Carmarthen Town A.F.C.
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| Full name | Carmarthen Town Association Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Old Gold, The Town | ||
| Founded | 1948 | ||
| Ground | Richmond Park Priory Street Carmarthen (Capacity: 3,000 (1000 seated)) |
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| Chairman | Gareth O Jones | ||
| Manager | Mark Aizlewood | ||
| League | Welsh Premier League | ||
| 2010–11 | Welsh Premier League, 10th of 12 | ||
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Carmarthen Town Association Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Tref Caerfyrddin) is a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, who play in the Welsh Premier League. The club was founded in 1948 and have played at their current home ground, Richmond Park, since 1952.
Carmarthen Town (also known as The Town or Old Gold) have yet to win the Welsh Premier League title, despite being in the top tier of Welsh football since 1996–97. In 2000–01 Carmarthen Town had their highest-ever finish, coming 3rd, which qualified them for European competition for the first time. Carmarthen’s first and only major honour came in 2006–07 when the club won the Welsh Cup.[1]
The team's first choice strip is old gold shirts, black shorts and socks. The second choice strip is red shirts and shorts and black socks.
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[edit] History
Carmarthen Town was founded as recently as 1948 and moved to their current ground Richmond Park in 1952.
The club was elected to the Welsh League in 1953 and gained promotion from Division Two in 1960. In 1996 Carmarthen won the Welsh League and the Cyril Rogers Cup. Carmarthen were promoted to the League of Wales in the same year. They have maintained their place in the League and shown gradual improvement, reaching the final of the Welsh Cup in 1999, but losing on penalties. They also reached the final of the Welsh Cup in 2005 losing 1–0 to Total Network Solutions. Carmarthen reached their third final on 1 April 2007 after a 1–0 win against Llanelli.
The appearance in the Welsh Cup final was enough to earn the club a UEFA Cup spot for 2005/6 as TNS had already won the Welsh Premier title and thus qualified for the UEFA Champions League. The ensuing campaign pitted the Old Gold against League of Ireland side Longford Town in the first round. Despite losing the first leg 2–0 away from home, Carmarthen put in a whirlwind performance at Newtown's Latham Park to beat their Celtic counterparts 5–1 and advance to the second round, winning 5–3 on aggregate.[2][3]
That result earned them a tie against Danish giants F.C. Copenhagen. Carmarthen were big underdogs for this encounter, but put in a creditable display despite losing 4–0 on aggregate and bowing out of the competition.[4][5]
The 2006/7 season saw Carmarthen qualify for Europe again via the Intertoto Cup, finishing fourth in the Welsh Premier. However, the result was not so good, Town suffering an 8–1 thrashing at the hands of Finnish side Tampere United.[6][7]
The season saw the Old Gold finish in a slightly disappointing 7th. position. However a fine Cup run saw Town edge out Llanelli 1–0 at the semi final stage to reach the Welsh Cup Final for the third time in their history.
With a 3–2 win over Afan Lido at Stebonheath Park Llanelli (06.05.07) Carmarthen Town lifted the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history and with it secured their third consecutive foray into European competition.[1]
With the departure of Mark Jones at the end of the 2007 season Deryn Brace took over as Player / Manager and Town hosted their first European tie (UEFA Cup) at Richmond Park on the 19th of July .
Carmarthen lost 14–3 on aggregate to S.K. Brann in the UEFA Cup First Qualifying Round. 8–1 at Richmond Park and 6–3 at Brann Stadion in Bergen.[8][9] The Norwegian giants progressed to the knockout stages eventually losing to Everton.
Town progressed to the semi final of the FAW Premier Cup but in a tight end to the season the Richmond Park outfit finished in 6th position.
On 9 April 2010 Carmarthen Town were awarded a FAW Domestic Licence and a UEFA Licence, enabling the club to participate in the restructured Welsh Premier League and European competition for the 2010/2011 season.
The club finished the season in tenth position and in June 2010 Manager Deryn Brace resigned. Tomi Morgan was appointed manager.[10]
[edit] Stadium
Main article(s): Richmond Park (Carmarthen)
From 1952 Carmarthen Town have played at Richmond Park in Carmarthen. The ground has been redeveloped over recent years into a small, modern and compact football stadium with a capacity of 3,000. The club's new Clay Shaw Butler Stand has a 1000 seat capacity which enabled Carmarthen Town to host the club's first ever home European fixture at the ground in July 2007 when they entertained Norwegian side SK Brann.[11]
[edit] Supporters
In the 2010–11 season Carmarthen's average attendance was 363, placing them third out of twelve teams in the Welsh Premier League in the new format league. The highest league gate of the season came against Haverfordwest County AFC with 556 spectators and the lowest, 212, against The New Saints. [12]
[edit] Current squad
Correct as of 30 January 2012 [13]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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N.B. The Welsh Premier League does not use a squad numbering system.
[edit] Notable Former Players
This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.
Stuart Roberts (2008–11) He has represented Wales at Under-21 level. who played for Carmarthen Town at Youth level and Senior later, He caught the eye of Swansea City and later played for Wycombe Wanderers as a Midfielder.
- Mark Delaney (1995–98) is a former Wales international footballer who played for Carmarthen Town, Cardiff City and Aston Villa as a right back.[14][15][16]
[edit] Management
[edit] Current management and coaching staff
- As of January 2012 .[17]
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Manager | Mark Aizlewood |  Welsh |
| Assistant Manager | Neil Smothers | Welsh |
| Head of Medical Department | Gary Morris | Welsh |
| Medical Consultant | Jeremy Williams | Welsh |
| Assistant Physiotherapist | Tom Pointon |  English |
| Masseur | Nigel Davies | Welsh |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Kevin Malloy | English |
| Coaching Assistant | Steve Jones | Welsh |
| First Team Coach | Colin Staples | Welsh |
| Head of fitness and Conditioning | Jason Murphy | Welsh |
| Football Utilities Co-ordinator | Gareth Davies | Welsh |
| Players Liaison Officer | Kevin Morris | Welsh |
[edit] Notable managers
The following managers have each been in charge of Carmarthen Town since the club gained promotion to the highest tier in Welsh football, the Welsh Premier League, in 1996.
Correct as of June 2010[18]
| Name | Nationality | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyndham Evans | |
Jan 1996 | Oct 1996 |
| John Mahoney | |
Oct 1996 | Nov 1998 |
| Tomi Morgan | |
Nov 1998 | Sep 2003 |
| Andrew York | |
Sept 2003 | May 2004 |
| Mark Jones | |
May 2004 | May 2007 |
| Deryn Brace | |
May 2007 | June 2010 |
| Tomi Morgan | |
June 2010 | Dec 2011 |
| Neil Smothers | |
Dec 2011 | Jan 2012 |
| Mark Aizlewood | |
Jan 2012- |
[edit] Honours
[edit] Domestic
- Winners (1): 2006–07
- Runners-up (2): 1998–99, 2004–05
- Winners (1): 2004–05
- Runners-up (1): 2003–04
- Winners (1): 1995–96
- Winners (1): 1995–96
- West Wales Senior Cup:
- Winners (1): 2004
- Runners-up (2): 2003, 2006
[edit] European record
| Season | Round | Country | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | First Qualifying Round |  |
Longford Town | 5–1 | 0–2 | 5–3 |
| Second Qualifying Round |  |
FC Copenhagen | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | |
| 2007–08 | First Qualifying Round |  |
SK Brann | 0–8 | 3–6 | 3–14 |
| Season | Round | Country | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | First Round |  |
AIK Solna | 0–0 | 0–3 | 0–3 |
| 2006 | First Round |  |
Tampere United | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–8 |
[edit] Biggest victories and losses
- Biggest win: 14–0 v Bryngwawr Inn in the FAW Trophy.
- Biggest defeat: 0–9 at Scully, Welsh League.
- Biggest League of Wales win: 9–1 v UWIC Inter Cardiff 21/10/00 & 8–0 v Cardiff Grange Quins 10/12/05
- Biggest League of Wales defeat: 0–6 v Barry Town 08/10/96 & 1–7 Llanelli 29/10/99
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Carmarthen 3–2 Afan Lido". BBC Sport. 2007-05-06. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/6614591.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- ^ "Longford are two up on Carmarthen". BBC Sport. 2005-07-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4672879.stm. Retrieved 2005-07-14.
- ^ "Carmarthen 5–1 Longford". BBC Sport. 2005-07-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4722241.stm. Retrieved 2005-07-28.
- ^ "FC Copenhagen 2–0 Carmarthen". BBC Sport. 2005-08-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4139858.stm. Retrieved 2005-08-10.
- ^ "Carmarthen 0–2 FC Copenhagen". BBC Sport. 2005-08-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4181600.stm. Retrieved 2005-08-25.
- ^ "Tampere Utd 5–0 Carmarthen". BBC Sport. 2006-06-17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/5072910.stm. Retrieved 2006-06-17.
- ^ "Carmarthen 1–3 Tampere Utd". BBC Sport. 2006-06-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/5097796.stm. Retrieved 2006-06-24.
- ^ "Carmarthen 0–8 SK Brann Bergen". BBC Sport. 2007-07-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/6903532.stm. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
- ^ "Brann 6–3 Carmarthen (Agg: 14–3)". BBC Sport. 2007-08-02. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/6926835.stm. Retrieved 2005-08-02.
- ^ "Eight Clubs receive the FAW Domestic Licence, Nine for UEFA". League of Wales. 2010-04-26. http://www.low.org.uk/news/WelshPrem35374.ink. Retrieved 2010-04-09.[dead link]
- ^ "Parc Waun Dew / Richmond Park". carmarthentownafc.net. 2010-04-26. http://www.carmarthentownafc.net/grounddirections.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
- ^ "Carmarthen Town Attendances 09/10". Welsh-Premier.com. http://www.welsh-premier.com/attendances_club_2009.php?cid=7. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
- ^ "Official squad listing". carmarthentownafc.net. http://www.carmarthentownafc.net/penpics.html. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
- ^ "Delaney's new deal". BBC Sport. 2001-12-20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/1722186.stm. Retrieved 2001-12-20.
- ^ "Delaney eyes long stay at Villa". BBC Sport. 2002-03-23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/1889487.stm. Retrieved 2002-03-23.
- ^ "Delaney player stats". soccerbase.com. http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=14685. Retrieved 2007.
- ^ "Coaching Staff". carmarthentownafc.net. http://www.carmarthentownafc.net/penpicsmanagement.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ^ "Carmarthen Town A.F.C History". carmarthentownafc.net. http://www.carmarthentownafc.net/history.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
[edit] External links
- Official websites
- carmarthentownafc.com Official Club Website
- [1] Supporters Club Message Board
- carmarthentownafc.net Archive club website 1996-2011
- Carmarthen Town at the Welsh Premier League official website
- Carmarthen Town at the UEFA official website
- Unofficial websites
- Carmarthen Town at the unofficial Welsh Premier League website
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