Welsh Premier AGM

The photo shows Ken Edwards recieving the National Domestic License from David Griffiths of the F.A. of Wales.

Athens 2009

At 4.30am on Tuesday the 1^st of December, Alun and I set off from Bala on a journey to the capital of  Greece to watch Everton play AEK Athens at the Olympic Stadium in the group stages of the Europa cup. The weather was very icy and foggy, so we were looking forward to at least spend a couple of days in the sun if nothing else, as  Everton’s recent form did not make us very optimistic about the match. Turned out Everton’s performance was better than the weather! Our first stop was Howard the organiser’s house in Oswestry to meet up with the rest of the crew, before 9 of us set off  for Birmingham Airport where we met up with a couple of others. Whilst checking in it became apparent that there was a slight admin error with 4 of the party’s flight details, so Alun and myself along with Dave and Neil would have to catch a later connecting flight from Zurich. After fruitless pleading with Swiss Airlines staff at Birmingham and Zurich Airports to get an earlier flight to Athens, the 4 of us settled down to spend the afternoon in a bar in Zurich Airport and make good use of the facilities. This was Alun’s first time flying, and was a remarkably calm debutant, despite his father’s constant scaremongering by exaggerating some minor turbulence he encountered on his one and only flight almost 30 years ago!

We arrived in Athens late on Tuesday night, the Metro line into the city had closed so there was nothing for it but to jump in a taxi to the hotel. The journey took about 25 minutes, but had it been a normal driver it would probably have taken about 40 minutes. The driver which drove us turned out to be a maniac who ignored all speed limits and speed cameras, and anyone who got in his way was subjected to tailgating and much flashing of headlights. Anyway, somehow we got to the hotel in one piece, and after dumping our bags in our rooms we set off in search of the rest of the party. Neil was put in charge of leading us via directions he received over the phone from one of the others, and promptly got us completely lost in the grim back streets of Athens, not a nice place to be late at night with the local low life searching for easy mugging targets. We eventually found ourselves on what looked like a main street having given up on the phone directions, when a bloke strode up to us having sussed we were lost, by saying in a scouse accent “ You lot look like blues looking for a pub!”, how right he was, “ Just keep going down there, and follow the noise”.  We did as he said, and sure enough in the distance as we walked we could hear the familiar and welcoming sound of Everton songs being belted out with great enthusiasm getting louder. We eventually found everyone in a tiny side street full of bars and cafes just off a main square in the shadow of the Acropolis. We stayed there ‘till the early hours drinking large bottles of  Stella which were priced at a very reasonable 2.50 euros.

The next morning we got up a bit late for breakfast, so Alun and I went for a walk to find a bite to eat and find our bearings. We were in a busy market area and the there were plenty of traders looking for business, and strangely there were the most tool shops I’ve ever seen in such a small area, the Greeks must be very keen on DIY. After returning to the hotel, Howard decided the group needed a history lesson, so we set off to visit the ancient Greek monument of the Acropolis. It was only a short walk from our hotel and cost 12 euros to enter, well worth it if you ever get the chance. It was very interesting indeed to see the structures close up which date back to the 5^th century BC, and there were great views over the city of Athens.

After a leisurely afternoon sampling the local hospitality, we decided to head early enough towards the ground as it was a fair trip from the city centre and try and find some bars nearer the stadium. On our way to the metro station, Howard managed to anger the local police by stopping to pose with one of the riot shields which they had left outside their bus. Three of them charged out of the bus with their batons and chased after him shouting and gesticulating in a very aggressive manner. They were very provocative and it’s easy to see how British fans sometimes get badly treated abroad. We boarded the metro for the ground and before we even got going two from our group had foiled an attempt of the theft of their wallets by pick pockets, one thief had to beat a hasty retreat before he had his face rearranged by Trev! We had got talking to a couple of friendly AEK fans and they advised us to go one stop past the stadium as there was not much to be had around the ground and go into a shopping mall where there would be bars, and that was what we did, although it was strange to go drinking amongst busy shoppers before a match. After a few pints it was time to go back the one stop to the ground and head for the match. When we got off the train we realised it was raining very heavily and although the stadium could be seen for miles it was quite a walk to it as it is set in the vast grounds of the Olympic complex. We were drenched by the time we reached the away end, and news filtered through to us that the match was in doubt should it continue to rain heavily! Around 3000 Evertonians would not of been impressed! In the rush to get into the ground and out of the rain, our group had lost each other and with no seating arrangements inside the ground it was by chance we bumped into Howard who was bit cheesed off to say the least as somehow over 300 euros which included the money we had paid for our tickets, had vanished from his pockets! He had it a few yards from the ground where he had stopped to buy a souvenir but by the time he got to the ground it had gone. One lucky thief is going to have a good Christmas! Most of us managed to regroup at the top of the stand out of the way of the rain and even from a distance the pitch didn’t look too good. The stadium itself was impressive enough to look at as you would expect, but I’m not a big fan of arenas like this for football games, they seem to be mass produced soulless concrete and steel bowls with fans miles from the pitch. Give me a unique old fashioned atmospheric stadium any day, but maybe that has got something to do with going to Goodison for years! One thing that did shock me about the stadium was that there were no toilet facilities for fans! 3000 Evertonians had to make do with 20 portable loos outside! That was very strange indeed! Another thing to surprise me was the AEK support, or the lack of it to be precise. Their support at Goodison had been very noisy and colourful so this was something of a letdown.

 The match started, and it was clear from the start the pitch was very heavy and a few splashes of water could be seen as the ball travelled along the surface, but Everton made a bright start and were soon in front after good work by Jo put “Billy” in on goal and he finished well into the roof of the net. The rain seemed to ease as the match went on, but the heavy pitch was taking it’s toll as two Everton players in Distin and Gosling had to go off with strains to be replaced by young kids Duffy and Baxter. Our back four for the rest of the match was Baines, Duffy, Hibbert, and Coleman, I think Tim Howard in goal would have been very confused by that line up! However the make shift team seemed to cope reasonably well against a disappointing AEK team who needed a result from the game to keep any hopes of progress they had alive. Everton comfortably saw out the game without really playing out of their skins with AEK only threatening occasionally, but we had learned before the game that the AEK players had not been paid for weeks so maybe their lack of motivation was understandable. Towards the end of the game we were entertained by the feeble attempts of the Greek fans to set fire to an Everton flag, they were at it for what seemed like ages while the police just looked on! If the same was attempted in this country you would get locked up! A win was enough for Everton to qualify from the group with a game to spare, so the travelling blues were in good voice after the match and gave the players who were warming down some good applause as they did to David Moyes who came from the tunnel some time after the match to applaud the travelling support. Eventually we were let out and we made our way  back on the  metro to more familiar surroundings of the square near our hotel to enjoy a few celebratory drinks well into the early hours. Our return flight was at around 2pm the next day, so it gave us a chance to shop for a few souvenirs in the morning before we left for the airport. The return journey went pretty much without a hitch and we landed back in Birmingham at 6.15pm. Now we are hoping for a good draw in the next round and another good trip.

Elfyn Griffiths

P.S. We are now expecting another interesting report from Everton's match at Sporting Lisbon in the next round!!

The 1963/64 Cambrian Coast Championship winning team.

Part of the celebration that followed for that winning side.

Bryan's father passing over his medal from the 1963-64 championship winning season to Emrys Rowlands

Our Club President looking dapper in his bowler hat

Teyrnged Em, Gelli

Rhoddwyd y deyrnged ganlynol i Em yn ei angladd gan Al, Ty Coch a diolchwn i'r teulu am ganiatad i'w hail-adrodd

Teyrnged i gofio Em Gelli

Wrth ddechrau gweithio yn siop Dei Calch y dois i i  nabod Em Gelli gyntaf - dyn a llais mawr bygythiol ag yn edrych reit ffyrnig arnai. Roedd gennai ei ofn y diwrnod cyntaf hwnnw, a’r ail ddiwrnod, ond erbyn y trydydd diwrnod roeddwn wedi gweld trwyddo yn llwyr; dyn hwyliog ag addfwyn a thynnwr coes gwerinol.

Toc iawn roedd hi fel taswn yn ei nabod erioed ac roeddwn wrth fy modd yn ei weld yn dod heibio. Roedd ei bresenoldeb yn ysgafnhau’r holl awyrgylch, roedd mor hawdd bod yng nghwmni Em. Roedd rhywun hefyd yn teimlo’n well ar ôl bod yn ei gwmni, roedd o fel potel o ffisig.

Yr adeg yno, roedd Em yn treulio ei fore rhwng siop Jo a D. H. Jones - yn dibynnu pa degell oedd y poethaf! A phryd hynny roedd Llan yn yr un “league” a Bala ac os oedd Llan wedi colli ryw bnawn Sadwrn fe ddoi Em heibio chydig y gynt fore dydd Llun, am ryw reswm. Ond pan ddoi hi’n amser mynd a Dil i siopa roedd o ffwrdd fel shot!

Roedd Em yn medru gwneud yn dda efo pobl ifanc ac roedden hwythau’n cymryd ato’n syth. Pan oeddynt yn blant fe fyddai Llyr Ffes a Ger Siop yn aros am Em i ddod adre o’i waith, neidia’i lawr o gefn y lori yn ei welingtons - a rheini wedi eu torchi i’r hanner, taro ei fag bwyd yng nghut coed Derwen Deg a dros y ffens i gicio ffwtbol am oriau hefo’r hogie' yng nghae’r ysgol.

Roedd pobl ifanc yn teimlo’n gartrefol iawn efo Em. Fel yr adeg pan drodd Ynyr Wenallt ‘number plate’ Em ar ei ben i lawr ag Em yn yn mynd rownd Bala am wythnosau heb ddeallt. Ond dyma helynt a bygwth, ‘leiniai di!’ ond dwy glec fydd ne, ’Fi yn hitio ti a ti yn hitio’r llawr ag Ynyr yn gwenu’n braf heb godi ei ben o’i waith.

Weles i erioed ddyn mor ffeind oedd yn bygwth cymaint, a phawb yn deall yn syth ei fod yn ffeind fel oen.

Fe fyddai Em wastad yn canmol ei hun wrth ei blant, gan ddweud ei fod wedi chwarae ffwtbol i Fangor, Cymru ac wedi canu efo Traed Wadin! Fe fyddai’r plant wedyn yn ail adrodd hyn wrth eu ffrindiau ysgol, er nad oedd Iant yn rhyw siŵr iawn pwy oedd Traed Wadin.

Doedd Em ddim yn cymryd ei hun o ddifri ac roedd hyn yn dangos cryfder ei gymeriad. Gwneud hwyl am ben ei hun a wnâi Em yn aml. Run fath a’r tro pan ddaeth parsel i’r siop a’r darnau ynddo wedi malu. Fe gafodd Em orders i sgwenu ‘broken in transit’ ar y parsel i’w yrru yn ol. Pan aethpwyd i’w bostio roedd Em wedi sgwennu ‘broken in transit van’! Dro arall pan ofynnwyd i Em wneud job ar hast, fe fyddai’n ateb, ’Yli un-dwy = dwy law sy gennai’.

Ffwtbol oedd cariad mawr Em. Pan yn ifanc yn Frongoch roedd Em yn hyfforddi criw o hogie at y Bragdy Cup. Roeddynt yn ymarfer yng nghae Tan Domen, Frongoch. Fe’i gelwid yn ‘legs eleven’ ac fe gafwyd cryn lwyddiant yn y “Bragdy Cup” dan law Gelli.

Bu Em hefyd yn un o’r criw fu’n gweithio i wella cyfleusterau Maes Tegid - a dyna’r lle gorau i gael gafael ar Em.

Roedd llwyddiant tîm ffwtbol Bala wedi rhoi modd i fyw iddo a bu gweld Bala yn codi i’r ‘League of Wales’ eleni yn un o uchafbwyntiau ei fywyd. Felly mae’n bwysig fod Bala yn parhau i lwyddo i’r dyfodol er cof am Em.

Fe fyddai Em yn pregethu o hyd, “fe fydd hi’n ddiwrnod go ddu arnoch yn Bala ma ddiwrnod claddu Em Gell”, ac ydi mai hi’n ddiwrnod go ddu, ond fe ddaeth Em Gelli a golau i’n bywydau ni i gyd, dim ond meddwl amdano sydd raid i wneud i ni wenu a chwerthin . Roedd hwyl o’i gwmpas o hyd, hwyl iach, gwerinol. Bydd - mi fydd cymdeithas yn dlotach o’i golli, ond fel unigolion rydym lawer cyfoethocach o gael ei adnabod.

Mae nifer y gynulleidfa yma heddiw yn dyst o boblogrwydd Em, a thrwch y gynulleidfa yw’r gwir linyn mesur. Diolch am gael ei nabod.

                                                                                            Al Ty Coch

ENILLWYR CWPAN YR URDD TRWY MEIRIONNYDD - URDD CUP WINNERS THROUGHOUT MEIRIONETH

Cafodd y cystadleuaeth yma ei chynnal ar Faes Tegid ym mis Mai, 2009 gyda llu o ysgolion cynradd Meirionnydd yn cymryd rhan. Enillwyr y gwpan oedd Ysgol Bro Tegid, Y Bala. Cafwyd caniatad y rheini i atgynhyrchu'r lluniau yma

This competition was held at the end of May, 2009 at Maes Tegid with numerous schools from Merioneth taking part. The winners of the cup was Ysgol Bro Tegid, Bala. The parent's consent was received to reproduce these two photos

YMWELIAD AG YSGOLION LLEOL - VISIT TO THE LOCAL SCHOOLS

On Friday morning June 19th, 2009 Bala Town Chairman, Ken Edwards, both team managers, Colin Caton and Andrew Parry, along with Llion Roberts, Owain Williams and Riki Rowlands visited the three schools in Bala to give pupils a talk on our local teams successes this season. They took with them the four trophies won by the club this season.

Friday morning's visit to Ysgol Beuno Sant

Photo posted with the school's permission

Our visit to Ysgol Bro Tegid, Bala

2009 NEARLY END OF SEASON TRIP TO FRANKFURT

Further photos of the nearly end of season tour can be viewed at

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=251566&id=823400022&ref=share

NORTH WALES JOINERY MARCH MANAGER OF THE MONTH - COLIN CATON OF BALA TOWN

Colin being presented with his award on Tuesday evening by Ken Edwards, Bala Town F.C. Chairman

Bala won every game during the month to put them on the verge of the championship and they also reached the semi-final of the league cup. It is Colin's second manager of the month award this season having already picked up the award last August as well

X FACTOR MAMA MIA

What a night we had at Neuadd y Cyfnod on Saturday, February 21st - organised by Bala Town F.C - 10 fantastic acts plus a well rehearsed medley performing extracts out of the very popular Mamma Mia movie. Everyone gave more than 100% which in turn provided an electrifying atmosphere where the crowd all appreciated their efforts with laughter, applause, dancing and cheering.

The evening was hosted by a well dressed Martin Jones who provided the background music and commentary.

A big thank you to the judges, Gwenfair Aykroyd, Eurwyn Jones and Dilwyn Morgan who shared their wealth of experience with the performance. Thank you Neuadd y Cyfnod for the venue, food and support and another thank you to all who helped organised the event that everyone had a fantastic night - the best yet. Watch this space for next year!

DVD's are available of the evening grateful produced by Gar Charles. Orders will be taken at Cwpwrdd Cornel, priced at £5.

Thank you again to everybody.

1972 WELSH YOUTH CUP

A photo sent to us by Keith Humphries taken from the front page of our local newspaper 'Y Cyfnod' for the week ending March 3, 1972

AUGUST 2008 MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARD

Colin Caton receiving his August 2008 Manager of the Month award from Reg Bryant at the Glantraeth Welsh Cup tie

Photo: Chas Rowland

AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN PICK UP ON EBAY THESE DAYS!

Trawling through Ebay one evening we came across this card of a certain S. Crompton!!

DON PICKERING VISITS BALA

Don, (who since early last year has moved from Lloches Don, Llanuwchllyn to live in Chelsea) has been a club stalwart for many, many years and still takes a very active interest in the club through his many friends in the Penllyn area.

After being Club Treasurer for many years while he kept the Ship Hotel here in Bala, he then took over as Club Chairman from the late Donald Jones. He also served on the North East Wales FA committee for several years up to his recent move to London.

I'm sure you'll all agree, as we did, that he looks magnificent in his Chelsea Pensioners attire and it goes without saying that Don wears it with great pride.

We look forward to a visit again from him in the not too distant future.

CRAIG LAWTON PROFILE

Craig Lawton who has made many appearances in a Bala shirt over the last four seasons has played top level football from an early age. Here we delve a little into his past:

He was born on January 5th, 1972 in Mancot, Flintshire. He played for Wales schoolboys when he was fifteen and was later to play for the Wales youth side and the U21 side.
He signed schoolboy forms for Manchester United on Thursday, April 30th, 1987 after many clubs had shown an interest in him including Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa, Preston, Arsenal, Notts Forest, Manchester City and numerous others.
He played in United’s ‘B’ team during his last year at Elfed High School until he was able to leave school at sixteen and take up on 1 July, 1988 the apprenticeship that was offered to him. During his last year at school he was fortunate enough to make two appearances for the ‘A’ team, scoring once and to also be included in United’s F.A. Youth Cup side.
In his first year as an apprentice he made appearances against Liverpool Reserves at Anfield and Sunderland Reserves at Old Trafford, both as a substitute for United’s Reserve team. He was also to captain the Wales Youth side that season. He was again included in Manchester United’s F.A. Youth Cup team that season, progressing as far as the fifth round when they were beaten by Brentford, Craig scoring United’s only goal.
The following season, his third and final attempt at trying to win the F.A. Youth Cup in United’s youth team came to a halt at the semi-final stage when they were beaten over two legs by Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on aggregate.
Injuries apart things seems to be going quite well for Craig and he was having regular outings in both the ‘A’ and Reserve sides and also scoring goals. The high point of his career at United came on January 18th, 1993 when he was on the substitute’s bench for an evening Premier League game away at QPR. Unfortunately he wasn’t called into action but United won 3-1.
Injuries eventually brought a parting of the ways, the most serious being two groin operations and two hernia operations. Not counting of course pulled or torn hamstrings.
He left Manchester United at the end of the 1993/94 season having spent seven seasons there and signed for Port Vale in July 1994.
He played more games in the reserves than he did in the first team, but as ever, injuries were never far away. He suffered neck injuries in a traffic accident while travelling to the ground to training one day and then suffered a broken leg during the course of a game.
Craig left Port Vale to join Colwyn Bay during the summer of 1996.

MANCHESTER UNITED APPEARANCES

Manchester United Reserves celebrating winning their League in 1994.
Back row, from left to right, Jim Ryan, John O’Kane, Chris Casper, Keith Gillespie, Dion Dublin, Les Sealey, Paul Scholes & Rob Squires.
Front row, from left to right, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Clayton Blackmore, Craig Lawton, Colin McKee & David Johnson

TRIP TO THE NOU CAMP

Colin Caton's photos after his trip to the Nou Camp to watch Barcelona