HISTORY — TODAYS OPPONENTS

from Risca Utd vs Swansea University

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HISTORY OF TODAYS OPPONENTS SWANSEA UNIVERSITY

Swansea University has a Welsh League heritage dating back to the 1960s, when under its previous guise as the University College Swansea, the Club played at the highest level of Welsh football for nearly 2 decades. The University first entered the Welsh League in the 1966-67 season and incredibly won Division 2 in that season, sealing promotion to Division 1 at the first time of asking. At that time there were also 3 divisions, the Premier Division, Division 1 and Division 2. The students of Swansea continued to impress in the 1967-68 season by finishing runners up in Division 1 to seal promotion to the Premier Division in just 2 seasons – a meteoric rise in similar fashion to the modern-day Swansea University team. Unfortunately, the club’s stay in the Welsh League Premier Division was short lived and they were relegated at the end of the 1968-69 season but bounced back the following season as Champions of Division 1. Following another relegation in 197172, Swansea University stabilised in Division 1 until 1978, when they suffered a drop into Division 2. The club competed in the third tier of the Welsh League until 1985, when sadly it fell out of the league leading to a 32-year exodus which ended in 2017 with the return of the University to the higher levels of the Welsh football pyramid. The Swansea University team of yesteryear prospered and offered a platform for Swansea students to enjoy a high level of football whilst studying in South West Wales. These guiding principles underpinned the resurrection of league football at Swansea University in 2011. Team Swansea was started by a group of forward looking students, but not even the founding members could have predicted the second meteoric rise of the University team which has seen it return to the Welsh League. Only in its 6th season, the Club is still in its infancy but has had its fair share of silverware in that time. 4 promotions, 2 Gwalia Cups, 1 Senior Cup and an unforgettable 10-0 win in the final of the West Wales Cup in 2015. The pinnacle of the club’s achievement was sealing the Swansea League Championship and West Wales Cup double in May 2017. Which secured a historic return to the Welsh League. The first season back in the Welsh League in the 2017-18 campaign was a stunning success. Promotion to Division 2 was sealed with 3 games to spare as the University clinched the Welsh League Division 3 title with an emphatic 4-0 win away at Caerau FC in Maesteg. To cap off a fine season of football, the club not only won the title by playing some remarkable football, they also claimed the Division 3 FAW Fair Play Award, proving that it is possible to win with style, grace and outstanding discipline.

The remarkable journey continued the following season when once again, under the guidance of Dafydd Evans and Wyn Thomas, promotion to the new tier 2 JD Cymru South was achieved through finishing runners-up in Welsh League Division 2. An outstanding disciplinary record once again saw the University top the Division 2 FAW Fair Play table. Despite being tipped to struggle in the new JD Cymru Championship South, the squad once again showed great quality and resilience and played some fantastic football. The title was secured after 25 matches when Covid 19 brought the 2019-20 season to an end with the Club once again topping the Fair Play league table. Promotion to the JD Cymru Premier League was denied as a Tier 1 Licence was not awarded but this was subsequently achieved during the aborted 2020-21 campaign.

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RISCA UNITED Player Profiles

Joe MASSARO: 24 yr. old Goalkeeper: Recently signed, Joe has been out of the game for a season or two. A promising youngster who was capped as a youth by Wales, he has spent time with Barry Town Utd, Goytre and Ton Pentre. Jordan DIBBLE: 22yr. old Goalkeeper: Signed Sept. 2020. A Cwmbran product who started with Croesyceiliog before spells with Newport County, Cwmbran Celtic, Cinderford Town and Malvern Town. One of the Cwmbran Dibble family of shot stoppers. A very reliable `keeper to have between the sticks. Arthur FURNESS: 27 yr. old Full Back: A native of Brighton, Arthur started in Welsh football with Cardiff Met. Signing for us in Nov. 2018 before having a spell back in England with Reading City. He absolutely loves playing for the Cuckoos and re-signed Sept. 2020. Totally committed on and off the pitch. Callum HODGES: 23 yr. old Centre Back: Cwmbran boy Callum is a towering central defender who takes great pride in trying to stop opponents from getting shots away. In his second spell with us having played in the unbeatable Monmouth Town Youth side of 2016 before joining our Cymru Development side, Also played for Croesyceiliog. Re-signed for us sept. 2020. Ricky HODGE: 35 yr. old Centre Back: A native of Western -Super-Mare who started his Welsh football playing career at Cardiff Met. and later had spells with Cwmbran Town, Taffs Well & Penybont before signing for us in July 2019. Ricky`s experience and know how was and still is a big influence in our team. He had a huge part to play in our promotion to the Cymru South. Tom REES: 24 yr. old Full Back: “Squeak” from Treharris is another with a great engine. After junior football he joined us 7 years ago and played in our Cymru Development side before a short spell with Aberdare Town and then a couple of seasons at Cardiff Met. A popular squad member who re-joined us in August 2019. Callum PORTER: 23 yr. old Midfield: Local boy Callum is not just a Mid-Fielder he`s another player who can play well in other positions. As a 16 year old was at Newport County and was later a member of the Monmouth Town Youth team that were unbeaten Welsh League Youth Champions in 2016. Has been a regular with us since signing in August 2016. Connor HANFORD: 22 yr. old Defender: Caerphilly boy who was at Newport County as a junior, an out and out defender who loves keeping clean sheets. Has had spells at Cambrian & Clydach, Merthyr Town and Pontypridd Town before signing for us in Jan. 2020. Josh CLAYTON: 30 yr. old Midfield & Club Captain: Vastly experienced who has a great engine and is a super fit box to box player but like others in the squad does a very good job elsewhere when the need arises. Totally committed to the Cuckoos having been with us since 2010, bleeds Black & White.

RISCA UNITED Player Profiles

Lewis ELLIS: 29 yr. old Midfield: A very experienced and cultured player who was at Barry Town as a 16 year old before moving onto Penybont via a short move to play in Sweden. In his second spell with us following a season in 2026/17. He also counts spells with Cinderford Town, Taffs Well, Cwmbran Celtic & Pontypridd Town as former clubs. Returned to us in July this year. Jordan THOMAS: 20 year old Midfield: Signed for us 5 years ago and played in our Academy and Cymru Development sides before breaking into the senior squad. Hard working with an eye for goals from distance. His stocky build ensures he is strong on the ball and not easily robbed of possession. Tom GAMESON: 23 year old Midfield: Blackwood boy Tom is a new signing in June this year. A tall elegant player with a great range of passing and great close control who enjoys a good physical battle as well. His previous clubs includes Treowen Stars, Aberbargoed Buds and Taffs Well. Sam PALMER: 34 year old Midfield: There`s no substitute for experience and Hereford born Sam has loads of that gained from 10 years with Monmouth Town, Where he was a Welsh League Division 1 winner, before moving to Caerphilly in 2017 when he signed for us. This likeable bloke has been a regular since and pops up with the odd goal or two. Ryan WHEELER: 21 yr. old Midfield: Local boy “Naught” played Gwent County football for A.C. Pontymister until finally making the step up to us in July 2019. He made an impact from day one, we regret him not joining us sooner. He has great close control and a great engine with a never say die attitude and was another who had a big say in our promotion to the Cymru South. Sean FEELEY: 25 yr old. Forward: New signing Sean has joined us from Abergavenny Town where he played for the last 5 seasons. Prior to that Sean has played at Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran Celtic and Penybont. Jason BERTORELLI: 35 yr old. Forward: New signing, Jason has joined us from Pontyclun on transfer deadline day. An experienced forward whose previous clubs include Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC, Taffs Well and Port Talbot Town. We are looking forward to seeing Jason in action. Christian MBONGOMPASSI: 22yr old. Forward: New signing, Christian joined us from Undy on transfer deadline day. An exciting young player adding depth to our front line. We are looking forward to seeing Christian in action.

RISCA UNITED Player Profiles

Leon THOMAS: 20 year old Forward: Caerphilly boy Leon signed for our Academy in 2015 where he quickly progressed and went on to be an important member of our Cymru Development team as well as breaking into the senior side a couple of seasons ago. Great first touch and loves drifting past defenders. Tom BERRY: 24 yr. old Forward: Newport boy Tom has a stocky build but don`t be fooled, he has great ball control, is physically very strong and combines it with a powerful shot. Spent time with Newport County as a youngster and was another member of the unbeatable Monmouth Town Youth champions of 2016. Has been with us since and is another who helped us secure promotion to this level. Matthew THOMAS: 28 yr. old Forward: Local boy “Tuna” played Gwent County football for home town Abercarn before joining us in Jan. 2015 before moving onto a short spell with Cinderford Town in-between a couple of seasons in the Cymru Premier for Carmarthen Town. He returned to us in 2017 to pick up where he left off. He may be a striker but is often our first line of defence, his work rate in every game is a great example to his team mates. Jake MORRIS: 16 yr. old. Forward: This well built young striker hails from Bargoed and spent two seasons with Swansea City from the age of 11. He joined our Academy in 2018 where he has continued to catch the eye. At such a young age to be included at this level of football shows he has the managers trust. We look forward to seeing how far he can advance. Ethan EDWARDS: 18 yr. old. Forward: Ethan started with our Academy in 2015 in the U12s where he quickly progressed and was a key member of the National Academy Championship winning squad. After a few seasons away he has become an important member of our Cymru Development team and has recently broken into the senior side. Electric pace, a nightmare for defenders and has an eye for goal.

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