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

Carmarthen Town AFC have released their full fixture programme for Phase 2 of the Dafabet Welsh Premier League campaign. After the mid-season break, the Old Gold return to league action this Saturday with an away fixture at Gap Connah's Quay, 2.30pm. Club chairman Chris Edwards said he was delighted with the side’s achievements so far this season. “It was crucially important for us to secure a Top 6 place and play in the top level of the Welsh Premier League this season. “There’s a very big thank to the players, the coaching staff and all the backroom team at Richmond Park for their hard work in achieving our Top 6 place. “With the pressure of relegation off and being guaranteed Welsh Premier League Football for next season, we can concentrate on aiming for a home European Qualifying game. “Although playing against the very best of the league for the remaining 10 games, we will go forward with confidence having beaten or picked up points in Phase 1 against all clubs apart from TN...

Do you have a keen interest in sport? Do you watch programmes such as Sgorio, Clwb Rygbi and Club on S4C? If so, S4C would like to hear your opinion. The channel is holding a special Sports Survey featuring a variety of questions on its most popular sports programmes. There are also questions on how you watch these programmes, for example, on the television, the web or your mobile device, as well as asking you about your favourite sports. The survey should take no more than a few minutes, and you can answer in Welsh or in English. Sue Butler, S4C Sports Content Commissioner, said, “Our sports programmes form an important part of S4C’s schedule. Hearing the opinions of our viewers will be very useful to us as we look to plan the future of our service.” To take part in the Survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/arolwgchwaraeon ------------------- Rhowch eich barn yn Arolwg Chwaraeon S4C A oes gennych ddiddordeb mawr mewn chwaraeon? A ydych chi’n gwylio rhaglenni fel Sgori...

Football commentator and pundit Ian Snodin, best known for being a dynamic Everton midfielder, will be the guest speaker at the Carmarthen Town AFC annual celebrity dinner at the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Carmarthen, on Friday, May 20. Snodin was a regular analyst on Sky Sports' coverage of the Football Conference, before taking on a similar role at Setanta Sports following a change in the broadcasting rights. He co-hosts Terrace Talk, a football magazine show, with Liverpool legend Ian St. John every Saturday at midday on Liverpool music station Radio City 96.7 and City Talk 105.9 and occasionally commentates on Everton for the same radio network. He writes a weekly column for the Liverpool Echo. Snodin is almost unique in modern football insomuch as he declined an invitation (which few receive and virtually no one declines) when he turned down the chance to join Liverpool in January 1987. Having esta...

Girls at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman have gone to extra time to prove they’re ahead of the game when it comes to football. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Active Young People Team has been working closely with the school’s PE department to provide after-school football sessions every Thursday. More than 30 girls started playing during the autumn term, and with regular coaching, team work and determination they’ve gone from strength to strength with a string of achievements already in the back of the net. First, they competed in the Welsh Schools FA Cup competition and a local schools indoor competition where they progressed onto the next round. Several of the girls then joined their community Club, Ammanford Juniors AFC, and through engaging with the club coaches and training with the club, the school team stepped up a level. To date, they have won the Swansea City Premier Cup and will be representing Swansea City in Goodison Park, Everton FC, in May; and got through to the final of the Wels...

Carmarthen Town manager Mark Aizelwood will pick from a depleted squad but is confident his young side stand every chance of making further progress in the EUROPA league play-offs grand finale to the Dafabet Welsh Premier League season. Town make the long journey north to Gap Connah’s Quay for a 3.30pm kick-off on Sunday (May 8). The Town game plan will be ‘no fears’. Aizlewood said: “Make no bones about it, for Carmarthen Town to finish in the play-off spot of seventh in the two-tier league is more difficult than TNS (The New Saints) winning the league, in my opinion. “There is no point in us moaning about the fact that we don’t have the money other, bigger, clubs, in the Welsh Premier League have. “Other clubs have bigger resources in terms of money and playing squads, but we just get on with it. “I am absolutely delighted with what Carmarthen Town’s players have achieved this season. “As a football coach, you can often go to the statistics and make them read something speci...

Carmarthen Town AFC are appealing to all football fans and the community in the town to rally to the aid of the club in an exciting period in the team's history. The club has ambitious plans to install an all-weather 3G pitch which will be of benefit to the whole community. The plans are taking shape, but first the club plans . . .  Supporters and Community Meeting Richmond Park on MONDAY 11th May at 7pm The club continues to operate at pace with a number of ongoing initiatives gaining momentum. The principal objective is to secure a state of the art artificial pitch known as 3G for the community of Carmarthen. Some 75% of the expenditure has already been obtained leaving a shortfall of approx £120,000 and in addition to securing the additional funds work is ongoing to plan for its future use. This facility will considerably raise the profile of the whole town within West Wales. Running parallel to this is the preparation of a development plan with the concerte...

News hot off the press from Carmarthen Town AFC about the annual football festival and fete at Richmond Park - CARMARTHEN TOWN AFC ANNUAL PRIMARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL FESTIVAL & FETE Carmarthen Town will be holding their annual primary school football festival at Richmond Park on Friday 1st May. The event is made possible by the support provided by our Community Programme sponsor EMC Services and Programme Sponsor St Catherine’s Walk. The Club are very grateful to Neil Alexander and John Nash for their continuing support. We are also very grateful to the teachers of all the schools who are giving up their time to ensure their pupils have such a memorable evening. Programme sellers will be calling door to door in the build up to the event so please support it and come along on the night. The fun starts from 4pm and refreshments and stalls will be available on the night.

News hot off the press from Carmarthen Town AFC. Celebrity dinner featuring Wales football team's Osian Roberts, comedian Harry Scott and MC Robert Lloyd - 24th ANNUAL CELEBRITY DINNER IVY BUSH HOTEL FRIDAY 8TH MAY 2015 7:00PM Osian Roberts Assistant Team Manager Wales Senior International Football Team Town will hold their Annual Celebrity Dinner at the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel On Friday 8th May 2015. After the disappointment of last year’s speakers we have this year gone for tried and tested local speakers. The principal guest will be Osian Roberts who in his role as Wales Assistant Team Manager, coaches the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey and is a very competent speaker. Our comedian will be Harry Scott, still going strong, and making his third appearance with us. The MC will be Robert Lloyd. The club continues to work at pace and 75% of the necessary funding for a state of the art artificial pitch, known as 3G, has been found. This will completely revolu...

Carmarthen Town's grant application to the Football Association of Wales for a 3G all-weather pitch to be laid at Richmond Park has been successful. The decision was communicated to the Welsh Premier League club's chairman Jeff Thomas who said: "I am delighted with the news. "The fact that we have been awarded this finance means that on completion of the project Richmond Park can now be seen as an all-year round facility which can only be of benefit to the community. "While the award is extremely generous further grant aid will be necessary to complete the project." Mr Thomas added: "We are well on our way to achieving the full amount with support having already been agreed by two other bodies and with a further grant application being considered at this time. "The club is most anxious to proceed with the pitch installation at the earliest possible time which would mean that the muddy and difficult conditions we experienced in last Saturd...

Llanelli Town AFC thrashes Cwnamman United 4-1 | Llanelli Star : The Reds put on a show at Stebonheath Park, thrashing Cwmamman United 4-1. Goals came from Steve Stone, Declan John, Matthew Lloyd and Liam Samuel. Next up for Llanelli Town AFC is Grange Quins away on Wednesday night with a 7.45pm kick off.

Budding footballers in Llanelli were treated to a visit from a former Swansea City Football Club  star. Over 60 youngsters were taking part in a summer camp at Llanelli Leisure Centre when Lee Trundle made his appearance Thursday afternoon. The ex Swans striker took time out to chat with the five to 13-year-olds before they bombarded him with questions ranging from his football career to his hairstyle. He then went on to sign their T-shirts and posed for pictures. The two-day event was organised by Swansea City Community Trust , Welsh Football Trust and Carmarthenshire Council’s sport and leisure department. Its aim was to encourage children to have fun, keep active and learn new football skills. It also provided an opportunity for those who enjoy the game, but are not affiliated to any clubs, to gain experience and build confidence. The council’s Actif facilities manager, Steve Owens said: “We were so lucky and thrilled when we found out Lee had made time in his busy schedule to...

Jenkins Bakery shops throughout South Wales are getting into the World Cup spirit. "Our customers enjoy getting into the spirit of big events as much as we do," said Jenkins Bakery operations director Russell Jenkins. "We always like to do something special for big events such as the Olympics, the rugby and football's World Cup, so we have come up with a special range of products for the fans." Products include - 4 Pack Football Cup Cakes  Our top quality cup cake coated with fondant and decorated with a football motif and coloured sugar strands.  World Cup Biscuits Our top quality shortbread biscuit in the shape of a football shirt decorated with a yellow Brazilian top, with chocolate and sugar strands. Mallow Cones – we will dip the cones in various coloured sugar strands and decorate with a football motif. Website - http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/

Llanelli Town kept alive their promotion hopes from the third division of the Welsh League when they eased to a 3-0 win over Bettws at Stebonheath. In doing so, the Reds moved into fifth place in the table. Lee Smolka, Ross Jones and Jordan Follows scored for Llanelli. More on this story in the headline link to the South Wales Evening Post.

The New Saints 2-0 Carmarthen Town: The New Saints booked a home Welsh Cup quarter-final tie against Airbus UK Broughton with a convincing 2-0 win over Carmarthen Town at Park Hall. Mike Wilde swept the ball in from six yards to give the home side the lead in first half stoppage time after Carmarthen had failed to clear Chris Seargeant's free-kick. Man of the match Ryan Fraughan added a second for the hosts on the hour. Link to more on the headline and below - http://www.carmarthentownafc.com/hafan1.html

Revised fixtures for Carmarthen Town AFC in the second half of the Welsh Premier League programme are as follows - http://www.carmarthentownafc.com/fixtures_gemau.html Stop Press: Fixture confirmation @CarmarthenAFC Newtown v Carmarthen Monday 21st April 2014 KO 2:30pm

Tournament success in its Women's football legacy - WalesOnline Magazine Sport Blog Over the course of the next fortnight, Wales will host its first UEFA tournament as the finals of the Women's Under-19 Championship take place in Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Llanelli. Wales qualified for the tournament as hosts and have been placed in Group A alongside Denmark, England and France. Group A - Wales, Denmark, England, France. Group B - Sweden, Finland, Germany, Norway. Match Day 1 - Monday 19th August 2013. Wales v Denmark (Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli) at 14.00hrs. England v France (Richmond Park, Carmarthen) at 19.00hrs. Sweden v Finland (Stebonheath Park, Llanelli) at 14.00hrs. Germany v Norway (Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli) at 19.00hrs. Story link to Wales Online.

Town look impressive as they bounce back to winning ways | This is South Wales Carmarthen Town bounced back from two defeats to cruise to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Welsh League side Ton Pentre. Link to South Wales Evening Post story.

Staff from Burry Port distribution and courier firm Celtic Couriers were on the ball at the weekend when they entered a football tournament in Carway. Team members are pictured - from left to right, back, Kevin Jones, Colin Foreman, Paul Luccitt, Chris Stockwell and Ceri Evans; front, Brendan Rudge, Darren Bennett and Daniel Kelly. Steffan Jones is not pictured - he was in the shower! The tournament record was -  W0 D1 L2 GD -6 Website - http://www.celticcouriers.co.uk/

Carmarthen gearing up for Uefa tournament | This is South Wales Carmarthen Town are gearing up to stage two games in the Women's Under-19 European Championships this summer. Wales hosts the competition that will pit the continent's top eight teams at that level against each other. Along with Wales, Denmark, England, France Sweden, Finland, Germany and Norway take part in the tournament which runs from August 19 to 31. Richmond Park will be the venue for Wales's game against England on August 22 (2pm) and Finland's clash with Norway (7pm).

Steve Claridge, the former Birmingham City and Leicester City player who is currently a pundit for BBC Sport football shows, including Football Focus and the Football League show, will be the guest speaker at Carmarthen Town AFC's 22nd Annual Celebrity Dinner. The dinner is being held at the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel in Carmarthen on Friday 7th June 2013 - 7:30pm. Ticket details and more information on the link below. http://www.carmarthentownafc.com/news_dinner13_claridge.html