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

On Monday, Carmarthen Town AFC announced that Neil Smothers will be joining the management and coaching team at Richmond Park. Tomi Morgan was removed from his position as manager on Friday evening after the Welsh Cup tie versus Bridgend Town. On behalf of the Executive Committee of the club, Chairman Gareth Jones stated that the disappointing results over the opening period, which has seen the Old Gold win only three of their 18 league games, led to the difficult decision to replace Morgan. “We are deeply grateful to Tomi for his contribution to the club over the past 18 months. It was his experience and skills that kept us in the league last season when we faced a difficult period after the resignation of Deryn Brace. He was the unanimous choice of the Executive Committee at that time. "Unfortunately, this season has not seen the club move forward on the field and it was decided that a fresh face needed to be brought in to improve performances.” Former player Neil Smothers retur...

Carmarthen Town begin their Welsh premier League campaign for the 2011-12 season next Saturday with a home game versus mid Wales side Newtown FC (Kick off at 2.30pm). First team manager Tomi Morgan has been busy during the pre-season in adding to his squad from last season but he was especially pleased last Saturday when goalkeeper and Player of the Season for 2010-11 Mike Lewis decided to return to Richmond Park for the coming campaign. Lewis is picture above signing for Carmarthen Town with club chairman Gareth Jones. Lewis had been training with Newport County during the summer but decided to commit himself to the Old Gold prior to the last pre-season friendly against Welsh League Champions, Bryntirion Athletic. A late goal by Steffan Williams was the difference between the two sides in what was a pleasing encounter. Williams was netting his third goal of pre-season series of games. The game also saw the first appearance in the Old Gold shirt for Jack Christopher and he was denied a...

Carmarthen Town returned to action last Saturday with their first friendly match prior to the 2011/12 Welsh Premier League campaign. Tomi Morgan took a squad made up mainly of trialists with a few of last season’s squad and new signings to Tregaron, to play the Spar Mid Wales League side. Although the game ended in a a 1-1 draw with the Old Gold only equalising in the last few minutes of the game Morgan was pleased with the application of his squad. ”All players were asked to report for training in Tregaron at 11am. Despite holiday and work commitments we had 20 players out there trying to prove that they deserved a place in the squad for the coming season. We had an excellent training session for an hour and a half before having a break prior to the 3pm kick off.” Morgan started with an experimental line up containing only four of last season’s squad with Tim Hicks playing in the back four, Geraint Passmore and Kieran Howard anchoring the midfield and Oli Ardolino playing up front. To...

Carmarthen Town were pleased to announce some more important signings for the club over the weekend Firstly, on the managerial and coaching side, Colin Staples (pictured above) has rejoined the club as the Academy Director and also will form part of Tomi Morgan’s managerial team. With Terry Boyle having taken on a full time role with Neath, Morgan has appointed Staples as his new right-hand man. Staples brings a wealth of experience to the club. He is currently a Welsh Football Trust Football Development Officer and also holds coaching roles with several National squads. Colin has just returned from Germany – analysing and reporting on current Women’s World Cup. His Qualifications include being an UEFA “A” Licence holder since 1996, and also he has a Diploma in Sports Psychology. “Not only will Colin have a key role with the first team squad but he will also oversee the future development of our Academy. Therefore I consider the appointment of Colin Staples as Academy Director as a maj...

Welsh Premier League side Carmarthen Town have returned to pre-season training during the last week. New signing Jack Christopher has already settled in to the hard work of getting fit for the next season, which starts with a home game versus Newtown on the 13th of August. Several of last season’s squad have also committed themselves to the Old Gold. Geraint Passmore, Nick Harrhy, Steffan Williams, Lee Bevan and Kieran Howard put pen to paper last week and join Christopher and other new signing Kyle Graves in Tomi Morgan’s squad. Morgan was quietly confident that he would add some more fresh blood to the squad during the week and was in discussions with other members of last season’s squad. Morgan stated:“I hope to finalise my squad during the coming weeks but will be looking carefully at the performances during the friendly matches and during training session. I have already been impressed with youth team player, Declan Carroll, and hopefully will be able to see others from Peter Fear...

Carmarthen Town AFC have completed their first new signing of the season. Despite strong competition from several other clubs, Jack Christopher made the decision to join the Old Gold. A proven goal scorer in the Welsh Premier League with Haverfordwest County, he will bring added potency to the Town forward line. Christopher scored 71 goals for Haverfordwest in 114 (+29 subs) appearances. Manager Tomi Morgan was delighted with his new signing. “Jack has proved himself at this level and will bring something extra into the squad. Despite some very good offers from other clubs we managed to sell Carmarthen Town to him and I was extremely pleased when he put pen to paper.” Town also completed another signing over the weekend when defender Kyle Graves committed himself to the Old Gold. Graves, a former Swansea City professional, has made 97 appearances in the Welsh Premier League while playing for Neath and Haverfordwest County. Morgan stated: “I have always been impressed with Kyle when he...

At the Carmarthen Town AFC annual presentation evening held at the Clubhouse and Community Centre in Richmond Park, the award for Player of The Season went to goalkeeper Mike Lewis. He is pictured receiving his award from Town manager Tomi Morgan. The MC for the evening was Robert Lloyd!

Carmarthen Town AFC's Tomi Morgan is Welsh Premier manager of the month for October after the Old Gold's climb up the table culminated in a 4-2 away win at Airbus. Tomi is in charge at Richmond Park for the second time, having previously managed the club for six seasons which included a Welsh Cup final and Town's first foray into Europe. Following time at Barry Town and Penrhyncoch Tomi managed Welshpool Town before joining CPD Porthmadog in February 2009. A very well qualified and experienced manager Tomi rejoined Town in June 2010. http://www.welsh-premier.com/index.php/headline-news/2767-tomi-is-october-manager-of-the-month

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' column from the Carmarthen Journal . . . Been off on holidays, so this is the 'View from Richmond Park' column from the Journal of August 11 (tweaked because of time delay) - The Welsh Premier League season is underway. Carmarthen Town AFC took the field against old rivals Aberystwyth Town on Saturday, August 14. The new season sees plenty of changes in the structure of the Welsh Premier League - the national league of Wales. The league kicked off the 2010/11 season on August 13 (The New Saints v Prestatyn Town played on Friday night) with 12 clubs, after a reduction in size from 18 clubs in 2009/10. No teams were promoted from either of the feeder leagues as the only eligible club on playing merit - Cymru Alliance champions Llangefni Town - failed to gain the necessary FAW (Football Association of Wales) domestic licence. The five lowest-placed clubs in the top flight - Cefn Druids, Caersws, Welshpool, Porthmadog and Connah's Qu...

The latest 'View from Richmond Park' column from the Carmarthen Journal . . . With just over a week to go before the start of the new Welsh Premier League season, it’s time to put the spotlight on the man who will be leading the Carmarthen Town AFC campaign. Town’s new manager is Tomi Morgan, who is enjoying his second spell at Richmond Park. Diehard Carmarthen fans will already be familiar with Morgan, but many Journal readers may appreciate a quick Tomi Morgan history lesson. Morgan was appointed Carmarthen manager for the second time in June, 2010, after player-boss Deryn Brace decided to step down. Morgan was recruited from Porthmadog, where he had been manager since February 2009, after the club's relegation to the Cymru Alliance. A fearsome striker in the League of Wales who then became a successful manager, Morgan played for Telford United before becoming player/manager of Aberystwyth Town in the first season of the domestic Welsh league, scoring 21 league goals in 4...