PROGRAMME | Denbigh Town v Ruthin Town (26/12/2024) by denbightownfc

DENBIGH TOWN FC

THE HONOURS LIST Lock Stock Ardal North-West Champions - 2022/23

Alves Cup Winners - 2003/04

FAW Amateur Trophy Winners - 1923/24 Runners-Up - 2022/23

Wrexham Area Division One Cup Winners - 1977/78 Winners - 1976/77 Winners - 1975/76 Winners - 1974/75 Winners - 1972/73 Welsh National League (Wrexham) Champions - 1975/76 Champions - 1974/75 Champions - 1973/74 Champions - 1972/73

Ardal Northern League Cup Winners - 2022/23

Cymru Alliance/North Runners-Up - 2017/18 Welsh League Cup Runners-Up - 2015/16

Welsh Alliance Champions - 2013/14 Champions - 2006/07 Champions - 1995/96 Mawddach Challenge Cup Winners - 2013/14 Cookson Cup Winners - 2010/11 Winners - 2006/07 Winners - 2005/06 Winners - 1995/96 Barritt Cup Winners - 2005/06

North West Arrows Cup Winners - 1991/92

NWCFA Challenge Cup Winners - 1972/73

NWCFA Amateur Cup Winners - 1971/72 Winners - 1969/70 Winners - 1923/24 Welsh League Divsion Two East Champions - 1953/54 Champions - 1952/53 Champions - 1948/49

CROESO I BARC CANOLOG

CHAIRMAN SHON POWELL

PRESIDENT CLWYD WILLIAMS

TREASURER IWAN JONES

VICE CHAIRMAN RICHARD BLAKE

SECRETARY / MD SECRETARY NEALL CONDON GARETH LUKE JONES

MEDIA OFFICER OLLIE BEECH

COMMITTEE HAYDN WILLIAMS PAUL MONTGOMERY

PHOTOGRAPHY ROY GUNTHER STEPHEN WHITFIELD LISI JONES HONOURY MEMBERS ROBERT GRIFFITHS - LIFE PRESIDENT EMYR LLOYD - LIFE VICE PRESIDENT GLYN JONES - LIFE MEMBER MANAGEMENT

WWW.DENBIGHTOWNFC.CO.UK FACEBOOK.COM/DENBIGHTOWNFOOTBALLCLUB TWITTER: @DENBIGHTOWNFC INSTAGRAM: @DENBIGHTOWNFOOTBALLCLUB TIKTOK: @DENBIGHTOWNFC #DTFC

CONTACT GENERAL: INFO@DENBIGHTOWNFC.CO.UK PRESS/MEDIA: DENBIGHMEDIA@GMAIL.COM SECRETARY: NEALLALI@HOTMAIL.CO.UK

DEWI LLION JONES - FIRST TEAM MANAGER MATTHEW JONES - ASSISTANT MANAGER SIMON ROBERTS - FIRST TEAM COACH LUKE WILMOT - GOALKEEPER COACH LIAM NASH - RESERVES MANAGER RICH MORRIS - RESERVES ASSISTANT 03 SION JONES - RESERVES ASSISTANT ALAN GRIFFITHS - RESERVES COACH ALED DAVIES - LADIES MANAGER CARLA RIZZI - LADIES ASSISTANT

THE CHAIRMAN Welcome to Central Park this afternoon’s Boxing Day match in the JD Cymru North game against our neighbours Ruthin Town. I trust you’ve all had a great Christmas and are looking forward to 2025. I’d like to extend a warm Denbigh welcome to all the Ruthin players, coaching team, Committee and supporters. This game was originally scheduled to take place as Ruthin’s home fixture. Ruthin are currently playing their home games at Bala due to work going on at their home ground. Both our Committee and Ruthin spoke to the FAW about the feasibility of switching this Boxing Day game to Central Park and so have a true Vale of Clwyd derby. Both Clubs are grateful to the FAW for agreeing to our request. We hope you all agree that this was a worthwhile move. The game due to be held at Bala will now take place on Friday 21st February at 7.45pm. Twelve months ago, this Boxing Day fixture drew a crowd of 1,145 to Central Park and the game had a thrilling finish with Denbigh’s captain Paul Fleming scoring an injury-time winner much to the delight of the Denbigh supporters. I’m hoping we can have a game like that and a similar crowd today. 2024 has been eventful here at the Club both on and off the field. The First Team consolidated their first season in the JD Cymru North with an impressive sixth position. This season the League is somewhat tougher, and we currently stand in a mid-table position. The JD Welsh Cup is giving us an excellent Cup run with us reaching the Quarter Finals for the first time in the Club’s 145-year history. That’s quite a feat. Dewi, his coaching team and the playing squad all deserve the utmost credit for reaching this milestone. Let’s hope they can continue with this run and get to the Final. The Reserves under Liam Nash continue to provide a stepping stone to the First Team for many local youngsters with several having made their debuts over the last few months. The Ladies recently had a new management team with Aled Davies taking over the reins with Carla Rizzi as coach. This followed Ellen Lawson taking the decision to stand down after many years as a player and latterly as their manager. We are indebted to Ellen for all her work with the Club. The Ladies wouldn’t be where they are today without Ellen’s contribution over the years. Off the pitch, in May we saw the demolition of our old changing rooms and kitchen. In their place, you can already see the start of our ambitious new project to build a new Community facility which will comprise of a large kitchen, four changing rooms on the ground floor and a function room/educational room on the second floor. The four changing rooms will have the facility of being extended into two large changing rooms for when we host International fixtures such as the Under 19s Euro Tournament games in 2026, where we have been chosen by UEFA as one of the host grounds for the competition. It's such an exciting to be part of the Club as it continues to prosper both on and off the field. Thank you all for your support this last year. It’s been tremendous. Happy New Year to you and your families

Shon Powell CHAIRMAN, DENBIGH TOWN

THE GAFFER Welcome to Central Park for this afternoon’s local derby game against Ruthin Town. I hope you have all had a great Christmas. This afternoon is a game we are all looking forward to. Bragging rights in the Vale of Clwyd is the incentive for us to go out and win. Both teams need to bolster their league positions and three points would certainly help both of us. Ruthin’s league form over the last couple of months has seen them drop down the league table and today would be an opportune time for them to change their fortunes. We are more than familiar with their threats with Osian Davies, Llyr Morris and Gwion Owen being key players that we have to stifle from the start. However, we have key players throughout our squad and it’s time to spend a few moments assessing their qualities and what they bring to the Club. Aaron Jones our keeper is in my eyes the top keeper in the League. Since joining us three seasons ago he has matured into a great shotstopper and forms a commanding back line to our defence. It was great to see him reach the 100 Club appearance achievement a few games ago. We have Luke Wilmot as a stand-in keeper for Aaron and Luke is a great keeper in his own right having put in some great saves in the three games he’s played. He’s a vivacious character to have in the changing room and keeps everyone on their toes before games. Ben Lockley has impressed everyone with his move to a central defender role from right back. Having a tremendous leap and some great pace and strength his confidence and leadership skills are now coming to the fore. Alongside him Max Cooke has come in as a raw defender at the start of the season and yet quickly blossomed into an imposing and forceful centre back with a bright future ahead of him in the game. Keelan Williams joined us in the summer from Bala and his class was apparent in his first few games. His strength on the ball, speed and ability to play quality passes have helped us enormously along with him getting on the score sheet. Alfie Vaughan is another youngster who has adapted well to a change in position, moving from left wing back to left-back and settling in well. A strong lad on the ball and an eye for linking up well with others to create good moves he is another who will do well in the future. My captain Keiron Roberts is someone we all respect and have full admiration for. He goes about his central midfield role so efficiently and without fuss. His experience is helpful to all the squad both the youngsters and older lads and he’s such an asset to the Club. Sion Jones is a local lad who seems to have been playing for me for years and yet is only 23 years old. He’s been a key member of the squad and so enjoys playing for Denbigh. He has matured into such a versatile player who can slot into a variety of positions. Nathan Brown is a player who is always capable of changing a goal through a moment of magic and his quality dead ball kicks which invariable produce goals. Our joint top scorer with ten league goals, his contribution to the team over the last few seasons has been first class. He shares the top scorer position with Owen Davies who joined us on loan last season from TNS. His ability to score goals meant he was someone I saw would fit into our style of play and I was pleased he agreed to sign for us permanently in the close season. His goals have helped us immeasurably, and he always gives his all even if at times he has to work as a lone striker. Calum Butler was with Ruthin last season and made the switch in the summer after I’d seen what he can do in midfield. His hold up play is great and he can see opportunities quickly. A bad knock against Prestatyn makes him doubtful for today’s game. Sam Duffy also joined us in the summer and is another with great feet and who can score when needed with five league goals. He can make things happen and this attribute is what made me pursue his signing from Prestatyn 20-year-old Iwan Roberts joined us from Bala in the summer and is such a hard skilful worker. His trickery especially around the box can be a nightmare for defenders and he is someone who can make things happen. 19 year old Mackenzie Stark joined us from Irlam and has proved to be a more than adequate centre-back player coming on at times in vital moments and giving us solidarity in defence It’s been pleasing to have a crop of Reserve team lads come through to make debuts within our squad. Tom Salisbury will never forget his solo goal against Llandudno and he’s made telling contributions on all his appearances as have Morgan Fricker, Gabriel Hinchcliffe and Serhad Kanli. As we move into 2025, the future with this group of players is bright here at Denbigh. We go into the game today in good spirits and looking forward to our game today. The support from all you fans this year has been amazing and I’d like to take this opportunity on behalf of the management and players of thanking you all for your support and wish you all a Happy New Year. Blwyddyn Newydd Ia

Dewli Llion

MANAGER, DENBIGH TOWN

A 148 YEAR RIVALRY A history of Denbigh Town v Ruthin Town

Two Towns, eight miles apart with a footballing history that spans 146 years. It’s time for the next instalment of the Vale of Clwyd Derby.

IIt wasn’t until 1905 that the two sides met in competitive league action, though we had faced off in 1882 in the Welsh Cup with the First Round tie ending 3-3 before Ruthin advanced. The first league meetings came in The Vale of Clwyd Derby was the first fixture the old North Wales Coast Junior League, supporters from both the red and blue half of facing off regularly over the next three years Denbighshire will have searched for when before sporadic cup matches. In 1923 the the fixtures were released in the summer, biggest Vale of Clwyd Derby win was recorded and for good reason. A historic clash where with Denbigh running out 9-0 winners on the two of North Wales’ biggest towns come way to winning the North Wales Coast together for 90 minutes of tribal competition. Challenge Cup. Denbigh and Ruthin have been playing football in one guise or another as far back at 1876, in October of that year a club in Denbigh was formed with the first match arranged coming against the ‘Ruthin Volunteers’. Over the next 25 years, a number of clubs from both sides met in friendlies with huge crowds gathering. The first recorded match between Denbigh Town and Ruthin Town was found in January 1883 ending 0-0, but matches were regular beforehand against Ruthin and Ruthin Colts, whilst teams from Denbigh including the likes of the Church Guild and Albion journeyed across the Clwyd. The first recorded match between two sides came back in March 1878, Denbigh Templars beating Ruthin Grammar School 2-0.

Almost 30 years passed between our next meetings, a couple of Welsh Cup ties in 1949 and 1963 but we eventually met in league action in 1958, the first league clash in 26 years. This was a golden age for the derby, with both sides battling it out for the title in the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area), as Town dominated the 1970s including pipping Ruthin to the honour in 1973 via goal difference. However, by the 1980s Town joined the Clwyd League and other than a cup tie in 1987 wouldn’t meet until Denbigh’s promotion to the Cymru Alliance in 1996. We battled it out regularly over the next 25 years or so, playing in the same division for 11 of those seasons. This time it was Ruthin who took the majority of the bragging rights, with Denbigh winning just three of the last 20 derby matches. 08

The match returned last season with Denbigh taking the victory at Central Park a year ago today, following a stoppage time winner by Paul Fleming in front of a club record crowd of 1,145. However, just days later Ruthin stormed to a 4-0 win and currently hold the bragging rights.

TOP 5 AWAY GAMES OF 2024 Our trip to Prestatyn two weeks ago marked the final away game for Denbigh Town this calendar year. Here we take a look at five of the best games on the road in 2024. Buckley Town 1-2 Denbigh Town (JD Cymru North - 10/02/24) Denbigh snatched all three points at Deeside Stadium when Owen Davies grabbed his first goal for the club after 89 minutes. Town led via Josh Lock before being pegged back in the first half, but substitute Davies came on and stepped up, burying a penalty with a minute to play. Llanrwst United 0-3 Denbigh Town (JD Welsh Cup - 16/11/24) Town made history at Llanrwst by reaching the Fourth Round of the Welsh Cup for the first time in 52 years. Nathan Brown netted in the first half before Owen Davies grabbed a superb second. In stoppage time Keelan Williams stepped up to smash home a penalty to set up a last-16 clash with Llanuwchllyn. Holywell Town 0-2 Denbigh Town (JD Cymru North - 28/09/24) Town had to wait two months for their first away win of the campaign and it came at the league champions. Owen Davies grabbed the first after less than a minute before at the other end of the match Sam Duffy finished brilliantly to ensure a huge three points for Dewi Llion’s men. Llanidloes Town 0-7 Denbigh Town (JD Cymru North - 06/04/24) Town equaled their record winning margin in the second tier back in April when hitting seven against relegated Llanidloes. It was the first time since October 1996 that Town won by that margin in the second tier, with the last opposition also being Llanidloes. Goals from Paul Fleming, Nathan Brown (brace), Owen Davies (hatrick) and Billy Holmes - scoring his second goal for the club exactly three years to the day since his first - secured the win. Bangor 1876 3-4 Denbigh Town (JD Cymru North - 11/10/24) A dramatic late winner between two sides who’ve had plenty of competition in the last two years. Town took an early two goal lead via Nathan Brown and Owen Davies before being pegged back. Paul Fleming restored the lead before another equaliser and in stoppage time Harrison Bellis turned the ball home to win it at the death. It was Denbigh’s first ever win over Bangor at Nantporth. 11

BRIEF HISTORY: DENBIGH TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB Denbigh Town Football Club was formed in 1880 and have been one of the longest-serving clubs in North Wales. The early years saw the club play in a number of leagues including the North Wales Coast and Welsh Senior League, as well as time in the old Combination. The club rose to fame in the 1920s when during the 1923/24 campaign, it won its first and only national honour, the Welsh Amateur Cup beating Lovell’s Athletic. The club went under different names throughout those years including United and Juniors before settling on Town in the 1950s. Following the Second World War Denbigh clinched numerous honours before the golden period of the 1970s that saw the club dominate the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) winning four successive league titles. After turning to the Clwyd Premier following the departure of successful manager John Trefor Roberts, the club shot back up the ladder upon the appointment of Bill Dawson who took the club from the Clwyd Premier to the Cymru Alliance in just four years. The club remained in the second tier for six years before returning to the Welsh Alliance but under Tim Dyer the club was promoted alongside a Cookson Cup success in 2007. In 2013/14 the club went unbeaten in the Welsh Alliance earning a third promotion to tier two after their return to the division in 2010. In 2015/16 the club reached it’s second national final and the biggest game in club history when reaching the League Cup Final, losing to professional outfit TNS on national television. Upon relegation from the Cymru Alliance in 2019, manager Dewi Llion rebuilt his squad and in 2023 earned a league and cup double to move up to the JD Cymru North, finishing 6th in their first season back.

GET INVOLVED! Have some time to spare? A skill to offer? Maybe you just want to try something new! Denbigh Town FC is a busy, community-driven club with a group of hardworking and welcoming volunteers. If you’d like to get involved get in touch. Contact: info@denbightownfc.co.uk

THE OPPOSITION RUTHIN TOWN Ground: Memorial Playing Fields (temp Maes Tegid) Capacity: 2,000 Nickname: The Blues Founded: 1949 2023/24: 7th Manager: Dave Evans Football in Ruthin dates back to 1878 when a football club was formed in the town and in 1880 they reached the final of the Welsh Cup only to lose 2-1 to Druids. The club in its present form dates back to 1949 when they joined the newly reorganised Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) as Ruthin British Legion. They joined division two, coming runners up in their first year and gaining promotion to division 1. The following year they were runners up in the top division. The British Legion element of the name was dropped in 1953 and Ruthin Town FC was born. In 1958 the club introduced a reserve team which entered the WNL (Wrexham Area) Division 3. The first team won the first division in 1963/64 and the North Wales Challenge Cup in 1967. The 1972/73 season was an exciting one for the Vale of Clwyd as both Ruthin and Denbigh were contesting the first division title. Denbigh won on goal difference with both teams having won 18, drawn 7 and lost 3. Ruthin, however, won the North Wales Challenge Cup for the second time. In 1977/78 the first team were relegated from the first division which meant the reserves also had to go down from the second division. The following year the club introduced a third team which played in the Clwyd league. That team was later called the Colts as it joined the WNL (Wrexham Area) division 4 in 1980. The club run three senior teams to this day. 1979/80 was a big season for the club as both the first team and reserves were promoted back to the first and second divisions both as champions of their respective leagues. A decade of stability ensued with the three senior teams establishing themselves in their respective leagues with their youth system being set up in 1986. This youth system was to be the making of the club providing a consistent source of players for the senior teams.

1991/92 the first team were runners up to Wrexham Reserves under Glyn Williams and were promoted to the Cymru Alliance. They also won the League Cup that year. Ruthin were ever present in the Cymru Alliance for a further 21 years before being relegated in 2013. Under Phil Hinchcliffe they won the WNL Premier League Cup in 2014 and matched their 1992 result in 2016 by gaining promotion back to the Huws Gray Alliance and winning the Premier League Cup for the second time in three years. The club won the NEWFA Cup in 2018 beating Holywell in the final with Chris Williams as manager. Their best HGA league position was third place in 2003/4 under Tim Dyer. As the second tier of Welsh Football comes under the wing of the FAW Ruthin were one the longest serving clubs in the Huws Gray Alliance having been members for 23 of the 28-year history of the league. The club suffered relegation to the third tier in the 2010s but were promoted back to the second and have remained at that level since.

PLAYERS

Osian Davies

Jake Hampson

Llyr Morris

Ethan Roberts 15

DENBIGH TOWN

THE SQUAD

24/25

DEWI LLION

MATTHEW JONES

LIAM NASH

SIMON ROBERTS

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LUKE WILMOT

AARON JONES

HARRY LOCKLEY

BEN LOCKLEY

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KEELAN WILLIAMS

SION JONES

MACKENZIE STARK

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CALUM BUTLER

KEIRON ROBERTS

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MORGAN FRICKER

OLLY HANSEN

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MAX COOKE

DENBIGH TOWN

THE SQUAD

24/25

GABRIEL HINCHCLIFFE

IWAN ROBERTS

TOM SALISBURY

ALFIE VAUGHAN

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NATHAN BROWN

SAM DUFFY

OWEN DAVIES

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Take your support to the next level. Sponsor a player at Denbigh Town for just £75 a season! Increase your support by helping your local community club and join our sponsors with superb affordable advertising opportunities for your business, or simply a way of backing the Town. Contact info@denbightownfc.co.uk.

WE’VE MET BEFORE Denbigh Town and Ruthin Town have competed against one another for 148 years. Here we look back at our last two meetings.

Denbigh Town 2-1 Ruthin Town (JD Cymru North 26/12/2023)

Ruthin Town 4-0 Denbigh Town (JD Cymru North 01/01/2024)

The first Vale of Clwyd Derby in five years ended with a bang on Boxing Day 2023 as Paul Fleming netted a stoppage time winner.

The opening game of 2024 proved to be disastrous for Denbigh as Ruthin hit four without reply at Memorial Playing Fields and grab a measure of revenge.

Ruthin took the lead via Llyr Morris in the first half before Nathan Brown netted a superb equaliser after the break.

Llyr Morris opened the scoring before Sam Jones doubled the lead on 28 minutes.

With both sides fighting for the winner a ball came into the Ruthin box that Fleming headed home on 94 minutes to take the spoils on a very Merry Christmas for Denbigh.

Soulayman El Amri made it three on the hour mark before Jones netted his second of the afternoon with seven minutes left to play.

Denbigh Town: A.Jones, Roberts, Lockley, Parry-Jones, S.Jones, Lock, Kershaw, Brown, Fleming, Pritchard, Weir.

Denbigh Town: A.Jones, S.Jones, Parry-Jones, Lockley, Holmes, Roberts, Lock, Pritchard, Brown, Fleming, Weir

Subs: Rogers, Thomas-Sadler, Hansen, Foulkes, Clarke, Lloyd

Subs: Thomas-Sadler, Rogers, Hansen, Pierce, Lloyd

Attendance: 1,145

Attendance: 728 20

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Denbigh Town Football Club

HALF-TIME

QUIZ

1) Who scored a stoppage time winner in this fixture a year ago today? 2) Where are Ruthin playing their home games at on. a temporary basis? 3) Who will Denbigh face at Central Park on New Year’s Day? 4) Who has won more tennis grand slam titles, Venus Williams or Serena Williams? 5) Where will the 2028 Summer Olympics be held? 6) Which EFL club are nicknamed the Pilgrims? 7) Which club play their home games at Ashton Gate? 8) In the NFL what colour are the goal posts? 9) Which TV show broadcast it’s finale yesterday? 10) Which former footballer turned pundit celebrated his birthday on Christmas Day?

1) PAUL FLEMING, 2) MAES TEGID, 3) FLINT MOUNTAIN, 4) SERENA, 5) LOS ANGELES, 6) PLYMOUTH ARGYLE, 7) BRISTOL CITY, 8) YELLOW, 9) GAVIN & STACEY, 10) CHRIS KAMARA

QUICK QUESTIONS KEIRON ROBERTS Who did you grow up supporting? Manchester United What was your first car? Renault Clio What film should everyone watch at least once? The Usual Suspects Dream holiday destination Switzerland If you could only listen to one artist, who would it be? J Cole Best memory in a Denbigh Town shirt? Double-winning season Best player you've played with or against? Joe Baxter Best stadium you've played in? Racecourse Ground Player you'd be most ok with as your brother-inlaw? Aaron Jones Sum up Dewi Llion in one word? Busy 26

Table as of 20/12/24

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