The Nomads vs Rhyl (25th September 2016) by Connah's Quay Nomads FC

OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME Â£2

THE NOMADS vs

RHYL Dafabet Welsh Premier League Sunday, 25th September, 2016 - 3:00pm

The Nomads vs Rhyl

WHO’S WHO Honorary Club Patrons Lord Barry Jones, Roger Speed Life Presidents Richard Jones, Bill Dudley

DEESIDE STADIUM Coleg Cambria Kelsterton Road Connah’s Quay Deeside Flintshire CH5 4BR

Chairman Gary Dewhurst

Ground Capacity 1500

Vice Chairman John Gray

Matchday Telephone 01244 816418

Club Secretary and Licensing Officer Trevor Green First Team Manager Andy Morrison Assistant Manager & Director of Football Jay Catton Club Doctor Dr. Brian Johnson Goalkeeping Coach Neil Ebbrell Head of Logistics Mal Latter Emergency Aid Officer Colin McGivern (Events Medical Team) Head Therapist Gemma Bamford Assistant Physiotherapist Matt Steel Media Officer Nik Mesney Supporters Liaison Officer Will Catterall Hospitality Roma Gray

MATCHDAY PARKING Players, playing staff, matchday staff and fans are allowed to park on the Coleg Cambria grounds where designated parking spaces are outlined. Please note that vehicles parked in non-allocated parking spaces may be subject to a fine or clamping.

EVACUATION PROCEDURE In the event of an emergency requiring the evacuation of the whole or part of the stadium, spectators are requested to leave the stadium by the identified exits. These will be identified in the evacuation announcement. Stewards will assist the evacuation.

GROUND SAFETY

CLUB HONOURS League of Wales League Cup 1996 Europa League Play Off Winners 2016 Welsh Intermediate Cup 1981 Welsh Amateur Cup 1953 North Wales Coast FA Cup 1994 North Wales Intermediate Cup 1981 North Wales Amateur Cup 1952, 1953, 1955 Welsh Youth Cup 1948 North Wales Coast FA Youth Cup 1986, 2009 Cookson Cup 1988 Barritt Cup 1995 Clwyd League 1980, 1981 Clwyd League Challenge Cup 1981 President’s Cup 1981 Huws Gray Alliance League 2011, 2012 Welsh Premier League U19 2013 U19 National College Champions 2015, 2016

The Nomads vs Rhyl

In the interest of safety, spectators are asked to co-operate with the Club Stewards in keeping all gangways and emergency exits clear. In the interest of safety, spectators are asked to co-operate with the Club Stewards in keeping all gangways and emergency exits clear. Spectators are reminded that they must observe all ground regulations. Persistently ignoring these regulations may lead to possible further action by the club, including, but not limited to, the withdrawal of any ticket (without reimbursement) and other benefits.

PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM (Ground Safety Announcements) All ground safety announcements will be made on the public address system. Spectators are asked to listen carefully to those announcements and follow any instructions given.

EDITOR’S WELCOME Good afternoon and welcome to our next in a long line of home games. Three games in seven days is always a challenge, but a win and a draw so far have been good to us, and hopefully we can continue our unbeaten run today against Rhyl, who have bounced back amazingly since TNS' 10-0 victory over them a few weeks back. I look forward to seeing Mike today, who was absilutely excellent in everything he and his team did for us at the Corbett Sports Stadium for our two European clashes - thanks Mike! It's always a challenge when you've got around 24 hours to get a programme to the printers to make sure you get it in on time, but thanks to our usual contributors who all got their content in on time and as always, we've produced a great programme (in my opinion at least!) Come on The Nomads! Nik

Editor and Designer Nik Mesney Contributors Andy Morrison Jay Catton Will Catterall Trevor Green Nik Mesney Mark Rowlands Gary Dewhurst David Rapson

© All editorial in this programme is the copyright of gap Connah’s Quay Nomads FC and shall not be reproduced without permission. Content correct at time of print. The views of the individual contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Club.

CONTENTS

8 10

12 18

EUROPA QUALIFIERS CLASH AT DEESIDE A look at today's game as two of three Europa qualfiers meet at Deeside

NOMADS REMAIN UNBEATEN WITH LLANDUDNO DRAW Match report from The Nomads' 1-1 draw with Llandudno

KEARNEY INJURY UPDATE An update as to the health of Ian Kearney following his injury at Cardiff Met

A VIEW FROM THE STAND Will Catterall looks back at this past week and today's game

GREEN'S PIECE Trevor Green looks at the potential to improve crowds in the WPL

THE NOMADS ARCHIVE David Rapson looks back at the 2002/03 season on Deeside

RHYL'S CLUB HISTORY A look at the back story of The Lilywhites

RHYL PEN PICS Check out the squad of Rhyl

PLAYER STATISTICS Appearances and goals for The Nomads in the 2016/17 campaign

NOMADS PEN PICS Headshots, names and numbers for all The Nomads' first team

FIXTURES AND RESULTS Full match information for the 2016/17 season

DAFABET WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE The latest updates from the top flight including league table, fixtures and results

19 30

The Nomads vs Rhyl

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MATCH PREVIEW

Second and third meet at Deeside Welcome to Deeside Stadium for today's clash between the second placed gap Connah's Quay Nomads and third placed Rhyl. Both teams come into the game in a good vein of form with The Nomads remaining unbeaten thus far in the 2016/17 campaign following Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Llandudno, while Rhyl have won four and drawn one since TNS' 10-0 demolition in late August. The last time that the two sides met saw a wonder goal from Sean Miller secure a dramatic late win for The Nomads at the Corbett Sports Stadium last December. Both sides then played in opposing halves of the league in phase two and as a result didn't meat for the remainder of the season. Ahead of the game, Manager Andy Morrison said "A very warm welcome to Niall and all of his staff at Rhyl. Today's game will again be a real test - Rhyl are on a great run and winning creates confidence, so it has the makings of a great game. I said after the Cardiff Met game that they were a decent team and would win games, and they have proved that by winning their last two games. I also beleive that Aberystwyth are a better team than they showed in the game against us. The League below TNS is so competitive that if you drop your standards by 10% you will come up short - we have to be full on every game and treat each match like a cup final. In our last two home games, we have dominated the ball - against Llandudno in the first half, our approach play was excellent, but again we didn't ask enough questions of their 'keeper. Having taken the lead I am disappointed not to have won the game, but on reflection, without a recognised centre half and to lose Matty Williams before kick off was probably a fair result. Callum Morris has struggled since the summer with a pelvic injury and we had hoped that by managing it and treatment, it would clear up but it has now deteriorated and he will now have an injection and rest for 6-8 weeks. Last season, he was one of the top midfielders in the league and his injury has clearly affected his performances - we look forward to a fit Callum returning in the new year and I have no doubt he will return to his best form."

The Nomads vs Rhyl

MATCH REPORT

The Nomads celebrate Nathan Woolfe's opener

The Nomads

Woolfe (46')

Llandudno

Marc Williams (62') Dafabet Welsh Premier League | Tuesday 20th September 2016 Deeside Stadium, Connah's Quay | Attendance: 181

Nomads remain unbeaten with Llandudno draw The Nomads drew 1-1 with Llandudno on Tuesday evening at Deeside Stadium. A Nathan Woolfe goal sent Nomads ahead in the 46th minute, with Marc Williams equalising for Llandudno in the 62nd. The game was The Nomadsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; second of an extended run of home fixtures, having comprehensively beaten Aberystwyth 4-0 the previous Sunday. Llandudno meanwhile came into the game looking to get back on track, having lost to Cardiff Met at home on Sunday. With a host of injuries, The Nomads were forced to 6

The Nomads vs Rhyl

field a makeshift defensive line as they did on the Sunday, with natural midfielders John Disney and Jay Owen acting as centre halves. Nick Rushton earned a start, leading the line along with Nathan Woolfe and Les Davies. The Nomads dominated much of the first half, starting from the off with two chances in the first two minutes. Les Davies flicked a header onto Nathan Woolfe who shot wide from six yards, before Woolfe then assisted Davies with a cross headed just over the crossbar. The Nomads continued to attack the Llandudno area but with no end result. Nick Rushton, Les Davies and Wes Baynes all had good chances that were either saved or sent wide. As the game moved on, The Nomads would come to rue these missed opportunities.

Llandudno’s first chance of the game forced an excellent save by John Danby, when John Owen broke free to have his shot saved by the left foot of Danby from 15 yards. Nathan Woolfe then sent another dangerous cross into the Llandudno area which would’ve gone in on its own had Roberts not been on hand to tip it out. Llandudno grew into the game, nearly taking the lead in spectacular fashion when a 30 yard Danny Hughes effort had to be put out for a corner by John Danby. The arguable chance of the half came to John Owen of Llandudno who saw an effort hit The Nomads’ post on 37 minutes amidst a busy area. Les Davies sent a firm effort towards goal from 20 yards on 42 minutes, but Roberts dealt with well. At half time the sides went in goalless, both knowing they should have taken their respective chances. In the second half, The Nomads set out to correct that, and scored in the 46th minute via Nathan Woolfe. After a Tom Field shot rebounded from the goalmouth, Woolfe was on hand to slot the ball in from close range despite the attention of two Llandudno defenders. The Nomads set out to continue their attacking style of play but also retain their lead, which was challenging against a Llandudno side who were now very much in the game. On 53 minutes, Marc Williams headed a cross towards goal from six yards only for Danby to excellently push the shot away. Williams returned minutes later and was this time successful, when he broke free from The Nomads' defensive line to neatly send the ball into the bottom right corner of the net from the left of The Nomads' area. The goal was not without controversy, with many Nomads players believing it should have been ruled out on the grounds of offside. With the sides level, the atmosphere grew tense at Deeside with both teams looking capable of scoring the winner. Nathan Woolfe turned to send a shot just high of the Llandudno goal, whilst Tom Field sent a powerful effort just over the crossbar from 20 yards. A change then saw Callum Morris depart the field with Matty Owen his replacement. As the game entered its final ten minutes, Michael Wilde replaced Nick Rushton in the hope his firepower could help The Nomads take a late win. Les Davies and Nathan Woolfe sent efforts towards goal which were dealt with, before Llandudno hit Nomads on the break which resulted with Lewis Buckley sending a header just above the crossbar in a chance that would have won it for the visitors. After three minutes of injury time, play concluded to hand both teams a deserved point, yet Nomads will reflect on a game where they could have emerged victorious.

MATCH STATS The Nomads: Danby, Baynes, J.Owen, Disney, Smith, Harrison, N.Rushton, Morris (M.Owen), Field, Woolfe (Wilde), Davies Llandudno: Roberts, Taylor, Joyce, Shaw, Hughes, Thomas (Riley), Marc Williams, Owen, Mike Williams, Dix, Buckley Goalscorers: The Nomads - Woolfe Llandudno - Marc Williams Yellow Cards: The Nomads - Baynes, Disney, Woolfe Llandudno - Thomas

The Nomads vs Rhyl

NEWS ARTICLE

Gemma Bamford checks on Ian Kearney following his injury at Cardiff Met

Kearney Injury update The Nomads can today deliver an update on the injury suffered by defender Ian Kearney during The Nomads' 2-1 victory over Cardiff Met last week. During the early part of the second half, Kearney, during an unchallenged run, slipped awkwardly on Cardiff Met's 3G surface. At the time, the worst was feared, and further tests have reveaded the full extent of the injury to Kearney's knee. Kearney has suffered damage to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and nearby cartilage. Initial tests speculate that Kearney will be out for the remainder of the 2016-17 season, and the Club are hoping that he will be able to undergo surgery in the next 7-10 days. Following that, course of rehabilitation will likely take between 9-12 months. Manager Andy Morrison said "Sadly we have lost Ian Kearney for the season after his terrible injury at Cardiff - he's been fantastic for us both in Europe and domestically, but if any player can deal with such a serious injury twice in such a short time it's Ian - he will get the full support of the Club and we all look forward to him being back for pre-season next year" 8

The Nomads vs Rhyl

Kearney's Statistics at The Nomads Comp

Apps

Goals

Yellow Cards

Red Cards

WPL

Europa League

Friendly

2 (1)

Total

9 (1)

A VIEW FROM THE STAND

BY WILL CATTERALL Hello and welcome to a view from the stand where we’re ready to get started on what should be a cracking North Wales derby. With respect to our visitors, I think even the most optimistic of Rhyl fan wouldn't have said that this game would be 2nd vs 3rd a few months ago, but this afternoon we go against one of the league’s most in-form teams in what should make for a brilliant match. Tuesday night was a tough result, but one that we can be in hindsight be happy with considering the position our injury list has put us in. To take a point against Llandudno without the likes of Wilde, Williams, Short and Horan is a respectable result, and they looked sharp and worthy of the top six. Having last played just 48 hours prior, we pulled off a big performance. We’re now a month into the league campaign and it's great to have some entertainment already, which is readily available even with TNS eight points clear at the top of the table. Rhyl have surprised us all with a run of five games unbeaten, winning four. Bangor are looking more their old selves, with Cardiff Met finally getting off the mark with two consecutive wins. At the bottom of the table is Airbus, and it will be interesting to see if our neighbours can manage to clinch a top six spot come January. Summer was a great success for our club, but it’s important to remember it couldn’t have gone as well as it did without the support of Rhyl FC. We arrived at their ground without any real clue of how to stage a European game, and their support at all levels was tremendous, so it’s a pleasure to welcome them to Deeside this afternoon. On paper, we could be the favourites, but no make no mistake in this game being a tough one. Rhyl are young, tough and fighting for everything, and we must shake off current frustrations in order to keep our unbeaten record today. Enjoy the game, and be sure to return next week against Carmarthen. Nomads Ultras Prediction: The Nomads 3-2 Rhyl Nomads Ultras' Player of the Week: Sean Smith With injuries affecting the squad, Sean Smith has played a vital role over the past few weeks in holding our defence steady. Although he is not a visually physical player, he was brilliant on Tuesday evening in the face of Llandudno’s ferocious defence. His services may well be needed this afternoon.

The Nomads vs Rhyl

GREEN'S PIECE

BY TREVOR GREEN Good Afternoon and welcome to Rhyl FC. There was a time when relationships between our two clubs were poor and we segregated supporters at the gate. After some peace-making from both sides we warily approached each other for last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s matches. Then came Europe, and our playing both ties at Belle Vue. The co-operation and support from everyone at Rhyl was simply outstanding and a joy to participate in. Nothing was too much trouble and the hosts put in hours of effort on our behalf. I would like to think we are friends for all but the 90 minutes on the pitch nowadays, we welcome them in that spirit. Mike Jones and his officials, the supporters and Niall and his playing staff are offered the best of our hospitality and are welcome today. They had a difficult start to the new season and were talked about as relegation certainties. Rhyl had banked on youth to see them through and they fully expected to have a difficult time of it. It looked as though doom and gloom were going to be the fayre at Belle Vue when they lost 10-0 at TNS, but in one of the most impressive rehabilitations in WPL history they recovered to win the next three in a row. Then last weekend, away at Newtown, they recovered from 3-1 down to draw. In midweek came the result their supporters really wanted a win over Bangor City (1-0). It's impressive, and Niall McGuiness must take a load of credit for holding his nerve. So they come here on a five match unbeaten run in third place having won four and drawing one scoring eleven and conceding five. It makes them in form and highly dangerous opponents. It was a good game here on Tuesday night - not for the first time this season, we started like an express train and should have been three nil up after half an hour, but we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, as once again very good chances were missed. Llandudno are a very good side and I am certain will be in the top four come May - they came back into it and John Danby made some good saves. Our goal should have won it, but an inexplicable loss of concentration from a very raw linesman let a blatantly off side Marc Williams run on to score. A draw was probably a fair result but it left a very bad taste in the mouth.

The Nomads vs Rhyl

The Welsh Premier league is a very strong competition on the field, it's stadiums are not the greatest though by a long way, investment from outside clubs has been poorly supported by those in power. One of the ways this can be changed is for the FAW to fight for our clubs to get high level infrastructure grants through funding available at British National level within the game - this they are doing. However, one of the arguments other home countries use against us is the poor attendances we suffer. Unfortunately, they are right. We are unbeaten, competed well in Europe, and yet last Sunday we had only 99 people pay to get in with 46 assorted ticket holders, pass holders and guests also in attendance. It’s a struggle and if we depended on the gates for income we would likely go under. Ok, we are in easy travelling distance of the Manchester and Liverpool super clubs and many do get on a coach and depart to see them at huge cost when coming here would be massively more economical. But we are not helped by those supposed to be supporting our efforts. In the Deeside conurbation, there are four level one and level two clubs, we are all roughly three miles apart and we all draw on one small group of local football supporters. Last weekend Airbus and Flint were both at home too. On Tuesday night we played a big game against Llandudno, a six pointer come May, possibly. Our gate of 131 and 51 season tickets/ passes was diminished by the FAW staging Bala v TNS at Flint on the same night. It really hurts, we try so hard, but sometimes our own side just doesn’t seem to be behind us. Also not behind us are the BBC. All week prior to the Aberystwyth match they ran the error that we were AWAY on all of their local news, local radio and websites. BBC Wales might be an amateur, ill-resourced and distantly managed affair, but people still trust it. The BBC cost us at the gate, I’ve had a couple of people tell me they went to Airbus thinking we were away. We emailed and phoned to get them to correct without getting any response. Then, as if their intransigence and incompetence was not already enough, they gave out the result on National Radio and on their websites as a 4-0 defeat for us! They published a league table showing us in fourth place on 12 points. Eventually and well after damage was done they changed the tables and result BUT only by recording it as an away win. Please guys, just do your jobs, we will help in any way we can. If in doubt, ask. Today’s refereeing team are Bryn Markham Jones, Phil Thomas, Teifion Cook and John Jones. We are grateful for their support; it’s a cliché I repeat every week, but true nonetheless, without them we would have no football. Enjoy the game, Trevor

The Nomads vs Rhyl

NOMADS' ARCHIVE

LEAGUE OF WALES 2002/03 BY DAVID RAPSON Following a disappointing end to the previous season, when away form completely deserted the team, it was good to kick-off the new term with a victory on the road. Goals from Craig Hutchinson, George Horan and Andy Griffiths ensured Nomads began with three points gained at the expense of Oswestry Town (3-2). A loss followed at Barry Town a week later and two more points were dropped in a home draw with Caernarfon Town. September 2002 began with a win at Newtown and then a 3-0 home trouncing of Llanelli, Tommy Mutton bagging a brace of goals in both matches to take his early season tally to five. Port Talbot Town were our next home opponents and arrived on Deeside at the top of the league having just beaten Barry Town at Jenner Park. Mutton opened the scoring but Talbot replied with two goals in three minutes before a late penalty (Mutton again) earned us a 2-2 draw ahead of a midweek game at home against Aberystwyth Town. When the Black n’ Greens took the lead with 15 minutes remaining it looked likely that our five match unbeaten streak would come to an end but Nomads plugged away and goals from Stuart Rain (84 minutes) and Tommy Mutton two minutes later left us cock-a-hoop and near the top of the table. A 0-2 loss away to TNS followed that took the Llansantffraid team to within two points of league leaders Bangor City but Nomads themselves were still only four points adrift of the top spot and two more victories over Haverfordwest County (3-1) and then by two goals to nil away to Cwmbran Town kept the momentum going. Confidence was high ahead of the visit by Caersws on 9th November. Six wins and three draws from Nomads’ eleven league fixtures had kept them in the title hunt and Caersws had just a single point to show from their five away games. Bluebirds’ centre-forward Graham Evans scored early on and it took until the hour mark before Stuart Terry equalised. Nomads pushed for victory but another Evans strike and a third goal scored by Ross Stephens just three minutes later put the skids under the Quay’s ambitions. Nonetheless, home victories over Carmarthen Town (1-0) and lowly Welshpool Town (4-0) quickly followed and when Stuart Rain put us a goal up against Oswestry just 45 seconds into the game on 14th December it seemed that the players had put that loss to Caersws at the back of their minds. Although we also scored against Oswestry in the last few seconds of that 12

The Nomads vs Rhyl

game the visitors had enjoyed a ‘purple match’ midway through the second-half when they found the net four times in 18 minutes! So it was that December 2002 brought Nomads ‘nil points’ from four league games a run in which we scored twice (those goals against Oswestry) but conceded eleven. The Boxing Day fixture at home to Rhyl was lost to the weather and this after the NonLeague Newspaper had previously mentioned Nomads featuring “in a ploughing match” against Carmarthen Town, such was the deterioration in the playing surface at the Deeside Stadium. During the autumn months Nomads had failed to win a game in the FAW Premier Cup, opposing Newport County, Bangor City and TNS in our group, but Welsh Cup successes against Brickfield Rangers and Newtown meant that we had a fourth round tie at Llandudno to look forward to. Thankfully, 2003 began with a good win away at Llanelli (5-3) and the team followed up by putting four goals past Flexsys Cefn Druids. Tommy Mutton scored in each of those games and did so in the next four matches too. His goal at Port Talbot was enough to earn all three points. Two successive away league games resulted in Nomads losing 1-3 at Aberystwyth then winning by the same score at Haverfordwest. Sandwiched in between those matches was the Welsh Cup tie at Llandudno which also ended 3-1 with our goals from Griffiths, Terry and, of course, Mutton. A 0-1 defeat at Rhyl ended our cup hopes and three days later we suffered another setback by going down 1-2 away to title-chasing Bangor City despite Craig Hutchinson giving us the lead just before half-time. The loss to Rhyl was quickly avenged the following Saturday with a 2-1 home win, George Horan making his 100th appearance for the Nomads, but the curse of Caersws struck again in the following game when that man Graham Evans score the only goal that left us in seventh place in the league with Caersws only two points behind. A 1-0 win at Newtown was balanced out by a defeat of the same proportion at home to Total Network Solutions four days later leaving us with five fixtures to the end of the season, three of them against teams sitting above us in the league. Another Craig Hutchinson goal earned us a point at Carmarthen Town in a 1-1 draw before the campaign drew to a close in the most unexpected way – four games and four wins all by a 2-1 scoreline! Bangor City’s championship hopes were crushed by goals from George Horan and a late winner from Tommy Mutton. Away games followed at Welshpool Town (Mutton and Rain netting) and then Rhyl where we departed with the three points and a satisfying league ‘double’ over our Clwyd neighbours. Tommy Mutton and Gary McCosh (who featured on the home programme cover all season long) scored the goals at Belle Vue and did so once again as we brought down the curtain at home to Afan Lido on 26th April. That quartet of 2-1 victories saw the Nomads claim a best-ever fifth place in the league table at the end of the 2002/03 season. The final match was our 400th in the national league and appropriately Afan Lido were our opponents as they had been in the very first game back in August 1992. Without a doubt Tommy Mutton, our slightly built but strong centre-forward, had played a major role in the team’s success scoring 23 league goals and finishing just one behind the league’s top scorer, Graham Evans of Caersws (who else?!). Three players Steve Hopkins, Gary McCosh and goalkeeper David Walsh featured in all 34 league fixtures and George Horan in 33.

The Nomads vs Rhyl

THE NOMADS

vs CARMARTHEN TOWN Dafabet Welsh Premier League Sunday, 2nd October, 2016 - 3:00pm Deeside Stadium, Connahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quay

The Nomads vs Rhyl

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John Disney heads towards goal for The Nomads Photo: NCM Media

THE NOMADS Woolfe (46') The Nomads vs Rhyl

-1

LLANDUDNO Marc Williams (62') The Nomads vs Rhyl

RHYL'S HISTORY

Football in Rhyl dates from the late 1870s and at one time there were several Rhyl clubs in existence. Rhyl F.C. became founder members of the Welsh League, formed in 1890, but withdrew the following year. They reformed as Rhyl Athletic in 1893 and became founder members of the North Wales Coast League, winning the title in 1894–95. Rhyl Athletic joined forces with Rhyl Town in 1898 and in an ambitious move switched to the Anglo-Welsh competition known as The Combination. Despite financial crises, they remained in membership until the league disbanded at the end of the 1910–11 season. Under the name of Rhyl United, they rejoined the North Wales Coast League but, following the Great War, they moved to the North Wales Alliance, before becoming founder members of the Welsh National League (North) in 1921. Rhyl won the title in 1925–26 and became a limited company in 1928 as Rhyl Athletic. In 1929 Rhyl applied to join the Football League but York City became the only non-league team elected to the Third Division North. With North Wales football in turmoil in the early 1930s, Rhyl sought to realise their ambitions elsewhere. Another unsuccessful application to the Football League was made in 1932 before joining the Birmingham and District League. Seeking relief from the onerous travelling to the Birmingham area, Rhyl successfully applied to join the Cheshire County League in 1936 and began one of the most successful chapters in the club's history. In a post-war purple patch, Rhyl won the league title twice – in 1947–48 and 1950–51 – and the Welsh Cup twice in succession. In 1952, they beat Merthyr Tydfil 4–3 and became the first non-league side in the modern era to retain the trophy, by defeating Chester City 2–1 the following season. Rhyl had been losing finalists to Cardiff City in 1930 and Crewe Alexandra in 1937, but did not feature in the final again until 1993, when they lost 5–0 to Cardiff City. Between 1948 and 1972 Rhyl appeared regularly in the 18

The Nomads vs Rhyl

first round proper of the FA Cup. In 1957 Rhyl reached the fourth round proper, losing 3–0 away to Bristol City. In the Cheshire County League, success eluded them for several years before they won the title in 1972. On the dissolution of the Cheshire County League in 1982, Rhyl became members of the North West Counties League, winning promotion to the Northern Premier League in their first season. In 1992, they reluctantly decided to join the League of Wales but, because their application was received too late, they were placed instead in the Cymru Alliance, the second level of the pyramid system. In 1993–94, they won the title by six points and gained promotion to the League of Wales. Over the years, the club have produced players of the highest calibre more than once, including Graham Williams (West Bromwich Albion), Barry Horne (Everton), Andy Jones (Charlton Athletic), Andy Holden (Oldham Athletic) and most recently Lee Trundle (Bristol City) after seeing his career revitalised in his short spell with Rhyl in 2000–01. For many years the club struggled in the top flight of Welsh football but, after being taken over by a consortium led by former player Peter Parry, a significant improvement in results saw Rhyl become one of the Welsh Premier League's leading clubs. In season 2003–04, the club won the Welsh Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League qualification rounds (though they lost 7–1 on aggregate, to Skonto Riga of Latvia in the first qualifying round), and were winners of the League Cup and Welsh Cup, although they lost the final of the FAW Premier Cup 4–1 to Wrexham. Rhyl completed a famous quadruple by rounding off the season with a 6–0 win against Halkyn United in the Final of the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup. Rhyl could not reproduce their quadruple heroics in 2004–05. The club finished runners-up in the Welsh

Premier League to TNS and also fell to the same team in both the Welsh Cup semi-final and Welsh Premier Cup quarter-final. A defeat to Carmarthen Town in the Final of the Welsh League Cup compounded a trophyless season for The Whites, although European qualification was gained by their runner-up finish in the Welsh Premier League In 2005–06, Rhyl recorded their first-ever win in European competition when they defeated Lithuanian side FK Atlantas 2–1 in the home leg of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. Rhyl lost the away leg 3–2, but progressed on the away goals rule, the first Welsh team to make the second qualifying round since Barry Town in 1996–97. They lost in the second round against Norwegian club Viking F.K., 3–1 on aggregate. The Lilywhites claimed more silverware in the 2005–06 domestic season when they lifted the Welsh Cup, beating Bangor City 2–0 at the Racecourse Ground, and the North Wales Challenge Cup after a 2–1 win over Denbigh Town in the Final. A third-placed finish in the Welsh Premier League meant Rhyl would compete for a third year in a row in European Club competitions. Rhyl's 2006–07 European adventure in the UEFA Cup was ended at the first round with a 2–1 aggregate defeat by Lithuanian side FK Sūduva of Marijampole. Back in the UEFA Cup in 2007–08, Rhyl achieved a memorable 3–1 home win over FC Haka only to be eliminated on away goals after a 2–0 defeat in the second leg in Finland. The club participated in the 2008 Intertoto Cup but were defeated in the first round 9–3 on aggregate by Bohemians of Ireland. In 2009 Rhyl won the Welsh Premier League for the second time comfortably finishing ahead of nearest challengers Llanelli, beating many club records including most wins in a season and most successive league wins. Rhyl took part in the Champions League starting in the second qualifying round against Partizan of Serbia. However, their efforts proved futile as Rhyl fell to Partizan with an aggregate score of 12–0, including an

8–0 rout at the Stadion Partizana. On 30 July 2009 Rhyl made an announcement that Allan Bickerstaff had left the club and defender Greg Strong was to become player/manager. On 17 May 2010, it was announced that Rhyl's Welsh Premier licence had been revoked. Their appeal was unsuccessful and they were relegated to the Cymru Alliance. The club finished Cymru Alliance runners-up to gap Connah's Quay in 2010–11 and 2011–12. GAP secured promotion to the Welsh Premier League in 2012, having failed to obtain a domestic licence in 2011, leaving Rhyl as potential favourites for the title in 2012–13. From the terraces, Mike Jones was announced as the club's new general manager. Rhyl started the 2012–13 season magnificently, winning their first 8 games. On 6 May 2013, having won the league title on 20 April, Rhyl beat Cefn Druids 2–0, thereby becoming the first club to complete a Cymru Alliance season unbeaten. In winning 24 matches and drawing 6, Rhyl scored 100 goals and secured promotion back to the Welsh Premier League after an absence of three years. On 20 August 2013 Rhyl announced a 3 year sponsorship deal with Corbett Sports which would see the Belle Vue stadium name changed to the Corbett Sports Stadium. In May 2015 it was announced that manager Greg Strong had left the club by "mutual consent". Former player Gareth Owen was then appointed as manager, with Mark Roberts as his assistant. In February 2015 with the club struggling near the foot of the table Gareth and Mark left the club and 24 year old Academy Director, Niall McGuinness was appointed as First Team Manager with his dad, Laurie McGuinness as his assistant.

The Nomads vs Rhyl

RHYL'S SQUAD

1. Owen Evans Goalkeeper

2. Aaron Simpson Defender

3. Tom Hartley Defender

4. Mike Sharples Defender

5. Stefan Halewood Defender

6. Alex Jones Midfielder

7. Kristian Pierce Striker

8. James Bell Midfielder

9. Toby Jones Striker

10. Jack Abraham Midfielder

11. Rob Hughes Midfielder

13. Jordan Miller Midfielder

13. Rory Crowther Goalkeeper

14. Zyaac Edwards Midfielder

16. Michael Walsh Midfielder

17. Andreas Alvarado

Striker

19. Porya Ahmadi Striker

21. Oliver Buckley Striker

22. Jamie Brewerton

23. Ryan Jones Striker

24. Dan Collins Defender

25. Keiran Hilditch Defender

27. Carl Lamb Striker

Defender

The Nomads vs Rhyl

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The Nomads vs Rhyl

Purely Welsh Proudly Supporting Welsh Premier League

The Nomads vs Rhyl

PLAYER STATISTICS ° Indicates player no longer with club

Player

WPL

Europa League

FAW Cup

Nathaniel MG Cup Friendlies

A G

8 0

4 0

0 0

1 (1)

2 John Disney

7 (1)

3 0

0 0

3 (1)

Paul Linwood °

0 0

2 0

Ian Kearney

3 0

4 0

0 0

2 (1)

George Horan

2 0

4 0

0 0

2 (1)

Danny Harrison

5 0

3 0

0 0

3 0

7 Tom Field

6 (1)

0 0

1 (2)

6 (1)

4 1

0 0

3 0

9 Ashley Ruane ¹

0 (1)

0 0

2 (2)

10 Les Davies

6 (2)

0 (4)

0 0

3 (1)

11 Nick Rushton

2 (1)

0 0

2 (2)

12 Matty Williams

6 (1)

0 0

0 (1)

15 Sean Smith

3 (2)

2 (1)

0 0

2 0

16 Nathan Woolfe

8 1

4 0

0 0

2 (1)

17 Chris Rimmer

0 0

18 Jay Owen

8 0

4 0

0 0

4 0

19 Matty Owen

0 (6)

0 (3)

0 0

2 1

20 Wes Baynes

8 1

4 1

0 0

3 0

21 Lewis Short

5 0

4 0

0 0

3 (1)

22 Michael Wilde

5 (1)

4 0

0 0

3 (1)

23 Mike Pearson

0 0

24 Shelton Payne

0 (2)

0 0

26 Ben Nash ¹

0 0

2 (1)

28 Jon Rushton ¹

0 0

4 0

33 Jordan Manley

0 0

60 Jack Wynne

0 0

¹ Indicates player on loan to another club

John Danby

Callum Morris

The Nomads vs Rhyl

THE NOMADS' SQUAD

1. John Danby Goalkeeper

2. John Disney Defender

4. Ian Kearney Defender

5. George Horan Defender

6. Danny Harrison Midfielder

7. Tom Field Midfielder