retired_brittni10

Saturday 15th December 2001

So far this season Connah's Quay have had the slight upper hand in the three games we've played against them, winning the first two, although we did beat them in the second leg of the League Cup Semi, although with them winning the tie on penalties I guess it's about as good as ****ing into the wind.

Neill Rimmer returned to the side in place of Jeremy Goss and was at the forefront of our best action in the first half, sadly we couldn't get a goal and were given a massive blow a minute before half time. David Hughes was sent off for slicing Ian Cox in half, not the prettiest of tackles.

The second half was one of an excellent defensive display as with a man down we set about galvanising ourselves and attacking on the break, tactically I got it just right and when Danny Stevens scored his fifteenth goal of the season midway through the half we knew the points were all ours.


Wednesday 19th December 2001

It's been a tough week - first, David Hughes was banned for a further two matches because of his 'misconduct' in the previous match so he'll miss the next three games. Also missing out will be Darren Bradshaw suffered a strained neck in training - he'll be out for a week.

Not to worry though as we don't have a game this weekend, being Christmas and all we're off until Boxing Day. So we don't have an actual game until next Wednesday. The lads are in training until Friday then I've given them the rest of the time off, we'll meet up again before the match.


Wednesday 26th December 2001

It's the day after Christmas Day and although a massive cliché we're looking for a nice present from fourteenth placed Newtown. Dave Barnett makes his debut in the place of the suspended David Hughes. It's one-all at half time Danny Stevens equalising an earlier Andrew Whitticase effort and it's left until the eighty-first minute before the match is settled Mark Atkins driving home his fifth goal of the season to send us back to the top of the table. With just one game left it's a going to be a nice way to round of the year.


Saturday 29th December 2001

Rhyl are our next opponents, we travel to their Belle Vue ground in the hope of grinding out a point, something which would keep us on top of the table. You see, our foes today are second in the league. I really want the win though, it'd be nice to enter the new year with some breathing space but beggars can't be yada, yada, yada.

We start the match well but are dealt a bitter blow with just over a quarter of an hour gone - Neill Rimmer limping off, his replacement Kurt Nogan comes into the side in an unorthodox role to him but contributes the first half's only real chance - firing over after being played in by Leon Bell. It's much the same case in the second half neither team creates anything but Nogan again fires over when it would have looked easier to test the keeper. The match finishes 1-1 and as we prepare to enter the year 2002 Airbus UK are top of the Welsh Premier by two points.

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<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Welsh Premier Division - Midway PointPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Airbus UK 18 7 2 1 19 9 4 1 3 14 11 36 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Rhyl 18 5 3 0 13 5 4 4 2 21 15 34 3rd Bangor City 18 4 1 3 10 4 5 4 1 19 12 32 4th Cwmbran Town 18 7 3 0 20 8 1 4 3 12 16 31 5th T.N. Solutions 18 5 3 2 14 10 4 1 3 10 9 31 6th Carmarthen Town 18 7 0 2 25 10 2 2 5 13 16 29 7th Aberystwyth Town 18 4 2 2 13 11 4 2 4 9 12 28 8th Caersws 18 5 5 0 15 9 1 2 5 9 16 25 9th Llanelli 18 4 4 2 13 13 1 4 3 7 9 23 10th Afan Lido 18 4 2 2 16 14 2 3 5 8 14 23 11th Port Talbot Town 18 4 2 2 12 6 1 5 4 12 15 22 12th Haverfordwest 18 5 4 1 17 7 0 3 5 5 13 22 13th Connah's Quay 18 4 2 2 12 8 2 1 7 9 19 21 14th Welshpool 18 2 6 2 13 12 1 5 2 7 9 20 15th Newtown 18 3 3 2 11 10 0 5 5 13 22 17 16th Cefn Druids 18 3 3 2 15 14 0 3 7 3 15 15 17th Porthmadog 18 2 5 3 11 12 1 0 7 5 20 14 18th Caernarfon Town 18 2 2 5 10 18 0 3 6 4 16 11 TopscorerPos Player Club Apps Gls-------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Mattie Davies Cwmbran Town 18 12 2nd Danny Stevens Airbus UK 16 (1) 12 3rd Jon Keaveney Rhyl 17 10 4th Paul Roberts Bangor City 16 9 5th Gary Powell Rhyl 18 9</pre>

retired_brittni10

Wednesday 1st January 2002

With hangover in toe I awake to the news that Cwmbran Town's Tony Wilcox has again been awarded the Manager of the Month award, ok his side did win three of their six games last month but I'd hardly say they were the form team, strange things are indeed a foot.

Closer to home Mr Sutton rings me for our monthly chat, he's pleased with everything except the bank balance - now an unerring debt of £120,013 - not good but better than the -£400,000 it was before Christmas. I ask for another injection of cash, it's met with a laugh and a 'we'll see'. Sometimes he can be a complete ****.


Saturday 5th January 2002

We visit Farrar Road, Bangor today the home of surprise, surprise - Bangor City. Peter Davenports side are third in the table and without Neill Rimmer it was to prove a tough test.

Warren Gibbs opened the scoring for Bangor with eighteen minutes gone but soon we'd drawn level - Mark Atkins thirtieth minute pot-shot surprising everyone to bring us back into the game. At half time Bangor were back in front tough Egyptian midfielder Tarek Mostafa drilling home from the edge of the area.

The second half started in frenetic style, frustrating all for us, we were creating chances but weren't scoring - if one went in more would follow though, that I was sure of and it took a bit of genius to make it so. Andrew Martin curling home a perfect twenty-yard free kick with just fifteen minutes left on the clock. Three minutes later we took the lead Jeremy Goss lashing home a long range volley. While I'd have settled for just that we took it up another notch and with time running out Danny Stevens got in on the act hitting a fierce shot home having been teed up by Leon Bell.


Wednesday 9th January 2002

So, onto Lean Bell. His time at the club started slowly but recently he has really come into his own in the centre of midfield - something he capped off with a man-of-the-match performance in the last game. Well done to him.

The news from Caernarfon Town is that they've sacked their manager Waynne Phillips, they may be bottom of the league but an experienced pro like Waynne could surely have turned it around eventually. Couldn't he? Centre back Mark Winstanley is the favourite to take over.

In the Welsh League Cup Final Connah's Quay Nomads won thanks to a a 1-0 result against Bangor City. Steve McCormick getting the only goal of the game.

retired_brittni10

Saturday 12th January 2002

So the first home fixture of the new year and Afan Lido the visitors, we were the happiest after the fixture - guess who? Scoring the only goal of the game? Yes me! Coming on at the break I tucked away my first league goal of the season. That's four in all. The most important thing is that we're still top of the table though, now by an impressive six points from second placed Rhyl.


Monday 14th January 2002

Caernarfon Town moved fast to replace Waynne Philips and achieved quite a coup when Chris Waddle strolled out to be introduced to the press. He was a good player but will he be able to cut it as a manager? After all, he struggled in his last appointment at Burnley.

While here at the 'Morfa' we could be about to loose one of our number - Bedlington Terriers have apparently tabled a bid for on-loan 'keeper Lee Marshall, whilst not being directly involved in the team since joining Lee is a vital back-up and if we lose him it'll mean I'll have to sign another 'keeper.


Wednesday 16th January 2002

As expected Lee Marshall has taken up the offer of regular first team football and moves to Bedlington Terriers in a £2,000 transfer from Sutton United. Any spare 'keepers out there? Lee Evans is immediately put to task. We'll have to see just who he comes up with.

Goalkeepers are a strange bunch, as everyone knows they're as vital to any squad as any player and once you've got a good one you don't want to let them go. We're fortunate in my opinion that currently we have two excellent 'keepers on the books - both of whom are at different stages in their career - On the one hand current first choice Andrew Marriott is coming to the end of the his time playing football, although I'm sure he'll be the first to admit he's got a good few seasons in him yet. His current rival for the number one jersey - Lee Worgan - just eighteen, already rated highly by his former club Wimbledon after a glittering loan spell at non-league Aylesbury . I see him very much as a player for the future, he just seems to improve with every training session.


Saturday 19th January 2002

Well we're dealt a blow almost as soon as we set foot in Aberystwyth's Park Avenue - Danny Stevens twisting his ankle in the warm-up forcing him to sit out not only this game but possibly the next two - not good, especially with him being our & the leagues current top scorer. Into his place comes nineteen-year-old Austrian forward Michael Peischl - one for the future - today is his debut. He did well, putting in a good performance and testing their 'keeper on more than one occasion. The game itself was over as a contest as soon as Aberystwyth's Bari Morgan had been dismissed for an elbow on Simon Morgan after twenty-five minutes - we were already one-up through Jeremy Goss by this time and proceeded to rub salt in what appeared to be an ever increasing wound when Neil Pointon headed home just before half time. It finished 2-0, but more importantly we moved seven points clear of new second placers Bangor City.

Elsewhere Chris Waddle's reign as Caernarfon Town manager got off to an inauspicious start - they lost 2-0 at home to Cwmbran Town


Wednesday 23rd January 2002

Good news today! Neill Rimmer returned to training after his knee injury, he might have some difficulty getting back into the side though, such is the form of trio Bell, Atkins and Goss.

One player who has been effective since signing is Dave Barnett, the big Cayman Islander has settled in really well and is currently keeping captain David Hughes out of the side - something I know for a fact Hughes isn't happy about. This was made perfectly clear in a meeting he arranged with me on Monday, basically he wants his place back - I told him what he had to do - he accepted it and that was the end of that. He'll be back in my plans soon enough, just for now I wanted something a little different.

retired_brittni10

Saturday 26th January 2002

And so we finish the month at our adopted 'home' - Port Talbot Town our foes today, it's wet, windy and extremely treacherous out on the now cut up surface of the 'Morfa,' it doesn't really seem to affect the players too much though and we're able to pass the ball around on the somewhat slick areas that inhabit the flanks.

For all our fancy footwork in the first half we fail to make a breakthrough so at half time I do the only sensible thing and bring myself on upfront - before you say anything I am the only fully fit striker on the bench, besides who better - I've played well in a supersubesque role this season. Before I can blink we're two-nil up and the game is in the bag. This management lark is easy when you're on top - I just hope I don't ever discover what it's like to be struggling at the bottom. I do admit though I have a quiet game and aren't involved in either of the goals, just for the record - it's Mark Atkins who opens the scoring as he heads home a Neil Pointon cross just after the hour mark. Four minutes later another header - this time from Andrew Martin, from a Leon Bell cross wraps things up and we move nine points clear!


Wednesday 30th January 2002

Well I end the month on a high note, not. Training injuries don't happen all that much if your club is careful or has top of the range facilities. Well we try to be careful and most of the time we succeed but well as for the facilities... Well, they're not quite there yet and have a hell of a long way to go. I for one suffered first hand from them yesterday. Stretching to reach a loose ball on the side of a training pitch my control let me down and the ball subsequently span off behind me and continued for a few yards. I jogged after it but lost my footing in what on closer inspection looked like a bit of a rabbit hole - falling arse over tit and twisting my knee in the process - whilst the playing squad and the coaching staff were ****ing themselves laughing I was in agony but soon regained my composure to hobble off into the physios room. Prognosis - strained knee ligaments - no games for three weeks.

I'll get you wabbit!

retired_brittni10

Saturday 2nd February 2002

Whilst nursing my injured knee I was delighted to be the recipient of a bottle of champagne - the reason? I'd won an award - Manager of the Month for January after the team had won all four of it's games. I'm not going to drink it though - I'm saving it for the players and staff, they deserve it more than me, after all I just pick the team.

And so we travel to Wrexham, NEWI Cefn Druids are our hosts and we have a 'new' well 'old' face in our ranks - Clive Mendonca is finally fit again to play and I have no hesitation in naming him in the starting line-up. It was touch and go for a while but having come through a reserve and a training match unscathed I think he's ready. Also, he's clearly raring to go and looks at least a stone lighter than when he joined us - someone has been working out. The match itself was a bit of a none event - Leon Bell scored twice and Andrew Martin screamed home a free kick to make it 3-0, not a bad days work and for once the Manager of the Month curse didn't strike.


Thursday 7th February 2002

It appears our weekend win at Plaskynaston Lane was followed by some major ructions in Wrexham as the news filters through that chairman Mike Pritchard has given twenty-eight-year-old player/manager Alan Morgan the boot. Cefn Druids are seventeenth in the league and haven't won since the first week of November so it's not really much of a shock.

Morgan apparently wants to get back into the game quickly, preferably as a player. I'm tempted to give him a call but with a dearth of decent right sided defenders at the club already, it'd be a fairly pointless exercise. Why buy for the sake of buying?


Saturday 9th February 2002

We're given a break from the league today, but not the fixtures making our way to Port Talbot to face Afan Lido at the Runtech Stadium. Our journey is almost cut short after the coach decides it's not going to start but after a fair bit of pushing and pulling we get it going and we're soon at the ground. To the winner a place in the Quarter Finals of the Welsh Cup. With home advantage Afan Lido are clearly up for it but at half time it's us who go in with our noses in front, just - "Big" Dave Barnett powering home a header from an Andrew Martin free kick on the stroke of half time, a nice time for the thirty-four-year-old to open his account.

The second half starts with a snap, Afan Lido pulling one back from long range through Paul Evans but we're soon back in front - the goal scorer - Clive Mendonca. He latches onto a Goss through pass and neatly dispatches it past the 'keeper before running towards the bench with a smile as big as the Millennium Stadium on his lips. He mouths - 'that was for you' to me but I shout back no 'that was for you'. He deserves it, his first goal for the club in a season much maligned by injury - the first of many (hopefully). From there on we move in for the kill, or at least Dave Barnett does, obviously sensing that at his age he needs a change of position - yes, he's discovered the killer strikers instinct. Before this game he'd scored just five goals in a fifteen year career. It's seven now - as he smashes home a loose ball on the turn in the box. 3-1 and Quarter Finals here we come.

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Monday 11th February 2002

After a morning spent by the phone we discover it's Rhyl, at their Belle Vue ground, in March for the next round of the Cup.

Val Owen joins me on the sidelines with a thigh strain. Neill Rimmer re-enters the first eleven after a couple of sub appearances.

One player rejoining the scene though is striker Danny Stevens, it does leave me with a slight selection problem though, albeit a good one - Andrew Martin, Clive Mendonca and Danny - three into two just doesn't go.


Saturday 16th February 2002

NEWI Cefn Druids appoint Gareth Powell as manager but we've got bigger fish to fry - namely Llianell at 'Fortress Morfa' as it's becoming known. We take an early lead - the quiet but ever effective Jan-Harm Schippers blasting home a sixteenth minute penalty after Martin is fouled but our lead lasts for less than two minutes - the experienced David D'Auria hitting a well placed drive from distance that left Marriott clutching at thin air. Never fear though as retake the lead before the half is out. Andrew Martin heading home a corner from the newly recalled Neill Rimmer. Danny Stevens comes on at the break it is he who seals the win - crashing home a superb volley that left 'keeper Robert Hidle floundering and the crossbar shaking. The only bad news is when Schippers is carried off at full time, fortunately his injury isn't as serious as first suspected - just strained knee ligaments, he'll be out for three weeks.


Wednesday 20th February 2002

So a midweek game after a long, long period without one, that must we're entering the final ten games of the season, and so we are. Caersws the team we face, their Recreation Ground isn't at first sight that impressive but nonetheless if things go our way we could be playing in somewhere like the San Siro or Old Trafford next season - oh hell I can dream can't I? European football would go along way to help bringing in such much needed funds, although it would be critical that we succeeded. Not really something Welsh clubs are noted for in European competition, ah well it's a long way off yet anyway, don't count your chickens and all that...

...anyway enough dreaming. We're forced into a slight defensive reshuffle - Schippers is out so Simon Morgan - somewhat of an unsung hero is moved to right back, with David Hughes and Dave Barnett in the centre. Barnett also takes the captaincy. The first half is as dull a game as I've seen this season, except for one moment of absolute class on the stroke of half time. Dave Barnett won the ball in the defence (no that's not it), he then found Leon Bell on the left of the pitch (nope not yet), he chested it down and turned his marker before firing off a lobbed pass to just in front of the edge of the box (getting closer) Clive Mendonca brought the ball down well with his back to goals (nearly there), Cruyff turned past a defender (Countdown - 3), shimmied inside another (2) and then proceeded to bend the ball from long range into the top corner of the net (1 - Gooooooaaaaalllll!), keeper left with no chance, nonchalant wave of hand to supporters, oh half time. I think some players are blessed.

Anyway while the first half was lifeless the second sprung into life - Leon Bell scoring early on to give us a two-nil lead, Caersws pulled one back with fifteen to go but it was always going to be Mendonca's day, not quite as extravagant as his first but a quality strike nonetheless - volleying a Bell cross back across the 'keeper from a tight angle. It finished 3-1


Saturday 23rd February 2002

We have a legend in our midst today, no not Clive Mendonca - Chris Waddle - so, yep you've guessed it Caernarfon are our guests at the 'Morfa.' Since taking over Chris' side have won two of his six games in charge although his side are firmly rooted to the bottom of the league. Neill Rimmer injures himself in the warm up so I decide it's time to give myself only my second start of the season (the other also came in the league - way back on the opening day of the season). We don't show them any remorse though and are soon two goals to the good Andrew Martin hits his seventeenth of the season with an angled drive before yep, you guessed it - I get on the score sheet - that's five for the season now. It's another for the scrap book, Clive Mendonca passes the ball inside a defender I strike it low at goal, the 'keeper can only push it back to me and I bludgeon it past him with all the power and might I can muster - emphatic but satisfying, if slightly over the top! But who really cares? With the job done I play a slightly withdrawn role for the second half - sitting deep in front of our defence and spraying passes about, being the manager does have it benefits (not sure the rest of the lads would agree though). In fact it's one of these passes that gives us our third and final goal as I chip the ball between two defenders for substitute Danny Stevens to run onto, seizing his chance he cleverly draws the 'keeper before rounding him and slotting the ball home for 3-0. We're now eleven points clear of second placed Bangor City

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Saturday 2nd March 2002

Apart from winning the February Manger of the Month award, (well we did win all five games - nine in a row now) It's been a quiet week, which I think is shown by the fact that my first entry this week marks a game. It's been welcome though, I'm not complaining - training has gone without a hitch and everyone seems to be in fairly good spirits.

So to the Cwmbran Stadium, where we face well Cwmbran. I give myself another start - mainly due to Val Owen still not being 100% as we look to get our first win against Cwmbran this season. So far in the three games we've drawn two and they've won one. At half time it's nil-nil. 'Danny get warmed up you're going on.' Three minutes later, guess who pops up to volley home an Andrew Martin cross? Yep Danny Stevens - twenty for the season now and he'll definitely be starting the next game. Sadly we just can't push on and kill the game and before we know it Cwmbran have drawn level Jodie Jenkins heading home a Pattimore cross to seal an eight man passing move. We may have dropped points but we're still nine clear (perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to talk about the San Siro, Milan before, perhaps the San Siro, Welling - more appropriate? Maybe a pre-season friendly?


Wednesday 6th March 2002

Neill Rimmer was welcomed back into training with open arms today, finally overcoming his thigh strain. One player who was absent though was French centre back Ludovic Troussier, he asked for two weeks leave, it was granted. He's not in my plans after a clear the air meeting and wants to try and find himself a club closer to home. Good Luck Ludo. He's only played one game this season, he did well but no disrespect to him - he's no Dave Barnett (I think that says it all)


Saturday 9th March 2002

It's Cup day again and the streets of Rhyl are filled with people excited at the prospect of their home town side being just two games away from a cup final. Well not really, it's pretty much as it is normally on a match day, but anyway we go into the game with Val Owen returning the first eleven - I fall on my sword and take a place on the bench. Also In is Danny Stevens - Clive Mendonca is slightly jaded and understands the need to rest. The first half doesn't go well, Rhyl have a game plan to sit deep and break - it works perfectly and at half time they go in with a 0-1 lead, Marcus Taylor crashing home a ball after driving from midfield into the box. The second didn't start to well either Kevin Jones slotting home a penalty, 0-2, surely game over?

But No! Rhyl hadn't reckoned for Danny Stevens. Sixty seconds after the penalty he caught their defence flat footed and drove the ball home - 1-2. Four minutes later he beat his man on the right, skinned another defender and whipped in a cross deep to the other side of the area - arriving like a thirty-seven-year-old Carlos Alberto, albeit several stones heavier, unshaven and with several pies in the tank was Neil Pointon who hit the ball full on the volley. Bang! 2-2 and the nets properly still shaking now. Ten minutes later - turn around complete - Stevens again - powering a Leon Bell cross past the 'keeper with his head. He gets the man-of-the-match award and we go into the Semi Final where we'll face one of Bangor City, Connah's Quay or Carmarthen Town.

retired_brittni10

Wednesday 13th March 2002

Cup Semi Draw Day, try saying that with a mouth full of coffee. We've got Connah's Quay at their Deeside Stadium. Game to be played in April. Bangor City have the pleasure of hosting Carmarthen Town in the other game.
Other news Jan-Harm Schippers returned to fitness and also training, he's been somewhat of an unsung hero this season. He may not be the rampaging type of wing back some clubs deploy but he's solid and stoic and knows how to defend and when to make just the right pass. The four penalties he's tucked away this season have also come in handy.


Saturday 16th March 2002

Today we go to the Maesydre, Welshpool - the result - we win 3-1, but it's not plain sailing. I'm not trying to sound boastful, today was a difficult match made more so by an inexplicable refereeing decision after just two minutes. In the swirling winds Shaun O' Leary played a delightful up and under into our area, Bontcho Guentchev was onto it like a flash, but so was David Hughes - the result both players looking at the ball - both players then go flying - the ball goes out of ball. The referee a Mr Paul Thomas decides it's a penalty much to the delight of the home fans and the bemusement of both sets of players and management. Nonetheless O' Leary steps up and sends Marriott the wrong way to give his side the lead.

Fortunately we hit back - Val Owen driving the ball low from thirty yards after twenty minutes, then before half time Mark Atkins tapping home to give us the lead after Martin had seen his free kick parried by Paul Whitfield. Two minutes after half time the game was over as a contest - Andrew Martin sliding the ball past Whitfield from what looked an impossible angle after getting behind the Welshpool defence.


Wednesday 20th March 2002

Simon Morgan will miss the rest of the season, it's a big blow for our title run in but hopefully we'll be able to soldier on without him. The damage is again done by our training pitch, this time his foot gets caught in the turf as he turns to keep goal side of his marker during a small sided game. The result a badly torn angle ligament and the likely hood of at least two months out.

The transfer deadline comes and goes without any action with regards to us. Not surprising really, after all we're skint. Apparently one or two English clubs have been looking at Danny Stevens though - that's all they're allowed to do, he's too important to the team at the moment, although I'd never begrudge a player the chance to move into a full time league.

One player who does leave is Ludovic Troussier, after much deliberation it's decided that we'll release him from the final year of his contract. He's delighted as he leaves the training ground for perhaps the final time, wishing everyone a good life and all the best for the future. I liked Ludovic, not as a player but a person - always smiling, always happy. I think he was just glad to be involved most of the time. He'll certainly be missed by many, although sadly not for his on the field abilities - a bit of a downer for a footballer I'd imagine.


Saturday 23rd March 2002

Y Traeth is possibly the worst stadium we've visited this year, it makes even our real home ground look inviting and although the pitch is slightly better, only just though. CPD Porthmadog play here, a side I had the chance to play for once, but I decided against it. Who knows where'd I would be today. They currently sit bottom of the table (seemingly Caernarfon have picked up of late) and we do them no favours (although not in the manor I'd have liked). Rhodri Thomas makes his debut at right back and Chris Scott comes onto the bench for the first time, but apart from that I make no real changes.

Like any side coming up against a top of the table team, you find yourself looking to go that extra yard, everyone wants to beat the potential champions. Andrew Marriott has to make several fine saves before we take the lead with our first another Andrew, this time striker Martin dispatches the ball past Andy Fisher with ease and we're on our way after just a quarter of an hour. It lasts no more than a minute though as Porthmadog seize on a mistake from Hughes who hesitates in clearing a loose ball just enough for Hogan to nip in and drive home his first goal for his club. Disappointing yes but not the end of the world as before half-time Jeremy Goss nets his fifth of the season - a volley from a Rhodri Thomas cross. From now on it's a case of who wants it more and chances come and go at either end, eventually we take one. It comes right on full time - Clive Mendonca (on as a late sub) picking up a loose ball in midfield, advancing and then curling the ball home - the ball in the net, the ref blows the whistle and we stay nine points clear going into the final five games. The game isn't always easy but a win is a win.


Tuesday 26th March 2002

We held a press conference today, only a small one mind. Basically it was to announce that Neil Pointon and Clive Mendonca would be joining the coaching staff from next season onwards. Neither are expected to retire just yet, although Neil has suggested that at thirty-seven, he might not be up to playing much next season. For Clive it's a chance to step up onto the first rung of what I think will be a very successful career in the game as a coach or manager. He didn't waste his time out injured, hobbling through several coaching courses and gaining some pretty badges along the way. If I hadn't done them alongside him he'd be a more qualified man than I.

Newtown AFC are looking for a new manager it was revealed today, Brian Coyne was sacked by Keith Harding, apparently the team needs a fresh approach.

Closer to home and there seems to be something of an injury mystery afflicting Jan-Harm Schippers, he's going to be out for up to two weeks after a domestic incident, he just won't tell us what happened, although a smile comes across his face when asked. Badly twisted knee is the problem, sustained how? One day I'm sure he'll tell us, although the scratch marks on his back do seem to give it away slightly.


Saturday 30th March 2002

Total Network Solutions came to the 'Morfa' today. A win, followed by Bangor not getting a result would see us practically crowned champions, what with there being only four games left and us being nine points clear. But it was never going to be easy, especially with T.N.S being third in the league.

We didn't start well and at half time found ourselves a goal down. The half time introduction of Clive Mendonca pepped things enough for us to equalise. Yes, Mendonca the scorer - his fifth of the season. This time collecting a pass from Martin to slot low past Dean Williams with his left foot. Usually this would kick us completely into action, but today the lethargy stayed and for once we found ourselves looking at a defeat. The goal that sealed it came not long afterwards Andy Ruscoe scoring a quite superb dipping volley from thirty yards out that could quite easily have graced a higher level. Bangor City won 2-1, and in turn cut our league to six points with four games to play. The champagne is on ice.

retired_brittni10

Monday 1st April 2002

So the first of April, but not a time for fools - Peter Davenport is given the Manager of the Month award for March, deservedly I have to admit.

One man (ager) who'll be hoping for similar success is Ian Ferguson - the former Rangers midfielder, previously at Dunfermline has made his first steps into management by being appointed boss at Newtown AFC.

Mr Sutton gave me some excellent news today, just a pity I thought he was joking, he and his associates have agreed to inject some money into the club - with effect from today. The £170,000 clears our debt and leaves us with a much healthier looking £133,423 in the bank, apparently I've got some transfer funds now as well - brilliant!!


Wednesday 3rd April 2002

I have words with Neill Rimmer today, but only good ones. I want him to become my assistant manager - he's flattered and agrees on the spot, signing a new contract within the afternoon. A coaching staff of five and myself may seem a bit excessive at this level but if we're to ever progress outside of the Welsh Premier, i.e. In Europe then we'll need a slightly professional outlook off the pitch as well as on it.


Saturday 6th April 2002

And so to the Welsh Cup Semi Final. Deeside Stadium is the venue and Connah's Quay Nomads are the opponents. But before it another sacking and a fast appointment in the managerial merry-go-round that seems to have inhabited the Welsh Premier recently. Porthmadog get rid of Viv Williams and within hours reveal Australian former Liverpool midfielder Craig Johnston as their new boss. Intriguing.

But anyway back to the match, after our miserable performance in the league I'm hoping for a response but despite taking the lead we fall to a 3-1 defeat. Any hopes of a double have faded fast, I just hope our season isn't falling apart. Danny Stevens scored our goal - driving the ball low past the 'keeper having been found my Mark Atkins. Tommy Mutton was the hero for Connah's Quay - hitting two fine solo efforts. They'll face Bangor in the next round while we be nursing a bitter hangover.


Tuesday 9th April 2002

After the disappointment of our cup exit and before that the hollowness of our display against Total Network Solutions I decided to get all the lads in for extra training and session of bonding. Well not really bonding I just want them to know that they've come so far that it would be a massive shame were we to not get anything out of it. We have four games left and are six points clear of second place. If we don't win this title we have only ourselves to blame.


Saturday 13th April 2002

So just four games to go. Haverfordwest come to the 'Morfa,' we may have been rocking in recent weeks but today we totally dominate and goals from Danny Stevens and Andrew Martin give us a 2-0 win. Bangor City lose 2-1 at Caersws meaning we now only need one point from our final three games to secure the league title, relief has never come through me in such a fashion before - we can do this. In all honestly it's our fault we've slipped up in the first place but hopefully I think it was to late in the day to throw it all away, or I at least hope it is.


Tuesday 16th April 2002

We travel to Carmarthen Town safe in the knowledge that a point or three will secure ourselves the title. Carmarthern start the game full of vigour and our recent poor jittery performance is back - it looks like the lads didn't listen to my little talk. It's 0-2 at half time - young forward Pal Lindsay twice being given the freedom of our defence to score. The second half improves slightly for us Danny Stevens hitting his twenty-fifth goal of the season, but it's not enough. The champagne is getting well and truly iced and I find myself getting more and more frustrated I just want the season to end now, we can't throw it all away? Can we?


Saturday 20th April 2002

Our last home game of the season. Rhyl the opposition. A win and it's ours, even a point will do. At half time it's nil-nil a tense game has been punctuated by no real chances. Forty-five minutes of the same and we'll be lifting the title. I bring myself on just after the hour - well it is my final home appearance in an Airbus shirt and go close with a few free kicks but apart from that we don't create anything of note. Fortunately neither do Rhyl. When the referee blows his whistle I drop to my knees, we've done it, we've won the Welsh Premier. I lift myself onto my feet but before I know it I'm on the ground again as Neill Rimmer and Scott Williams engulf me with hugs and send me sprawling. One thousand fans invade the 'Morfa' pitch as players, and coaches, are lifted up on shoulders and paraded around. For today Airbus UK are the Champions. Europe here we come.


Saturday 27th April 2002

After a week of celebration our season drew to a close at Newtown AFC's Latham Park. I won't go into great detail of the game just to say that we didn't win, but nor did we lose - 2-2 on a wet April day - Danny Stevens hitting his twenty-sixth of the season before player/coach Scott Williams got his first of the season. After the match we travelled back to Broughton and drank to our hearts content.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Welsh Premier Division 2001/2 TablePos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C AIRBUS UK 34 12 3 2 31 12 10 3 4 36 21 72 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Bangor City 34 12 1 4 31 11 9 6 2 30 17 70 3rd T.N. Solutions 34 10 4 3 27 15 8 5 4 21 14 63 4th Rhyl 34 9 7 1 29 18 5 6 6 28 27 55 5th Haverfordwest 34 11 4 2 29 13 4 5 8 20 27 54 6th Carmarthen Town 34 12 0 5 43 24 3 5 9 25 32 50 7th Afan Lido 34 9 5 3 34 26 4 4 9 15 25 48 8th Connah's Quay 34 10 3 4 33 16 3 5 9 19 31 47 9th Cwmbran Town 34 9 6 2 28 17 2 8 7 23 32 47 10th Port Talbot Town 34 8 6 3 31 20 3 6 8 19 25 45 11th Llanelli 34 8 6 3 23 18 3 4 10 17 28 43 12th Caersws 34 7 7 3 25 22 3 3 11 18 38 40 13th Welshpool 34 4 9 4 20 18 3 8 6 15 23 38 14th Aberystwyth Town 34 5 5 7 20 25 4 4 9 13 25 36 15th Newtown 34 5 7 5 26 28 2 7 8 24 36 35 16th Caernarfon Town 34 6 3 8 18 24 2 4 11 12 30 31 17th Cefn Druids 34 5 5 7 24 28 1 5 11 12 27 28 18th Porthmadog 34 4 8 5 21 22 2 1 14 10 35 27 </pre>