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| Sgorio Spear Summer Sham |
| A scientific  study by a member of the Sgorio team has harpooned the annual claims for summer football. Claims which usual surface after Welsh clubs are knocked out of Europe. The article produced by Seirol Hughes is available on the programme's website and looks back at twenty years or so of Welsh Premier teams exploits in Europe. And effectively confirms that the WP clubs simply arent good enough to beat European opponents on a regular basis. Dont take my word for it though, click on the Sgorio logo and see for yourself. |
| For a summary of the pros and cons surrounding summer football follow the link below |
|
| Welsh
Premier |
|||
| Transfers
Summer 2014 |
|||
| club | players in |
players out |
|
 |
|||
| 1 |
Aberystwyth
Town manager: Ian Hughes |
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|
|
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| 2 |
Airbus
UK manager: Andy Preece |
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| - |
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| 3 |
Bala
Town manager: Colin Caton |
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| 4 |
Bangor
City manager: Nev Powell |
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| 5 |
Carmarthen
Town manager: Mark Aizlewood |
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| 6 |
Cefn Druids manager: Chris Herbert |
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| 7 |
-Connahs
Quay manager: Mark McGregor |
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| 8 |
Newtown manager: Chris Hughes |
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| 9 |
Port
Talbot manager: Jarred Harvey |
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| 10 |
Prestatyn
Town manager: Neil Gibson |
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| 11 |
Rhyl manager: Greg Strong |
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| 12 |
The
New Saints manager: Craig Harrison |
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 |
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| Victory Shield Comes to
Nantporth |
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There is international football at Nantporth on Thursday evening with the visit of Northern Ireland. Whilst the old "Home Internationals" may be confined to the past it is good to see these yo  ung counterparts,
the Under 16s, still playing competitive matches involving Wales,
England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.Northern Ireland will be in fine fettle after their one nil win against England at Bournemouth last time out. The late winner struck by Shea Conaty sent the majority of the 2800 crowd home silent but left the Irish boys literally jumping for joy. The Irish squad is largely unknown to us at present, but.. It was at Pwllheli in 1963 that a shy young Irishman played his first adult football match, six years later he played for Manchester United against Wales at Farrar Road, By then the whole football world knew George Best. In their last game Wales' youngsters drew two all with Scotland at Aberystwyth with West Brom youngster Tyler Roberts and Swansea's Liam Cullen the scorers. Much of the interest in Bangor surrounds Nathan Broadhead whose grandfather Tony Broadhead is one of the finest players to have worn the famous blue shirt. Tony is rightly remembered in The Citizens Choice Legends section. (Nathan is featured wearing the No 10 shirt in the posters above)  The squads for the match which kicks off at 7.35pm are:
|
| Welsh
Premier |
|||
| Summer
Moves 2013 |
|||
| club | players in |
players out |
|
|
|
|||
| 1 |
Aberystwyth
Town manager: Ian Hughes |
Midfieder Craig Williams from Llanelli Striker Geoff Kellaway from Carmarthen Striker Stuart Fraser from Penrhyncoch |
Midfielder Gavin Cadwallader to Cefn Druids Midfielder Mike Walsh to Rhyl Midfielder Matty Collins to Carmarthen Striker Jordan Follows to Carmarthen |
|
|
|||
| 2 |
Afan Lido  manager: Paul Reid |
Goalkeeper Matt Stanton from Tata Steel Goalkeeper Craig Richards from Port Talbot Defender Ryan Batley from Llanelli Defender Alex Evans from Llanelli Midfielder Bo Cordle from Caerau Midfielder Mike Davies from Tata Steel Midfielder Nicky Holland from Llanelli Midfielder Lee McClachlan from Tata Steel Midfielder Jordan Smith from Llanelli Midfielder Scott McCoubrey from USA Midfielder Jack McKenna from Llanelli Striker Keyon Refell from Caerau Striker Jamal Roberts from Taffs Well Striker Tyrrell Webbe from Caerau |
Striker Anthony Rawlings to Penybont |
| - |
|||
| 3 |
Airbus
UK manager: Andy Preece |
Gaolkeeper James Coates from Defender Michael Pearson from Barrow Midfielder Nicky Ward from Conwy Striker Steve Jones from Telford Striker Chris Simm from Bangor City |
Defender Jason Jarrett to Chester Midfielder Wayne Riley to Hednesford Striker Mike Hayes to Connahs Quay |
|
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| 4 |
Bala
Town manager: Colin Caton |
Defender Ryan Valentine from Telford Midfielder Paul Lewis from Barmouth |
Goalkeeper Mike Platt to Newtown Defender John Irving to New Zealand Striker Lee Hunt to Prestatyn |
|
|
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| 5 |
Bangor City manager: Nev Powell |
Defender Anthony Miley from Colwyn Bay Defender Joe Culshaw from Lancaster Defender Dec Walker from Wrexham Defender Kyle Parle from Wrexham (loan) Midfielder Rob Jones from Connahs Quay Striker Jamie Petrie from Connahs Quay |
Defender Kris Thomas to Carmarthen Defender Liam Brownhill to FC United Midfielder Levi Mackin to Conwy Borough Midfielder Dave Morley to Caernarfon Town Midfielder Robbie Booth to Telford Striker Alan Bull to Conwy Borough Striker Chris Simm to Airbus |
|
|
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| 6 |
Carmarthen
Town manager: Mark Aizlewood |
Defender Martin Giles from Llanelli Defender Kris Thomas from Bangor City Midfielder Corey Jenkins from Goytre Midfielder Matty Collings from Aber Striker Cortez Belle from Port Talbot Striker Jordan Follows from Aberystwyth Striker Ashley Curtis from West End |
Goalkeeper Kerry Nicholas to Port Talbot Striker Geoff Kellaway to Aberystwyth |
|
|
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| 7 |
Connahs
Quay manager: Mark McGregor |
Goalkeeper Terry McCormick from Conwy Midfielder Danny Desormeaux from Conwy Midfielder Josh Lane from Nantwich Town Midfielder Paul Mooney from Northwich Vic Striker Simon Everall from Nantwich Town Striker Mike Hayes from Airbus |
Midfielder Rob Jones to Bangor City Striker Jamie Petrie to Bangor City |
|
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| 8 |
Newtown manager: Bernard McNally |
Goalkeeper Mike Platt from Bala Midfielder Carl Rogers from Haughmond Striker Nathan Hodge from Haughmond Striker Jimmy O'Neil from Telford Striker Jeff White from Llanelli |
Goalkeeper Dave Roberts to Prestatyn Defender Adam Worton Midfielder Nicky Ward to Conwy Borough Midfielder Gareth Partridge Striker Craig Whitfield to Conwy |
|
|
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| 9 |
Port
Talbot manager: Scott Young |
Goalkeeper Kerry Nicholas from Carmarthen Defender Gethin Jones from Bath City Midfielder Josh Bell from Biggleswade Twon Striker Rhys Griffiths from Newport County |
Defender Lloyd Grist to Toronto Striker Cortez Belle to Carmarthen |
|
|
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| 10 |
Prestatyn
Town manager: Neil Gibson |
Goalkeeper Dave Roberts from Newtown Defender Jack Lewis from Rhyl Defender Sean Hessey from Barrow Striker Lee Hunt from Bala |
Defender Ashley Stephens to Wrexham Defender Martin Beattie to Conwy Striker Dan Evans to Denbigh Town Striker Jason Price to Osset |
|
|
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| 11 |
Rhyl manager: Greg Strong |
Goalkeeper Alex Ramsay from TNS Goalkeeper Louis Gray from Wrexham (loan) Defender Ryan Astles from Buckley Defender Tom Roberts from Colwyn Bay Midfielder Jon Breeze from Colwyn Bay Midfielder Mike Walsh from Aberystwyth Striker Chris Mason from Clitheroe Striker Jon Bathhurst from Prescott Cables |
Defender Jack Lewis to Prestatyn Defender Russ Courtney to |
|
|
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| 12 |
The
New Saints manager: Craig Harrison |
Goalkeeper Chris Mullock from Cefn Druids Midfielder Chris Jones (re-signed) |
Goalkeeper Alex Ramsay to Rhyl |
|
|
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| Cymru Alliance | Club News Summer of 2013 |
|
| 1 |
 manager: Aden Shannon |
Manager
Gareth Thomas resigned to
be replaced by Aden Shannon Buckley announced eighteen signings and then three more! Click here for details Perhaps inevitably Shannon quickly resigned too which meant Howard Tweats was appointed to the vacant managers post within a few days. |
| 2 |
 manager: Lee Dixon |
Caernarfon
Town's big name signing must surely be Dave
Morley who makes the short trp from Nantporth after a successful
spell with Bangor City. Another newcomer is Mark Evans who was amongst the CA leading goalscorer whilst with Rhyl last season. |
| 3 |
 manager: Micky Thomas |
|
| 4 |
 manager: Huw Griffiths |
Druids
manager Huw Griffiths lost
goalkeeper Chris Mullock to
The New Saints. On the credit side he has signed glovesman Dave Maguire and midfielder Jamie Haynes from Ellesmere Rangers, plus Buckley Town pair Matty Hughes and John Leonard. Also arriving at The Rock is 18 year old winger Andy Pasco who has been released by Wrexham as has full back Ross Ankers |
| 5 |
 manager: Chris Herbert |
New signings include Former Newtown trio Barry Hogan, Nicky Ward, Craig Whitfield plus cousins midfielder Levi and goalkeeper Louis Mackin Strike pair Michael Jukes & Lloyd Ellams sign on for another season. (Ellams then leaves for Vauxhall FC) Former Bangor defender Darren Moss signs from Nantwich Town. Midfielder Nicky Ward leaves for Airbus without kicking a ball. Midfielder Jack Abrahams signs from Mold Alex Defender Martin Beattie from Prestatyn Town Former Bangor winger Mark Smyth and striker Alan Bull. Defenders Matty Holt (Heswall) and Phil Doran from Warrington Town also sign. Midfielder Sean Thornton signs as does one time Buckley manager Aden Shannon |
| 6 |
 manager: Paul Davies |
New
joint manager Gareth
Thomas will work alongside Paul
Davies.
Players In |
| 7 |
 manager: Matt Burton |
Manager
Russ Cadwallader resigns
to be replaced by Matt Burton |
| 8 |
 manager: none |
Manager
Emlyn Manley Williams
resigns To be replaced as manager by former boss Campbell Harrison |
| 9 |
 manager: Alan Morgan |
Manager
Alan Morgan has used his
contacts to bring in former Bangor midfielder Craig Garside and to hang on to teenage marksman Dean Seager. Striker Toby Jones has signed from neighbours Conwy Borough. |
| 10 |
 manager: Mario Iaquinta |
|
| 11 |
 manager: Antony Griffiths |
|
| 12 |
 manager: Gari Lewis |
|
| 13 |
 manager: Simon Sedgewick |
|
| 14 |
 manager: Gareth Parry |
A
big boost for Port is the arrival of Matthew
Bishop as Gareth Parry's assistant.. Bish is a former Swansea
City professional and was assistant manager at Aldershot. One new signing at The Traeth is Bangor youngster Dan Bell. |
| 15 |
 manager: Dylan McPhee |
|
| 16 |
 manager: Danny Seamarks |
|
| former blue beattie a
musselman |
 Prestatyn defender Martin Beattie has joined Conwy Borough The highly regarded leftback was released by the Bastion Gardens club with Jack Lewis returning to his old stomping ground via Neath and Rhyl. Beattie played for Nantwich and Heswall before moving into Welsh football circles with Cefn Druids. At the start of the 2005-06 season he switched to Bangor and went on to make around 100 first team appearances for City under Peter Davenport and after a couple of changes, Nev Powell. One of football's gentlemen, Beattie can also play sweeper and will bring a touch of class to the Borough back four as the Musselmen seek a return to Wales' top tier. Good luck Beatts. |
| FAW Crush Barry Town |
The FAW Council held their bimonthly meeting at Betws y Coed on Thursday, June 13th 2013. On the agenda was the application of both Barry Town United AFC and AFC Llanelli for full membership to the FAW for the 2013-14 season. The Council members considered a recommendation that both clubs should be admitted into the Welsh Football League. The FAW Council voted against this recommendation. Both Barry Town United AFC and AFC Llanelli have been instructed to apply for membership to their respective Area Associations. FAW Council |
| And that is the long and short of it.
No reason or explanation and nothing more to say. What owner Lovering could not quite manage the FAW did for him.. Surely the very least Barry Town supporters deserve is a detailed explanation of how this crushing decision was reached? |
| Welsh Premier Team of The
Season 2012-13 |
Blues players have to be content with a seat on the bench this year. The Team of The Season is voted for by the club managers and - in fairness - is dominated by players from The New Saints who won the league at a canter.  The starting eleven consists of six New Saints, four Planemakers and one Lakesider. To be harsh I find this astonishing and wonder how the voting works. For instance after the split do the managers from the bottom clubs every watch games involving those from the top? From the games I have seen two of the outstanding midfielders have been Prestatyn pair Neil Gibson and Mike Parker. There is no doubt in my mind that Gibson is the single most important player for any team in the league. To rate Mark Jones or Wayne Riley above him is unbelievable - but its all opinions of course. And from a Bangor perspective Chris Simm might feel hard done by with Chris Budrys getting the nod ahead of him. |
| |
| Fightback at Park
Hall... |
||||||||
 Coleg Menai Won The Welsh Colleges Cup Today The team ma  naged by Marc
Lloyd Williams and featuring several Bangor
City youngsters fought back from two nil down to win 3-2 with all five goals
coming in the second half.The Venue was Park Hall and although Craig Whelan hit the bar from 25 yards it was a goalless first half. After the interval all that changed though as Gower Colleges took a two goal lead. First Ryan Thomas struck from the penalty spot ten minutes after the interval and minutes later the celebrations grew noisier as Colin Harris made it two nil. Coleg Menai were stunned but thankfully also stung into action. A fightback was on the cards on 65 mins when midfielder Craig Whelan halved the deficit and eight minutes later a close range finish for striker Jamie McDaid levelled the scores to set up an exciting final quarter. What proved to be the winning goal came with some fifteen minutes left when John Littlemore ran through to beat Gower keeper Luke Fleming with a calm finish. There were a couple of scares in the closing stages but overall a well deserved win for Coleg Menai and manager Marc Lloyd Williams. And for the strong contingent of Bangor City youngsters huge promise for the future.  |
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| |
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| Barry Town being killed off
by
there own chairman? |
Barry Town last won the Welsh Premier in 2002-03. 
The following
season they were relegated after finishing bottom after a brief
flirtation with John Fashanu which upset and alienated a
good number of Welsh football supporters. Since that though time a small band of loyal supporters have fought an ongoing battle for control of the club with chairman Stuart Lovering. That battle has now become a fight for survival as the chairman appears hell bent on ending the clubs existence. Things have got so bad even the FaW have taken notice!  Today the FaW released the following statement: "The Welsh Football League have received correspondence from Stuart Lovering, the owner of Barry Town AFC Limited, withdrawing the football club from the league. The Welsh Football League Management Committee will be meeting on Monday and will discuss the ongoing situation at Barry Town. The FaW has sympathy with the supporters of the proud club who want to see their team playing football and continuing the long history and tradition associated with Jenner Park. The Association is in correspondence with all involved in the matter." |
| Older
visitors to this site might find it strange - unusual certainly - to
find sympathy for Barry Town on this site. My change of heart is due to meeting Tim Johnston at a number of matches, hearing and reading of their plight and their ongoing battle with Stuart Lovering. It is a tale of ordinary football fans fighting to keep their club alive. Its one I hope they win. It could have been us. |
 |
welsh cup final 2013 arrangements finally leak out |
|
Arrangements for the Welsh Cup Final on
Monday 6th May at Wrexham fc ko 3pm are as follows:
Only the Yale Stand will be open, no tickets will be available prior to the game, as it is cash only at the turnstiles. Bangor City supporters will enter the stadium via turnstiles 1-4 Prestatyn Town supporters will enter via turnstiles 7-10. Admission - All Seated in the Upper Yale Stand Adults £8.00
OAP’s £5.00 Children £1.00 Family Stand Family Tickets (2 Adults / 2 Children) £15.00 Additional Children £1:00 |
| Time
for Change? |
|||
The current structure of the twelve club league was introduced in 2010. A Super Twelve made up of better teams, stronger clubs attracting bigger crowds to give clubs finishing as low as eighth a chance of playing in Europe through their league position. There was an indication that if it didnt work things could always go back how they w  ere.In simple terms is looks like the clubs may have been misled as the twelve club league, with its six plus six split in January is here to stay. Which is a shame because it clearly been gradually rejected by supporters who are drifting away. And it is a pity for the clubs who face dwindling support and a constant struggle to cover their costs. There are many reasons why people stop watching local football. In South Wales both Swansea and Cardiff have done well and their profile has risen. Down the ladder a little Newport and Wrexham and fighting for promotion to the Football League. A long overdue return to the league for both sets of fans no doubt. There is also wall to wall TV coverage, live broadcasts and highlights, of International and club football, the latter to include Champions League, Premier League, Championship and FA Cup matches. The list is almost endless. 
So the Welsh Premier is
up against it come what may. The plus sides for the WP are excellent TV
coverage by S4C and a
temporary mid season hike in interest as the fight for the top six
reaches its climax. Overall grounds have gradually improved..On the negative side crowds are down, even allowing for some dubious reporting of actual attendances. Pitches are also too often substandard as clubs overspend their budget on players. The common view seems to be that supporters are bored with watching the same teams again and again. Twice a season has routinely become four times and even five or six when cup ties are added. Words like stagnant and stale are often used. Outside this there is evidence to suggest local derbies attract the biggest crowds. Even in junior leagues. Llanberis v Llanrug should not draw a bigger crowd than Prestatyn v Newtown but it might well. Prestatyn would be better off playing Rhyl, Newtown playing Caersws. The north v south matches are the least attractive given the expense and lack of travelling supporters. So what is the answer? There are more than one possible solution. The simplest would be to return to an eighteen or twenty club league. This would give chairmen and supporters what they want most, more fixtures. But critics would say it would lower standards. A second possible solution would be to have two leagues of twelve on a north and south basis. They could play 22 games before a split in January as at present. Then the top four from each could join an eight club national league and play a further 14 games which is also what would be left for the two remaining regional leagues also of eight.  The teams would all play 36 games. For the leading clubs they would be the added bonus of four home and away games against new opponents. And these final fourteen fixtures should boast a higher standard if the critics are right, with new games for S4C to pick out. The structure could still incorporate play offs. The Champions and Runners up qualify automatically for Europe leaving the six who don't in the top eight to be joined by the two regional league winners, preferably in a straight knock out "quarter final" format with home advantage awarded to the highest placed sides matched against the lowest placed opponents. In the Northern section there would be only Holyhead without WP experience, in the Southern equivalent a more alarming five of the clubs would be new to the level. Wherever there is a problem there is a solution. If there is a desire to raise interest in domestic football south of Aberstwyth this might be the perfect opportunity. In the early season or two there might be clubs who would struggle to realistically tilt at the top four places and need real support to achieve the license. It should help them bridge the gap. Take a step backwards to take two or three forwards? If they do so the whole structure and pyramid would benefit with a more virbant southern section. On the other hand things could stay as they are. Do nothing and see what happens. And watch crowds dwindle and as seems the average - watch one club a season fall into financial rack and ruin. Time for a change? |
|||
| Welsh Premier Transfers January 2013 |
||
 |
||
| Club |
Players
In |
Players
Out |
|
Aberystwyth
Town |
Midfielder Chris Venables from Llanelli Midfielder Antonio Corbisiero from Llanelli Striker Mark Jones from Afan Lido |
Defender Adam Worton to Newtown Striker Josh McAuley released - |
| Afan
Lido |
Goalkeeper Kristian Rogers from Conwy Borough Defender Remi Whitelock from Tata Steel Defender Kyle Graves from Carmarthen Town Defender Mark Crutch from Bridgend Midfielder Craig Jones from Port Talbot Town Midfielder Adam James from Striker Damon Thomas from Tata Steel Striker Rameer Outlaw from Taffs Well Striker Rob Spendiff from junior football Striker Danny Thomas from Port Talbot Striker Simon Prangley from Taffs Well |
Goalkeeper Chris Curtis to Goytre United Defender Paul Evans to Bryntirion Athletic Defender Lee Hartshorn to Llanelli Striker Mark Jones to Aberystwyth Town |
| Airbus
UK |
Goalkeeper Jamie Stephens from Liverpool (loan) Defender Phil Bolland from Halifax Midfielder Luke McCarthy from Bury Midfielder Christian Smith from Nantwich Town Midfielder Lewis Short from Nantwich Town Midfielder Jason Jarrett from Halifax Town Winger Reynaldo Carbon from Northwood FC |
Goalkeeper Ben Chapman released - Defender Steve Tomassen to Wrexham (end of loan) Defender Tommy Holmes released Defender Jack Lewis to Rhyl Striker Mike Hayes to Connahs Quay (loan) Striker Toby Jones to Conwy United (loan) |
| Bala
Town |
Midfielder Mike Thompson from Connahs Quay |
-Defender Mike Byron released |
| Bangor
City |
Defender Kris Thomas from Llanelli Midfielder Levi Mackin from Chester Winger Jamie McDaid from Holyhead Hotspur Winger Robbie Booth from Chester FC Striker Gary O'Toole ex Connahs Quay |
Striker Alan Bull to Buckley Town (loan) Striker John Owen to Porthmadog (loan) Striker Mark Smyth to Prestatyn Town |
| Carmarthen Town |
Defender Luke Cummings from Bath City Midfielder Geoff Kellaway from Llanelli Striker Christian Doidge from Barry Town |
Defender Kyle Graves to Afan Lido |
| Connahs
Quay |
Defender John Hardiker from Warrington Town Striker Lee Davey from Conwy United Striker Mike Hayes from Airbus (loan) Striker Sean Breen from Chorley NEW |
Midfielder Mike Thompson to Bala Town Striker Dean Canning to Clitheroe |
Llanelli FC |
Defender Lee Hartshorn from Afan Lido Defender Alex Evans from Cindferford Defender Darren Barnard from Monmouth Town Midfielder Scott Evans from Haverfordwest County Midfielder Ariel Mrowinski from Poland Midfielder Jack McKenna from Clevedon Town Midfielder Dylan Blain from Port Talbot Town Midfielder Nicky Holland from Port Talbot Striker Jeff White from Port Talbot Town |
Defender Kris Thomas to Bangor City Defender Lee Surman to Port Talbot Midfielder Ashey Evans to Port Talbot Midfielder Chris Venables to Aberystwyth Midfielder Antonio Corbisiero to Aberystwyth Midfielder Geoff Kellaway to Carmarthen Town Striker Martin Rose to Port Talbot Striker Luke Bowen to Port Melbourne |
| Newtown FC |
Defender Adam Worton from Aberystwyth Town Striker Matthew Hearsey from Dudley Town |
Midfielder Barry Hogan to Colwyn Bay Midfielder Jamie Price released Striker Steve Blenkinsop to Cefn Druids |
| Port
Tabot Town |
Defender Lee Surman from Llanelli Midfielder Ashley Evans from Llanelli Midfielder Nicky Holland from Llaneli Striker Chad Bond from LA Blues Striker Martin Rose from Llanelli |
Midfielder Craig Jones to Afan Lido Midfielder Dylan Blain to Llanelli Striker Danny Thomas to Afan Lido Striker Jeff Bridge to Llanelli |
| Prestatyn
Town |
- Midfielder Mark Smyth from Bangor City |
|
| TNS
FC |
Winger Jamie Mullan from Fleetwood |
Midfielder Tom Allen to Cefn Druids (loan) Striker Ryan Jones to Cefn Druids (loan) |
| Crazy Kick of Times a
Nonesense |
By way of apeing the Sky Sports control of the English Premier League, S4C have dictated that all Saturday matches this weekend must kick off at 3.45pm. They then announced that Bala Town v Connahs Quay will be their live  game. This
despite having cameras at Maes Tegid for the visit of Bangor City when
the notorious field of mud disintegrated before their camera lenses. And despite Afan Lido yet having completed their trip to Airbus the whole league must jump into line and kick off at nearly four or clock on a Saturday evening. By my calculations games will finish at around 5.30pm which leaves players, officials and anyone else a late finish and a journey home in the dark. If there is frost in the air the grounds will worsen from half time onwards and beleagured officials will be forced to contemplate player safety. Of course grown ups are not scared of the dark but Port Talbot might have something to fear as they start their four and a half hour journey back to the south coast at or after six o clock. Weather forecasts suggest North Wales might miss the worst of the ice and snow heading in but Mid Wales might not be so lucky. Whichever way they travel Mid Wales looks just about unaviodable. There is no doubt that Sgorio offers the Welsh Premier excellent coverage both in terms of live broadcasts and highlights. But somewhere along the way what seems to have been forgotten is that these are small clubs, part time players and ordinary people who have to find their way home. There is no undersoil heating, no big budget hotel to rest up in and no one pandering to their every need. Google maps suggests the car journey time shown above is typically four hours and twenty minutes. Slower and longer in a coach of course. Leaving Nantporth after six they will be lucky to be back ten thirty. Is this what the police can an essential journey? Is it too late for commonsense to prevail? |
| Welsh Assembly Report on
Welsh Premier League |
 The WA have published a fairly pointless report into a largely irrelevant investigation into the state of The Welsh Premier League. A harsh opening? Perhaps a little. But there is logic behind my blatant negativity The findings of the searching and far (Cardiff) reaching enquiry included: All WP clubs should introduce 3G or 4G pitches. They should strengthen & improve relationships between the WP and WA. The FAW should priortise communication and relationship building with the clubs Seek financial support as they adopt the Community Hub model for all clubs So why the cynical approach? Simple. Look at the FAW response: The FAW has been
pro-active in building upon all four recommendations as outlined in our
Strategic Plan launched at the beginning of the year. FAW Chief
Executive
Jonathan Ford said;
"This has been recognised by the FAW and
in other countries across the world. "We welcome the findings of the report
and look forward to further develop our relationship with the Welsh
Government.
We hope this relationship can lead to tangible benefits to our clubs
and the
communities they represent. It is important that we build on the
findings of
the report and ensure that football can contribute to tackle a number
of local
and national issues. "Through the established partnerships and
joint financial commitment we seek a strong, vibrant Welsh Premier."
And if it aint broke dont fix it. The WP is a means to an end, a wheelbarrow to move sand. The sand is the important thing. And the sand is fine just as it is - thank you very much. |
| The original Welsh Assembly terms
of reference were: The Communities, Equality and Local
Government Committee is to
undertake an inquiryinto the Welsh Premier League.The terms of
reference for
the inquiry are to look at issues around the Welsh Premier League (WPL)
including:
the extent to which the standards of
football in
the WPL have developed during the past 20 years; the
competition format, looking at possible alternative models such as a
move to a
summer season; the
development and progression of players, coaches and managers from the
WPL to
other levels of the game; how
the WPL contributes towards player development and participation at
lower
levels, including issues of equality of opportunity; the
WPL’s standing within the Welsh sporting landscape and its visibility
in Welsh
media outlets; the
member clubs, their infrastructure and resources; how the
FAW’s recent
Strategic Plan 2012 will contribute towards strengthening the WPL, and
how the
WPL will contribute towards the Strategic Plan’s aims. |
