2024_09_10 - Seaside vs Giants Grave

Dean: 07511862902 Wayne: 07737352153 phillipsbroplastering@gmail.co.uk

Welcome to our Visitors Formed in 1963, Giants Grave FC joined the West Wales Premier League in 2020. Prior to this, they were high achievers in the Neath & District League, winning the title 6 times in 1996, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2018.

Giants Grave have enjoyed a good start to the 2024/25 season, sitting in 6th place with 5 wins and 3 losses.

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Seaside AFC: A brief history Seaside AFC were formed during the late 1950's and entered the Carmarthenshire League, the early years were difficult and found success hard to come by. By the mid 1970's Seaside had established themselves as a strong Division one team and despite reaching several finals and semi finals were unable to win their first trophy.

In 1982 Seaside found success for the first time winning the Carmarthenshire League Challenge Cup and promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

During the 80's Seaside saw several promotions and relegations to the premier league. This pattern continued through the 90's which also seen Seaside crowned Division one champions for the first time and win the challenge cup on another two occasions.

The fortunes of the club changed in 2000 when a 23 year old Wayne Bowen was appointed player manager. The team were promoted to the Premier league in 2001, in the next season Seaside finished a creditable 3rd place and won the T & G premier cup for the first time.

The following season was the best in the history for the club starting with winning the Llanelli Star Cup for the first time, also reaching the finals of the T & G cup and Senior cup. Seaside then went on to win the Carmarthen Premier League for the first time and finished the season in style by winning the West Wales cup beating West End 1-0 with a Lee Stone penalty in their first appearance in the final. That same season also seen the Second team complete the league and cup double. Since 2003 Seaside have established themselves as one of the top teams in the Carmarthenshire League and have won many more trophies, including the League title on more than 3 occasions.

The 2007/08 season also seen Seaside lifting the West Wales Trophy in a thrilling game. Trailing 4-1 at half time against Ragged School, Seaside made a tremendous come back in the second half to eventually win the game 6-5 in what many people have said is the be game of football they have seen.

After 2007 - 2008 season seaside carried on dominating the Carmarthenshire League. Winning the Premier division another 7 times. 8 years in a row which is a record. In that time we were West Wales finalists when we lost to Penlan after extra time at the liberty stadium. We were 3 - 1 up at half time but losing Lee Stone and Luke Jenkins through injury was a turning point. It was 5 - 3 in the end.

We also won the senior Cup 4 years on the trott from 2011 - 2012 to 2016 - 2017.

We won the TG Davies 2009 and 2010.

During this time our reserves were a formidable team. Which showed the strength in depth we had during the period of domination. They won numerous doubles.

We won the league 4 years on the bounce from 2011 - 2012 to 2016 - 2017.

We won the Darch Cup in 2011 and also the Morris Cup in 2012/13, 2014/15 and 2016/17.

We also won the Jayne Stephens Cup in 2011/12.

We added a star Cup before it was scrapped in 2008/09 where we fielded a u21 side.

These were fantastic years where we had some brilliant managers. All committed and played the seaside way.

Wayne Bowen, Dai Jones were the successful ones. We also had Darren Evans and Jamie Bowen for 2 years in seasons 2017/18 and 2019/20.

Reserve team managers have been brilliant as well with the likes of lan Richards, Jamie Richards, Gavin Evans, Darren Evans who won the double 3 years in a row.

But since 2018 we have been in transition and we haven't won a trophy for 4 years now. We have moved our 1st team home games off ‘the Bal’ and on to Penrhos 3g. A lot of questions were asked, but the way we play, the 3g pitch suits us and we believe as a club we have turned the corner in the last 6 months and we are confident the trophies will return.

We have got an ambitious committee and a fantastic mini and junior with some really good youngsters coming through.

We are all excited the the future under the guidance of Lee Stone, Stu Lloyd, and Wayne Bowen.