Every club is at least semi-pro. TNS players get somewhere around 20-35,000 pounds per year, which is around $35-45k. All the other clubs will pay on a match by match basis. For example, you'd get 60pounds if you're in the match day squad and then for a win, a 40 pounds bonus, 20 for a draw, 0 for a loss. If a club comes in for you though, you can leave as long as they give seven days notice to your team. Some of the more special players, Evans at Caersws for example, are on contracts but even so this will not be any more than about 8k per year so they also have full time jobs. You've got the usual assortment of teachers, construction workers, government officials and mechanics. In the next level down (cymru alliance for north and mid wales, wlesh league for south wales) all of the players are amateurs, although some ex-pros will get backhanders. Also, Llanelli (thlanethli) plan to go pro next season http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/4641025.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/4092976.stm
Wow, that is a huge financial gulf. TNS SHOULD excel domestically under those conditions. It sounds like even though most teams may have some imports, local players round out each roster (or at least guys that live and work in the community). There is certainly a lot of charm to that concept. Have you been to any WPL games? From the ticket prices posted on the website, the prices seem to be very reasonable. (Not sure if anybody else saw the note about Rhyl needing some help installing some new seats they purchased ahead of their UEFA Cup game with Viking FK Stavanger. Anyway, if anybody is available and in the area... [I'm assuming free beer would be available?])
It is true that TNS are the yankees of this leage. The thing is though, most of their players are either from Liverpool (their manager Ken McKenna is ex-Tranmere player) or the Birmingham area. With TNS full of scousers, the option for many of the more talented local players to turn pro pro, at least in the WPL, is eliminated, so they stay with the likes of Carmarthen, Aberyswyth and the 'Sws. The gulf in class is too much for most of them to go into the English pyramid, (although a few have, and with considerable success) so they only have the semi-pro option. Yes, loads. The most I've paid is the equivalent of about 8 bucks. The hot dogs are great, as are the pies and Bovril. If you're ever over there try to get to one of the many great local derbies. These have a great atmosphere and are always planned to coincide with national holidays, such as Easter or Christmas. Newtown vs Caersws (five miles separate the two) is a particurlarly fierce rivalry, as is Bangor/Rhyl and any of the mid-wales clubs vs TNS. I don't hold out too much hope, but it would be great if rhyl did well.
Evidently, UEFA would like to give Rhyl as little chance as possible since they've suspended Rhyl keeper Gerard McGuigan for their match against Viking Stavanger for his behavior after their first round UEFA Cup game against FK Atlantas. McGuigan left the field with blood streaming down his face, but somehow he provoked Atlantas' manager (who went on to try to punch Rhyl's Alan Morgan. Rhyl is supposed to appeal the decision, but I'm not sure they'll be successful. Here are their two backup options (info from Rhyl's website): "Mark Billingsley - DOB: 9th December 1984 Promising young keeper who has proven his worth in the reserves and has proved an able deputy when called upon. Was a key member of the Rhyl Reserves side which won the Welsh Alliance championship in 2003/2004. Also has international honours to his credit. We could be seeing quite a bit more of Mark during the 2005/2006 campaign. Ian Banford - DOB: 34 year old with vast experience in Welsh football. Signed for cover for Mcguigan and upcoming 'keeper Mark Billingsley. Joined from Cammell Laird during the close season of 2004/2005 and has previously played under John Hulse for Conwy United."
Individual club websites: Aberystwyth Town http://www.atfcnews.co.uk/aberystw.htm (Site no longer active after July 11, 2004) Airbus UK http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s356.htm Bangor City http://www.bangorcityfc.com/ Caernarfon Town http://www.caernarfontown.net/ Caersws FC http://www.caersws-fc.com/ Cardiff Grange Quins No website Carmarthen Town http://www.carmarthentownafc.net/ Connahs Quay Nomads http://www.nomadsfc.wales.com/ (I can't get link to work) Cwmbran Town http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s433/st67339.htm Haverfordwest County http://www.haverfordwestcounty.com/ Llanelli AFC http://www.llanelliafc.co.uk/ Newi Cefn Druids http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s437.htm Newtown AFC http://www.newtownafc.co.uk/ Port Talbot Town http://www.porttalbottown.com/ Porthmadog FC http://www.geocities.com/port_fc/ Rhyl FC http://www.rhylfc.co.uk/ Total Network Solutions http://www.saints-alive.co.uk/index.php Welshpool Town http://www.welshpooltownfc.co.uk/
Nice to some Welsh fans here and especially a thread dedicated to the LoW. Go Port Talbot! Methinks Rhyl or TNS as per usual again. Head and shoulders above everyone else again it seems.
After the game against Rhyl and Atlantas in the UEFA Cup last week, the Lithuanians got in a brawl with the Welsh players, and punches and blows were traded between coaching staff and players. The Rhyl keeper, Gerard McGuigan, who had been the victim of an assualt by one of the Lithuanian players was given a suspension for violent conduct and would have missed the next UEFA Cup match against Viking Stavanger. Clearly he did nothing, as he was the victim not the perpetrator of the incidents. UEFA have now cleared him. And Atlantas should get a fine and ban for th epart in the appaling violent behaviour...
The smart money is definitely on Rhyl and TNS, but looking at the top of last year's table, it seems like the gap could be overcome with a good run of form at the right time: 1. Total Network Solutions 78 2. Rhyl FC 74 3. Bangor City 67 4. Haverfordwest County 63 5. Caersws FC 62 6. Carmarthen Town 61 I'm looking forward to Thursday's UEFA Cup matches. If I find some decent previews, I'll post them.
Unless Caersws replace Evans they'll struggle. If Llanelli can gel they might put together a decent run and Grange quins have Kurt Nogan, who is a former Welsh international.
Upcoming fixtures: Thursday 11th August UEFA Cup Qualifying Round 2 * FC Copenhagen v Carmarthen Town - 19:15 * Rhyl v Viking Stavanger - 19:30 Saturday 13th August Loosemores Challenge Cup (Premier League Cup) Prelimenary Round * Cardiff Grange Quins v Caernarfon Town * NEWI Cefn Druids v Airbus UK Does anyone in the UK know if the BBC are carrying any of the UEFA Cup games?
Not sure about the BBC question, but the UEFA Cup games and the Challenge Cup are really where the Welsh Premier League action will be at over the next couple weeks. The second leg of the UEFA Cup games will be on August 25th and the 1st round of the Challenge Cup will be on the 20th: First round Sat 20 Aug 2005 Bangor City v Rhyl FC Connah's Quay Nomads v Newtown AFC Cwmbran Town v Haverfordwest County Cardiff Grange Quins/Caernarfon Town v Caersws FC Llanelli AFC v Aberystwyth Town Porthmadog FC v NEWI Cefn Druids/Airbus UK Port Talbot Town v Carmarthen Town Welshpool Town v Total Network Solutions
Did Rhyl actually play their friendly against Llandyrnog United today? I'm assuming they did because it is still listed on their website, but I'm wondering at the wisdom of playing the game so close to their UEFA Cup game against Viking FK. I'm assuming the reserves will play the game.
Here is a cool Rhyl fan site: http://www.rhylfans.co.uk/ On one of the message boards, it mentions that tonight's friendly was supposed to take place. No mention of a score.
GREAT THREAD....i actually thought about starting similar about a month ago, i have a lot of welsh heritage on both sides and started getting into soccer, so i thought why not follow welsh as well as mls. I have begun following swansea in football league 1, listened to their first two games on paltalk and participate somewhat in their very active online forum. as far as WPL i think ill follow haverfordwest as that is where half my family's from, however id also like to follow a team near brynmawr where the other half is from, unfortuneatly they dont have a team, but maybe they'll have a rugby team which is another sport ill prob start to follow
Hi BW, great to have you aboard. Any info or opinions you want to post about the Welsh Premier League or Welsh football in general are greatly appreciated. You've probably already found it, but here is the website for Haverfordwest: http://www.haverfordwestcounty.com/
Barry Town has secured a ground for this year and will be able to compete in the Welsh League (feeder league for WPL).
Somebody mentioned it earlier, but it looks like Llanelli really are making the move toward being a professional team. They now have 10 full-time players: Stuart Jones Lee Phillips Rudy Torres Jacob Mingorance Efren Fernandez Kirk Higgins Jamie Rewbury Duncan Roberts Craig Williams Ivan Nofeuentes http://www.llanelliafc.co.uk/latest news.htm It'll definitely be interesting to watch their progress and see if the team is able to challenge TNS and Rhyl.
In a show of support that can only be described as blatantly bandwagonish, I'm temporarily adding Rhyl FC next to Arsenal on my favorite team section. In return, I promise to do the following: 1. Only celebrate with 5-7% of the vigor of a true Rhyl FC supporter if they win tomorrow. 2. Purchase a Rhyl FC home jersey (with all the attendant long distance calls, postage charges and requests for special service from the club shop that must be involved since they don't list them on the website). If anybody from Wales or who is a Rhyl FC supporter objects, I'll gladly remove it. NachO, to my knowledge, you fall under neither of those categories .