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GROUNDBLOG DAYS - JANUARY 2009
05/01/2009

The 2008-09 blog continues, the editor recording his travels throughout the season. If you enjoy reading these articles, please make sure you buy the magazine regularly too - that's what keeps us in business !!

SATURDAY 3RD JANUARY 2009 - The GenQuip Stadium
PORT TALBOT TOWN 1 ABERYSTWYTH TOWN 1 (Principality Welsh Premier League)
Wales is in the grip of “The Big Freeze”. On New Year’s Day, hopes of a game had been dashed when Carmarthen, the Port Talbot, were forced to admit defeat against the elements. And although two days later, the sun is shining on the first Saturday of 2009, games are off in all parts of the country. So, when Port Talbot Town issue an email saying “No problems expected” after a 9.30 inspection, today’s venue is quickly decided. Town, under new management since I saw them lose to Porthmadog last month, are entertaining Aberystwyth Town, who have been enjoying a good season – unless the old adage is true, that you’re only as good as your last result. Aber were thrashed 5-1 at Haverfordwest at Christmas.

For the second time in a month, I make the trek from Port Talbot Parkway out to the GenQuip Stadium, or Victoria Road as we used to call it: signs of the times abound as I make my way through the Afan Shopping Centre, with 70% discounts in the desperate sales as retailers try to stay afloat – but it’s quieter than an average Saturday. Near the exit, Woolworth’s has closed it doors for the last time – passing shoppers forlornly read the notices in its window, as if that will make any difference.

At the ground, I’m greeted by the welcoming sight of pre-match preparations – game most definitely on. The pitch is firm but OK, except a patch in front of the new stand that has not caught the morning sun, and is still hard. Apart from this minor quibble it’s a great afternoon for watching football (provided you’re wearing multiple thermal layers). Sadly, even with football decimated by the weather, Town have not attracted many extra fans to this game – a meagre attendance of 262 is scant reward for their efforts.

Not such a great day for playing the game, maybe. When the match gets underway, it’s clear the ball is bouncing high, oddly like a baked midsummer pitch; it’s also clear players are avoiding injury by cutting out the more reckless challenges. The preferred tactic on both sides is to hoof the ball up in the air, which means this game is destined not to be a classic. One or two players risk a run with the ball, notably slender Drew Fahiya, who has the misfortune to be on the frozen wing in the shadow of the stand: he gets clattered off the pitch for his trouble.

But after 27 minutes of minimal excitement, Port Talbot conjure a goal out of nothing. A ball in from the right and Darren Davies fires it inside the left hand post, with maybe the benefit of a deflection off a defender’s boot. The game opens up a bit, with the odd chance coming at either end, but no more goals before the break.

After half-time, with the chill breeze picking up from the east, and the temperature dropping with the setting sun, what we really need is a gripping spectacle. What we get is more fairly undistinguished end to end fare. Chances yes, goals no. It looks as though Port Talbot can hang on, and maybe they just deserve to. I find myself checking my watch, looking forward to a brisk walk back to the station. But by contrast, Aber haven’t lost interest: their attacks become more menacing, and Kristian Rogers takes a painful tumble on the hard ground claiming one cross. A few minutes later, he is unable to claim another, and Bari Morgan fires home from close range. The goal is enough to secure a point, and the point is enough to take Aber into fourth place. They will be pleased they braved the freeze to come down here today. The home side can point to new boss Mark Jones’s unbeaten record, but they no doubt hoped for 3 points and a bumper crowd as reward for staging the game. Life, and football, are not always fair.

GROUNDBLOG DAYS - DECEMBER 2008
07/12/2008

SATURDAY 6th DECEMBER - Jubilee Way
CALDICOT TOWN 0 CWMBRAN CELTIC 0 after extra time (Nathaniel Car Sales Welsh League Cup Round 2)
An interesting Gwent derby in the Welsh League Cup looks as interesting as anything available within range today, and it is quite a while since I last saw a game at Jubilee Way – now actually the home of Gwent’s top club (not counting Newport County). Caldicot’s rise to that position is, of course, as much a result of the demise of Cwmbran Town as anything else. An added bonus is that the town’s second club, Caldicot Castle, are at home in the Gwent County League Cup today, and I resolve to call in at the Castle Ground some time during the afternoon.

Caldicot is served by an infrequent train timetable, but at least I can get there at just about the right time, the town centre ground only a 10-minute walk up from the station. Jubilee Way is a well-appointed little ground, with a fine clubhouse and a large covered terrace in one corner. It must have a low capacity, so close is the perimeter fence to the pitch railing on three sides, but in the Welsh League this never matters. As on my last visit – a farcically postponed game lat season against Ton Pentre – the goalmouth near the clubhouse has standing water, but it’s a fine and sunny, if cold, afternoon and the pitch is in good condition otherwise.

Visitors Cwmbran Celtic, from a division below the home side, take the field without a number 6 – not a shortage of players, but shirts; they have had to change colours at short notice. Early action suggests they will counter Town’s passing game and superior technique with enthusiasm and a robust approach. They create a couple of early chances, but soon Town take a grip in midfield. They have tendency to play intricate short passing moves, attractive football, but often leading to nothing when it breaks down. Towards the end of the half, Jason Thorn has a good one-on-one chance but lifts the ball over the bar as well as Celtic keeper Tom Morgan. This is the closest we come to a goal, and it seems the main action is to come later.

I forego a half-time cuppa for the quick dash up Church Road to Caldicot Castle, where the second half has just got underway at the tree-lined ground right by the castle entrance. Castle’s pitch is far boggier than Town’s but still playable. As I enter the ground, the first action I see is visitors Abercarn taking a 2-1 lead early in the second half. I could stay and watch the second half here, but chances of a shock here look limited: after all, higher-ranked Abercarn should go on to protect this lead. After 10 minutes I head back to Jubilee Way, where the second half is now underway – the score unchanged.

The second 45 minutes at Jubilee Way follow a familiar pattern: Caldicot pass the ball nicely in midfield, but create only half-chances. Celtic create even fewer, but their keeper Morgan does well to tip a few long-range efforts over his crossbar to keep the score level. As the sun goes down, and it becomes distictly chilly, we head into extra time with no-one present really expecting a goal now. In the closing stages, Celtic almost snatch a win, Winter’s 30-yard effort rebounding from the crossbar. But there is an air of inevitability about proceedings as the teams prepare for a penalty shoot-out in the gathering gloom – in these environmentally-conscious (or is it cost-conscious ?) days, the floodlights stay off.

The shoot-out is decided early: young Luke Harris caps a fine substitute performance with the opening goal for Town, and his keeper James Smallcombe promptly saves Celtic’s first attempt. The second Celtic penalty hits the crossbar and stays out, and they don’t score until the third attempt. By then Town need only one more, to win 4-1, and that’s what they do.

I hurry away, forced by the extended proceedings to return home from Severn Tunnel Junction, a mile or two west, as I’ve missed the Caldicot train and face a two hour wait for the next one. The long walk keeps out the cold though, and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss the final action for the sake of getting home an hour earlier.

[Postscript: I see that Caldicot Castle beat Abercarn 4-3, so I probably could have seen a few goals at the Castle Ground and still got back to Jubilee Way for the shoot-out]

SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER - Tonteg Park
LLANTWIT FARDRE 1 AFC LLWYDCOED 2 (MacWhirter Welsh League div 3)
Some weeks no fixture on the list grabs you and demands your presence – and so it was this week. And how fortunate then, that 13th December became one of those days when it’s not a question of “which match do I want to see ?”, but rather “where is there a match definitely on ?”.

Torrential rain overnight and into mid-morning cast doubt over the entire fixture list in Wales, and a complete washout was only averted by a few dry hours before kick off. But waiting until mid-day, two hours before kick off, before confirming what is on, means my choices are limited to less than an hour’s travelling range. I try a few Amateur and Senior League games – mobiles not answered. But Llantwit Fardre are sure Tonteg Park will be playable, so it’s decided; Llantwit Fardre v AFC Llwydcoed hadn’t jumped out at me, and still doesn’t set the pulse racing. Maybe because I haven’t realised this is actually 1st v 2nd in the table; but more likely because I have negative memories of my last visit to Tonteg Park providing one of the least rewarding afternoons of my travels in recent years. But looking on the bright side, as it’s Welsh League, at least there will be a programme, refreshments etc.

There is also the consolation that this is one of the quickest home to ground journeys for me – a 20-minute walk to Manor Way then a brief bus ride on the 400 which leaves the A470, nips through the Treforest Estate and then magically ascends into the middle of Tonteg. Twenty minutes before kick-off, I’m standing at the bus stop on Manor Way, the bus already 15 minutes late getting up from Cardiff city centre (bah humbug ! Christmas shoppers !). But seven minutes later I’m in Tonteg and entering Tonteg Park, the public park that Llantwit Fardre have turned into a basic Welsh League venue.

Maybe it’s too early to be termed a “six-pointer”, but this is still a crucial game, especially for the home side, who lead the table but are vulnerable to sides below them with games in hand. But on entering the ground, the importance of the occasion is hardly apparent: the public park setting doesn’t help, but failing to charge admission or even issue a programme for a top of the table game is unforgivable (as well as contravening league rules). Of course I have sympathy for unpaid club officials – we all struggle to balance our commitments; but if the programme editor was too busy, then someone else should have stepped in. Llantwit fought hard to attain Welsh League status, but what’s the point if they are going to stage matchdays to local league standards ?

When the game gets underway, one man immediately takes centre stage: unfortunately it’s the referee. The game is constantly interrupted by the whistle, and yellow cards are flashing. It’s not long before he awards ‘Coed a penalty for use of the elbow from a corner – oddly only a yellow card for what must have been seen as violent conduct. It’s converted. Soon after, a visiting forward is sent from the pitch to remove jewelry. Sadly the game never really flows, though Llwydcoed look the sharper side and seem to be heading for the interval in command. But just before the break, a purposeful run by a home player is halted on the edge of the box and they are awarded a penalty. This too is converted so the teams go in level at 1-1.

With the shadows already lengthening and the temperature starting to fall as the second half gets underway just after 3pm, Llwydoed seem to have emerged the more purposeful. They almost take the lead from the restart, and dominate for around ten minutes. Eventually the pressure pays off with a second goal, at last one from open play (that’s around 200 minutes I’ve watched since my last). Llantwit Fardre respond by taking the game to the visitors, and enjoy at least as much possession, though significantly without actually creating any clear-cut chances. Five minutes from the end, and the afternoon produces its almost inevitable red card. It’s been a fairly bad-tempered affair, and whether it’s the importance of the game, the nature of the teams or the referee himself, somehow this was always coming: a lunge in midfield fells a Llwydcoed player and his assailant walks. The ten men can’t find a way through and the visitors return up the Cynon Valley having gone top of Division Three.

SATURDAY 20TH DECEMBER: Kingsmeadow
AFC WIMBLEDON 3 NEWPORT COUNTY AFC 0 (Blue Square Conference South)
A departure from the usual in this week’s blog entry, with a game outside Wales; far from devoid of Welsh interest, though. Some readers of this site won’t know that Wimbledon FC were ‘my’ team from an early age, hence regular pilgrimages like this to their spiritual successors, AFC Wimbledon. The opportunity to see them take on Wales’s only Blue Square South club is too good to miss. Indeed, I think this is a first for me, a fixture between two clubs in which I am a shareholder – back when Newport AFC were formed in 1989, I chipped in with one share, supporting the principle of ownership. Whereas when the Dons were formed six years ago, I took a rather larger number of shares.

The clubs met at Spytty Park on the opening day of the season, the Dons scoring an impressive 4-1 win, but fortunes inevitably fluctuate in four months and this return game is no foregone conclusion. The Dons’ form is inconsistent despite their play-off placing, while County’s relegation-zone league position belies a recent a fine and unlucky performance over two game against Rushden and Diamonds in the FA Trophy. How County react to that penalties defeat in the Midlands four days ago could be crucial today, not just for the result, but for manager Dean Holdsworth's tenure. He's only been in post a few months after replacing the odious Peter Beadle, but there is already a very public lobby for his sacking. Now the Trophy interest is over, he must be vulnerable.

Despite the pre-Christmas date, a few hundred Newport fans have made the journey, and a crowd of almost 3,000 has gathered on a mild December afternoon in south-west London. The visiting fans, segregated and policed at the Kingston Road end, are in good voice both before the kick off and as the game gets underway, and they are rewarded with some action early in the match as County force several corners in front of them. A couple of half-chances arise, though the home defence deals competently with everything.

The early action is interesting enough, but a diversion takes place in front of us in the stand: a few County fans have infiltrated the home seats, inviting trouble (or maybe intent on causing it). It’s AFC’s mascot, Haydon the Womble, who has the task of asking them to move – a neat tactic this, presumably based on the hope that a potential flashpoint will be de-fused by the presence of a comic figure. It doesn’t entirely work this time, as one loud and bellicose visitor promptly abuses and attacks a home fans behind him. He is swiftly bundled away by the police.

Back to the action, and the Dons are settling after County’s early flurry, and starting to test the visiting defence with their pace. From Wimbledon’s first corner, after 20 minutes, Danny Kedwell arrives to blast the ball into the County net. County’s fans look uneasy now; and there’s much less singing from their end.

As the first half progresses, Wimbledon look the more likely to score. A couple of County attacks look promising, and opportunities present themselves from free-kicks, but home keeper Pullen is not put under much pressure. In stoppage time, Danny Kedwell chases a long ball for the Dons, his pace beating the defenders: he rounds County keeper Glyn Thompson and takes his time before stroking the ball into the net. Before the half-time whistle can sound, the away terrace is emptying as dejected fans head for refreshments.

The second half brings no significant change to the shape of the game, though Newport again start fairly brightly without really creating anything of note. They are pushing a long way up the field though, and exposing themselves to Wimbledon’s runners. This leads to a fair amount of pressure, especially as the County players seem to be tiring – understandable given their week. Any thoughts of a fight-back are ended about 20 minutes into the half when John Main sees a weak shot blocked, but gets a second chance when the ball is floated back into the box. His header deflects it past Thompson.

More goals might come, but don’t. Substitutions do, making little difference. The most poignant note of the afternoon comes when County boss Dean Holdsworth pulls off Ashley Vickers, and sends on Wrexham reject Rob Duffy. The Newport fans strike up a half-hearted chant of “You don’t know what you’re doing”. The end can’t come soon enough for them and their disenchantment is obvious. At the exit, “shocking” seems to be the verdict. A harsh one, it seems to me, after the exertions of midweek, but they are understandably unhappy about the prospect of a wasted season, with nothing left but a fight against relegation.

SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER : Maes-y-Coed Road
ST. JOSEPH’S 1 FAIRWATER 2 (Thomas Carroll S. Wales Senior League)
I’m almost caught out by the morning’s bright sunshine – seemingly enough to banish all fears of frostbound pitches ? But no, news filters through at lunchtime of games off – even in Cardiff – so my planned trip to the Rhondda derby at Ton Pentre is aborted before I can waste the train fare and a precious afternoon travelling in vain.

The search for a game that is on proves frustrating: in these days of instant information and enhanced communication, Welsh football clubs and leagues are still resolutely uninformative. Clubs now quote mobile numbers as contacts – but almost every mobile you try on a Saturday morning is unanswered. Leagues have websites, ideal for quick public display of latest information – but perversely, postponements aren’t displayed (rare honourable mention for the South Wales Senior League – they at least posted one postponement this morning, something no other south Wales league had managed to do by 12 noon).

Eventually, enquiries reveal two options: Grange Quins (whom I visited recently) and St. Joseph’s, just round the corner for me. As the Joes had actually returned my call with positive news after their pitch inspection, and as they are entertaining Fairwater, reigning Senior League champions, I opt for them today. Walking distance to the ground means I can time it so I arrive five minutes before kick off, so no hanging around in the bitter cold wind. No pre-match niceties here either, no programme to buy, no refreshments, and not even a welcoming club official to talk to – senior football, parks atmosphere. So it’s straight into the action.

Fairwater have their usual band of followers on ‘their side’ of the pitch, outnumbering the St. Joseph’s contingent, which seems to consist only of officials and subs. There’s plenty of encouragement though from both sides, plenty of appeals / protests / outrage at every challenge and every decision. As it’s a full-blooded Cardiff derby, with no challenge shirked, this means plenty of shouting, which at least creates an atmosphere. Both sides start in positive mood, with chances created, but Fairwater let slip a couple of early opportunities and pay the price on 15 minutes when the ball is not cleared, and it’s cut back from the line for a close-range finish: 1-0. Nothing is going the champions’ way at this stage, with most of the free-kicks against them too, their challenges sometimes a bit too rash.

But as the half progresses, Fairwater come into the game and start to enjoy possession in the Joes’ half. It is no great surprise then when a short corner on the left is chipped goalwards and headed home at the far post. All square at half time, the Joes opting for a short break and staying on the field, but Fairwater disappearing into the changing rooms. Can’t say I blame them for being tempted by ten minutes respite from the. But the result is an awkward wait, when St. Joe’s want to re-start early and urge the referee to whistle the visitors back onto the pitch.

The second half gets underway with the houses on the south-west side casting long shadows two-thirds of the way across the pitch in the strong but wintry sunshine. The game is an even contest, with Fairwater increasingly direct in approach – keeper Loveless attacks the ball frequently, releasing it quickly with a hefty kick upfield for chasing or flicking on. This creates chances aplenty, but they come to nothing. The robust challenges continue, with several players seeing yellow cards (the home side coming off worse it seems). Inside the last ten minutes, Fairwater seem to increase the tempo as they go in search of a winner. One neat move from a route-one ball and flick on ends with a shot rebounding from the post. Another sees a free-kick blasted twice the height of the goal. But as the 90 minutes draws to a close, another disputed free-kick 20 yards out gives Andre Phillips a chance to settle the game. His curled shot to the left hand corner is palmed by the home keeper but bobbles around between him and the post: the referee awards the goal (inevitably triggering fierce protests while Fairwater celebrate exhuberantly) but my neutral view, from behind the goal, is that he got this one right.

Fairwater hold out comfortably enough through stoppage time and celebrate victory, a hard-won three points. Though St. Joesph’s matched them at times, in the closing stages Fairwater just seemed to want it more. Hard to argue with the result, but Fairwater could work on their generosity in victory: as the teams leave the pitch, cries of “You’re just a pub team, you deserved nothing from that” really aren’t going to win any plaudits for sportsmanship.

GROUNDBLOG DAYS - NOVEMBER 2008
08/11/2008

The Editor blogs his impressions of a season of football in Wales. These articles are organised by month, and complement the material in the printed magazine. If you enjoy visiting these pages on our website, please support the magazine by taking out a subscription....

SATURDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2008
AFC LLWYDCOED 1 FLINT TOWN UNITED 0 (Welsh Cup Round 3)
An extremely cold spell of weather at the end of October has had me dithering over my choice of Welsh Cup Third Round ties: initially thinking of heading to north Wales, I focus on games nearer home and finally decide that Llwydcoed’s recent form suggests they might give Cymru Alliance visitors Flint a hard game, despite being two levels lower in the pyramid system. The prospect of the exposed hilltop recreation ground on a cold, windy day isn’t quite enough to deter me and the choice is made.

So, for the second time in a month, I catch the Cynon Valley train, this time going all the way to Aberdare and changing for the local bus. What should be a simple ten minute journey up from Aberdare, isn’t. There’s a big hole opened up in the road that leads up to Llwydcoed and the buses can’t go up it, meaning a lengthy detour via Hirwaun. Fortunately I’ve not cut it fine and still have time to secure my programme and a warm drink inside the community centre before venturing out into the cold to watch the match.

The teams seem to be sizing each other up in the early stages, and Flint in particular are struggling to cope with the quirky pitch. Built on steeply rising ground, it slopes side to side and falls away quite sharply on the community centre side, even though the touchline has been set more than 10 yards in from the fence. As a result, the ball is frequently carried off that side when on flatter surfaces it would stay in play on the wing. As the teams jostle, referee Thomas is constantly exhorting all and sundry to “keep your hands down, gentlemen”, dropping the “gentlemen” as the half progresses. Meanwhile Flint keeper Andy Hughes seems anxious: every few minutes he asks whoever is nearest in the crowd what the time is !

The first half ends as it started: even and goalless. Flint seem to be a little more comfortable on the ball in the closing stages, but solid and direct defending by ‘Coed keeps them at bay. At half time, in the welcome warmth of the community centre, spectators speculate that Flint may start to express themselves more after the break.

But the visitors again disappoint once the play resumes. They lack a real cutting edge and still seem to lack the sort of team cohesion I’d expect from a side of their standing. As the half progresses, the prospect of extra time looms – with the temperature now falling, most of us would prefer to see this settled in 90 minutes. With about a quarter of an hour to go, our prayers are answered (well, not those of Flint’s travelling supporters) as Craig Hewiit picks up the ball about 20 yards out and gets a fine, low drive on target. Clock-watcher Hughes can’t reach it as it sails past into the corner of his net.

Forced to press forward, Flint mount some desperate attacks as the game slips away from them. But Llwydcoed make a fine job of holding the ball and relieving the pressure wherever possible, and Flint can’t really have any complaints about the result in the end. Llwydcoed are the lowest-ranked side in the last 16 and have to wait until next year for their next assignment (which turns out to be Aberystwyth Town at home…)

SATURDAY 8th NOVEMBER 2008 – The Marl
ST. MARY’S / BUTETOWN 1 TRELEWIS AFC 2 (SWFA Senior Cup Round 2)
It’s one of those weeks when, however long you stare at the fixture list, inspiration never comes. At one time the forecast of a day of heavy rain had me assuming my choices would be dictated by a need for shelter, but later it emerges that Saturday afternoon should be a dryish interlude between weather fronts.

With Wales playing their first rugby international of the season, at home to world champions South Africa, it seems everyone is heading into town; I join them, heading for a historic home of international sport – except in my case it’s the Marl in Grangetown, more famous for Welsh baseball than anything else. To get to the Marl, from Grangetown station, I walk down Clive Street, a wide boulevard which retains some of its 19th century majesty thanks to its architecture, despite Grangetown’s reputation as one of the poorer parts of the capital.

The Marl is a huge park area, regenerated a couple of years ago, with vistas of old and new Cardiff, as well as rich and poor Cardiff – old Grangetown, new Cardiff Bay; Channel View high rise flats, and Windsor Quay apartments. The park is now home to St. Mary’s Butetown of the Senior League, who are entertaining Amateur League Trelewis, in that odd competition, the South Wales Senior Cup. Unlike other regional FAs, the SWFA’s senior cup isn’t contested by its big clubs from the Welsh Premier, Welsh League etc., but just by members of the two rival local leagues that span the region. Normally its final is held largely unannounced on a weekday evening at an unenticing venue.

This may be ‘senior’ football, but apart from the railing round the pitch, the experience is that of parks football: no facilities, no welcome, no programme etc. I know the Senior League was created to provide a route into senior football for clubs without facilities, especially city clubs, but surely they should do something to differentiate themselves from the dozens of outfits who play in the Cardiff District and Combination Leagues ? Like selling a programme or teamsheet, or even just raffle tickets, maybe.

Neither side has been going well in their respective leagues, so my expectations of this fixture aren’t high; which, as it turns out, is just as well. There is little quality on display here. Trelewis look the more direct – in fact almost adopting a shoot-on-sight policy. The home side seem to have some wannabe ball players, but flashes of skill aren’t enough. At one stage they string together a move with a series of neat one-twos, but it comes to nought and sadly is never repeated.

Suddenly, the visitors take the lead with a shot from the edge of the box. Within a couple of minutes, a remarkably well-executed lob makes it 0-2. St Mary’s seem to recover from this shock and pull a goal back through a persistent run by their diminutive number 6, and at half time they seem confident they can turn the game round. They have observed that Trelewis “aren’t all that” and conclude they should therefore beat them easily.

As it turns out, St. Mary’s may have over-estimated their own strengths. The second half brings chances at both ends, and indeed a couple of especially fine saves by the Trelewis keeper, but the visitors’ lead stays intact throughout a fairly unmemorable, and increasingly chilly, 45 minutes. Trelewis advance, flying the Amateur League flag, on a day when honours are fairly evenly shared between the two rival leagues in this round of the cup.

SATURDAY 15TH NOVEMBER … Chippenham Sports Ground
MONMOUTH TOWN 0 BRITON FERRY ATHLETIC 2 (MacWhirter Welsh League Division Three)
Three years ago I visited Monmouth Town when they were an aspiring Gwent county Division Two side; at the time this border town was clearly emerging from its mostly under-achieving football past thanks to a new regime with a vision. In due course, they achieved successive promotions and arrived in the Welsh League in 2007. I meant to re-visit last season, but never managed it. 2007/08 brought a respectable placing but the current season has started disastrously for the Kingfishers, with eight straight defeats spanning September and October beginning to suggest a crisis at The Nest.

I resolved recently to go back to Monmouth to see what was wrong, but the news that Andy Beattie had taken over as manager, and secured a point in his first game in charge, meant that my mission today has changed subtly: now I hope I’m there to witness the turning of the corner.

The lovely town of Monmouth isn’t the easiest to reach by public transport, but on this occasion I’m fortunate to have a lift. A couple of dryer days have lifted the threat of postponements, and apart from an oppressive gloom from low cloud, conditions are fine for football at the town centre Monmouth Sports Ground that serves as home for the local rugby, football and cricket clubs.

The man on the gate sells us a couple of programmes from a large pile, and a fair-sized crowd has assembled. Sadly, one man who isn’t here today is Andy Beattie – Wales Women’s managerial duties demand his presence elsewhere. Monmouth’s beleaguered chairman tells me of the hostile reaction in the town to the replacement of former boss Nick Oxford. Understandable maybe on a personal level, but the logic in football terms seems undeniable: a team which by the end of October had lost every game, except one against true crisis club Merthyr Saints, was obviously in need of a change, and procrastinating with these awkward decisions can be fatal in a relegation battle.

Mid table Briton Ferry, relegated from Division Two in the summer, are today’s visitors. Ferry have been in decline for years, but they do seem to have halted the slide with a young side this term. As the game starts, they initially look the more composed but Town start to compete and the first half settles into a very even pattern. But it’s clear early on this isn’t going to be a classic – my wife’s reading of the game leads her to head off to the shops well before the interval. The best chances of the half fall to Town, and they might have just shaded it on possession, but a worrying hesitancy in the final third sees their opportunities pass them by. They also manage to pick up several yellow cards from unsympathetic referee Gardiner. However, 0-0 at half time is encouraging enough for a team in their position.

The second half rapidly goes downhill for the home side. It’s only a few minutes old when a cross into their box sees a defender head the ball past his own keeper. A few chances to get on terms are frittered away by forwards who want too long on the ball, and with half an hour left the game is well beyond them, Ferry doubling their lead and Town reduced to ten men when skipper Smith hurls the ball away in frustration at a disputed decision and receives his second yellow card. Ferry might have extended their advantage, though that would have been a trifle harsh, and the score stays at 0-2 until the final whistle.

The afternoon has illustrated Monmouth’s problems: with an amateur team, in a tough division, and looking very short on leadership and confidence, and perhaps discipline too, Mr. Beattie has a job on his hands. There is ability in the side he has inherited, but he needs to get them into a winning frame of mind. Unfortunately for him, their next two home games are against AFC Porth and Porthcawl Town, both of whom are challenging for promotion.

SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2008 – The Genquip Stadium
PORT TALBOT TOWN 1 CPD PORTHMADOG 3 (Principality Welsh Premier League)
With so many Welsh Premier league games arranged for Fridays, and a dearth of south-east Wales teams, I don’t get to see as much top flight football as I would like. But today Port Talbot are at home, and with a cold, damp day forecast the lure of a ground with plenty of cover and nice warm clubhouse wins over the alternative attractions in the FAW Trophy.

With the whole nation focused on Wales v NZ at the Millennium Stadium this evening, travel has to be planned with an eye on transport disruption and overcrowding. Fortunately I am out of Cardiff and heading west about four hours before kick off – but already at Central Station, every incoming train is disgorging red-shirted hordes heading for the bars; by 5pm many will be in no state to appreciate the finer points of the autumn international…

I often find myself paying my first visit to Port Talbot around this time of year, as much because of the weather as anything else. A year ago, there was gloom after a miserable start had ended all interest in the season, but although again results have been inconsistent this autumn, there is a mood of optimism – heightened by a shock 3-2 win at leaders Rhyl last week. Visitors Porthmadog too are in good spirits after holding second-placed Llanelli a week ago, and their campaign so far is already miles better than 2007/08. In the clubhouse before the game, I observe fans and officials of the two clubs renewing acquaintances and stopping for a chat; some visitors buy the home club’s raffle tickets. Nice to see respect shown alongside rivalry, especially in a professional competition like the WPL. It occurs to me that today’s match brings together two very different versions of Welshness, both stereotypical in their ways: Porthmadog, the Wales of mountains, great little trains and Welsh as the first language; and Port Talbot, the Wales of heavy industry, coal and steel, English speakers – and rugby.

The thin crowd of 146 (not unexpected on a rugby international day) ventures out into the cold wind and the game gets underway. The Blues, looking confident, win a few early corners, teenage star Drew Fahiya positioning himself on the line despite being physically dominated by the defenders around him. Nothing much comes of these early attacks and suddenly Porthmadog’s Marc Lloyd-Williams latches onto a through ball on the left and fires it smartly past Roberts, recording his 289th WPL goal. Port Talbot continue to shade the possession and win countless corners. The visiting defence deals effectively with all the crosses until the 29th minutes, when Martin Rose gets to one first and heads an equaliser.

Port Talbot’s fans believe again – but their mood of celebration (tinged with relief) is soon shattered in dramatic fashion: just three minutes after the equaliser, Steve Kehoe launches a fierce shot out of nothing, from 30 yards or more out. Keeper Roberts is in line with it, seems to touch it, but can’t deflect it enough to stop the ball crashing off the crossbar and into the net. Porthmadog back in front, and growing in confidence all the time. No second equaliser comes before the break, despite chances. Porthmadog’s Mike Foster gets into a debate with referee Jones near the end of the half and twice seems to be let off with a warning: but Foster will not let up until he has seen a card, and eventually Jones pulls out a yellow for him. I half expect Foster to come back for me, maybe demand a red, but he seems to settle down after this.

By half time Port Talbot boss Nicky Tucker is starting to make changes: David Biggs goes off at half time to be replaced by Matthew Rees, and with half an hour left he’s followed by Drew Fahiya, who has made a few good runs but not made a huge impression on the game today. The changes don’t do the trick, though: in the 60th minute Kehoe again receives the ball 30 yards out and shoots – this time low and hard. It’s 3-1 and Port Talbot have half an hour to score two goals to salvage a point.

In fact, during those 30 minutes, Port Talbot have two gilt-edged chances and several more good situations: Rose and sub McCreesh look odds on to score, two on one versus Port’ keeper Vickers, but they contrive to miss. Rose is again through with only Vickers to beat, but fails again. It’s not Port Talbot’s day, and the crowd, quieter than usual, seems to know it. The game drifts towards its conclusion, with Porthmadog deserving the points for the way they have taken their chances.

I return via the capital without disruption from the big event in the Millennium Stadium: as I pass through the city, all is calm, during that eye-of-the-storm period while everyone has taken up their place in the stadium or in front of a wide screen in a bar. Wales are failing to make history, as it turns out, and many coaches of Welshmen will be subdued tonight on the long journey home, thinking about what might have been. But not Porthmadog’s small band of red and black clad followers – they will savour a fine win and some goal-of-the-season contenders, and after the tribulations of last season, who can begrudge them ?

[Postscript: Town sacked Nick Tucker immediately after the game, almost a year since his appointment. He had demanded commitment, focus and attitude before the game, according to www.porttalbottown.co.uk. But he was expecting it from the players, not the committee]

SATURDAY 29th NOVEMBER - Riverside Park
CARDIFF CORINTHIANS 1 ENTO ABERAMAN 2 (Welsh League div 1)
I’m lured to Radyr by the visit of Welsh League promotion contenders Aberaman – to face a Corries side which is itself enjoying a successful season in the top half of the table. The weather is very cold, but a little bit of wintry sun makes it a pleasant enough afternoon for the long walk across north Cardiff.

These two clubs play in the same division, and share the distinction of long and fascinating histories, but today they are very different creatures indeed. The corries remain proud of and true to their amateur roots, surviving at this senior level on a conveyor belt of good young players and enough more experienced members who understand the ‘recreational’ side of the game. Aberaman, on the other hand, are now a professionally run and ambitious club which has attracted a number of accomplished and well-known players who rely on their football income to some extent. Nothing wrong in that, just different.

In the first half, the Corries demonstrate why they have been doing well this season, even though today they are without two first-choice strikers. It is fitting that one of the youngsters gives them the lead, James Hughes drilling a fine low shot into the corner of the net. Unfortunately for them, the lead is short-lived, as Dean Morris swoops to score when a corner is knocked down in the box. 1-1 at half time a fair reflection of the 45 minutes.

The second half is a different story, Corries now finding it harder to penetrate the Aberaman defence and creating few chances, despite tireless effort. Young sub Gareth Delve particularly impresses when joining the action, but Corries pay the price for ball-watching from a set piece as Jon Phillips scores from close range to seal the win for ENTO.

GROUNDBLOG DAYS - OCTOBER 2008
12/10/2008

The Editor blogs his impressions of a season of football in Wales. These articles are organised by month, and complement the material in the printed magazine. If you enjoy visiting these pages on our website, please support the magazine by taking out a subscription....

FRIDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2008
WALES UNDER-21’s 2 ENGLAND UNDER-21’s 3
(European Under 21 Tournament play-off 1st leg) Ninian Park, Cardiff

In its final season, Ninian Park gets one last big international occasion, the eagerly-awaited under-21 play-off game against England. Brian Flynn’s young players have done so well to get this far, but have rather unluckily drawn Stuart Pearce’s English lads. The other complication is the competing demands of the senior squad, who have World Cup group games 24 hours after each leg of the play-off, so Flynn is deprived of Ched Evans, Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter…. The team he fields has only a handful of Premiership appearances, whereas England’s players have hundreds.

Reflecting on the last time the under-21s played here, the contrast in atmosphere is striking: it’s partly that England are the visitors, but it’s also true that following that memorable win over France last winter, Flynn’s young team has really caught the public imagination. Over 10,000 fans fill the stadium, though unfortunately UEFA rules prevent the front of the Bob Bank being occupied, which makes the atmosphere a little bit less intimidating for the visitors. Nevertheless, there’s more than an echo of the old ground’s international past in the air tonight.

As play gets underway, the confidence and tempo of the Welsh play is immediately uplifting. Quick passing and movement makes life difficult for England, though they too look dangerous in the early exchanges with Agbonlahor of Villa clearly a threat. But Wales draw first blood: Aaron Ramsey is the architect of the goal, his through ball forcing a hurried clearance which ricochets to Simon Church, who scores comfortably. The dream is still alive…

But the Welsh crowd is brought down to earth by two England goals, a unchallenged header and then a fine individual goal after the Wales defence is left stretched and exposed. Half time approaching, Wales step up a gear and Church finds himself in space: he fires in an equaliser and the atmosphere comes alive again.

The second half is as frenetic as the first, with Wales playing their attractive short-passing game, but finding the physical presence of the English lads a real stumbling block. It is fitting, but disappointing, that the winning goal is attributable to English muscle. The burly Huddlestone knocks Rhoys Wiggins off the ball on the touchline, no foul is given, and he is able to cross for Agbonlahor to touch home. Wales fight for an equaliser, but it’s too big a task to draw level again. Game over. We wrote young Wales off away to Romania and they surprised us; I’m tempted to discount their chances at Villa Park on Tuesday, but there’s still a glimmer of hope.

SATURDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2008
WALES 2 LIECHTENSTEIN 0 (World Cup qualifying, Millennium stadium)
For the second month running, an autumn Saturday sees Wales entertain one of international football’s minnows on a Saturday afternoon. A glorious sunny day it is too, and I can’t help regretting the loss of most domestic football today, especially given the ravages of the weather in the first two months of the season. With the game at the Millennium Stadium not kicking off until the odd time of 5.30, local leagues should surely have been allowed to play lunchtime kick-offs if they wished.

Once again, despite the attendance being just about respectable for such a non-contest, the Stadium feels very empty with 60,000 unoccupied seats. A small attendance in this venue doesn’t generate atmosphere, but a five-figure crowd could get a decent chant going (they did at Ninian last night). Sadly, no-one sings or chants here, and the biggest single reason is that the cacophony of kids’ air-horns drowns out all other noise during the game.

With Craig Bellamy back for Wales, lining up with fellow Premiership stars like Jason Koumas, Gareth Bale and Lewin Nyatanga, there is an expectation that Wales will slaughter the visitors. When the goals fail to materialise, the mood of boredom and frustration is palpable, and must affect the players. This is really deja-vu, the Azerbaijan experience all over again. Eventually, late in the first half, David Edwards breaks the deadlock, then barely more than a minute later Bellamy has the chance to put the game beyond the Liechtenstein side, but hits a poor penalty which Jehle saves. As the second half drags on, and Liechtenstein have the odd chance, I even find myself thinking the unthinkable – what if they equalise ? Wales desperately need a second goal, and despite getting to the goal-line repeatedly, the crosses never bear fruit. A scrappy second goal finally comes, Ched Evans’s header deflecting past Jehle. The three points safe again, but far from inspiring. As I leave the stadium, I look forward to getting back to the excitement of grass roots cup football next week.

SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER - Pentwynmawr Welfare Ground
PENTWYNMAWR ATHLETIC 11 RHAYADER TOWN 1 (FAW Trophy Rd. 3)

I’ve watched plenty of football recently – averaging over 2 games a week – but it’s actually 3 weeks since I watched a domestic Welsh game, and I’m glad to get back into routine today. What makes it even better is that it’s FAW Trophy day and I’m paying a visit at last to Pentwynmawr – after planning to watch a game here on several occasions last season, and then having to revise plans for various reasons. Another added bonus today – I’m travelling by train on the Ebbw Valley line, for the first time since it opened earlier in the year.

The 40-minute journey from Cardiff to Newbridge is a groundhopper’s delight, offering passing glimpses of several sports grounds, from a new angle: Whiteheads AFC, Rogerstone Welfare, Risca United, Cross Keys RFC, Abercarn United and Newbridge RFC, plus a few more I can’t identify. The new station in Newbridge proves to be close to the town centre, from where it’s about a mile and a quarter to Pentwynmawr; it proves to be all uphill, so around 25 minutes walk.

The Welfare Ground is easily found from the main road – there are three side roads leading to the bank that runs along the south side of the pitch - actually an access road behind the backs of the houses. To the left are the community hall and changing room buildings, while the ground drops away steeply on the far, north side.

A fine programme is on sale - in plentiful supply too, which is unusual at this level – and the home clubs seems to be professionally run. The visitors though, are in some disarray, with only a bare 11 players having made the journey. What is it with players these days ? It’s not as if Rhayader to north Gwent is the worst journey you’re going to get in a national competition.

When the game starts (10 minutes early, as everyone seems to have agreed), it soon becomes clear that the key to this fixture is to be Rhayader’s depleted team, and especially the lack of a keeper: a shame, as on paper the tie had looked well-balanced, the mid Walians going well in the Spar League after winning promotion. Pentwynmawr, themselves promoted to the top flight of Gwent soccer this summer, start the game at a high tempo and captain Ross Joliffe heads them into an early lead, stand-in keeper Paul Jones stranded in no man’s land. He’s soon beaten by a close range finish and then another header. As the advertised kick-off time arrives, Athletic already lead 3-0. Poor Jones in the visitors’ goal is not enjoying his afternoon, and deserves sympathy: he’s not of the required age, build or mobility for this task and his reward for stepping into the breach is to keep picking the ball out of the net. His defence isn’t affording him much protection either.

Then the avalanche of goals subsides: Rhayader enjoy a better spell, mounting attacks and winning a penalty, which is converted. For another ten minutes or so they threaten to make a game of it, but the home defence is strong enough to repel further attacks. Then the action switches to the other end, a ‘route one’ through-ball being dispatched past Jones for 4-1, and then a speculative cross-cum-shot flashing in for 5-1. Half time arrives, Rhayader go inside, Pentwynmawr choose to stay on the pitch.

The second half is clearly academic, but the question is really how many Pentwynmawr will get. A penalty soon makes it 6-1, then a far post header for 7-1, and then substitute Gavin Webb gets in on the act, his shot going in off the bar. It’s soon 9-1 with the goals coming thick and fast, and Rhayader are soon reduced to ten men with defender Rhys Thomas limping and persuaded to come off – with no replacement. For a while the action subsides, Rhayader still pluckily playing football and getting forward. But before the end, Webb is able to complete his hat-trick with two simple goals when put through unchallenged. At 11-1 the referee blows for full time, a tad early by my reckoning, but no-one is complaining.

This was entertaining in its own way. Not the close contest I was anticipating, but a good reflection on the Pentwynmawr club, who have been thoroughly professional. For Rhayader, the day is best forgotten. Those who turned up and did their best deserve respect – the real culprits are those who let them down.

SATURDAY 25th OCTOBER - Cardiff Athletics Stadium
GRANGE HARLEQUINS 4 PONTYPRIDD TOWN 1 (Welsh League Div 2)
Much as everyone hated the old Cardiff Athletics Stadium at Leckwith, many of us have been looking forward to seeing the new version across the road: we expected to do so in August, but unexplained delays led to its opening being postponed two months. The uncertainty had almost cost Grange Quins their very existence, but thankfully they have survived, with the league’s indulgence.

By a strange co-incidence, the Quins’ opponents for their first ever game here are Pontypridd Town, who also nearly went out of existence in the summer but reappeared for the season after an extra month of close season to get their house in order. Of the two, Quins look in better shape, on a three-game winning run coming into the game.

I approach the new Stadium along Lawrenny Avenue, but later discover they’ve made a main entrance and car park on the main road after all. The huge stand is entered via a café area with vending machines, similar to the one at the old venue but much lighter and more pleasant. The design of the place is similar in so many ways to its predecessor, but with subtle differences. Outside, the pitch is again very distant, but opinions differ on whether it’s quite as much of a problem here as it used to be. The elevated view is again good, and most of the small crowd are up in the seats.

It’s surprising how small the crowd is: there’s hardly much fuss being made about the opening day, despite it getting a rare mention in the Echo on Friday evening. Both sides simply get on with the match-day as if it were like any other. It doesn’t take the home side long to score their first goal at their new home, Omar Abdillahi being put through and chipping a fine shot past the retreating defence. Ponty’s hopes are raised later in the half when Grant Thompson provides a cool finish to equalise, but they concede a crucial second goal to Abdillahi on the stroke of half-time.

The second half begins with Ponty on top; it seems only a matter of time before they equalise again, but Quins weather this storm and are coming back into the game when a cross from the right gets the Ponty defence in a mess, resulting in an own goal. At 3-1 down, the writing is now on the wall and the visitors never look like getting back into the game. A fourth Quins goal reflects their dominance late in the game.

Undoubtedly the least pomp and ceremony I’ve ever encountered on a ground’s opening day, but the entertainment on the field has been good. The Quins’ multi-racial team plays fine flowing football and I shall look forward to seeing them again as the season progresses.

GROUNDBLOG DAYS - AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2008
17/08/2008

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SATURDAY 16TH AUGUST 2008
TY ISAF PARK
RISCA UNITED 2 SEVEN SISTERS 2 after extra time. Risca won on penalties

Ah, the first Saturday of the football season: a pristine, freshly mown pitch with a surface like a bowling green and balmy summer weather. Well no, not exactly.

Severe weather warnings have forced a late change of plan, my long-intended trip to north Wales for the opening day’s Welsh Cup Preliminary Round being hastily substituted by a visit to Risca United’s game in the same competition. The attraction of Risca ? Simple – the shelter from the elements provided by the huge covered terrace.

The journey is straightforward on the frequent bus service from Newport, and on arrival Risca is as I remember it – remarkable only for the density of pubs in the High Street. The rain is more showery than expected as I make the familiar short walk round to the main entrance behind the stand. Caerphilly Council have hardly pulled out all the stops for the opening day of 2008/09. The pitch appears not to have been mowed for days, and the last cut must have been a rushed job, because there are stripes grass so long it would be out of place on a rugby field – bits that clearly got missed by a less than dedicated council employee.

The ground hasn’t changed since my last visit a couple of years ago, but the match programme contains the important news that United have at long last been granted permission to build a bloody great spiked fence around their facilities to keep the destructive locals out.

As the game between the two Welsh League third division sides gets underway at 2.30, the threatened heavy rain begins. At first, it could be a heavy shower, but it’s nothing of the sort – what follows takes place in mostly torrential rain, watched from the sanctuary of the covered terrace: I congratulate myself on a good decision, even if this wasn’t my original chosen match today.

The football proves to be OK, with Jeff Eckhardt’s Risca (the Cuckoos) creating a few chances but finding the visitors capable of causing a few problems too. The Sisters take a lead late in the first half with a finely struck free kick from the right wing that keeper Matthew Long fails to deal with. Again before the break, a second free-kick from the same spot hits the underside of Long’s bar but this one bounces clear. Risca’s opportunities to equalise are spurned, Andy Gay the main culprit. Initially the second half looks like following the same pattern, with Risca creating good chances but wasting them, until a lifeline appears in the form of a penalty. Now extra time looms, though again Risca have – and waste - the chances to win it in normal time.

Extra time brings no respite from the downpour but the match becomes increasingly open and entertaining, Risca taking the lead in the first period with a close range header but Seven Sisters levelling when a cross is allowed to run free in the box. And so to penalties…

Now home keeper Matthew Long hasn’t really distinguished himself so far, but all that changes during the shoot-out as he becomes the hero. He leaps high to deflect Sisters’ second spot-kick, but a miss by a team-mate cancels out that advantage. Then on the fourth kick, he dives low to block the shot, meaning the next Risca penalty only has to be scored… but it’s saved. Incredibly, Long pulls off another fine save and victory is secured.

Great entertainment in dreadful conditions. Risca will entertain Pontardawe Town in the next round. For Seven Sisters, the main cup competition is over for another season.

WEDNESDAY 20TH AUGUST
THE RACECOURSE GROUND WREXHAM
WALES UNDER 21s 0 ROMANIA UNDER-21s 1
Following Welsh teams, club and representative, breeds a stoicism and a resigned acceptance of the probability of defeat. Many’s the time I have travelled in hope rather than expectation. Expected disappointment is never quite as acutely painful. Which is why this evening’s experience hurts: I had travelled with a feeling that the Welsh under-21s might seal an historic qualification for the later stages of the UEFA competition. They ‘just’ needed 3 points tonight. Now they need 3 points away to Romania in the final group game…

I’d expected more Wales supporters to be heading north during the afternoon, for despite the senior friendly international in Swansea later in the evening, the under-21 game had more meaning, evidenced by the fact that John Toshack has allowed several young first teamers to play for the junior side. The 6pm kick off (to avoid an outright clash) may have deterred some, but the afternoon trains are fairly quiet as I head for the Wrexham General. Arriving over an hour before the game, the only activity is around Wrexham FC’s shiny new club shop on Mold Road, where the first team is in attendance for the opening. The home club is expecting five or six thousand, but predictions are hard with the early kick-off, the senior game live on the tv, and Wrexham home in the Blue Square Premier the next evening to deter the walk-up local crowd.

Just as the game is about to kick off, it starts to rain heavily, no real surprise as it’s done little else all month, but annoying nonetheless. Some cameramen brave the elements, but for me the sanctuary of the big, empty town end covered terrace beckons. As the game gets underway, it is clear it will be a close contest, Romania showing an ability to break fast and worry the Welsh defence. But the first half brings several chances for Wales, all missed. 0-0 at the break.

During half-time, there’s a presentation on the pitch by a man from the Guiness Book of Records, recognising the Racecourse as the oldest ground in the world still hosting senior international football. A couple of us suggest playfully to officials that it’s possibly the only non-league ground doing so, but the pained reaction, “Let’s hope it’s only for a year”, speaks volumes: Wrexham haven’t really accepted their reduced status, and hope if they close their eyes it will be over soon and everything will return to normal. They would do better to stop feeling they don’t belong in the Blue Square Conference, embrace the experience, draw the positives from it.

The frustration for Wales continues into the second half; it begins to feel as if things aren’t going to plan, the young Wales side isn’t performing to its potential, and Romania – an unattractive outfit who know plenty of tricks – sense they can get a result. Finally a goal comes – but it’s at the wrong end. Romania win a free-kick in a central position, which is chipped over the wall towards the right-hand post. From the other end, we know it’s gone in, but can’t make out the detail; not that it matters.

The remaining minutes bring fairly desperate Welsh pressure, a couple of close shaves for the visitors, but no goals. The journey home, which I’d imagined to be full of euphoria at a Welsh success, is far from that (though everything runs like clockwork and Arriva Trains deliver me back into the capital just after midnight). I really must learn to manage my expectations better.

FRIDAY 22nd AUGUST
Cardiff University Playing Fields
SPLOTT ALBION 0 RHOOSE 3 (Monnington Group S. Wales Amateur League)
Two nights later, and a very different event, as the annual South Wales Groundhop gets underway with a Friday evening fixture at the Llanrumney base of Cardiff club Splott Albion. The number 50 bus, packed with workers and shoppers, takes me close to the ground, which is an animated scene even an hour before kick-off, with food, trade and memorabilia stands in place. Friendships and acquaintances are being renewed, stories and news swapped. And it’s not raining – a few days ago I feared the hop could be blighted by postponements, so bad has the August weather been here.

When I visited Splott Albion last season (a 0-3 defeat by Aber Valley), my verdict was that they played attractive football, but were vulnerable at the back. Against an impressive Rhoose outfit, they are once again vulnerable, conceding two first-half goals. A third is added after the break, 0-3 again – they won’t want me coming back here if that’s the scoreline every time ! As the sun sets on a chilly – but still dry ! – evening, the hoppers head for overnight accommodation before tomorrow’s triple-header.

SATURDAY 23rd AUGUST - WELSH GROUNDHOP
AFC TALBOT GREEN – BRYNNA 1-3 (Monnington Group S. Wales Amateur Lg)
A 10.30 kick off a Amateur League newcomers Talbot Green’s Talbot Park home. Again, the size of the attendance (289) and the trade stands etc turn an otherwise standard recreation ground pitch into a busy match venue. It’s Talbot Green’s first-ever home game in senior football and they make a perfect start, scoring in the first five minutes. Brynna recover though, and soon begin to look the stronger side. They impose themselves and run out deserved 3-1 winners.

After this, the hop’s official itinerary takes us to Pontyclun for a Welsh League fixture, and of course that’s where the hoppers’ coach heads (a mere 10-minute journey). Other more independent hoppers have other ideas, eschewing Pontyclun for grounds they haven’t previously visited. Understandable (Pontyclun didn’t excite me either), but missing the bigger picture: the groundhops only work if the organisers can promise the home clubs a significant boost to their attendance (and hence matchday takings) in return for co-operating over kick-off times etc. In the end, 195 spectators turn up at the Ivor park, exceeding the more pessimistic forecasts.

PONTYCLUN 2 AFC PORTH 3 (MacWhirter Welsh League Div 3)
The missing fans do actually miss a cracker of a game, played in the warmest, sunniest weather we’ve seen for ages, between two sides who joined this division from opposite directions in May (Pontyclun relegated from Division 2, Porth promoted from the Amateur League).

In a fiercely contested game, with local and personal rivalries bubbling close to the surface, Pontyclun open the scoring with a spectacular swerving shot. The visitors equalise with a really well-worked headed goal, and then go ahead from an own goal, a defensive header looping over the keeper. After half time, Pontyclun’s efforts to equalise eventually bear fruit with a deflected goal, but Porth win it late on when a cross from the left is headed home. Excellent entertainment, and actually the most absorbing on-field action of this year’s Welsh Groundhop.

Back on the coach after ten minutes of stoppage time, we’re heading up to the ridge between the Rhymney and Taff valleys for the grand opening of Trelewis Welfare’s new ground at Taff Bargoed Parc. It’s a first for the Groundhop schedule, a knockout fixture (FAW Trophy) which could go to extra-time and penalties.

As we step off the coach …. it starts to rain. Seriously bad news, not just because there is no spectator cover at this ground, but because the pitch is already in a pitiful state, evben though it has never been played on. Ironically, the pitch has sat for two years waiting for the changing rooms to be ready, and in the week before its first fixture (admittedly a very, very wet week), Merthyr Council have attempted to cut the grass with a tractor and absolutely wrecked the surface. Rumour has it that the culprit has since been sacked.

TRELEWIS WELFARE 0 AFC BARGOED REDZ 1 (FAW Trophy Round 1)
The pre-match proceedings, and the panoramic views from the new facility, are somewhat spoiled by the continuing rain, but the club have made an effort: a ribbon is cut and the players take to the field in procession. Bargoed, a division higher, are expected to dominate, but the uneven, boggy and grassless surface is a bit of a leveller. Trelewis are also clearly up for it, and a close encounter ensues. Bargoed take a first half lead, but fail to build on it, and as the evening wears on the prospect of an equaliser- and extra time – does not recede. Sendings off for swearing enliven, and extend, proceedings but when the referee finally blows his whistle to end the 90 minutes there’s a huge cheer of relief that we’re not going to have to stand out in the rain for another 30 minutes.

The Welsh ‘leg’ of the hop ends on this soggy note. The hoppers are heading over the border for two more days of intensive action, but four games in 24 hours, however enjoyable, is enough for me.

SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
WALES 1 AZERBAIJAN 0 (World Cup 2010 qualifying)
With most domestic soccer in south Wales on hold for the day, there’s no excuse, other than continuing atrocious weather, for the football fans of the region not to turn out in force to cheer on a depleted and youthful Wales as they kick off their quest to qualify for 2010. In the end, the attendance is 13,000, which draws some comment, mainly I suppose because the stadium looks pretty empty when it’s four-fifths empty. But in reality, it’s a respectable attendance when seen in a European context.

Actually some spectators must have been lost, for on arriving in Cardiff it’s hard to miss the huge queue snaking round into St Mary Street in the rain; they’re walk-up fans wanting tickets, and some are giving up and going home or to the bars. With the roof closed, it doesn’t feel like a Saturday afternoon inside the stadium, and the atmosphere is less than fervent: little cheering or singing, just the usual cacophony of the kids’ horns that, inexplicably, they still haven’t banned.

Wales are expected to win, but it’s clear early on that it’s not going to be a stroll. Azerbaijan compete, though with limited ambition, but it’s enough to frustrate Wales. As the game drags on into the second half, the small band of Azeri fans begin to sense that their team may be about to achieve one of the high points in their short history – an away draw and clean sheet in a World Cup game. This looks even more likely when Welsh pressure finally results in a penalty, but Jason Koumas fluffs it, and the rebound.

As the afternoon begins to look like an embarrassing anti-climax for Wales, John Toshack’s substitutions save the day. Under 21 stars Ched Evans and Sam Vokes are brought on to pep up the attack, which they achieve within minutes. Vokes proves to be the hero, finishing crisply when a loose ball runs to him.

The small crowd heads home, blending quickly into the Saturday afternoon crowds. A subdued but satisfactory start to a World Cup campaign.


SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
Shannon Close, Newport.
NEWPORT CIVIL SERVICE 5 GRANGE HARLEQUINS 1 (Welsh Cup Round 1)
After another week of wet weather, this is no Saturday to risk a long journey, even though the weekend dawns dry. The Welsh Cup draw had originally threatened to send Welsh League new boys to the capital to face former WPL club Quins, but first the fixture looked unlikely to happen, only for Quins to be rescued from their death-bed in August; still homeless until their long-awaited new stadium is declared ready, they have switched this tie to their opponents’ home. So the season starts here for the south Cardiff club, after all their August fixtures were postponed to give them a fighting chance of surviving the crisis.

Shannon Close isn’t a new ground for me, but it’s a couple of seasons since I visited, and on the long (and unexpectedly hot) walk out from the station, I am expecting change – it has, after all, had to meet Welsh League criteria. The extent of change is a surprise however, with the Civil Service social club building derelict (only the changing rooms are in use), and the former pitch now converted to a 5-a-side centre. This project has also created a new pitch for Civil on what was the rugby pitch parallel with the original soccer pitch. At the corner nearest the entrance is the ‘stand’, a hollowed out container which was the source of controversy in the summer, initially rejected by the league because of a lack of cement floor. It’s painted in smart red and black stripes and has more character than some of the purpose-built prefab efforts you see these days.

The most striking thing about the Quins line-up is its obvious ethnic mix. There is a group of Somalis, and several other players of north African origin. This is entirely representative of the Grangetown and Butetown heart of this club, and to be welcomed. Some of these players are familiar, including Abdi Ahmed whom I remember starring for Cardiff Schools a few years back.

As the game gets underway, the Quins team shows plenty of spirit, but early signs are that discipline could be an issue. For the opening ten minutes, the repeated shout from their bench is to “calm down”. The referee is forced to give a stern warning that if they don’t tone down their language, there will be red cards, and at this stage I’d have put money on several dismissals – maybe even a little wager on an abandonment.

But the advice is taken on board, and the visitors concentrate on playing football. They have players with skill and flair, though at times lack of match practice and naivety prevent them making an impression. They hold their own, though, until well into the second half, finally conceding what looks as if it could be the decisive goal. Civil fail to consolidate their lead and are eventually caught out by a break, Quins slotting in an equaliser. Neither side has the momentum or the penetration to settle the match in normal time, and we’re in for extra time.

The additional half an hour proves too much for the visitors, who concede twice early in the first period. It would be unfair to say their heads drop, for they keep plugging away gamely, but a bit of belief ebbs away and there seems no way back. A couple of chances fail to go in – one crashing back off the underside of the bar – and as the game moves to its conclusion, Civil press home their advantage with a fourth, and then a penalty to make it five. Quins manage to keep their composure while their afternoon goes rapidly downhill, to their credit. Their performance has shown glimpses of promise for the league campaign to come. Civil, after a shaky start, have shown enough today to suggest a good season ahead of them. I leave Shannon Close wishing both clubs well for the months ahead.

SATURDAY 20th SEPTEMBER 2008-09-21 Ponciau Park, Rhosllanerchrugog
RHOS AELWYD 3 HOLYWELL TOWN 1 (FAW Trophy Round 2)
A rare week of mostly dry weather has removed the risk of postponements, so a trip to north Wales can safely be attempted. I seize the opportunity to watch Rhos Aelwyd start their defence of the Trophy, and head for Wrexham on my much-travelled Arriva Trains route up the border, catching one of the many frequent buses from the bus station out to the hilltop former mining community of Rhosllanerchrugog.

With time to explore before the game, I wander round the town centre. Initially, heading up from the Penycae end of town, it seems pretty dead in that way mining towns have on Saturday afternoons, most shops closed at mid-day. However, on further exploration, along Market Street, there is a bit more life, a couple of newsagents, two general stores, two hairdressers’.…. The streets, including Market Street itself, are narrow – too narrow for the present-day traffic really – and there is a sense of the town’s past, though it’s no doubt lost on the bored teenagers who seem to be in the majority at the Market Cross.

The only source of information on Rhos proves to be a large illustrated map displayed at the Market Cross, almost a museum’s worth of facts and figures on the town’s past crammed onto a few square feet of poster. I spend over ten minutes studying it, counting the sites of former coal pits on the map, and marvelling at the numbers of public houses once operating here (29 defunct establishments in addition to the 13 still existing). This is a good investment of time, because as I stroll off towards Duke Street, past the splendid original “Stiwt” (still a theatre and community centre), Rhos has now been brought alive: I can imagine that today’s sleepy old town was once a hive of activity.

Entry to the recreation ground at Ponciau Park is at the top of a bank, through a gate. Immediately ahead, overlooking the pitch, is a small, extremely shallow stand with bench seats. Over behind one goal, also well above pitch level, is the dressing room block, selling refreshments and programmes. The other end, and the side opposite the stand, are flat grass standing. This being a recreation ground, there’s no fence, but nevertheless the overall impression of the ground is very pleasant, the feel of the place enhanced by the banking and the houses at either end.

Rhos, in their customary pale blue, start the game in determined mood and take an early lead, a corner from the right headed crisply home. For a while, it seems Holywell may not offer much resistance, but the visitors recover from the shaky start and snatch an equaliser, with a well-taken goal resulting from a weak back-header. The game now becomes much more even, with Rhos perhaps shading the possession, but Holywell dealing competently with all danger, even including a rather controversial penalty, well saved by Town keeper “Dolphin”.

The Rhos half-time team talk – on the grass outside the changing rooms in the warm afternoon sun – concentrates on stepping up a gear – not giving away the hard-won trophy cheaply. It seems to do the trick, because Holywell now find Rhos dominating the game, and it’s no surprise when a fine near post header puts them 2-1 up. A tap-in increases the lead and Rhos are in control. They don’t relinquish their hold on the game, which ends promptly on 90 minutes with no stoppage time played.

With plenty of time in hand before my train home, I walk down Gutter Hill (scene of the 1830 Tommy Shop riots) and out along the main road heading for Ruabon station. A really enjoyable day out, rounded off by a refreshing pint of Harvest Home before a peaceful train journey home – until the Cwmbran/Newport/Cardiff stretch hat is, when my contentment is shattered by an invasion of rowdy and selfish revellers heading for the Saturday night fleshpots of Cardiff.

SUNDAY 21st SEPTEMBER 2008 The Gnoll, Neath
NEATH 2 RHYL 2 (Principality Welsh Premier League)
A first chance for me to catch up with Neath FC’s new home, the famous town-centre HQ of the Welsh All Blacks, Neath rugby club. The football club moved here this season from remote Llandarcy, but I missed the historic first soccer match here 2 weeks ago whilst out of the country. So this sunny Sunday afternoon is being spent at The Gnoll.

First impressions of the famous venue are disappointing. No car park, surprisingly, and on entering through the turnstiles, only one side (the large main stand) is open to spectators. The large covered terrace, the open one at the other end, and the odd canvas covered seats opposite the main stand, are all out of bounds, enthusiastically stewarded by Neath RFC. The really odd thing is that, of all these, the main stand is not separated from the pitch by a railing ! We attempt to get a cup of tea, but are almost defeated by the self-important rules and procedures so characteristic of Welsh rugby grounds: we need to show tickets to get into the bar where refreshments are sold. Then we need to show them again to get out.

League leaders Rhyl are the visitors and their loud travelling contingent want to occupy the covered terrace, towards which their team is kicking. They aren’t allowed, so take up position in the main stand, their drumming and often obscene chanting now inflicted on the rest of the crowd at unusually close quarters. They have plenty to shout about in the first 45 minutes: although Rhyl’s ghastly dayglo orange shirts (surely the WPL’s worst-ever kit ?) look as if they are at a training session, the Lilywhites are fully focused, taking an early lead through a suspiciously offside goal by Jamie Reed, and doubling it with a fine finish by defender Greg Stones. Throughout the half, Rhyl look like table-toppers and Neath demonstrate why they are in the relegation zone.

At half time, there seems no way back for Neath. I doubt if there’s much betting ‘on the exchanges’ on WPL games, but if there was, you’d have comfortably got odds of 10-1 or better on Neath salvaging anything. But we should never assume that we know the script.

The second half could hardly be more different from the first: only the weather remains the same, but on and off the pitch everything else is unrecognisable. The Rhyl fans have not only changed ends, but somehow gained entry to the open terrace, and their songs and chants no longer drown out everything else. On the field, Rhyl have relaxed, confident that the 3 points are secure. Neath find some cohesion from somewhere and 11 minutes into the half, Andy Hill flicks a through ball past Lee Kendall to reduce the deficit. Further chances follow, culminating in a penalty nine minutes later, which Hill despatches in style. 2-2, and the momentum is with the home side.

But that momentum gradually ebbs away, as Neath start to defend deep, seemingly settling well before the end for the point they’ve rescued. More remarkably, Rhyl seem to have settled as well, though as league leaders this has to be seen as two points dropped. The game meanders to a close, after a generous amount of stoppage time. Rhyl extend their lead by only one point, while Neath climb off the bottom.

SATURDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2008 - Aberaman Park
ENTO ABERAMAN ATHLETIC 0 BARRY TOWN 0
MacWhirter Welsh League Division One

We may be on the cusp of autumn but the last Saturday of September dawns dry and goes on to be one of the sunniest and most pleasant of the summer. Even the long, drab terraces of the Cynon Valley look better when bathed in sunlight. I’m walking up from Fernhill station, along the main road as it snakes through the very linear town of Abercwmboi, at the far end of which is Aberaman Park. Now it’s less than 20 years ago that this venue consisted of a pitch overlooked by a prodigiously barricaded portakabin: secure, but hardly welcoming. How all that has changed, as ENTO Aberaman Athletic push towards a Welsh Premier League place.

This summer has seen the most dramatic changes at the ground: whereas a functional stand had been assembled previously on top of the steep bank on the road side, that too has now been swept away to make way for a superb clubhouse fronted by a modern seated stand, the entrance proclaiming it “The Brian Fear Stand”, a nice gesture of reconciliation towards the former long-serving secretary who parted company with the club a year or two back.

ENTO are today entertaining fallen giant Barry Town, in a match that could be seen as the new order versus the old. Except that Barry Town, despite everything, have made a decent start to the season after winning promotion back to the second tier of Welsh football. Gavin Chesterfield brings a side deserving of respect, not just for their results to date, but especially in view of the cloud hanging over the club. For Town’s owner, Stuart Lovering is threatening to pull the club out of the league at the end of the month if no buyer comes forward.

Having already beaten Barry on this ground a few weeks ago in the Welsh Cup, ENTO could expect to secure all 3 points here in what may be Town’s swansong. But as soon as the match gets underway, it’s clear the visitors have no intention of going out with a whimper. They take the game to Aberaman, giving as good as they get, and just shading the first half in terms of possession. Chances come at both ends, but a combination of good defending, poor finishing and plain bad luck keep the score at 0-0 at the break.

As the second half progresses, Barry turn the screw and at times are almost camping in the Aberaman half. But they have to be alert to the danger of a strong Aberaman side too, one quite capable of nicking the game on the break. And indeed they probably would do, if it wasn’t for an absolutely towering defensive performance by Barry’s no. 5, the Pakistan international Atif Bashir. I honestly can’t remember seeing a better central defensive performance at this level. Bashir is clearly the man of the match, though the home side of course choose their own, and rightly name keeper Neil Collins, who has had to be at his best to prevent an away win today.

A goalless draw then, but not one to complain about. Both sides have given their all and honours remain even. If this really is Barry’s last game, they go out with heads held high. ENTO lose a little bit of ground at the top, but it’s early days yet, and their squad probably needs time to gel after significant changes over the summer.

[p.s. – it wasn’t Barry’s last game: the unpredictable Lovering didn’t find a buyer, but decided a £2,000 sponsorship was enough to prevent him carrying out his threat. No doubt he’ll make it again some time, but will anyone believe him ? ]

Archived Items

GROUNDBLOG DAYS 2008-09 - JUNE/JULY
GROUNDBLOG DAYS - MAY 2008
FIVE STEPS TO A BETTER WELSH PYRAMID
Around the Regions Column (from issue 125)
History feature - the Borough Utd Story
Is Soccer the New Rugby ? (editorial from issue 76)
Club Focus - ABERGAVENNY THURSDAYS (from issue 99)
Part of a serialised article on MID RHONDDA FC
club focus article - CAERSWS (from issue 76)
Wrexham Come Home ! (from issue 66)
10 Years of "Welsh Football"
Programme Awards 2007-08 (from issue 126)