Afan Lido v Ammanford

Founded 1967

Ground: Marston’s Stadium, Princess Margaret Way, Aberavon Beach, Port Talbot. Club Telephone Number: 01639 892960 E mail: afanlido67@btconnect.com Website: www.afanlido.com

President Phil Robinson General Manager Mark Robinson Chief Executive Alan Howells Team Manager Paul Evans Reserve Team Manager Carl Hughes Programme Editor Peter Reynolds Web Master Peter Reynolds Photographer Gareth Elms

Life Members

Steve Cook, David Dale, Alfred Haas, Mark Hanbury, Michael Holmes, Alan Howells, Phil Isaac, Brunhilda Knaur, Harry Leonhardt, Alun Rees, Peter Reynolds, Lynda Robinson, Phil Robinson, Helmut Solowy, Glyn Thomas, Brian Williams, Steve Wood. Vice President Brian Flynn

UEFA Cup Preliminary Round One 1995-96

FAW Welsh Cup Runners Up 2006-07

Qualification for FAW Premier Cup 2002-03, 2003-04

League of Wales Runners Up 1994-95

League of Wales Cup Winners 1992-93, 1993-94, 2011-12

Welsh League Premier Division Champions 1987-88, 1988-89

Welsh League Cup Winners 2006-07, 2008-09

Welsh League Division One Runners Up 1984-85, 1997-98,2010-11

Welsh Intermediate Cup Winners 1986-87

Welsh League Reserve Division Winners 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2010-11

Welsh League Reserve Division Runners Up 1995-96, 1999-2000, 2002-03

Welsh League Reserve Cup Winners 2002-03, 2003-04

Welsh League Reserve Cup Finalists 2010-11

FAW Youth Cup Finalists 1980-81 Welsh League Youth Division Winners Welsh League Youth Division Runners Up 2015-16, 2017-18 2016-17

Welsh League Youth Cup Winners 1991-92, 2004-05, 2015-16

Welsh League Youth Cup Runners Up 1996-97,1997-98,2016-17 2018-19

SWFA Youth Cup Winners 1980-81

SWFA Youth Cup Finalists 1982-83

South Wales Youth League Winners 2008-09

South Wales Youth League Cup Finalists 2008-09

Port Talbot League Knockout Cup Winners 1968-69, 2014-15

Port Talbot League Reserve Division Winners 2016-17,2017-18

Port Talbot League Reserve Cup Winners 2017-18

Port Talbot Sunday League Division 1 Runners Up 1997-98

Port Talbot Sunday League Cup Winners 1997-98

On behalf of the club, like to welcome the officials, players and supporters of Ammanford Football Club to the Marstons Stadium for this evening’s Cymru South League match.

I’d also like to welcome our three officials and hope you enjoy the game.

Head to Head

Last season we lost 1 0 here on Tuesday August 24th but won the return 2 1 on Friday October 1st with a Jordan Edwards penalty and a second from Josh Webber.

Club History

Ammanford AFC was formed in the early 20th century, plying its trade in the Ammanford and District League at Rice Road. The first recorded fixture to date was in 1908/09, when Ammanford Town played a friendly against a Rhondda touring team. In the 1920’s, Ammanford Thursdays played at Caemawr, Betws, before the first Betws soccer club called Betws Blackbirds played on Rice Road with their dressing rooms and headquarters at The Coopers Hotel, Betws during the 1930’s. The committee at that time had the foresight to purchase the playing field and for land to build a club house for £750. It wasn’t until 1949 when Ammanford entered the Welsh Football League, then under the name of Betws. In 1957/58, we finished runners up to Llanelli, before being crowned champions of Division 2 (West) and promoted to Division 1 in 1958/59. We also won the Division 2 cup, beating Division 2 (East) champions Tredomen. On Saturday 22 nd August 1959 the club played its opening First Division Welsh League fixture at home against Cardiff City Reserves and won 2 1. At the request of the Welsh Football League, we changed our name to Ammanford Town in 1960. It didn’t take long to stamp our authority on the Welsh League circuit, employing former Liverpool player Roy Saunders to take over the helm in the early 1960’s. This was followed with the clubhouse being built at Rice Road in 1963. In 1964, at a cost of £4,000, a 450 seater stand and new changing rooms were built at Rice Road. From 1966/67 to 67/68 we finished Runners up to Cardiff City Reserves in consecutive seasons. Our main cup achievement came in 1983/84, where we reached the Final of Welsh Football League Cup, losing to Lake United in the final. In 1992, we amalgamated with Ammanford Athletic to become Ammanford AFC. Unfortunately, in April 2003, a fire destroyed the stand and changing rooms at Rice Road, the start of the demise of the Rice Road ground. Therefore, in 2006 we moved to our new ground ‘The Rec’. Dimensions of the new pitch were 101 x 63 metres. Despite being relegated in 2013/14 due to a Welsh Pyramid restructure, we went on a 15 match win streak to gain promotion back to Welsh League Division Two in 2014/15. We remained in this division for three years before gaining promotion to Welsh League Division One for the 2018/19 season.

Pen Pictures

Disappointingly yet again there are no pen pictures of the players to include in the programme.

Forthcoming Fixtures

We finally have an away game on Saturday Octtober1st when we visit Carmarthen Town for a 2.30 pm kick off. We then have a break before heading to league newcomers Ynyshir Albions in the WB League Cup on Saturday October 15th followed by Nathaniel Cras MG League Cup tie at Taffs Well on Tuesday October 18th before returning home with a fixture against Goytre United on Saturday October 22nd, kick off is at 2.30 pm. The Reserves next game is on Wednesday September 28th followed by a game at Goytre United on Saturday October 1st with a 2.30 pm kick off.

First Team Results & Scorers

Mon Jul 25 Briton Ferry/Llansawel * A 2 3 Edwards, McCreesh (P)

Fri Jul 29 Llanelli A 1 3 Hanbury

Tue Aug 2 Barry Town Utd H 1 4 McCreesh (P)

Fri Aug 5 Cwmbran Celtic * H 5-2 Jones C (2), Webber (2), Indjai

Fri Aug 12 Taffs Well H 1 1 Jones C

Fri Aug 19 Llantwit Major H 2 2 Jones C (P), Indjai

Fri Aug 26 Swansea University H 7 1 Webber (3), Keen (2), Griffiths, Jones C

Mon Aug 29 Briton Ferry/Llansawel A 1-1 Jones C (P)

Sat Sep 3 Pontardawe # H 4-0 McCreesh (P), Keen, Evans , Hanbury

Sat Sep 10 Cambrian H P P

Sat Sep 17 Hakin Utd @ H 0 1

Tue Sep 20 Pontypridd * H 2-0 Griffiths, Walters

Fri Sep 23 Ammanford H

Sat Oct 1 Carmarthen Town A

Tue Oct 18 Taffs Well * A

Sat Oct 22 Goytre United H

Fri Oct 28 Abergavenny Town A

Sat Nov 5 Pontardawe Town A

Sat Nov 19 Cwmbran Celtic A

Sat Nov 26 Briton Ferry/Llansawel H

Tue Dec 6 Ynyshir Albions H

Sat Dec 11 Carmarthen Town H

Fri Dec 16 Swansea University A

Tue Dec 27 Trefelin H

Mon Jan 2 Trefelin A

Sat Jan 7 Abergavenny Town H

Sat Jan 21 Ammanford A

Fri Jan 27 Goytre Utd A

Fri Feb 10 Pontardawe Town H

Fri Feb 17 Cwmbran Celtic H

Sat Feb 25 Barry Town Utd A

Fri Mar 3 Llanelli H

Sat Mar 11 Taffs Well A

Sat Mar 25 Llantwit Major A

Fri Apr 7 Cambrian A

Mon Apr 10 Ynyshir Albions A

Welsh Cup @ Premier League Cup * Cymru League Cup #

Cymru South Division

P W D L F A W D L F A PTS

Briton Ferry 6 3 2 0 14 2 1 0 0 1 0 14

Taffs Well 6 2 1 0 8 3 2 1 0 10 4 14

Cambrian 6 3 0 0 8 3 1 2 0 9 6 14

Llanelli 6 4 1 0 8 2 0 1 0 1 1 14

Carmarthen 6 2 0 1 11 3 1 0 1 4 5 12

Barry Town Utd 6 1 0 1 5 3 3 0 1 9 5 12

Cwmbran Celtic 6 0 1 1 6 7 3 0 1 9 5 10

Ammanford 6 2 1 1 7 10 0 1 1 2 4 8 Afan Lido 6 1 2 1 11 8 0 1 1 2 4 6

Abergavenny 6 1 0 1 5 4 1 0 3 6 11 6

Trefelin 6 0 0 2 2 8 2 0 2 9 9 6

Pontardawe 6 1 0 2 9 9 1 0 2 3 12 6 Ynyshir Albions 6 0 0 2 0 3 1 1 2 5 5 4

Goytre Utd 6 1 1 2 6 8 0 0 2 1 5 4

Swansea University 6 0 0 1 2 4 1 1 3 5 16 4

Llantwit Major 6 0 0 2 1 4 0 1 3 4 11 1

Scorers

League Cup Total Pens

Chris Jones 4 2 6 2

Josh Webber 3 2 5 0

Ben Keen 2 1 3 0

Liam McCreesh 1 2 3 3

Liam Griffiths 1 1 2 0

Sean Hanbury 1 1 2 0

Carlos Indjai 1 1 2 0

Jordan Edwards 0 1 1 0 Ioan Evans 0 1 1 0

Sacha Walters 0 1 1 0

TOTAL 13 13 26 5

From failed favourites against Hakin United on Saturday to victors over Cymru Premier side Pontypridd in the Nathaniel Cup MG Cup on Tuesday. The side played with far more purpose and looked solid at the back. While accepting this was nowhere near Pontypridd’s strongest side, we made changes from Saturday and for most of the game we were comfortable. At half time it was difficult to see how we would score but two goals in a two minute spell early in the second half sealed the result. It was a cagey start by both sides, plenty of long balls being played to no real advantage with neither keeper being troubled. The opening goal when it came was from a poor defensive header intended for the keeper but it lacked power. Liam Griffiths latched on to the ball and with the keeper committed and in no mans land Liam lobbed him with the ball just dipping under the crossbar to give us the lead. Encouraged by this we again attacked and won a corner which Sacha Walters took and the ball ended up in the back of the net. Opinion was it went straight in giving Sacha the goal although some felt it was an own goal, but the goal counted which was all that mattered. Spurred on by these reverses Pontypridd pushed forward but some resolute defending kept them at bay. Steve Cann made probably one save during the game and was largely unemployed. With 20 minutes to go Lido replaced Michael McCalmon and Jay Thomas with Josh Webber and Ioan Evans, adding pace to both flanks. Inside the last 10 minutes Liam McCreesh replaced Ben Keen to add a little more experience for the final minutes.

Nathaniel Cars MG Cup Draw

The draw was made on Wednesday evening for the quarter finals of the competition.

Bala Town V Gresford Quay Nomads Flint Town United Well Afan Lido Cardiff Met

The matches will be played on Tuesday October 18th with a 7.45 pm kick off

Cymru Reserve League

Mon Aug 15 Ammanford H 2 7 Keen, Hanbury

Mon Sep 5 Carmarthen Town H 5-1 Webber (P), Morris, OG, McCalmon (2)

Sat Sep 10 Carmarthen Town A

Mon Sep 19 Cwmamman United H

Sat Oct 1 Goytre United A

Mon Oct 10 Port Talbot Town H

Sat Oct 15 Pontardawe A

Mon Oct 26 Briton Ferry/Llansawel H

Mon Oct 31 Seven Sisters/Onllwyn H

Sat Nov 5 Trefelin A

Mon Nov 14 Ynysygerwn H

Sat Nov 26 Ynysygerwn A

Mon Dec 19 Trefelin H

Sat Jan 14 Seven Sisters/Onllwyn A

Mon Jan 23 Pontardawe Town H

Sat Feb 4 Port Talbot Town A

Mon Feb 13 Goytre United H

Fri Feb 24 Cwmamman United A

Sat Mar 17 Briton Ferry/Llansawel A

Mon Mar 27 Baglan Dragons H

Sat Apr 1 Ammanford A

Sat Apr 22 Baglan Dragons A

Scorers League Pens

Michael McCalmon 2 0

Sean Hanbury

Ben Keen 1 0

Steve Morris 1 0

Josh Webber 1 OG

Pen Pictures

Aaron Jones

Represented the Boys Clubs of Wales at all age groups. Played youth football here for a season, also played at Penybont, Cefn Cribwr, Porthcawl Town Athletic and Cornelly United. Re signed for us in January 2022 from Cefn Cribwr.

Steve Cann

Signed from Briton Ferry Llansawel in October 2017. Signed for them from then Welsh Premier team Port Talbot Town for season 2016/17. South African born he grew up in Briton Ferry and boasts Derby County, Rotherham Utd, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen and Port Talbot as his ex clubs. Missed season 2018 19 but re signed ahead of 2019 20. Left in July 2020 but re signed in June 2022

Steve Morris

Steve signed for the club ahead of the 2019 20 season. Australian by birth he spent 18 months playing in Spain before being a squad member for Penybont in their undefeated season.

Carlos Indjai

Carlos signed for the club ahead of the 2015-16 season from Llantwit Major, also played for Dinas Powys. Is a Wales LD International. Although a winger, he filled in with great success as a full back towards the end of 2017 18 and is now operating as a centre back. Signed for then Welsh Premier Llanelli in July 2018 before re-signing for us in December 2018. Left and joined Newport City before re signing for the club in January 2022.

Sean Hanbury

Sean progressed through the junior sides within the club before joining Swansea City Academy. Was released at the end of the 2016 17 season and signed for the club in August 2017. Made his debut off the bench at Caerau Ely, made 24 starts scoring 5 goals Signed for WPL Carmarthen Town in June 2018 before re signing in June 2019. Left in August 2020 for Trefelin but re-signed again in January 2022.

Chris Jones

Played for Swansea City, Grimsby Town, Neath, TNS, Gloucester City, Port Talbot, and also played for Wales at Under 17,19,21 and semi -pro level. Signed during the 2016-17 season playing a handful of games before joining Carmarthen Town. Re signed for the club in January 2020. Left July 2020 before re signing in January 2022

Sacha Walters

Sacha first signed for the club in 2001 02 while we were in the Welsh Premier and made 56 starts scoring 27 goals in a 4 year spell. After the club was relegated he left and played for several Welsh Premier clubs before re signing in August 2016. Brings a wealth of experience to the side. Joined Briton Ferry/Llansawel in 2021 before moving on to Trefelin. Re-signed for the Lido in August 2022.

Daniel Dima

Signd in July 2022 , previous clubs include Newport City and Llanrumny United.

Daniel Nagel

Signd in September 2022 from Ynysygerwn, has also played for Goytre United.

Pen Pictures (Cont)

Ben Keen

Ben joined us in September 2020 signing from Penybont. Also played for Porthcawl. Signed for Llantwit Major in August 2021 before re signing in January 2022.

Josh Webber

Signed in 2014, previous clubs include Pontardawe and Neath. In 2014 15 Josh represented the Wales under 18’s semi professional side against the Republic of Ireland. He has also represented the Boys Clubs of Wales, was the outfield player in a tournament in Germany.

Jay Thomas

Jay is a youth team player who has represented the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales. Caught the eye in a number of pre season matches and held down a first team slot before signing for Goytre United in August 2021. Re signed for the club in June 2022.

Owen Williams

Owen signed for the club in 2013 from Tata Steel. Made his full debut at Bala in the Welsh Premier League. Transferred away early in 2017 18 but re signed in February 2018. Joined Port Talbot in November 2018. Re-signed for the club in August 20021.

Ioan Evans

Signed in September 2020 from Cardiff Met; has also played for AFC Llwydcoed. Managers player of the year for season 2021-22.

Liam Griffiths

Joined us in August 2021 from Goytre United. Scored on his debut against Briton Ferry. Previous clubs include Pontardawe Town and Carmarthen Town. Won Players player and Supporters player of the year for 2021-22.

Luke McDonald

Youth player who was involved with the first team before football was suspended. Has represented the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales.

Bradley Flay

Signed in August 2019. Had spells with the Cardiff City, Newport County and Nike Academies. As a senior player has played for Wrexham, Penybont, Monmouth and Cardiff Met. Has a Welsh Schools cap, represented Welsh Universities and been on the bench in a Europa League tie. Also trialled at Ross County. Is a Masters student in sports coaching and holds a UEFA B licence. Signed for Goytre Utd in July 2020 before re signing for the club in August 2022.

Ieuan Owen

Signed in September 2022. Previous clubs include Porthcawl Town and Bettws.

Travis James

Signed in July 2022. Previous clubs include Cwmamman United, Llanelli and Pontardawe Town

Connor Harris

Played a handful of games in the Welsh Premier League before leaving. Played for a number of local sides before re-signing in July 2021 from Port Talbot.

AFAN v

AARON JONES

KYLE MARSH

STEVE CANN BEN SOAL

DANNY DINA BRETT ENOCH

IOAN EVANS LEE TRUNDLE BRAD FLAY OSIAN DILLON

LIAM GRIFFITHS

LIAM SAMUEL

JACKSON HALL S PARRY

SEAN HANBURY JORDAN LANGLEY

CARLOS INDJAI CALLUM THOMAS

TRAVIS JAMES OWYN AIREY

CHRIS JONES CALLUM SILCOX BEN KEEN EUROS GRIFFITHS

LIAM MCCREESH NICK ARNOLD

DANIEL NAGLE OSIAN DAVIES

IEUAN OWEN LEE BEVAN SACHA WALTERS COLIN HARRIS JOSH WEBBER MORGAN CLARKE

PAUL EVANS GRUFF HARRISON

PAUL REID DAVID HAGGETT

CHRIS JONES STEFFAN HOWELLS