County League drawn away to Cambrian and Clydach, the tie to be played on September 24.

But one of the most intriguing of the 22 matches is between home team Croesyceiliog and First Division Caerleon. The draw, which followed the annual meeting, also brought about two other all-Gwent ties, with Tredegar at home to Caldicot and Newport YMCA travelling to Abertillery Excelsior – formerly Tillery – while Goytre FC have home advantage over First Division Pontardawe.

Risca, although at home, have a difficult draw, paired with AFC Llwydcoed.

Chepstow, Llanwern and Treowen all have byes into the second round. However, a bid to make the second-round draw ended in confusion and it was agreed to make it after the completion of the first round.

First Division Caerleon open the new season on August 13 with a home match against UWIC, and three days later travel to promoted neighbours Newport YMCA.

Croesyceiliog, now in Division Two, start with a home clash against Abertillery and their second fixture is another all-Gwent struggle the following Tuesday at Caldicot, whose first fixture is away to relegated Garw.

Tredegar Town start by entertaining Merthyr Saints and then make the short trip to Abertillery. 

Cwmbran Celtic open in Division Three by entertaining Cwmamman, and the following Tuesday make the short trip to Goytre. Chepstow start at home to Cambrian and Clydach, while relegated Llanwern’s first fixture is at home to Ystradgynlais. Llanwern travel to Chepstow on the Tuesday evening. Treowen get the long trip to Newcastle Emlyn out of the way on the opening day, and then take on Treharris. Risca open at Ty-Isaf Park against Goytre and then travel to Cardiff for a meeting with Pentwyn.

The fixtures are all provisional, clubs given seven days in which to make changes.

Re-elected to the management committee were Llanwern’s Alan Watkins, along with Bob Fry, Alf Germain, John Harris, John Thomas, Jonathan Wilsher and Mike Windsor, while Steve Rumble edged out Eric Thomas in a second ballot after both received 38 votes. 

Minimum admission prices to Welsh League matches in the first, second and third divisions will be £2.00, while kick-off times will be 2.30pm, apart from November, December, January and February, which will be 2.00pm.

Referee fees have been raised to £23 in Division One, £20 in Division Two and £19 in Division Three. 

The league has introduced a scale of fines ranging from £250 and deduction of points for failing to fulfil a fixture – £500 for each additional violation – to £1 a minute for a late kick-off,  with a minimum of £10 and £25 for failing to produce a programme.

Newport County have joined the Welsh League's newly-formed youth league following a restructuring of the Football League Youth Alliance which has resulted in virtually all non-Football League clubs left out in the cold.

Croesyceiliog, now in training at Woodland Road, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, open their pre-season matches with a game at Newport YMCA on July 16 and Caerleon on July 23 followed by a double meeting at Harrow Hill, playing first and second team games, rounding off with a game at Chepstow on August 6.