Home of AFAN LIDO Football Club
SEASON 2022-23
AFAN LIDO v Carmarthen Town
Friday February 2nd 2023
WELCOME TO THE MARSTON’S STADIUM
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
Reserve Team Manager
Programme Editor
Web Master
Photographer
Life Members
Paul Evans
Carl Hughes
Peter Reynolds
Peter Reynolds
Gareth Elms
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
AFAN LIDO FOOTBALL CLUB HONOURS
UEFA Cup Preliminary Round One 1995-96
FAW Welsh Cup Runners Up
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
Welsh League Division One Runners Up
Welsh Intermediate Cup Winners 1986-87
2008-09
1997-98,2010-11
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
Welsh League Reserve Cup Finalists
FAW Youth Cup Finalists
Welsh League Youth Division Winners
Welsh League Youth Division Runners Up
Welsh League Youth Cup Winners
Welsh League Youth Cup Runners Up
2016-17
2003-04
2017-18
2004-05, 2015-16
2006-07
2006-07,
1984-85,
2002-03,
2010-11
1980-81
2015-16,
1991-92,
1996-97,1997-98,2016-17
1980-81
Youth Cup Finalists 1982-83 South
Winners 2008-09 South
Cup Finalists 2008-09
Talbot
Winners 1968-69,
Winners 2016-17,2017-18
2018-19 SWFA Youth Cup Winners
SWFA
Wales Youth League
Wales Youth League
Port
League Knockout Cup
2014-15 Port Talbot League Reserve Division
2017-18
Port Talbot League Reserve Cup Winners
Runners
1997-98
Winners 1997-98
Port Talbot Sunday League Division 1
Up
Port Talbot Sunday League Cup
Welcome
On behalf of the club, I’d like to welcome the officials, players and supporters of Carmarthen Town 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
We won 3-0 at Richmond Park on Saturday October 1st, Ben Keen opened the scoring and Liam Griffiths added a second just before half time. Ioan Evans netted the third in the second half.
Previous Games (Tier 2)
Thanks to Elite Groundcare who have kindly sponsored Sean Hanbury’s kit this season. .
P W D L F A Pts At the Marston’s Stadium 12 5 5 2 17 14 20 At Richmond Park 13 3 3 7 16 25 12
Club History
The club was formed in 1948 and admitted to the Carmarthenshire Association Football League. The present ground, Richmond Park, was created in 1952. Election to the Welsh League came in 1953 with the club gaining its first honours in 1959-60 with promotion from Division 2 West to the First Division of the Welsh League Progress was patchy in the 70's and 80's with intermittent promotion and relegation in the Welsh League Divisions until the 1995-96 season. This was the best season in the club’s history so far with both the Welsh League title and the Cyril Rogers Cup coming to Carmarthen - a notable double.
The following season 1996-97 was the club’s first in the League of Wales and impressive progress was made, notably in terms of improving their league position in each of the next four seasons. Initially this was achieved under the management of John Mahoney before he was replaced by Tomi Morgan in November 1998.
Significantly, Carmarthen’s 3rd place finish in the league at the end of the 2000-01 season ensured their qualification for the UEFA Intertoto Cup, an honour that had been denied them only on goal difference the previous season.
The UEFA Cup tie against Swedish giants AIK Stockholm was a significant landmark in the history of the club and Town's first European adventure. A place in the UEFA Cup was Carmarthen's reward as losing finalists in the Welsh Cup and a very attractive draw against Eircom League outfit Longford Town an 2-0 defeat in the away tie was spectacularly overturned a fortnight later at Latham Park, Newtown when Town demolished Longford 5-1 securing the highest score, at that time, of any Welsh club in European competitions. In the 2005-06 domestic season Town were once more involved in a FAW Premier Cup campaign with an exciting win over Cardiff and, subsequently, a narrow semi-final defeat against Swansea City in front of a packed Richmond Park record crowd (1800). Ahead of the 2006-07 Welsh Premier League season Carmarthen had been drawn to play Finland’s Tampere United but there was to be no repeat of the previous year’s European euphoria. In the Premier Cup they reached the quarter-final stage only to suffer a narrow 3-2 defeat against Cardiff City. And they reached the same stage in the League Cup before Caersws won by a single goal. But in the Welsh Cup they negotiated that stage, just, by defeating Porthmadog on penalties after extra-time before a narrow 1-0 semi-final victory over Llanelli secured a place in the final for the third time in the club’s history. Having lost on both earlier occasions, Town at last secured the famous trophy by overcoming local rivals Afan Lido 3-2 with goals from Kaid Mohamed (2) and Sasha Walters in Stebonheath Park, Llanelli – and, as a consequence, a fourth European campaign was guaranteed.
For the first time, much due to an ongoing programme of infrastructure and building improvements, Carmarthen were at last able to host their UEFA Cup tie at Richmond Park – but sadly Norwegian giants SK Brann spoiled the occasion by demonstrating the gulf between the teams with an 8-0 victory.
The 2013-14 season began with the ‘unveiling’ of the new changing-rooms complex, the latest of the ongoing programmed improvements at Richmond Park. And on the field Town’s performances were similarly impressive gaining a final third place finish/
Club History (Cont)
Carmarthen also found success in the League Cup for the second successive season. The Old Gold began the 2019-20 season with much the same squad that had finished the previous campaign although Luke Cummings and Mael Davies were notable departures –however several new signings with mainly Welsh League experience were added. For several seasons Town had struggled badly to be competitive during the initial stages of the League programme and this season was no exception. After 13 matches they were without a win and bottom of the League with just 4 points – and by this time Neil Smothers had stepped down from the post of Manager with Danny Thomas taking over for a short spell. At this stage the club decided to appoint former Swansea City player Kristian O’Leary as Manager with Chris Llewellyn alongside him in the role of Coach. But, of course, the 2019-20 playing season was never completed due to the global pandemic and subsequently the FAW made the decision that Carmarthen Town, in eleventh place in the League at that time, should be relegated. Accordingly, the club’s tenure of the top tier of Welsh football (League of Wales/Welsh Premier League/Cymru Premier League) for the past 24 seasons was regrettably over – a new chapter in the life of Carmarthen Town Football Club now unfolds under Sean Cresser as manager, assisted by the returning Mark Aizlewood as head coach.
Goytre Utd 2 Afan Lido 5
We continued our unbeaten league run with an impressive win at Goytre. We conceded a second minute goal through Josh Jones but recovered to equalise via a Liam McCreesh penalty on 14 minutes. However, we weren’t level for long as Liam Hutchinson restored Goytre’s lead on 19 minutes. Undeterred we continued to take the game to the home side with Liam Griffiths missing two golden chances to level the scores before he eventually equalised on 31 minutes after some intense Lido pressure. We ended the first half well on top and needed to continue this form in the second. We continually took the game to Goytre and eventually on 67 minutes Daniel Nagle scored his first senior goal for the club with a shot from the edge of the area giving the home keeper no chance. The defence was solid and we continued to probe for further goals. The fourth came with Liam Griffiths netting his second of the game on 85 minutes to all but secure the three points. Again, his shot giving the keeper no chance. Josh Webber put the icing on the cake when he went though and curled the ball just inside the post past the helpless keeper on 89 minutes
Forthcoming Fixtures
We are away next Saturday the 11th to Pontardawe, kick off is at 2.00 pm. Friday 17th February we are at home to Cwmbran Celtic, kick off is at 7.30 pm. We finish the February fixtures with a visit to Barry Town United, kick off is at 2.30 pm.
Welsh Cup @ Premier League Cup * Cymru League Cup # 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 17 Hakin Utd @ H 0-1 Tue Sep 20 Pontypridd * H 2-0 Griffiths, Walters Fri Sep 23 Ammanford H 2-1 Jones C (P), Griffiths Sat Oct 1 Carmarthen Town A 3-0 Keen, Griffiths, Evans Sat Oct 15 Ynyshir Albions # A 0-7 Tue Oct 18 Taffs Well * A 1-2 Keen Sat Oct 22 Goytre United H 2-0 Webber (2) Fri Oct 28 Abergavenny Town A 1-1 McCreesh Sat Nov 5 Pontardawe Town H 3-3 Hanbury (2), Webber Sat Nov 19 Cwmbran Celtic A 4-1 Keen, Thomas, Flay, Owen Sat Nov 26 Briton Ferry/Llansawel H 3-2 Griffiths (2), Webber Tue Dec 6 Ynyshir Albions H 1-0 Griffiths Tue Dec 27 Trefelin H 3-1 Webber, Griffiths, Thomas J Mon Jan 2 Trefelin A 2-2 Webber, Hanbury Sat Jan 7 Abergavenny Town H 1-1 Jones M Fri Jan 13 Cambrian H 1-1 McCreesh (P) Fri Jan 27 Goytre Utd A 5-2 McCreesh (P), Griffiths (2), Nagle, Webber Fri Feb 2 Carmarthen Town H Sat Feb 11 Pontardawe Town A Fri Feb 17 Cwmbran Celtic H Sat Feb 25 Barry Town Utd A Fri Mar 3 Llanelli H Fri Mar 17 Swansea University A Sat Mar 11 Taffs Well A Sat Mar 25 Llantwit Major A Fri Mar 31 Ammanford A Fri Apr 7 Cambrian A Mon Apr 10 Ynyshir Albions A
First Team Results & Scorers
Cymru South Division
Scorers
League Cup Total Pens P W D L F A W D L F A PTS Barry Town Utd 18 9 0 1 28 8 6 1 1 16 7 46 Briton Ferry 20 7 4 0 33 8 5 1 3 23 18 41 Llanelli 18 7 2 2 21 10 5 1 1 15 8 39 Afan Lido 19 6 5 1 27 17 3 3 1 17 10 35 Carmarthen 19 4 2 3 23 17 6 0 4 22 14 32 Cambrian 19 6 0 4 24 22 3 4 2 19 15 31 Taffs Well 18 4 1 3 17 11 2 4 4 21 23 23 Llantwit Major 18 5 1 4 17 11 2 1 5 12 17 23 Trefelin 19 3 1 4 18 20 4 1 6 21 23 23 Cwmbran Celtic 17 2 2 3 20 19 4 1 5 20 18 21 Ammanford 17 5 1 3 17 21 0 3 5 9 16 19 Pontardawe 18 2 0 4 11 14 4 1 7 18 39 19 Swansea University 20 2 2 5 11 18 3 2 6 13 30 19 Goytre Utd 19 4 2 5 20 27 1 1 5 6 19 18 Abergavenny 19 2 3 3 12 14 2 1 8 12 33 16 Ynyshir Albions 17 1 1 5 10 19 1 2 7 10 19 9 Josh Webber 11 2 13 0 Liam Griffiths 9 1 10 0 Chris Jones 6 2 8 3 Ben Keen 4 2 6 0 Sean Hanbury 4 1 5 0 Liam McCreesh 4 2 6 5 Ioan Evans 1 1 2 0 Carlos Indjai 1 1 2 0 Jay Thomas 2 0 2 0 Jordan Edwards 0 1 1 0 Mark Jones 1 0 1 0 Daniel Nagle 1 0 1 0 Sacha Walters 0 1 1 0 TOTAL 44 14 58 8
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 exclubs. Missed season 2018-19 but re-signed ahead of 2019-20. Left in July 2020 but re-signed in June 2022
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.
Sam Baker
Signed in January 2022 from Briton Ferry Llansawel for whom he played for many seasons. Also played for Tata Steel, Giants Grave, Port Talbot and Ton Pentre. Signed for Goytre United in August 2022. Re-signed for the club in January 2023.
Ben Keen
Pen Pictures (Cont)
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.
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.
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.
AARON JONES NICK JONES
STEVE CANN JORDAN VICKERS
SAM BAKER TRYSTAN JONES
DANNY DINA LEE SURMAN
IOAN EVANS MATTHEW DELANEY
BRAD FLAY LIAM THOMAS
LIAM GRIFFITHS TOM DYSON
JACKSON HALL NOAH DALEY
JOHN HALL SAM PARSONS
SEAN HANBURY JAMIE RICKARD
TRAVIS JAMES BRAD GIBBINGS
CHRIS JONES IFAN KNOTT
BEN KEEN SCOTT TANCOCK
LIAM MCCREESH AYRTON MORGAN
DANIEL NAGLE CAMERON DAVIES
IEUAN OWEN TOM HARVEY
SACHA WALTERS DANNY DAVIES
JOSH WEBBER
MANAGER MANAGER
PAUL EVANS MARK AIZLEWOOD
ASSISTANT MANAGER COACH
PAUL REID OWAIN THOMAS
PLAYER COACH FIRST AID
CHRIS JONES CHARLOTTE COOMBES
PHYSIO
LEIGHTON JONES
Referee – Ieuan Lewis
Assistants – Lewys Evans and Joshua Roper
AFAN LIDO v Carmarthen Town
Next games — Pontardawe Saturday February 11th at 2.00 pm Cwmbran Celtic Friday February 17th at 7.30 pm
