retired_brittni10

Carlos Kickaball

Everyone has their own opinion about which players could truly be classed as entertainers, the ones who send a shiver of excitement through the crowd whenever they touch the ball. But as far as Barry Town supporters go I'll bet there's a name who wouldn't feature on any list, one of the most extraordinary players ever to pull on a Dragons shirt - Carlos Hasselbaink.

Carlos may have had many (many, many, many, many) faults, but when he left the club at the end of February 2003 after being released from the final two months of his contract I felt a great sadness. He had frustrated and infuriated me during his few fleeting appearences for the club, but he also helped me realise just how important hurling abuse at your own players is to the experience of being a football supporter. In what was another dour season in the recent world of the New Dragons (tough on thrills, tough on the causes of thrills) he summed up, in his few starts, what was essentially wrong with the club. He was just one of a number of new players bought in by the manager during the preseason who had failed to make any kind of impact, and when they did play, it was laughable - well better to laugh than cry, that's really how bad they were.

Carlos arrived at the club in a blaze of publicity, Jimmy Floyd's older brother, a similar type of player, packed with pace and with a powerful shot. But it soon became obvious that Carlos' repertoire was limited to just that, he could run very fast, but only without the ball and his shooting although very powerful only seemed to trouble ballboys, carpark attendants and those standing close to the corner flags. Other players will be remembered for goals, Carlos for his misses - although he only made his few fleeting appearences the number of chances he wasted were unbelievable - his last chance came against Port Talbot Town on the 22nd of February, the match was also Barry's final of a month, the culmination of which had seen us not win in eleven games and slip to 14th place in the League of Wales. Oh, and we'd lost to the mighty Airbus UK 5-4 on penalties in the 4th round of the Welsh Cup.

Other players also left the club in his time - Bruno Gomes, a Portuguese midfielder who Addison had raved about disappeared back to Portugal for £35k after making only two substitute appearences. Sixteen year old forward Steve Hogg went to Arbroath for £20k, French defender Matthieu Debuchy to FC Groningen for £9k, another Dutchman - striker Miles Reingoud agreed a pre-contract to Caersws while Umberto Marino and Jonathan GarcÃ*a GarcÃ*a were released without playing a single game for the club, maybe Waggett was getting bored of his foreign forrays into the transfer market?.

Whilst non of the players could have altered what was going on, on the field the shock retirement of influential midfielder Sveinn Ari Gudjonsson (9 goals in just 13 games for the club) and loss of Paulo Sousa, Chris Price and then Bob Taylor to long term injuries surely can't have helped, but anyway back to Carlos and his incredible ability to fuu]k up in front of goal. The game was being played at Port Talbot's Victoria Road and as usual it was raining, Glenn Helder - one foreign import who has made an impact beat his man before setting off from just inside his own half, swivelling for a moment he turned back and set off down the right flank instead surgeing past a wide midfielder as he looked to get closer to the penalty area, looking up he sighted 'Our Hero' Carlos making his way towards the penalty spot and whipped in a cross.

Carlos bought the ball down with aplomb and turned inside his man. He was one on one with keeper Gary Wager, he took another touch before dummying and pivoting his way to the left of the keeper, Wager went right and Carlos had an open goal, he closed his eyes and rolled the ball towards the goal. The small away support looked on in amazement, was Carlos finally going to break his duck? was he fuck? somehow Carlos managed to mishit his shot completely, dragging his effort wide across the goal and out of play from the easiest of angles. He put his hand on his forehead and looked at the fans behind the goal, I think he knew it was over as soon as he took the shot. I felt sorry for him, it wasn't that he didn't try hard - he was just shit

[This message was edited by Wag on 19 April 2004 at 22:30.]

retired_brittni10

The Loan Dragon

The month started with the club announcing that it was starting earn a profit again and that Waggett would be able to make moderate signings come the summer, although the club was still looking to address the debt that had been mounting up. It was good news and the club "celebrated" with a 0-0 draw at home to Aberystwyth.

We had a new player on our books for the very next game, a young striker called David LeGrand, 18, he made his debut after joining on loan from Wrexham in a 1-0 home defeat to Flexsys Cefn Druids. He had his moments though going close six times but former Welsh keeper Andy Marriott stopped them all. The club had slipped to fifteenth but LeGrand had made an instant impression with his fast direct running and shoot on site philosophy, the game also saw another piece of good news the return of Bob Taylor.

His second start saw a different side to his game as he helped us to a 3-0 win at 4th placed Newtown, Paulo Sousa scored his second for the club from a 30 yard freekick before LeGrand crossed for Bob Taylor to volley home a second, after that it was LeGrand again causing problems as he was taken out in the box, Cissokho burying the resulting penalty. He was also involved in one final piece of action, former Barry right back Andrew York was shown a straight red for hacking down the spritely striker two minutes from time. The only thing missing from his game was a goal..the game also saw the debut of Belgium defender Jonas Vandermarliere, his composed but effective style gave the defence a settled look.

LeGrand missed the next game against Oswestry Town at Jenner Park due to a slight ankle injury but fortunately he wasn't missed as we were offered a glimpse of what is perhaps a bright future with young French striker Kévin Lejeune scoring one and setting up another in a 4-3 win, he was partnered by another young striker Fabien Brandy, who also scored, Bontcho Guentchev and the increasingly influential Cissokho scoring the others. and nor did he recover in time for the 2-1 away defeat at Carmarthen Town, Chris Price scoring a late consolation.

He was back for the 1-0 win at home to Llandudno though, being bought down for the free-kick from which Paulo Sousa curled home after just four minutes, in fairness he had been rushed back but could have had at least two goals. He's a raw prospect but with a little bit of composure and alot of hardwork he could be a gem and it was a brilliant, when the club revealed the news that David had agreed to join the club when his contract ran out in the summer, we'd have to pay £8k but despite the lack of goals it looked like it would be worth it.

He did however, finally get his goal and it came in the last match of the season, we were away to Bangor City and he'd already tested their keeper Tony Dickenson before his fourth minute strike. He seized on a mistake by seasoned veteren Clayton Blackmore and drilled the ball home from the edge of the box, it is the first of what is hoped will be many goals for us. We won the match 3-1 in the end, left back Lee Martin, only making his second start for the club, scoring a hattrick of sorts, he managed to level things up with an own-goal just before half time but quickly made amends driving home from an acute angle on the stroke of half time then hitting a well placed drive in off the post minutes after the break.

The result lifted us to 14th place and just one defeat in the five games gave us some hope for the future success, although much will depend on how well the management buys in the summer but in Man of the Match LeGrand, we hoped we'd finally found the man to take us there.

retired_brittni10

fourteenth wasn't where we wanted to finish but it showed at least we could compete again and we were hopeful of building on the foundations that seemed to be appearing...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Welsh Premier Division 2002/3 TablePos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C Haverfordwest 34 10 3 4 29 19 11 3 3 31 18 69 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Caersws 34 11 5 1 32 12 7 5 5 18 17 64 3rd Newtown 34 9 4 4 27 21 9 4 4 33 26 62 4th Bangor City 34 9 5 3 36 21 8 3 6 27 20 59 5th Port Talbot Town 34 10 2 5 31 16 6 6 5 23 20 56 6th T.N. Solutions 34 11 3 3 24 13 4 6 7 27 31 54 7th Connah's Quay 34 9 3 5 27 26 6 4 7 21 26 52 8th Carmarthen Town 34 11 4 2 38 17 4 2 11 22 34 51 9th Caernarfon Town 34 10 3 4 30 20 4 6 7 20 22 51 10th Porthmadog 34 7 6 4 25 22 7 2 8 21 24 50 11th Rhyl 34 8 4 5 25 18 4 6 7 19 26 46 12th Flexsys Cefn Druids 34 5 4 8 25 28 7 2 8 22 26 42 13th Aberystwyth Town 34 7 4 6 23 23 4 4 9 18 29 41 14th Barry Town 34 4 7 6 17 19 5 6 6 25 21 40 15th Afan Lido 34 4 5 8 25 30 5 6 6 18 19 38 16th Cwmbran Town 34 3 5 9 18 30 4 4 9 16 30 30 17th Oswestry Town 34 4 4 9 18 24 2 2 13 20 42 24 18th Llandudno 34 2 3 12 16 32 1 3 13 10 35 15 </pre>

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Barry Town Squad 2002/03No Name Position(s) Nat Born Age Caps Gls Wages Expires Value------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Adjovi-Boco, Jean-Marc SW/D RC BEN 22.12.63 39 2 - £210 19.5.06 £6K - Baker, Wayne D/DM R ENG 6.4.83 20 - - £120 8.5.06 £14K - Bamber, Lee GK ENG 31.10.68 34 - - £90 9.5.05 £8K - Blackie, James D RC WAL 17.4.63 40 - - £150 9.5.05 £4K - Brandy, Fabien F C ENG 17.2.87 16 - - £65 27.5.05 £14K - Brumwell, Phil D RC ENG 8.8.75 27 - - £200 9.5.06 £40K - Cissokho, Frédéric F RL FRA 19.4.71 32 - - £200 9.5.05 £24K - Dickins, Matt GK ENG 3.9.70 32 - - £200 9.5.05 £30K - Donald, Warren M RLC ENG 7.10.64 38 - - £200 9.5.05 £4K - Evans, Darren D/DM L ENG 30.9.74 28 - - £180 11.5.05 £30K - Félix D/M R ESP 27.3.72 31 - - £200 9.5.05 £50K - Guentchev, Bontcho AM/F R BGR 7.7.64 38 11 - £190 9.5.05 £6K - HÃ¥rby, Martin S C DEN 4.5.80 22 - - £100 13.5.05 £26K - Helder, Glenn AM/F R HOL 28.10.68 34 4 - £200 9.5.05 £16K - Hughes, David D C WAL 1.2.78 25 - - £200 30.6.03 £70K - LeGrand, David S C ENG 2.4.84 19 - - £130 18.5.03 £1K - Lejeune, Kévin S C FRA 22.1.85 18 - - £90 13.5.05 £40K - Martin, Lee D L ENG 5.2.68 35 - - £180 6.5.05 £4K - Paulo Sousa DM C POR 30.8.70 32 48 5 £210 9.5.05 £45K - Price, Chris M C ENG 24.10.75 27 - - £190 9.5.06 £55K - Reingoud, Miles S C HOL 18.9.74 28 - - £230 12.5.03 £2K - Taylor, Robert S C ENG 30.4.71 31 - - £90 9.5.05 £18K - Thomassen, Mikkjal DM RC FRO 12.1.76 27 - - £200 7.5.05 £30K - Vandermarliere, Jonas D C BEL 7.3.86 17 - - £90 20.5.05 £14K - Zahana-Oni, Landry AM L CIV 27.11.76 26 - - £210 14.5.05 £26K 2002/3 Senior Club StatsNo Name Apps Gls Con Pens Asts Yel Red MoM Av R--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjovi-Boco, Jean-Marc 34 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 7.15 - Baker, Wayne - - - - - - - - ---- - Bamber, Lee 30 0 35 0 0 0 0 0 6.93 - Blackie, James 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.00 - Brandy, Fabien 8 (2) 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 6.80 - Brumwell, Phil 2 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.20 - Cissokho, Frédéric 33 4 0 2 (2) 0 2 0 0 6.52 - Dickins, Matt 10 (1) 0 11 0 0 0 1 1 6.82 - Donald, Warren 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.00 - Evans, Darren 33 (1) 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 6.65 - Félix 40 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.70 - Guentchev, Bontcho 31 (3) 8 0 1 (1) 3 1 0 0 6.79 - HÃ¥rby, Martin 4 (3) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7.14 - Helder, Glenn 32 4 0 0 9 1 0 5 7.50 - Hughes, David 35 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 7.31 - LeGrand, David 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 7.75 - Lejeune, Kévin 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 7.50 - Martin, Lee 2 (1) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.67 - Paulo Sousa 30 2 0 0 3 0 0 2 7.13 - Price, Chris 24 (1) 3 0 0 3 4 0 0 6.76 - Reingoud, Miles 1 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.33 - Taylor, Robert 31 9 0 0 6 1 0 4 7.29 - Thomassen, Mikkjal 13 (1) 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 6.43 - Vandermarliere, Jonas 2 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.00 - Zahana-Oni, Landry 9 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.10 2002/3 TransfersDate Player In From Fee-----------------------------------------------------------------------12.6.02 Mikkjal Thomassen Free Transfer Free 12.6.02 Wayne Baker Free Transfer Free 10.7.02 Lee Martin Free Transfer Free 18.7.02 Sveinn Ari Guðjónsson Free Transfer Free 22.7.02 Jonathan GarcÃ*a GarcÃ*a Free Transfer Free 18.3.03 David LeGrand Wrexham Loan Date Player Out To Fee-----------------------------------------------------------------------9.7.02 Glyn Martin Released Free 14.9.02 Giannis Kamitos Released Free 2.10.02 Paul Robinson Released Free 2.10.02 Richard Nass MVV £16K 10.11.02 Eric van der Ven Helmond £100K 15.12.02 Bruno Gomes U. Lamas £35K 17.12.02 Steven Hogg Arbroath £20K 30.12.02 Matthieu Debuchy Groningen £9K 15.2.03 Jonathan GarcÃ*a GarcÃ*a Released Free 15.2.03 Umberto Marino Released Free 27.2.03 Carlos Hasselbaink Released Free</pre>

retired_brittni10

Shifting Times - Part 1

The Summer gave us an interesting pre season for all involved or connected with Barry Town, after some surprisingly cathartic criticism of the team in the previous two seasons, supporter unrest had grown, this was mostly directed at the foreigners who had come in and underperformed, although somewhat unfairly criticised in my eyes were a few. Because where some failed others triumphed and proved to be great players for the club sadly nearly all of them decided enough was enough and retired during the summer. All in somewhat Virgin Suicides fashion...

The first to go was Jean-Marc Adjovi, he'd joined the club right at start of Waggett's tenure and proved to be an excellent signing. He was the perfect centreback - calm, composed and an excellent man-marker. All in all he played forty-five games for the club, failing to register a goal but ever imposing. He even managed to win his first cap for Benin such was his form and when he retired at 39 he'd added another four, captaining the nation on his final appearence. He will be missed on the field but will continue to perform for the club after taking up an offer to become the club's youth team coach, something he accepted with open arms.

The biggest name to go was always going to be Paulo Sousa, somehow we'd managed to keep him for two seasons but is was somewhat of a surprise when he did decide to call it a day, after all he was only 32 but recent injuries and wanting to return to his native Portugal didn't help matters. During his time at the club he'd coached and helped improve standards on the pitch from a deep playmaking central midfield role, he appeared thirty-nine times for Barry scoring three goals and creating numerous others. He got his wish to return to Portugal as well, joining C.F. Estrela da Amadora with a £20k compensation fee softening the blow. Goalkeeper Lee Bamber took his place on the coaching staff.

Another shock was Glenn Helder, who decided the League of Wales wasn't for him minutes after recieving the clubs Player of the Season award, he appeared forty-two times in the yellow and blue shirt, scoring five goals and assisting nine times, he was an exciting right winger who caused every team we played problems with his dribbling and crossing ability, joining him was left winger Frédéric Cissokho, the Frenchman had only really made his break through this season turning in a string of good performancs. He played thirty-five games for Barry scoring four goals (two from the penalty spot) and was more of a steady, hardworking but nontheless creative player to the attacking exuberance of Helder. And the retirements didn't stop there...

Bontcho Guentchev decided it was finally time to put the boots away at the age of 38, he had become a crowd favourite and he will be greatly missed by all supporters at the club and many who don't such was his impact at the club, he played a total of forty-five games scoring 11 goals in the process although many recently had been as a substitute, he was a brilliant player, who sadly just came to the club too old, it would have been amazing to see him in his prime but such is life.

With the loss of Bontcho we got another blow when his regular strike partner Bob Taylor decided it was time to go as well, Bob really was a talismanic figure for the club, scoring some vitally important goals and always proving a thorn in defenders sides with his sharp but patient hold up play. At 32, he may have gone young but he left a legacy of thirteen goals in forty-two games, not a bad strike rate for someone who suffered badly with niggling groin and knee injuries throughout his time at the club.

Someone else who suffered badly was left back Lee Martin who retired at the age of 35, although he only played three games for the club but scored twice. He was a popular figure and was always smiling despite spending much of his time injured or on the sidelines but when he broke his left leg in training it was just a step to far. The last player to retire was also a defender 40 year old Welsh central defender James Blackie, like Lee he only played 3 games for the club but was an experienced figure and important in providing competition for places in the early days of Waggett's spell in charge.

As well as the retirements a few players were released from their contracts right back Wayne Baker and Danish striker Martin Hårby, midfielder Warren Donald and ineffectual left winger Landry Zahana-Oni whilst Dutch striker Miles Reingoud completed his switch to Caersws and centre back Phil Brumwell joined French club Angoulême for £40k. All in all this took the squad down to the small number of 20, but arrivals were immenant according to the coaching staff and senior figures at the club, we waited with baited breath..more foreigners?

retired_brittni10

Shifting Times - Part 2

The first signing of the summer was a Welshman, Gary Jones joined after being released from his contract at Barnsley, it could spell the end of Chris Price as they both play the same role. Although I seriously hoped perhaps he'd been bought in to play alongside the midfielder. Raith Plant became the clubs second signing and the first in a very long time for a fee, costing £10k from Newport County, Raith had enjoyed an excellent season in the LoW on loan to Rhyl scoring 10 goals in 22 games. He looks and excellent prospect, can play either up front or on the wing and is blessed with electric pace.

More Welsh players arrived and we just didn't know what was happening, Waggett had obviously realised that homegrown players can often perform better, the capture of a former Welsh under 21 goalkeeper came next as Ipswich's Lewis Price, 22, joined the club for £22k, it was a shock signing but a shrewd piece of business as was the signing of another young Welshman (20 years old), Matthew Williams, a forward. He joined after being released by Port Talbot Town and is a former Manchester United trainee who has hit 14 goals in 51 games during his two seasons with Port Talbot and last season and assisted 17 times. It wasn't all Welshman though as 34 year old Justin Skinner, an English central midfielder from Brechin City arrived on a bosman, clearly signed to fill the big hole left by Paulo Sousa's departure.

But it didn't end there and more followed, 18 year old Welsh left or right winger Marcus Orlik came from Sheffiled Wednesday for £12k, Welsh semi-professional goalkeeper Pat Mountain joined on a bosman from Newport County having formerly been with Gloucester City and Yeovil Town, at 26 he'll be looking to cement the club's number one spot and it certainly appeared he would get it as Addison seemed to be very much in favour of the signing. It looked even more likely when former regular goalkeeper Matt Dickens joined Oxford United for £28k, having recently lost his position to player/coach Lee Bamber.

Next up came 18 year old English right midfielder Dave Bird, who came from Cheltenham for £9k, from what I've seen of him in pre season he looks a good player who despite his young age and is very good from deadball situations. Nothing however could prepare us for the splashing out Waggett made next as we raided Wrexham's youth team to complete the signings of striker David LeGrand, left back Alec Stacey, left sided mifielder Chris Hamill, central midfielder Mark Jones and impressive centre back Osian Jones - the only player to have made an appearence for their former club. All are young players and all join for a fee of £8k each - £40k combined. The signings took the clubs summer expenditure up to £95k and is clearly a sign of hopefully things to come as we seem to have a better squad than the previous two seasons, there was time for one last signing before the season started Tarkan Mustafa came on a free after being released by Dagenham & Redbridge, at 30 years old he is a right wingback and looks to possess alot of quality. All-in-all this means we will be going into the season with a squad of 24 of which only four are Non-British and Ten are Welsh.

Different and exciting times looked to be ahead as we got back to business...