Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Ezequiel Calvente - genius penalty v Italy 24.7.10

New Carmarthen Town AFC manager Tomi Morgan took his squad to Pembrokeshire last night for a pre-season fixture against Hundleton. Despite the comfortable 9-0 scoreline, Town were made to work hard for their win. A brace each for Tim Hicks, Mark Pritchard and Daniel Ramsey, with Andy Evans, Nick Harry and Jody Thomas adding a goal apiece gave Morgan an excellent opportunity to view his squad in a competitive situation. Morgan said: “The players have been very impressive in training sessions but tonight was really useful to see them in a competitive situation. They haven't been playing together long but there were some very positive performances tonight." On an immaculate but undulating surface, Hicks and Evans had given Town a two-goal advantage at the break. A three-goal blitz in a 10 minute period just after the resumption overcame Hundleton's resistance. On Saturday Town travel to Caersws FC and on Tuesday evening Town will entertain Welsh League First Division outfit P...

The 'View from Richmond Park' column from this week's edition of the Carmarthen Journal . . . Carmarthen Town AFC’s Richmond Park ground played host to the club’s 12th Fete and Primary School Football Tournament With matches keenly contested many of the games had to be decided by extra time and penalties. Ysgol Parc Y Tywyn won the boys Under 9 competition beating Ysgol Peniel in a penalty shoot-out after extra time failed to produce a winner. In the Boys Under 11 competition it needed a ‘Golden Goal’ for Ysgol Dewi Sant to beat Swiss Valley School by the narrowest of margins. A unique result in the girl’s competition saw Ysgol Y Tymbl and Ysgol Dewi Sant share the honours after extra time and penalties were unable to separate the two sides. The Small Schools trophy was won by Ysgol Ffairfach and Ysgol Nantgaredig won the Roger Evans Memorial Award as the team that best encompassed the spirit of footballing throughout the tournament. Thanks to Councillor Alan Speake for ope...

The 'View from Richmond Park' column from this week's edition of the Carmarthen Journal . . . Saturday (July 10) saw the annual fete and primary school football tournament held at Richmond Park, Carmarthen. It provided further evidence of the commitment to developing youth talent at Carmarthen Town AFC. Last season saw further milestones reached in the development of the youth structure within Carmarthen Town AFC. A development centre for primary school children feeding into our academy structure has been established. With teams at U12, LJ14, U15, U16 and U19 Youth levels, all the teams play in an organised Academy League. Emlyn Schiavone, chairman of Town’s Academy Forum, explained: “When it was formed it was hoped that the youth of our locality would be encouraged to take advantage of the club's coaching facilities and develop the next generation of players to represent Carmarthen Town. “As well as youngsters from Carmarthen, players from as far afield as Newcastle Em...

Llanelli Reds manager Andy Legg has added some fresh legs and faces to his squad as the Reds prepare for their games in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League in July. Legg has included many of the club’s successful Youth Team squad from the past two seasons as he attempts to take advantage of the continuing development of the Reds Academy under the watchful eye of Director Bob Jeffrey. Keeper Craig Richards, Full Back Jordan Davies, Defender Ryan Batley, Midfielders Declan John and Ross Jones and Striker Rikki Evans all become members of the first team squad along with Jordan Follows who impressed for the first team at the tail end of last season. Legg points out: “in the current economic climate, we have had to cut our playing budget which has resulted in me having to release some senior players. "I am confident, though, that the boys that we have brought through from our youth team are more than capable after having a successful period over the past few seasons. It is ...

Carmarthen Town Under-19s are looking to strengthen their current squad for next season 2011/12. Due to current players being ineligible because of age or further education requirements, Town wish to recruit additional players. Players for all positions are welcome. Any new players would be very welcome at this friendly and thriving club. Trials will be held on Tuesday 13th July and Thursday 15th July please report to Richmond Park at 6:30pm. Contact Peter Fearn 07954337106 or Ryan Stephens on 07518430077 for further details.

Having attended a meeting of the South Wales clubs (including Aberystwyth Town) who have qualified for the newly revamped Welsh Premier League, Carmarthen Town have reacted positively to the new proposal put forward on the evening. Town had initially hoped that the revival of the Premier Cup would be the ideal solution to the fixture conundrum but with that scenario not coming to fruition welcomed the new proposal. This involves the league being split into a top and bottom six after the initial 22 games but rather than the bottom six only battling to avoid relegation, the seventh placed team, after the final raft of games, would enter a play off situation with an European place at stake. * QUARTER-FINAL Sixth-placed club v Seventh-placed club (Match A) * SEMI-FINALS Third-placed club v Winner of Match A Fourth-placed club v Fifth-placed club * FINAL Winner of Semi-Final 1 v Winner of Semi Final 2 Home advantage in all ties goes to the team with...

Pupils from across the Amman and Towy valleys had a ball at Dyfed-Powys Police’s annual schools football tournament. The tournament was held at Ammanford Recreation Ground and is now in its seventh year. Schools taking part included Bro Banw, Betws, Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman, Gorslas, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, Ysgol Y Bedol, Brynamman, Llangadog, Tycroes, Saron, Parcyrhun and Blaenau. The final for the shield was held between Parcyrhun and Tycroes with Parcyrhun finally winning. Ysgol Bro Banw and Brynamman were in the final for the cup with Bro Banw victorious for the second year running. Ten-year-old Iestyn Evans from Brynamman was named player of the tournament. The aim of the tournament is to forge greater links in the community between police and young people. Community safety officer Pc Rob Chapman said: “The tournament is now in its seventh year and is a great way of engaging with young people in our area by providing them with a healthy and fun activity. “Events like this are importan...

The Belgium v Switzerland Under-16 international scheduled for Wednesday night at Stebonheath Park, Llanelli, has been cancelled due to flights into the UK being suspended due to the Icelandic volcano situation.

Swansea referee Dean John will referee the Welsh Cup Final between Port Talbot Town and Bangor City at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday 1st May.KO 4.30pm

Swansea City 3 Barnsley 1 Come on, you Swans!

Pembrokeshire is to host the Under-18s Schools Centenary International between Wales and the Republic of Ireland on Thursday, 25th March. The fixture will be held at the Bridge Meadow, Haverfordwest, with kick off at 7pm. Admission is free for children under 16 years of age and £5 for adults. The match is being sponsored by Sport Pembrokeshire, the sport division of Pembrokeshire County Council. Thursday's fixture is extra special as there is a local player in the Welsh squad - Steffan Williams. Steffan was born in Haverfordwest and plays for Haverfordwest County in the Welsh Premier League. A former junior player at Clarbeston Road AFC and a former pupil of Ysgol y Preseli, he received his first cap last season. He is studying for a diploma in Public Services at Pembrokeshire College but has the ambition of making the grade in the professional game, and has had trials with Aston Villa, Cardiff, Bristol City and Swansea. In 2008 at the England v Wales game at the Meadow, one of th...

BBC Sport - Football - Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey suffers horrific leg injury What a shocker - just when Arsenal start their run for the title.

Enjoyed the snippets column from Aled Jones in the Carmarthen Town AFC match programme last Saturday. The snippets included - Almost half of the Blackburn Rovers Team of Season 1952-53 had surnames of future British Prime Ministers - Wilson, Callaghan, Heath, Thatcher and Brown! In the Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers match in the season 1910-1, Willie Thompson, playing in the all-red Jersey of Arsenal had his right sleeve completely torn off by an opponent's foul challenge. Thompson was so 'buoyed' by the desecration of his shirt that he subsequently scored a 'hat-trick'! So prominent and white was his visible right arm that it was considered a 'lucky-omen' by the chairman and so the famous Arsenal kit of today was born! The Sheffield Wednesday full back of the 60s and 70s Wilf Smith was really Wolfgang Schmidt from Wolfsbui, Germany, who believed that the 'adoption' of the name Wilf Smith was more appropriate for the English game! Plymouth Argyle are so-...

BBC Sport - Football - England face Wales in Euro 2012 qualifying group Brilliant!

Just been enjoying the CAN 2010 official site for the African Nations Cup soccer tournament. Take this pen picture of Mozambique as an example of what to expect! As Burkina Faso and Malawi, Mozambique is a congener with discreet goals, as its group, lacking of top players. It is, therefore, Mambas wish to go through the first phase. With Tico-Tico and Dário on head, Mozambique cannot afford high expectations, but it is not forbidden, tough. Mexer, who recently signed contract with the Portuguese Sporting, is the promising talent of the squad. See the official Africa Nations Cup website - http://www.can-angola2010.com/index.htm