WITH THE GAFFER - LLYR HUGHES BOW STREET

Bow Street Manager, Llyr Hughes caught up with Ardal Northern Media Officer, Chris Parry to reflect on what has been a successful season for the club

From the outside looking in, you've had a fantastic season, finishing in the top 3 of the Ardal North East and reaching the Ardal Northern League Cup Final. What are your overall thoughts on your season?

For me this year has been a huge success irrespective of the Cup Final result. Finishing 3rd in a very competitive league is no mean feat for a club reliant on the goodwill of volunteers and the hard work of the lads who live within a few miles of the village.

Apart from a few disappointing results and the fact we lost a few key players during the season, then who knows we could have pushed on further. However, the league never lies and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved.

Looking towards the Cup Final, this will be a great occasion for the club and a huge opportunity for the lads to play against the best that Tier 3 has to offer against a strong Denbigh side and is something we’re all looking forward to.

Managers and their staff generally like to set goals and targets at the start of the season. Was bettering last seasons 5th place finish and reaching a cup final on the agenda?

In only my second season and taking into account last year’s 5th place finish along with some dismal cup runs, this year was all about progression for the club as a whole, in the league and a few cup runs.

Thankfully these targets have been met and during the course of the season we’ve seen some great games and lots of drama at Cae Piod as we progressed to the Cup Final.

Many people are saying that this is the biggest game in Bow Streets history, would you agree with that?

So I’m told by the stalwarts of the club, those who bleed ‘Black and White’. The club have been in Tier 3 league Cup Finals previously and had success which we shouldn’t forget. However with the new format, bringing the East and West teams together at the latter stages of the competition does certainly give it that little bit extra.

You must feel immensely proud to have written yourselves into the history of the club by reaching the final. Now that you're here, do you feel the pressure will be more on you to win it or more so for Denbigh Town as they're chasing a league and cup double?

It’s no doubt a huge achievement and something for all associated to the club to be immensely proud of. I don’t think we’re under any pressure other than what we put on ourselves, as I place high expectations on the lads to achieve, as they do themselves. We, the Management Team of myself, Sej, Dean and the close working relationships with the Reserves of Huw and Amlyn have been fortunate enough to work with a great bunch of lads over the last two seasons, so my hope is we turn up on the day, give a good account of ourselves and leave nothing behind. If we do that we’ll be in with a good shout and as I’ve said all season, if we play to our potential we’re a match for any side.

C’mon the Magpies!

Diolch, Bugs