The Club Committee decided tonight to go ahead with plans to play the Clubs’ youngsters at Aberaman next Saturday. The team will be temporarily managed by Anthony McEachen and Garw goalscoring Legend David Samuel, and the Club will advertise for a permanent manager and new players this week. Chairman Michael Lambert was upbeat about the situation, saying that “no matter what happens, we are determined to keep this Club in the Welsh Football League”. Mr. Lambert also revealed that he had offered his resignation to the Committee, since he felt that he had been responsible for re-signing Wells in May and this had clearly been a mistake. However, the Committee refused to accept this offer and Michael will stay in charge at Blandy Park. Mr. Lambert also commented on speculation that Chris Wells, erstwhile player/Manager, had signed as a player for Llangeinor AFC. “I do not have all the facts so it is difficult to make a definitive statement” said Mr. Lambert, “but you can be sure that if these rumours are proven correct, Garw AFC will be disturbed and upset, and will feel cheated at such a development.”

AUGUST 1 - GARW TO PUT “BABES” INTO WELSH LEAGUE FIRE?

At a training session tonight, it was finally made apparent that none of the senior players who did so well with the Club will be representing the Club this season. “Not one turned up for training, and several have since called Paul Samuel (Acting Manager) to say they had signed for other Clubs” said a disappointed Chairman, Michael Lambert. “We will now be meeting with the members of last season’s Reserve side, many of whom are 17-year-olds, and with their coach Anthony McEachen, to see whether these youngsters are prepared to play at the top level and keep the Club alive”.

JULY 28 - GARW DESPERATE AS SQUAD REFUSE TO SIGN

Garw Acting Manager Paul Samuel was dealt a hammer blow today when, after meeting with 11 of last seasons’ Championship squad, none of the players put pen to paper. This leaves the Welsh League wide with no experienced players and with the season only two weeks away, Garw are facing a repeat of two years ago, before Wells brought in his University-based squad. It appears that payment was a major issue, as was the fact that the Club has a budget ceiling which it will not break, and that to bring in players to improve the squad would be almost impossible. Many of the players had been offered much better terms at other Clubs and it seems that even the opportunity to play at the highest level and with their close pals was not attractive enough to compete with money.

JULY 20 - WELLS DEPARTURE LEAVES GARW REELING

News that Chris Wells will not be working his contractual period of notice has dealt a further blow to Garw, as they hoped that the player/manager, who had announced that he was leaving the country on August 10th, would help re-organise the squad during that time. “Chris told me that he is too upset to see the players this weekend, as he has been so closely involved with them for two years”, said Chairman Michael Lambert, “though this now makes our position even more precarious. Apparently none of last years’ squad have signed up for the new term, but Acting Manager Paul Samuel is hoping to meet with them all next week to try to get agreement and signatures.”

JULY 19 - GARW STUNNED BY WELLS EXIT

Garw were handed a crushing blow today when just three weeks before the Welsh League season kicks off and 48 hours before a prestigious friendly against Bath OddTown FC, player/manager Chris Wells announced that he was leaving the Club in order to take up a work opportunity abroad. Wells, who announced his decision to Chairman Michael Lambert in a phone call, felt that the opportunity to take up a sports coaching post in Grenada was the best option for his career, and Mr. Lambert wished him well on behalf of the Club and its members. “Chris has done remarkably well in two years here, including bringing in the first silverware in seven years, and we would not wish to impede his career in any way” said Mr. Lambert, adding that “The Club will now need to urgently re-organise and much will depend on the attitude of last seasons’ players, who are all aware of Chris’ decision.” The friendly at OddTown will almost certainly be cancelled and other matches arranged against Caerau Ely, Morriston Town and Sully Sports have already been called off.

GARW APPOINT COLCOMBE TO STOP THE ROT

Garw have appointed Mike Colcombe as First Team Manager on a two-year contract. The 37-year-old Colcombe, who made his name as a player with Barry Town from 1988 to 1993 and also played for Merthyr, is taking on his first management role at First Division level and is relishing the challenge of rescuing Garw’s season.

“Clearly, the side has a lot of talent, but is in urgent need of some older heads to add experience and know-how to the enthusiasm of this young side” said Colcombe. “I am a huge supporter of youth and Garw has plenty of youngsters who are Welsh League players in the making. But for now, we need stability and experience to try to improve results” he added. Colcombe has playing and coaching experience with Risca, Caldicot, Pil, Newport YMCA and Cardiff Corinthians under his belt, but this is the most senior coaching role he has taken on. He relishes the challenge. “Of course, this is a huge challenge, but I feel that this Club has great potential and I am happy to give 100% to the side. Chairman Michael Lambert said “Mike impressed us with his professional and thoughtful approach and his plans to develop younger players. He has already seen us play this season and is aware of the size of the task, but is very much up for the challenge. We are delighted to appoint him”. Colcombe will take the players for training on Monday, 3rd September and will take charge of the First Team for their next match, a tough Welsh Cup tie at Caerau Ely on September 15th.

August 25th 2007

GARW BABES STILL CONFIDENT DESPITE RESULTS

Garw’s youngsters remain in good spirits despite their latest heavy defeat, a 9-0 beating from high-flying Bryntirion, hard on the heels of another 9-0 trouncing against Cambrian in midweek. The youngsters, managed temporarily by Garw veterans Anthony McEachen and David Samuel, have given their all in recent weeks following the departure of the entire Championship-winning side of last year, but their tender years and lack of experience has shown. Despite excellent performances from Ashley Britton, Tom Chorley, Tudor Coates and Steve Tippett, among others, they have been unable to match opponents for physical strength and tactical knowledge, but have refused to lie down. Club Chairman Michael Lambert said “I am immensely proud of these young lads, who have taken on a seemingly impossible task but have refused to be bowed down by stronger and fitter opponents. They have earned themselves, the Club and the Garw Valley huge credit for their battling performances and we are all 100% behind them”. Results so far have been:

AUG 11 Aberaman (A) L 0-10
15 Cambrian (A) L 0-6
22 Cambrian (H) L 0-9
25 Bryntirion (H) L 0-9

The Club insists that it will stay in the Welsh League despite poor results and intends to protect its’ long history. “We have 56 years of League membership here and are determined that the defection of Chris Wells and his team will not end that honourable history” added Mr. Lambert. “The Club will survive”.

OCTOBER 1, 2007

Garw’s young side have continued to put themselves through the mill for their Club, as they have struggled manfully against much stronger opposition in the First Division of the Welsh League.

Recent results have included an 11-0 defeat at Afan Lido (August 31), a 7-0 defeat at Second Division Caerau Ely in the Welsh Cup (Sept 15), a 5-3 home defeat to another Second Division side, Ammanford, in the League Cup (Sept 22), and an 11-1 home defeat to Bridgend Town (Sept 29). Tom Donald, versatile midfielder/defender from last season’s Championship side, returned on September 15 and has worked hard, as has Manager Mike Colcombe, but the praise must go to the youngsters who have put themselves on the line for the Club. In particular, Chairman Michael Lambert wants to mention the following:

Ashley Britton, Tom Chorley, Ross Evans, Lee Hogg, Liam Hughes, Matthew Jones, Ryan Lewis, Paul Llewellyn, Andrew Mills, Arfon Morris, Robert Pinches, Carl Rayner, Paul Roach, David Samuel, Jordan Samuel, Steve Tippett, Tom Walbyoff and Matthew Wright. A special mention goes to Tudor Coates, the only senior player to have been with the side all season, and to temporary coaches Anthony McEachen and David Samuel.

Without the efforts of all of these, there is little doubt that Garw would have defaulted on their fixtures and would have faced expulsion from the Welsh League. Thank you, all!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, 2007.

Garw, strengthened by the signings of three ex-players and a crop of new faces, finally overcame their hoodoo to win at Pontardawe – and they came from behind to do it!

After a 9-0 home defeat to table-topping Ton Pentre on October 13th, several new faces appeared at Maesteg Park on October 20th and were very unlucky to lose 2-0. Today, though, they made no mistake and finally put some points on the board – and then found that Pontypridd’s defeat had lifted them from the bottom! It was a former Garw player, ace marksman Jamie Morris, who put the home side ahead on 12 minutes, lobbing Chorley after been set free with a fine pass, and garw were under the cosh for much of the first half as newcomers Gavin Lang, Phil Trigg, Tom Evans and Daniel Davies accustomed themselves to a side that also contained ex-Garw players Liam Williams, Martin Davies and Adam Shields. Captain Tudor Coates and fellow local lad Ross Evans worked hard at the back and Garw began to exert control as the game wore on.

A second half dominated by Garw saw them draw level on 50 minutes when a pin-point Tom Evans cross was met by Daniel Davies, whose header gave the keeper no chance. The game see-sawed for much of the half, but when Lang was withdrawn with a head injury and man of the match Daniel Davies took a knock, local striker Lee Hogg seized his chance. With his second touch, and with the whistle due in seconds, the 21-year-old beat a man and placed a superb 20-yard pass into the path of Williams, who finished clinically to spark a riotous cheer at the end. Points on the board at last, and with Pontypridd at home next Saturday (3rd November) and Taffs Well away on 10th November, Garw have a very real chance to lift themselves away from the drop zone.

TEAM: 1 Chorley 2 Trigg 3 R Evans 4 Coates 5 Lang 6 T Evans 7 Donald 8 D Davies 9 Shields 10 M Davies 11 Williams SUBS: 12 Mills (for 5, 80m) 14 Hogg (for 5, 88m) MAN OF THE MATCH: DANIEL DAVIES