Pitchside Magazine - Issue 1

ISSUE 1: MAR / APR 2014 @PitchsideWales

ALL HAIL BALE ALSO, IN THIS ISSUE //

RYAN GIGGS

EMYR HUWS

+ C A R D I F F C I T Y, S WA N S E A C I T Y, M E R T H Y R TO W N , H O T O F F T H E P R E S S & F U L L 9 0

FROM THE EDITORS PITCHSIDE Published By SportsMediaWales press@sportsmediawales.co.uk @PitchsideWales

EDITORS

Gwilym Cox

gwil@sportsmediawales.co.uk @gwilymcox

Michael Lee Collard

mike@sportsmediawales.co.uk @mikeyleec

DESIGN

Joy Creative Ltd

hello@joycreative.org @joycreativeltd

SPECIAL THANKS

The Pitchside team would like to thank:

Becky Baker, The Football Association of Wales, faw.org.uk, FAW TV, Ian Gwyn Hughes, Gareth Bale, Peter Barnes, Tim Parfit, Gregorio Lopez, Mark Pitman, Marc Harrison, LostBoyos, Richard Flores, Gary Pritchard, James Adams, Paolo Camera, Pete Griffiths, PG10 Coaching, Bob Wilson, mauveandyellowarmy.net, Scott Mackay, theswanseaway.co.uk, Merthyr Town FC, Jamie Mack, Bangor CIty FC and everyone else, that has helped to build the Pitchside and SportsMediaWales online community.

Pitchside was born from a single idea. To build an online football community to discuss and promote Welsh football, and anything associated with Welsh football and footballers.

Our goal is to cross promote all our contributors, giving them a larger audience and future following, whilst they promote Pitchside to their followers.

This is issue 1 of the idea. I hope you, not just enjoy the magazine, but visit our contributors websites and blogs. Comment and connect with them, join in with the concept and share Pitchside with all your family and friends.

If you are passionate about Football in Wales, the Welsh Premier League, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, or the national team. Then join in and spread the ‘Pitchside’ word.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEXT ISSUE, PLEASE CONTACT: MIKE@SPORTSMEDIAWALES.CO.UK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN PITCHSIDE, PLEASE CONTACT: PRESS@SPORTSMEDIAWALES.CO.UK

© Copyright 2014 SportsMediaWales Pitchside is owned and published by SportsMediaWales. The views expressed by contributors, editorial team and other correspondents in articles, features, reports, reviews do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Accordingly, the publisher is not responsible for any such views, nor for any act or omission on the part of any such contributors, editorial team or correspondent. Neither is any responsibility accepted by the publisher for any loss or damage caused to any person relying on any statement in, or omission from SportsMediaWales the publisher expressly excludes any responsibility for any third party website or any other source reviewed or otherwise referred to in Pitchside. Pitchside does not necessarily agree with, nor guarantee the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers or accept responsibility for any statements which they may express in this publication.

Welcome all to the first issue of ‘Pitchside’. A publication that we ultimately want to focus on ALL aspects of Welsh football.

Our thanks go to everybody that has made this possible. We have built up a fantastic group of writers and our goal is to expand even further, so that we can cover football in Wales, as far and wide as possible. Are you interested in contributing in the future? Email me at mike@sportsmediawales.co.uk What better way to kick off ‘Pitchside’ then an a chat with the world’s most expensive footballer? In this issue, we hear how Gareth Bale is enjoying life in Spain and Wales’ upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Again, thank you. You’ve all made this possible.

INSIDE ISSUE 1

Wales Vs Iceland

ALL HAIL BALE

YOUNG DRAGONS

RYAN GIGGS

GRASSROOTS

SPURS 1 - 0 CARDIFF

UN - SUNG HERO

GREEN, GREEN, GRASS

HOT OFF THE PRESS

#4- 5

#14- 18

#36 - 37

#6 - 9

#19 - 33

#38 - 39

#10 - 13

#34 - 35

#40 - 45

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Pitchside’s intrepid matchday reporter, Becky Baker reports on:

WA L E S 3 - 1 I C E L E N D Cardiff City Stadium, March 5th 2014

Gareth Bale motivated Wales to a comfortable 3-1 international friendly win over Iceland at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The hosts found themselves one nil up eleven minutes into play at the Cardiff City Stadium, when Bale’s free kick assisted James Collins to score his first international goal in just over four years.

This was shortly followed by Iceland levelling as Johan Berg Gudmundsson’s effort was diverted by the Wales Captain, Ashley Williams, unfortunately causing an own-goal.

Sam Vokes put Wales’ back in the lead with a header during the second half after Bale’s effort was blocked on the line, and of course, the man himself got on the board with an incredible run from the half way line, finishing into the bottom corner.

Wales’ manager, Chris Coleman, has been speaking of his admiration for Gareth Bale after his role in the team’s three-one win over Iceland, in their first international friendly in Cardiff.

The crowd, of a mere 13,000, were treated to an excellent performance by Bale, who dominated the game assisting two goals - and securing the win for Wales with the final goal in the seventieth minute.

For Chris Coleman, Bale was the special ingredient to qualification for Euro 2016, with the capability to dominate the game across the world.

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“I almost asked him for an autograph and picture myself.” Coleman jokes, “He’s one of the best players I’ve ever had the pleasure working with and he’s a great talent.

“It was defiantly worth the admission fee just to see what he did tonight.”

Bale’s early advances and touches received high admiration from the home fans, and received a standing ovation when leaving the pitch after an excellent 70 minutes play.

Although the game seemed dominated by Wales, Iceland put up a good fight claiming half of the possession and gaining access into the inside line on a regular basis, and if it hadn’t been for captain Ashley Williams, the game would have been a lot tighter.

Iceland captain, Aron Gunnarsson, said the game was good practice for this young squad, “He was on form unfortunately for us today”, says the Cardiff City midfielder, “We can take a lot of positives out of that game in preparation for the euros.”

The main conclusion from the match is Bale’s phenomenal talent, and it’s evident that Coleman won’t be afraid to showcase this in the team’s second and final friendly against Holland.

Photographs courtesy of Tim Parfit flickr.com/photos/timjparfitt

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ALL HAIL BALE Ian Gwyn Hughes meets the world’s most expensive footballer.

Photograph courtesy of Gregorio Lopez flickr.com/photos/g_lopez mgpress.es

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@PitchsideWales @PitchsideWales

Gareth, good to see you back in Wales but how are you settling in Spain?

Yes, it was a bit of a slow start with obviously not having a pre-season and getting a few injuries, but that’s out of the way now and I feel I have settled in well. Everybody at the club has been very helpful. The players have been great with me. I’ve been starting to play my football on the pitch now and enjoying life at Madrid.

You and Ronaldo seem to be scoring goals for fun at the moment.

Yeah, it’s great. I think when you play with the best player in the world it does make life easier, and to be playing with him and the rest of the team is massive for me and I’m enjoying every minute of it.

You said it was a dream come true for you. Is it what you expected?

It’s everything and more. I think it’s amazing to be there. The stadium, the fans, it’s incredible. I just want to keep playing and keep doing well and hopefully win trophies at the end of the season.

Do you have family and friends coming over now and then?

Yeah. Everyone’s coming over to see the games and things like that and enjoy the nicer weather. It’s brilliant for me and long may it continue.

How’s your Spanish?

It’s coming along. It’s getting there slowly. The main thing is to get my head down with football first and all the rest will come after. I’ve started a few lessons and learned a few words, but I think it will take a bit of time.

You mentioned the nicer weather, what it is like being back here in Wales.

It’s always great to come back and play for

Wales and see all the boys and stuff. It’s always an honour as they say to play for my country as well, and something I look forward to when I pull on the shirt.

I think that’s an important message to get across. In terms of the pride and passion you have always shown for Wales since you made your debut at 16.

Yeah, it’s every footballers dream to play for your country, there’s no bigger honour. Every time I pull on the shirt I am willing to give a 110%, same for everyone else that does. I think we are heading in the right direction now that we have a good group of young players and we are starting to see some results which is positive and I think we have a bright future. Hopefully we can get a lot of support behind us now, all the fans, and the media believing in us and pushing us in the right direction and hopefully we can achieve something we haven’t for a long time.

Because in terms of the profile that you have now with Real Madrid and the price tag, that is only good for the image of the game in Wales, because you’re Welsh and known all over the world now.

Hopefully it helps Wales in the long run as well. For me personally we really want to kick on as a team, as a country. I think we want to get back to the days where we were filling up the Millennium Stadium with 75,000 fans and almost qualifying for tournaments. We want to qualify now. I think we’ve got the team to do that. If the whole nation gets behind us, and starts believing in us, putting positive things in our head I think we have the right team to make this happen.

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I’m not sure if you saw the last two games.

Obviously you weren’t playing but you must have been impressed with the win against Macedonia and the draw in Brussels with a very depleted squad which maybe shows that we have a far deeper pool of players then we thought we had.

Definitely. I think people sometimes get angered when there are injuries but that gives opportunities to other people to stake a claim and when they do that makes the squad that much stronger. It kind of gives us more belief that if there are injuries then we can count on other players and they definitely did that on the last trip with what I think was nine or ten injuries. I think everything is looking positive, we know we have to keep working hard as a team every time we meet up and it’s something we are dedicated to and hopefully we can battle on and do what we want to do.

Harry Wilson came on and broke your record, so that’s one gone! It must have brought back memories on how daunting it is to represent your country at the age of sixteen.

It’s one of those experiences where I think you are a bit too young to know what’s going on but it’s also something you can look back on and have a great memory of. It’s obviously great to see him come on and get his first cap and hopefully he can kick on himself and get in the squad a bit more regular, push for a place and make the team stronger.

It’s a good base for a squad, you all know each other and have been together since the Under 21s.

Chris Coleman has signed a new deal so there will be stability on the managerial side. It’s good to get continuity going through to the next campaign.

I think in previous times, under John Toshack, he did great for Welsh football bringing us all through and I think most of us here were given our debuts by him. Now, we have the right team, we have the right age for every player, and obviously with the manager signing a contract we’ve had a year with him to get used to things and hopefully now we have a bit of stability and continuity in the training and the games where we can stamp our authority, everybody knows what they are doing, there are no new ideas coming in all the time and we are all looking forward.

Just finally, in terms of the European Champions 2016, massive ambition I suppose after achieving so much at club level, still, International level would be great to be part of a Welsh team at European Championship finals or World Cup finals.

That’s the aim. Not just for me but for everybody in the squad. We realise we have a chance. More teams can qualify for Euro 2016, and there’s even more chance that we can qualify. We see that as a big goal and something we can take advantage of.

Interview & Video Courtesy of FAW TV

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VISIT THE SITE >> Photograph courtesy of Tim Parfit flickr.com/photos/timjparfitt

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Photograph courtesy of Tim Parfit flickr.com/photos/timjparfitt

Emyr Huws Age:20 midfielder Manchester City (on loan at birmingham city) senior Caps: 1 u21 caps: 6

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The eventual

@markpitman1

emergence of Emyr

By Mark Pitman Freelance football writer and the Welsh football correspondent for UEFA.com.

Our first ‘Young Dragon’, is Wales and Manchester City midfielder, Emyr Huws. Emyr recently made his senior debut for the national team against Iceland at the Cardiff City stadium.

Before the game, Mark took a closer look at one of our best emerging talents.

The best things come to those who wait, apparently. For the Welsh national team, 56 years without qualifying for a major tournament and counting is a wait too long. However, it is also a wait that could eventually be over by the time that the European Championships in 2016 roll around. The draw for the finals in France took place last weekend, and with the exception of Belgium, manager Chris Coleman would have struggled to pull out a better collection of little plastic balls to pair with his Wales side for the next qualifying campaign. Joining Belgium and Wales are top seeds Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Cyprus along with the international minnows of Andorra. With the group and fixtures now confirmed, the upcoming friendly against Iceland on Wednesday night has something of a ‘first pre-season friendly’ feel to it, as the anticipation for the opening match in Andorra next September begins to build in the Wales camp.

“Positive, but there will be tough games,” said the usually honest-toa-fault Coleman, hiding a smile. “We know what Belgium are capable of. Like I’ve said before our biggest concern will be ourselves and how many times we can field our strongest team, and the more times we can do that, the better chance we have of getting points against anybody. I think Israel will be looking at it the same as us probably. Bosnia are strong, we have played them already, and Belgium. They are two strong teams.

Looking at Israel they had a couple of good results against Portugal in the last campaign, two draws. There are no mugs in the group. There no easy games. We have to look at it and say, yes, we have a chance I think if we finish above Israel then we have a great chance of maybe getting that third spot. That’s not to say were going into it thinking we have to target third, we got to win as many games as we can, because you never know.”

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@PitchsideWales

Unlike previous campaigns, the fixtures were dictated to the competing nations by UEFA, and will form part of a new initiative christened ‘the week of football’ by President Michel Platini. Wales will open the campaign with an away match in Andorra, before returning to Cardiff a month later to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina. “There are pluses and minuses whoever you have in the first game,” said Coleman at his first press conference after the draw. “With all due respects to Andorra, they are the team that people will look at and expect them not to do much. Looking at the group, it could have been worse. I’m excited, the fixtures are what they are, we have to start better than we did in the last campaign. We will target the first two games, we need the points. We have to edge forward and make sure that we are always in the mix.

This will be the golden generation when we are successful and when we qualify. Looking at it, we have a very good chance. I’m optimistic.”

And so the preparations for another long qualifying campaign begin. Iceland are the visitors to Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday, and with ticket prices set at just a tenner for adults, a fiver for concessions and only a quid for kids, the Welsh football public have no financial excuse not to come out and support the national team. Aaron Ramsey is the only high-profile omission from the 23man squad, at least the only one at this early stage, with injury ruling the in-form Arsenal midfielder out for a few more weeks. With Ramsey out of the spotlight, the undivided attention will inevitably turn to Gareth Bale, but the world’s most expensive footballer has a Madrid derby to negotiate over the weekend before the squad meet in Cardiff ahead of the friendly fixture. However, Ramsey’s omission has opened a window of opportunity for young midfielder Emyr Huws, and having recently impressed following his loan move to Birmingham City, the 20-year old Manchester City midfielder could well be set to make a starting international debut for Wales next week.

For Llanelli-born Huws, his elevation to the senior squad has been a long-time coming, but his eventual arrival is one that should be heralded. Throughout his youth career, first at Swansea City and then with Manchester City, Huws has regularly been labelled as the next big thing by those in the intermediate team know. But while his teenage peers found themselves making the international grade ahead of their time, Huws remained with the intermediate set-up, following the pathway through with the Under-17, Under-19, and very recently, the Under-21 squads. With over 20 caps for Wales at intermediate level, Huws has been an important part of Geraint Williams’ Under-21 squad for the current European Championship qualifiers, but his elevation into Chris Coleman’s plans means that he will miss the crucial qualifier with England at Derby on Wednesday in order to mark the next stage of his international development.

In recent campaigns a whole host of Welsh players have received international caps during their teenage years, but the reason that the talented Huws as had to wait is a result of his lack of senior football opportunities at the Etihad. In fact, since joining the club five years ago, Huws has made just senior competitive appearance. His moment to shine eventual coming as a substitute in the recent FA Cup reply against Blackburn Rovers in January. But with City scouring the world and spending big to attract nothing but the finished article, Huws was initially loaned-out to Northampton Town for some senior football experience in 2012, and his FA Cup cameo has now been followed by another spell away from

the club with Lee Clark’s Birmingham City. However, far from being a step backwards in his development, one consistent to come from his two loan spells as been the praise he has received from his adopted managers. Clark, a combative midfielder who played alongside Chris Coleman at Fulham, has spoken positively to his former team-mate about the talent that he has at his disposal, and his opinion is one that his shared by those with an interest in the fortunes of the Welsh national team.

“If you can break through into Manchester City’s first team, I would say he deserves a chance at international level,” said former Wales striker Malcolm Allen. “Now we know what group we’re in, every single player will want to come and play in these friendlies. We know the quality Manchester City possess in their squad, so he’s got some ability. I’ve seen him play more than once. He’s very, very tidy, doesn’t give the ball away and doesn’t mind getting his foot in at times. For me, for a young lad he reads the game very well and starts off attacks.

I think he would fit into the style Wales are playing very, very well.” But while the outsiders have their say on the latest exciting Welsh talent to emerge, the proof of Huws’ potential will come only from his performances for club and country.

An unused substitute in the last friendly against Finland following a late call-up, Huws already now seems set to make his first senior international appearance for Wales against Iceland, and with it he will become the latest precocious young talent to emerge under Chris Coleman’s reign.

You can read more of Mark’s features on his website: www.markpitman1.com

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DEDICATED TO THE WELSH PLAYERS WHO HAVE GONE SEARCHING FOR SUCCESS ON A MORE GLOBAL LEVEL.

Pitchside’s first ‘Top Boyos’ is British football’s most decorated player and someone who has been tearing at the heart of Welsh football fans since 1991. Lost Boyos’ own Marc Harrison, a Manchester United fan, describes why Ryan Giggs is his favourite Welsh footballer.

Photograph courtesy of Richard Flores flickr.com/photos/25247049@N06/with/4844336779/

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Some football fans know exactly the moment their team, became their team. I don’t. The method I have chosen to backdate my support of Manchester Unitedand it proved to be a handy one during the 90s and the continual accusations of being a ‘glory hunter’ that came with being a south Walian United fan- is to date it from my first replica kit. That, the full red shirt, white shorts, black socks package, was given to me as an eighth birthday present in 1989. In the ensuing 23 years, United have worn 16 different variations of the trademark red. I’ve owned 11 of them, but not until the most recent one had I chosen to brand my shirt with the name and number of any single player; how do you choose from so many greats?

If you’d asked me at any single point during my years cheering for Manchester United for my favourite player, I would have answered (in chronological order) Hughes, Cantona, Beckham, Ronaldo, Rooney, but looking back at the last 23 years as a whole there is no doubt that one man has brought me more joy than any other: Ryan Giggs.

Marc in his Giggs MUFC shirt Ryan Giggs won’t be the first (or the last) 40-year old to play Premier League football when he reaches the landmark in November, but there are unlikely to be many others that have a 20-plus year career in the first team of one of the league’s top clubs. Last season, Giggs featured in fewer Premier League games (although a still impressive 22) than in any since his debut season and these days the once flying winger is used as a calm head in midfield or as a late substitute to add a touch of composure to tight games. The modern Ryan Giggs remains a wonderful player to watch- just look at his ball for Robin Van Persie’s equalising goal at West Ham last season- and his longevity is to be admired, but today’s Giggs is probably not the player that makes young boys bounce up and down on the sofa.

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No, the player I fell in love with is not the 39year old ‘freak,’ as Sir Alex Ferguson labelled him, but the floating ‘cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind’ that the legendary Scot first saw as a 13-year old. Call me old-fashioned, but I love a good winger, and Giggs was a great winger. Running with the ball at speed, there was nobody better. As a dribbler, he may have lacked the artistry of say, a David Ginola, but the speed with which he was able to change direction meant there were few more effective. Giggs’ most famous goal, the FA Cup semi-final winner against Arsenal that many call the competition’s best ever, showcases his talent for dribbling in the 10 seconds it takes him to get from collecting Patrick Vieira’s loose pass to hammering the ball high into David Seaman’s net, beating four defenders along the way. My own favourite Giggs goal came much earlier, in a 1992 game against Tottenham at Old Trafford as Giggs was on his way to the first of 13 Premier League winners’ medals, but also sees Giggs at his flying best. Dean Austin miscontrols a long ball and as he slips Giggs is on him in a flash. Giggs easily avoids the stumbling Austin’s challenge, nutmegs Gary Mabbutt and is now one-onone with the keeper. Without even a drop of the shoulder, just sheer pace, Giggs rounds Ian Walker and from a tight angle hammers the ball across the goal and into the far corner. The whole thing takes about 5 seconds. ‘Beautiful,’ said Barry Davies in commentary.

with our small country and it would be wrong (although perhaps convenient for the purposes of this article) of me to completely gloss over his international career. Just as I didn’t suddenly hate David Beckham, or Paul Scholes, or Gary Pallister when they pulled on the white shirt of England, I find it difficult to differentiate Giggs the Manchester United player from Giggs the Wales player. From my own point of view, Ryan Giggs is the single best footballer to have ever played for Wales and we were lucky to have him. Others might say, yes, we were lucky to have him because, while he ended his international with 64 caps, he could have easily reached nearer to 100 if he’d only shown the same level of commitment to his country as he showed to his club.

Of his 1,000-plus appearances, my own most memorable Giggs performance is one that has been written about on these pages before.

It came ten years after that Tottenham goal, as so many of Giggs’ best nights have, in the Champions League, and was perhaps a sign of the intelligent player Giggs was to become in his late 30s. Manchester United gave a masterful performance in playing away from home in continental football and Giggs was at its heart.

Playing, surprisingly, as a second striker to Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Giggs was the standout performer in a 2-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna’s Riazor Stadium. ‘Menacing,’ ‘bewildering,’ and ‘irrepressible’ were how various newspapers described the Welshman’s Spanish showing The performance had me and my German flatmate singing his praises and it was a night when I felt proud to be Welsh.

There may yet be time for Giggs to win over the detractors in his homeland, although not, of course, on the field. Giggs is close to completing his UEFA Pro Coaching Licence and has just been added to the coaching staff of new Manchester United manager David Moyes’ backroom team. He is sure to have a coaching career as long (and hopefully as successful) as his playing days, and I’m certain I’m not the only Welshman hoping that at some time in the future, Giggs follows his old teammates Mark Hughes and Gary Speed in becoming the Welsh national team manager. I certainly don’t think Wales should be in any rush to get rid of Chris Coleman, but to see Giggs eventually leading the current exciting young players we have would be an exciting prospect. As the eternal question of Welsh football goes, who knows?

Because, of course, Ryan Giggs is a Welshman and be it a flat in Germany or bar in Seoul, football fans the world over know this. Giggs, more than any other footballer, is associated

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They would also argue that Giggs, the star attraction for almost the entirety of his Wales career, failed to deliver the same level of performance on the international stage as he did for his club. Indeed, in the most successful qualifying campaign of Giggs’ time with Wales, others like Craig Bellamy and captain Gary Speed were the star performers as the Red Dragons got within a play-off of reaching Euro 2004. For me, however, surely just having Giggs in the side – and he was in the side for all eight group games and both play-off matches – made Wales a much better team and probably helped Bellamy, Speed, Gabbidon, Savage, et al to reach the levels they did.

Photograph courtesy of Gary Pritchard http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/60742

Photograph courtesy of James Adams http://www.flickr.com/people/jmage/

Photograph courtesy of Paolo Camera - flickr.com/photos/vegaseddie/4935313439

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GIGGS' HONOURS

PREMIER LEAGUE (13) :93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 03, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 13

GIGGS' AWARDS PFA Young Player of the Year (2): 1991–92, 1992–93 PFA Team of the Year (6): 1992–93, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07, 2008–09

FA CUP (4): 94, 96, 99, 04

PFA Team of the Century (1): 1997–2007[93] PFA Players’ Player of the Year (1): 2008–09 FWA Tribute Award: 2007

LEAGUE CUP (4): 92, 06, 09, 10

Bravo Award (1): 1993 BBC Sports Personality of the Year (1): 2009 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year (2): 1996, 2009 GQ Sportsman of the Year (1): 2010[94]

FA COMMUNITY SHIELD (9): 93, 94, 96, 97, 03, 07, 08, 10, 13

Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year (1): 1997–98 Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year (2): 1990–91, 1991–92 Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2001–02): Overall Team of the Decade

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (2): 99, 08

Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2011–12): Most Player Appearances (596) UEFA Champions League 10 Seasons Dream Team (1992 to 2002): 2002

UEFA SUPER CUP (1): 91

Wales Player of the Year Award (2): 1996, 2006 Premier League Player of the Month (3): September 1993, August 2006, February 2007 Goal of the Season (1): 1998–99

INTERCONTINENTAL CUP (1): 99

English Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 2005 Golden Foot: 2011

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP (1): 08

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@PitchsideWales @PitchsideMagazine

Proud

o r s s a r g t to suppor

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l a w n i l l a ts footb

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Peter Griffiths PG10 Coaching

working together for better grassroots sport 20

@PitchsideWales

Proud to support grassroots football in wales

Rugby and Football combine to benefit grassroots sport for 4-7yr old children with the backing of Wales and Everton FC legend Neville Southall.

A unique opportunity for children aged 4-7yrs old has been launched in the Vale of Glamorgan Wales and Everton legend Neville Southall , PG10 Coaching and Little Stars have teamed up to provide both football and rugby sessions for children aged 4-7yrs old to benefit grassroots sport and increase participation and standards in a fun and safe environment.

Sessions will run every Monday at Bryn Hafren School in Barry 6pm7pm and will provide children as they grow older the opportunity to join the development centre as they grow older.

Children will be coached rugby and football skills have fun and be introduced to both games. While developing each child’s Ability Balance Coordination and Speed.

Throughout 2014 opportunities will be on offer to play in fun football and rugby day festivals on the following dates and venues across South Wales.

Peter Griffiths of PG10 said:

“The key aim for the sessions and festivals are for children to be introduced to both sports and enjoy themselves, as children grow up they can be offered the chance to join the weekly development centre also, ensuring a clear development pathway.”

WHERE & WHEN? Sunday 23rd March 2014 Cardiff Arms Park

Sunday 13th April 2014 Scarlets Rugby Indoor Barn

Sunday 26th October 2014 LLandarcy Sports Centre Swansea FC & Ospreys Training indoor Barn To book on any of the courses, please call: 0845 680 6415, or you can book online at: www.littlestarsrugby.com.uk or www.pg10coaching.co.uk You can also send an email to: enquiries@littlestarsrugby.co.uk or info@pg10coaching.co.uk

Follow Peter on Twitter @petegriffiths10

Anthony Dunne of Little Stars said:

“We are delighted to offer parents and children the unique opportunity to learn great new transferable skills across both football and rugby by expert coaches throughout Wales.”

PRESS RELEASE: Courtesy of PG10 Coaching www.pg10coaching.co.uk

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THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER three new deveLOPMENT CENTRES LAUNCHED IN WALES

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Proud to support grassroots football in wales

Wales and Everton FC legend Neville Southall and PG10 Coaching launch a Development Centre in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Hundreds of children and young people across Wales are benefiting from an exciting new football development centre’s based in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan The centre’s are managed by former Wales and Everton FC legend Neville Southall MBE and PG10 Coaching and provide opportunities for children and young people of all ages to take part in football opportunities NEVILLE SOUTHALL

The centre’s run weekly and provide opportunities for children and young people to play against professional football clubs, training days at St Georges Park the home of England national squads and also play in regular tournaments and festivals across the UK and also play in Barcelona and link in with Barcelona FC. The centre’s also have opportunities such as Futsal, football, Tiny Tots, Soccer Camps and much, much more for primary school children aged 3-11 yrs and Secondary School young people aged 12-15yrs.

The centre’s focus on developing and increasing the skills of young footballers of all abilities providing opportunities to develop and learn in a fun and safe environment as well as provide talented children with a pathway to professional football. Whilst developing a professional attitude towards football whilst training with young players of like ability.

A key aim will be to protect and nurture each players special talents and ensure that talented players are given the very best opportunities and support to reach their full potential.

By having the centre’s in place raise standards of play and develop the children as they will be competing against quality opposition on a regular basis against Premier league, Football league clubs and county teams.

To enrol at any of the Development centres: Call: 07955270870 Email: petegriff10@hotmail.co.uk For More Information: www.pg10coaching.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE: Courtesy of PG10 Coaching www.pg10coaching.co.uk

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Proud to support grassroots football in wales

PG10 shine in USA and win unique football Tournament PG10 Coaching U14 have recently returned from USA where the team took part in FIFA and USSF regulated unique international football tournaments in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

The team successfully won the San Francisco Cup and came 3rd in the Los Angeles based tournament played in Anaheim. In both tournaments they were the only team from the UK and Europe competing.

The team made up of players from Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg and Cowbridge secondary school in the Vale of Glamorgan competed against teams from across USA and Mexico.

The PG10 players and staff also linked in with David Beckham former club “LA Galaxy” based in Los Angeles and were given a personal guided tour by former USA international and LA Galaxy legend Clint Mathis of the clubs stadium “The StubHub Center” and training ground facilities.

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Mathis who was a star performer in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea with the US national team gave the players a wonderful insight of the US Major Soccer league and the facilities at LA Galaxy.

The players also met Chivas USA, professional footballers and former Mexico international Juan Francisco Palencia who is Director of Football at Chivas USA who participated in two World Cups for his country. While being inspired at LA Galaxy the players also met NBA “Chicago Bulls” Basketball star Derrick Rose and the .

Speaking after the tournament PG10 Head Coach Peter Griffiths said:

“The tour of USA was a wonderful opportunity, not only for the children’s football development but also provided the young people with essential life skills and the opportunity to learn about different cultures in a competitive and fun sporting environment, to win such a prestigious tournament is a wonderful achievement and l cannot praise every player enough for their efforts and performances. The players and l have made new friends and waved the flag for Wales and the UK in USA, the experience will remain with the players forever!”

This unique opportunity was sponsored by Adidas, Virgin, Juice Plus, Visual Contour, Herbalife, Acorn, Alliance Healthcare, Hopwoods Pharmacy, Tesco Culverhouse Cross in Cardiff, Boomerang, Venture Insurance, Principality Building Society, Vale Caravan Park, Castell Howell Frozen Foods, Morgan Davies Estate Agents and Eriez Magnetics Following on from the success, PG10 will be taking junior teams and coaches to Barcelona, Dubai and Gambia over the next 6 months as well as providing coaching opportunities in USA. To get involved in PG10 opportunities, places are being taken for junior players aged 8-16 yrs old at PG10 Development Centres based in Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan for more information please contact info@pg10coaching.co.uk or phone 07955270870

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Proud to support grassroots football in wales

ABOVE: PG10 Coaching U 14s with USA Girls U-18s national side.

BELOW: PG10 Coaching U 14s at LA Galaxy’s StubHub Centre

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PG10 Conquers IN THE EAST

Vale of Glamorgan young people WIN Dubai Super Cup & shine in Dubai International Super Cup. PG10 Coaching, junior football team from the Vale of Glamorgan made up of pupils from years 7&8 from Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morganwg, Cowbridge Secondary school and players from Dubai have just returned from the Middle East where the team competed in a FIFA regulated tournament the “Dubai international Super Cup� organised

by Team Tours Direct The team competed against teams from across the world from countries such as South Africa, India, Africa, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and many more. The players before leaving also received messages of support from Wales First Minster Carwyn Jones and Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns.

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Proud to support grassroots football in wales

The team were the only team from the UK competing in the prestigious tournament and performed wonders by winning their respective age group with Ysgol Bro Morgannwg pupil Rhys Beynon being named PG10 player of the tournament.

Bolton FC Chairman Phil Gartside presented the team with their winning trophy in front of a large cheering crowd.

The tournament was well supported with Argentina legend Diego Maradona visiting the tournament which also had former England Internationals Trevor Sinclair and Carlton Palmer coaching junior teams from Dubai Peter Griffiths who is head coach and manager of PG10 Coaching said “The tournament was a wonderful opportunity, not only for the players football development but also provided the young people with essential life skills and the opportunity to learn about different cultures in a competitive and fun sporting environment, to win such a prestigious tournament is a unique achievement and l can not praise every player enough for their efforts and performances. The players and l made new friends and waved the flag for Wales and the UK. To win the tournament is some achievement and will remain with the players for ever!

One of the PG10 junior players that participated in the tournament said “ This was one of the best experiences of my life one that l will remember and cherish for ever, it was great playing against teams from other countries and making new friends�

PG10 Coaching is a Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan based football development scheme which provides opportunities across Wales and England and around the world for children and young people of all ages and ability to get involved and participate in football. Plans are now in motion to set up development centres in Dubai, Malta, Somaliland, Sierra Leone and USA to help increase participation in football but also help talented players develop.

Following on from successes in sport development this year in Wales, Sierra Leone and now Dubai plans are now in motion to take junior players to the USA to tour Los Angles, California and San Francisco in August

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Sierra Leone Football and Education project in partnership with Gwifrol and Craig Bellamy Foundation A team of 7 professionals and ten young people from Cardiff not in full time education, employment or training (NEET) have just returned from Sierra Leone in Africa after coaching football and delivering educational workshops to some of the most deprived children in the world in a unique international sports and global citizenship project which has been supported by the Craig Bellamy Foundation, Gwirvol, Communities First and the Safe Foundation The project managed by Communities First, the Safe Foundation and the football side by Peter Griffiths of PG10 Coaching aimed to give volunteering opportunities to young people from the capital, who would not normally have the chance to travel.

Following on from an intense and unique interview day;10 young people all aged between 16-25yrs old landed spaces to take part in the project a life changing opportunity to help some of the most deprived young people in the world.

"The project was one of the most humbling experiences of my life, the Sierra Leone people are so happy despite living in severe poverty."

Before departing to Sierra Leone the young people took part in 5 intensive workshops to coach them in all the skills and knowledge they needed to be able to deliver workshops and football sessions in Africa.

The project which received words of support from Wales First Minster Carwyn Jones and Wales and Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy, ran for over two weeks at the beginning of December, workshops in HIV/Aids, nutrition, health and life skills were delivered by the Safe Foundation to children living in Freetown and Waterloo every week day morning and in the afternoon the power of football was used to break down cultural barriers by providing football sessions lead by Peter Griffiths.

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Proud to support grassroots football in wales

Mo Jannah of Cardiff based charity ‘Forging Links’ organised teachers in Sierra Leone to co-ordinate the international elements of the project Mo Jannah from Forging Links added: “Although I was born and raised in Britain, my family come from Sierra Leone and it was really satisfying to be able to take part in a project which not only supports deprived kids internationally but locally as well.”

The project also complemented and raised awareness of the fantastic work of Liverpool FC and Wales football star “Craig Bellamy” Foundation” which is also based in Sierra Leone. The young people and staff also visited the Craig Bellamy Foundation to learn observe and take tips how they engage with children and young people from Africa.

Football Coach Peter Griffiths who played football with Craig Bellamy for Wales at youth level and led on the football side of the project said:

“The project was one of the most humbling experiences of my life, the Sierra Leone people are so happy despite living in severe poverty. The experience will remain with me for the rest of my life and l personally learnt so much from Africa and their culture. We hope to now lay strong links in Sierra Leone and plan more trips to Africa in 2012 to ensure our work is sustainable and continues to be beneficial. The work the Craig Bellamy Foundation is doing is fantastic and honourable and is helping so many children”

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In this issue, Pitchside’s Cardiff City aficionados (the great guys at mauveandyellowarmy.net) muse over:

SPURS 1-0 CARDIFF White Hart Lane, March 2nd 2014

by Paul Evans mauveandyellowarmy.net

I spent the first four months of the season thinking that December, January and February would be the time when we could take some huge strides towards keeping our Premier League status this season. The reason why I felt this was that, having played virtually all of the big guns at home, the winter months saw a succession of matches at Cardiff City Stadium against teams we should view as beatable. Apart from Southampton, Liverpool and Chelsea, all of our remaining twelve home games were against teams in the mini league from which the three relegated sides would come.

On the other side of the coin, after a couple of easier looking games at Stoke and Palace to start December, the away fixtures for those three months looked very testing and with visits to Spurs and Everton to come in March, we had a run of seven away games where it seemed to me that only the derby at Swansea could be a reasonable bet for us to take any points from.

Of course, football being what it is, we turned in our worst performance in an away match since Palace in the Swansea game, but the other five matches we’ve played against teams in the current top seven since the match at Selhurst Park have all followed a similar pattern. The matches lost at Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and yesterday by 1-0 to Tottenham all had City staff and the media making fairly encouraging noises about what each performance might lead to, while supporters heaved a sigh of relief that things had not worked out as badly as they feared they might.

Now, all of this could be seen as mildly encouraging if the supposed good things emerging from these defeats were carried into the home matches which followed them, but I’m afraid that, both in terms of performances and results, nothing of the sort has happened.

The encouragement of “winning” the second half at Anfield (the result might have been even closer if referee Lee Probert had seen fit to penalise the wrestling holds Martin Skrtel had on a couple of City players in his own penalty area while “defending” dead ball situations) was followed by the awful Boxing Day showing against Southampton and the great Christmas giveaway against Sunderland, while a gritty defensive showing at the Emirates on New Years Day brought the feeble reaction we saw against West Ham. Okay, the visits to Manchester were followed by a win over Norwich, but it is still something of a mystery how we managed to get the three points that afternoon and the performance level was little better than what has come to be the norm these days at Cardiff City Stadium.

Hull brushing us aside last week following another poor home showing in losing to Wigan in the FA Cup offered further evidence that the positive noises we hear after away games count for nothing if they do not bring some sort of dividend in home games. Interestingly though, there was something from yesterday that was different to what we saw in those earlier away matches and, maybe, it could be the thing that gives us that bit of impetus for next week’s crucial showdown with Fulham at Cardiff City Stadium.

In my report for Saturday’s Academy team game with Barnsley I mentioned that the City youngsters played a version of 3-5-2. It was the first time I could remember them playing such a formation and now the first team have followed suit in using three central defenders (with Craig Bellamy being used behind Fraizer Campbell, it could be argued that we played something like 3-6-1 at White Hart Lane) . Now, I’m sure there will be those who see that system as being defensive, but I would argue that, just like 4-5-1, it’s the people you use within it which defines how attacking or otherwise a system is, not the system itself.

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Anyway, with Ole mentioning that 3-5-2/3-6-1 might be something we see again, it seems likely that it will be all change again next week – I also see that the local media (in the form of Terry Phillips) are saying ”I can’t imagine he (Solskjær) will even think of similar tactics against Fulham at home” – I for one hope he does.

Now, speaking as someone who ended up despairing at the inflexibility which saw Dave Jones play 4-4-2 week after week, I largely welcome the fact that Ole is prepared to try different things, but it also needs to be said that the other extreme of changing things week by week hardly strikes me as the best way to ensure your team stays up. Given, that it largely worked against the team in fifth position, I’d say yesterday’s formation (or, at least, the three centrebacks part of it) did enough to earn a continuation into next week – the goal we conceded came from a break from one of our attacking dead ball opportunities, so Spurs did not really break the three centre back defence down.

I say this in the knowledge that to stay up we simply need to start scoring at about twice the rate we have been and start conceding goals at around half the rate we have until now. Put like that, our task looks a huge one, but it’s worth pointing out that apart from the Norwich and Villa games, both of which saw us hanging on desperately at the end, we had conceded at least two goals in each of Ole’s first seven league matches in charge. Therefore, before yesterday, we needed to score at least three goals (something we have done once in thirty three competitive matches so far this season) in more than two thirds of our games under our new manager to stand any chance of getting the wins we so desperately need.

We need to start getting it right at both ends of the field, but we couldn’t go on conceding goals at the rate we were and, although I accept the evidence that three central defenders will lead to an improvement in our goals conceded per game figure is thin at the moment, the little we have suggests it will – hopefully, we may see the improvement we need at one end of the field anyway.

Obviously, the tougher part of the double we require is the second one – finding a way to improve our appalling goalscoring figures. On the face of it, using three centerebacks is not going to help as far as that goes, but one of the reasons why the system worked for the Academy on Saturday was that all three centrebacks were good enough in possession to come out from their defensive situation and join in with the midfield at times. In a must win match like Fulham at home, Cala and Caulker could, and should, do that now and again, while I’d also say that a couple of personnel changes here and there, as well as some minor tweaks to the system could lead to something which enables us to get enough players forward while remaining pretty solid defensively.

Having Gary Medel back makes a big difference and, although I would prefer a couple of wing backs who were stronger defensively, Fabio and John are probably the best we have when it comes to the attacking side of that role, so, as we need the win, I’d stick with them. Again, the need for three points means that, for me, Gunnarsson has to miss out for one of Mutch, Eikrem or, the forgotten man, Whittingham – I’d go for the first named with instructions to get forward as much as he can. I’d keep Bellamy and Campbell in the side with the former given instructions to operate in the same sort of roving role behind the front man as he had against Norwich.

The toughest choice for me is who has that last place in the side – the candidates for me are Noone (if fit), Zaha, Jones and Dæhli. Ideally I’d say you need to play two out and out strikers, but I don’t think Jones does enough in a relegation struggling team to justify a starting role at the moment. Also, I’m not sure about out and out wingers in a system which includes two wing backs selected more for what they do going forward than what they do defensively – if either Noone or Zaha were more competent when having to defend, I’d be very tempted to include at least one of them as a wing back, but I think I’d keep them both on the bench as options to use if things are going wrong.

That leaves Mats Dæhli then who I’d give the same sort of roaming role to as Bellamy would have – both of them would have to get out to support the wing backs at times when we were attacking and there would have to be a real commitment from at least five of our players to make runs beyond our lone striker when they can (we’ve been rubbish at doing that this season). It needs to be remembered that a draw won’t be much good for Fulham either, so I expect them to be more attack minded than most teams we’ve seen at Cardiff City Stadium recently.

Therefore, I believe there will be counter attacking opportunities for us as well and, given Fulham’s awful defensive record, there will surely be chances to end our goal drought – scoring first in a home game would make such a difference.

VISIT THE BLOG >> @PitchsideWales

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KI SUNG YEUNG

POSITION: DM(C)

AVE RATING

AGE: 25 HEIGHT: 187cm

6.9

WEIGHT: 79kg APPS: 20(1)

STATS - PER GAME

TACKLES

INTERCEPTIONS

GOALS

ASSISTS

ASSISTS

KEY PASSES

1.9

0.8

2

1

1

1.1

fouls

OFFSIDES WON

SHOTS

KEY PASSES

Ave PASSES

PASS SUCCESS

0.7

x

1.4

1.1

48.1

91.2%

CLEARANCES

DRIBBLES

DRIBBLES

TURN OVERS

CROSSES

LONG BALLS

0.9

0.6

1

0.8

0.2

3.9

BLOCKED SHOTS

Own GOALS

OFFSIDES

DISPOSSESSED

THRU -BALLS

0.2

x

X

1.3

0.1

DEFENSIVE NAME

POS

AGE

APPS

Tkls

I

F

OW

Clr

Drb

BS

OG

Ave Rt

Jonjo Shelvey

M (C)

21

21(2)

1.1

0.8

0.7

x

0.9

0.4

0.1

x

6.81

Jonathan De Guzman

M (C)

26

18(5)

1.3

0.9

0.9

x

0.3

0.8

x

x

6.89

Leon Britton

DM (C)

31

13(1)

1.9

1.9

1.9

x

0.5

0.6

0.1

x

6.76

Jose Canas

DM (C)

26

17(3)

1.8

2.1

2.1

0.1

1.3

1.3

03

x

6.61

POS

AGE

APPS

G

A

SpG

KP

Drb

Off

Dis

Trn

Ave Rt

OFFENSIVE NAME Jonjo Shelvey

M (C)

21

21(2)

5

3

2.3

1.3

0.8

x

1.2

1

6.81

Jonathan De Guzman

M (C)

26

18(5)

1

4

1.6

1.8

0.5

0.2

1.5

1.5

6.89

Leon Britton

DM (C)

31

13(1)

x

x

0.3

0.3

0.8

x

0.7

0.9

6.76

Jose Canas

DM (C)

26

17(3)

x

x

0.5

0.1

0.2

x

0.7

0.8

6.61

NAME

POS

AGE

APPS

A

KP

Avg P

PS%

C

LB

TB

Ave Rt

Jonjo Shelvey

M (C)

21

21(2)

3

1.3

52.2

84.1

0.7

6.2

0.2

6.81

PAssing

Jonathan De Guzman

M (C)

26

18(5)

4

1.8

60.3

89.6

2.1

4.3

x

6.89

Leon Britton

DM (C)

31

13(1)

x

0.3

64.8

90.7

0.2

2.6

x

6.76

Jose Canas

DM (C)

26

17(3)

x

0.1

61.4

90.6

x

4.2

x

6.61

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UN - SUNG HERo? With Swansea’s “Korean David Beckham” on loan at the Wearsiders, how has he

by Scott Mackay been getting on? theswanseaway.co.uk With Ki’s loan spell drawing to a close and speculation surrounding his future I thought an interesting exercise would be to see how his statistics from his spell at Sunderland compare with Leon, Jose, Jonathan De Guzman & Jonjo Shelvey.

As you can see his pass accuracy exceeds that of any of the Swansea midfielders, though he plays significantly fewer passes per game than all bar Jonjo. He loses possession as rarely as Swansea’s safest feet those of Jose Canas, but is dispossessed about as often as Jonathan De Guzman - who’s mugged more often than any of the Swansea midfielders. This probably reflects the role Ki is playing for Sunderland - it’s a kind of cross between the defensive and attacking midfield roles at the Swans - so while he’s not necessarily getting assists and goals aplenty he’s clearly imposing himself on games.

Defensively too he’s faring pretty well when compared with Swansea’s midfield, making 1.9 tackles per game which is as good as Leon (and better than any of the others), but he is only making 0.8 interceptions per game, on a par with Jonjo who nabs the ball less than any of his teammates. I think when you look at Ki’s stats from last year (table below) you can clearly see he’s being asked to play a more advanced role at Sunderland as his turnovers (losing the ball through poor control etc) have doubled to 0.8 while he’s dispossessed over 50% more often (1.3 up from 0.8 times per game).

The former could well be attributed to playing the ball in more advanced areas with numerous defenders in close proximity, while again for the latter if you’re trying to take people on you’re liable to be mugged more often. This is again demonstrated in the statistics, with Ki attempting one dribble per game - more than any of the Swansea midfield.

The thing that’s really impressive is the passing accuracy. It’s no mean feat having an average pass accuracy higher than Leon Britton’s, and to do that when you’re clearly playing a more traditional central midfield role is very, very impressive. To me that just serves to emphasise why he should be brought back into the fold for next season. With De Guzman very liable to secure a bumper contract elsewhere off the back of the World Cup we’ll be down one midfielder, and Monk’s switch back to two deep midfielders - one of whom “goes” - should suit the Korean down to the ground.

Overall it’s pretty impressive stuff from the Korean, and I for one am very keen to see him pull on a Swansea shirt again. From a coldhearted financial point of view too it makes great sense - the interest we saw from South Korea was mad but has completely disappeared since his departure - so if we can get a great midfielder who already knows how we play who doubles up as a cash cow that seems to make a lot of sense to me.

Let’s just hope he’s not become too attached to Sunderland and it’s fans, and that he fancies having another crack at life in SA1. I’ve got everything crossed that he comes back for another stint, and I’m sure I’m not alone.

VISIT THE BLOG >> Photographs courtesy of Benjamin Blacker flickr.com/photos/benblackler

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Our New Green, Green , Grass We were recently contacted by Merthyr Town FC programme editor, Malcolm Johnson with regards to the hard work that was put in on installing a new 3G pitch at the ground. We were more than happy to oblige, and will be looking forward to hearing new developments at Merthyr.

Malcolm Johnson told us: “Work started at the beginning of July after the signing of a new lease to the ground by the club and the council. The first step was to remove the old pitch and topsoil – 200 lorry loads-worth was taken away – and to dismantle the old floodlights. During this stage there was monitoring by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust due to the site’s Roman history.

“The fine weather helped the work to stay on schedule, with the next stage being to level the site, and by the end of July bases for the new floodlights had been installed and work begun on the extensive drainage system necessary. Water on the pitch will drain through the stone sub-base into a system of drains leading to one main outlet. This is controlled so that however heavy and prolonged the rain there will be an even and limited flow through the outlet – and should put an end to the sight of the waterfall going down the Promenade steps! As well as the pitch, the new drainage system will also take water from the surrounding area above the ground, and this reflects the council’s involvement in Merthyr Town’s status as a club for the community.

“The photo right shows the piles of stones ready to be laid as the sub-base. This, and the drainage work was complete by the middle of August, and the next stage was to lay the ‘shock pad’, consisting of rubber crumb mixed with a binding substance, and erect the new floodlights. This was completed by the end of August along with the tarmac pitch surround, and the green playing surface in the form of a carpet was then laid, with the white pitch markings permanently incorporated into it.

‘All that remained then was to spread the infills of sand and granulated rubber, and install the new goals, which rest on top of the pitch rather than having the posts inserted into the ground (although the corner flag posts are in sockets).

After completion the new installation was handed over to the club on Friday 20th September.

“Regular weekly maintenance of the pitch involves mechanical brushing, and nothing need necessarily be done immediately after a match – no divots to replace!

“The pitch is to the quality of FIFA 2 Star recommended status. This is the highest possible grading which puts it on a par with top tier artificial pitches such as the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. There are currently 130 FIFA Recommended 2-Star installations in the world, and they may be used for FIFA Final Round Competitions as well as for UEFA Europa League and Champions League matches.”

Merthyr Town match programmes can be obtained by post - including back issues.

Please contact John Strand: strand@salisburyclose.fsnet.co.uk

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@MerthyrTownFC www.pitchero.com/clubs/merthyrtown/

Photo by Jamie Mack

Verde Recreo specialise in artificial grass pitch design, construction and maintenance 8b Greenway Farm, Bath Road, Wick, Bristol, BS30 5RL Phone: 0117 3039152 || Web: www.verderecreo.co.uk @PitchsideWales

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HOT OFF THE PRESS

News, Press Releases & Announcements UEFA Super Cup launch | 17/02/2014

UEFA SUPER CUP COMES TO CARDIFF The Football Association of Wales, Cardiff City Council and the Welsh Government are delighted to announce that the UEFA Super Cup is coming to Cardiff.

ABOVE: 1985 European Cup Winner’s Cup Winner Kevin Ratcliffe with 1999 Uefa Champion’s League Winner, Ole Gunnar Solkjaer

JONATHAN FORD Chief Executive of the FAW

KEVIN RATCLIFFE Former Captain of Everton F.C

Ole Gunnar Solkjaer, Current Manager of Cardiff City F.C

COUNCILLOR HEATHER JOYCE Leader of Cardiff City Council JOHN GRIFFITHS Welsh Government Minister for Culture and Sport

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This traditional and prestigious fixture between the winners of the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League will be played at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday 12th August, 2014 (7:45pm kick off).

“The Football Association of Wales is delighted that Cardiff will be hosting this year’s UEFA Super Cup. This prestigious match features the best teams in Europe, the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League.

The current holders of the UEFA Super Cup are Bayern Munich, who beat Chelsea on penalties in Prague last year.

Cardiff has hosted several high profile sporting events. This however is a first.

This will be the first match staged on behalf of UEFA in the Welsh capital. We are sure it will not be the last.”

Between 1998 and 2012, the UEFA Super Cup was played in Monaco. In 2013 it was played in Prague and in 2015 it will be played in Tbilisi in Georgia.

The announcement was made this afternoon, Monday, February the 17th at Cardiff City Stadium.

Amongst those attending were Chief Executive of the Football Association of Wales, Jonathan Ford, the Leader of Cardiff City Council, Councillor Heather Joyce and the Welsh Government Minister for Culture and Sport, John Griffiths.

They were joined by two former European club competition winners Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Kevin Ratcliffe.

The current Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winning goal for Manchester United in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

Kevin Ratcliffe was the captain of the all-conquering Everton side of the mid 1980’s. In 1985 they won the European Cup Winners Cup beating Rapid Vienna in the final in Rotterdam.

Jonathan Ford, the Chief Executive of the Football Association of Wales said:

The Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Heather Joyce said: “Cardiff is looking forward to ensuring a warm welsh welcome to the first major UEFA event in Wales. The UEFA Super Cup 2014 will once again provide Cardiff with the opportunity to demonstrate its reputation for hosting major sporting events.

“Holding this major football championship in our European Capital of Sport year is very special indeed.

I have no doubt that the event will bring Cardiff to the attention of a new audience of global football fans and I look forward to welcoming the world’s best players to the world’s best sporting capital.”

On behalf of the Welsh Government, the Minister for Culture and Sport John Griffiths added: “The UEFA Super Cup coming to Cardiff and Wales is another fantastic opportunity to showcase the capital city and our country. We are used to hosting major sporting events in this country.

Rugby Union and Rugby League, football, cricket and speedway to name just a few. A UEFA Super Cup is another huge event.”

PRESS RELEASE: Courtesy of The Football Association of Wales - www.faw.org.uk

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HOT OFF THE PRESS

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News, Press Releases & Announcements

WALES KIT LAUNCH | 7/02/2014

JD Sports & FAW Unveil New Away Kit & Instore Signing JD Sports and the Welsh Football Association are delighted to announce a special event at the JD Cardiff, Queen Street as part of the new away kit launch that is now available to pre-order today instore and online at jdsports.co.uk/wales.

The FAW’s Exclusive Retail Partner JD Sports, in association with adidas & Vauxhall, are to welcome a number of senior players to the store on Monday 3rd March (5pm – 6.30pm) into the store to enable fans to get autographs and pictures with the players.

JD Sports’ Head of Football, Guy Walker, commented: “We are looking forward to welcoming the players into store as part of our second launch with the Welsh FA and adidas. This is one of our bigger JD stores and we are sure the fans of the team will make it a very busy one on the evening.”

FAW Head of Commercial, Ian Davis added: “The launch is a very exciting time for all concerned and we are delighted we have pulled together with JD to host such a promising event. We look forward to seeing the fans at the JD and wearing the new look kit.”

Fans can pre-order the shirt now at jdsports.co.uk/wales and instore at JD stores. The shirt will be available following the full launch on Thursday 20th February instore and online at jdsports.co.uk/wales.

To join the conversation about the new Wales away kit launch and to find out which players will be attending follow the #JDWales hashtag @jdsportsfashion on Twitter and Facebook.

PRESS RELEASE: Courtesy of The Football Association of Wales www.faw.org.uk

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Sporting legend Colin Jackson Olympian and world-record breaking hurdler Colin Jackson visited Bangor City Football Club on 20 February to see its after school club in action and to talk about the importance of volunteering.

Colin is a supporter of the sports volunteering charity Join In, which was created out of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to increase local sports volunteering opportunities in community sports. It has recently launched its search for ‘Local Leaders’ a recruitment drive to attract a network of the best volunteers in the UK. They will help grassroots sports and physical activity groups grow participation in community sport.

Throughout a fun-filled afternoon, Colin took time out to help coach the club’s training session, as well as getting

involved in volunteering by putting up the goals, laying out cones and refereeing a match. And when training was over the participants and their parents were treated to a question and answer session with the Olympic legend.

“So if you can sign up to Join In’s campaign to be part of a network of Colin said: 250 of the best volunteers in the UK “I have been really impressed by what to link volunteers with clubs on the I have seen here and congratulate ground, then do sign up!”

Bangor City FC. The volunteers here Ray, Community Officer at Bangor make a crucial contribution to the Ethan City FC, said: club. Volunteers are the backbone of sport in the community. If more clubs “It was great to have a Welsh sporting had more volunteers there would legend like Colin Jackson supporting our activities and was a fantastic be more sports activities happening and empowering experience for our throughout the UK and more people players to have Colin helping out at the taking part in sport. That is why I am session and answering their questions.

These activities really demonstrate the

COLIN JACKSON Olympian and world-record breaking hurdler

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backing Join In’s recruitment drive to get more volunteers into community sport.

visits Bangor City FC importance of volunteering in sport as they could not be run without the support of local volunteers who come from our community partner Coleg Menai. Also, the support which our activities receive from Bangor University through providing a community hub for sport sessions to take place is intrinsic to their success. If you would like any further information about the activities which we deliver or want to get involved in the various volunteering opportunities which we have please contact me on 01248 355852 or email ethan@vi-ability.org” Professor Laura McAllister, Chair of Sport Wales, said: “We are a small nation with a big ambition to get every child in Wales hooked on sport for life. This means we need the help of willing volunteers. I’d ask

everyone to think about what more you can do for sport. In many cases, we rely on the amazing work carried out by one or two people but we need an army of volunteers if we are to build a healthier, more active Wales for our children.”

Sport Wales Senior Officer Martin Barrett, who attended the event, added:

“Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting Welsh sport. Without the amazing efforts and dedication of these people the many great sporting opportunities that we see in communities across Wales every week would not be possible, we would also not have many of our great sporting stars. It is for these reasons

that we are delighted to see initiatives such as Join In and that here at Bangor City FC, which help raise the profile of the important role these people play.”

Colin is a Welsh former sporting and hurdling athlete who specialised in the 110 metre hurdles. During his career representing Great Britain and Wales he won an Olympic silver medal, became World Champion three times, went undefeated at the European Championships for 12 years and was a two-time Commonwealth Champion. His world record of 12.91 seconds for 110m hurdles stood for over a decade and he remains the 60m world indoor record holders.

Colin Jackson with the Bangor City FC after school club

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