Caernarfon league influx

Jul 5 2007 by Paul Scott, Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald

A RECORD number of seven new teams were admitted into the Safeflue Caernarfon and District League at Monday’s annual meeting, prompting the revival of a two-division format for next season.

An almost unprecedented membership roll of 20 teams will be split into two competitions of 10, as the new influx join up with the 13 clubs left over from the last campaign.

The arrivals are Barmouth and Dyffryn United Reserves, Caernarfon Town Reserves, Caernarfon Wanderers, Deiniolen, Llandudno Town Reserves, Llanystumdwy Reserves and Waunfawr.

Caernarfon Town Reserves will stage their home fixtures at The Oval, Caernarfon Wanderers will play on a pitch at Cae Top and Waunfawr will also be based in the royal town, using the Coed Helen facilities.

To add to the choice for local fans in Caernarfon, one of the established Safeflue clubs are, of course, Caernarfon Boro.

Delegates at the get-together at Mountain Rangers’ clubhouse at Rhosgadfan confirmed the departure of the 2006/07 champions, Llanystumdwy, on their promotion to the Silver Star Holidays Gwynedd League.

The split-up of teams for the new situation was confirmed as comprising the second to 10th- placed clubs last time at the upper level, with the bottom three going into the lower division along with the seven arrivals.

Internal promotion and relegation, of one or two clubs up and down, will be determined by the league management committee.

All 20 teams will be entered in the league’s three knockouts, for the Gwynedd Safeflue Cup, Ffilmiau’r Nant Moorings Cup and Transport and General Workers’ Union Cup.

One doubt remains over the league membership, because Llandudno Town Reserves have also applied to join the Clwyd League and that issue is likely to be resolved by an FA of Wales hearing on July 11.

At the award presentation ceremony, last season’s basement strugglers Mynydd Llandygai came up trumps by winning two trophies.

Even though Mynydd had endured 26 league games for only two wins and 24 defeats, leaking 101 goals, they were acclaimed as the most sporting team.

And Mynydd’s secretary, Philip Thomas, was recognised as the best club secretary.

Talysarn Celts, runners-up in the title race, also landed a trophy double, when Gareth Davies was announced as the player of the season and Chris Evans declared as the league’s top scorer.

Llanystumdwy – treble winners in Safeflue circles, having taken the league title, Moorings Cup and Safeflue Cup – picked up one solo award, when Arwyn Hughes was named as the best club linesman.

League secretary John Pritchard gained approval for his proposal that the season should start on August 18 and, because of a lighter league programme in prospect, teams can expect a break around Christmas and New Year.