These advertisements allow local businesses to present themselves to their target audience – the local community
It is important that we continue to promote these ads as our local businesses need as much support as possible in these difficult times
FOOTBALL needs stars both on and off the pitch and the Welsh National League have had a lot of them over the years
In the final part of a league look back, we highlight the work the unsung heroes have done with Stan Jones, Jack Evans, Horace Wynne, Ken Hughes and John Eifion Lloyd among those earning so much respect in the region.
Stan was the most knowledgeable official I have ever met and his in-depth knowledge of the rulebook was pretty amazing John Mann’s commitment to grassroots football has also been quite extensive, particularly as president of football. welsh schools
The Welsh National League has a long list of committee pillars – Terry Hewitt, Ray Reeves, Cyril Roberts, Bernie Simon and Arthur Pritchard, who have set the highest standards
The passion and warmth shown by Cyril and Bernie in particular was quite immense, while when the curtain fell on the Welsh National League in May it was such a shame as Steve Harris, Roy Thomas, Ray Reeves and Bev Jones did not won’t be involved at the start of the 2020/21 season
The North East Wales Football Association has always supported the work of the Leagues, which has surfaced many unsung heroes
One of my favorites was Brian Tudor who took charge of all disciplinary matters for several decades and all without the help of technology, just reliance on his famous green pen and huge black book.
After a successful career as a referee Ken Hughes seems to have been around forever and he has taken over to become a key Welsh FA official
The same can be said of Vic Cliffe, Brian Roberts, Dave Evans and Paul Wright
Spending what seems like a lifetime, Treasurer Tony Edwards recently retired after more than 40 years of service
On the big Welsh FA stage were Stan Jones, Jack Evans, Cliff Evans, Chas Rowland and Steve Williams
Steve played a major role in the merger of Cefn Albion and Druids United and at the same time he became a member of the executive committee of the Cymru Alliance and was elected as their secretary
He also had a long stint as secretary and chairman of the Welsh National League His presence as a Welsh FA adviser since his appointment in 1997 is where he really made an impression
He never forgot his footballing roots and provided immense support and advice to almost all local football clubs in our area. His knowledge and wisdom is what makes him so special
His talents and skills have obviously been recognized by senior leaders of the Welsh FA and more recently he became the FA Treasurer. This year he was elevated to the rank of vice-president of the Welsh FA and at the same time he is now UEFA match delegate and sits on the stadium and security committee
On a personal level, my very first memory of senior football was in 1960 going to see Wrexham face Leicester City in the FA Cup, but my introduction to Welsh National League football came from watching Wrexham at the racecourse and mid -time you could look down on the Kop side and watch the Wrexham junior teams compete
The Reserves have always played in the Cheshire League but Wrexham fielded a Colts team, an A team and a B team In fact, several of my close friends in the mid ’60s when they were playing on the B team, represented Wrexham Youth when they beat Everton 1-0 in the English Youth Cup and in Everton’s squad were Blues legends Joe Royle, Jimmy Husband and Roger Kenyon
In the Wrexham squad that night were Graham Turner, John Lloyd, Alan Taylor, Richie Cadman and Graham ‘Ozzy’ Jones who became manager of three Welsh Intermediate Cup winning teams with Blaenau Ffestiniog and Welshpool
On a personal note, I was delighted to receive the Welsh Football Outstanding Achievement Award for my five years of grassroots service.
As a hobby besides being a secretary at Lex XI I was working as a freelance journalist for The Leader, it was at a time when Welsh football was really in the doldrums
The Wales Football Association was in need of fresh blood when General Secretary Alun Evans was shown the door in 1995
I applied with 250 others for his position and was asked to take on such a prestigious role
But I was quickly brought back to earth when my wife asked me if I would be happy to move to Cardiff without her and my four sons
This website and associated journals adhere to the Independent Press Standardization Organization’s Code of Practice for Editors If you have a complaint about editorial content related to inaccuracy or intrusion, please contact editor here If you are not satisfied with the answer provided, you can contact IPSO here
© Copyright 2001-2020 This site is part of Newsquest’s audited local newspaper network A company Gannett Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP10 9TY | 01676637 | Registered in England & Wales
Wales, Wrexham AFC, England
News from around the world – GB – Year of the Welsh National League: here are some of the unsung heroes of football
