NEW UNIBOND WEBSITE TO COME ONLINE
Over recent months The UniBond League has been developing a new official website in partnership with its media partners Sponsor-Link.
The new website will be a multi-phase development that will eventually have the capacity to produce a higher video content in addition to more match information which hopefully will include full team line ups after each game. This database will also feed the many club websites which are now part of the “co-operative” who will benefit via direct feeds from the information, video and commercial opportunities.
The new website is planned to go live early next month. There are only minor changes to be made, however, as a final test; we would like the visitors to our current site to log on to a temporary URL www.northernprem.com to view what is happening. More importantly visitors logging in to the new site will allow some capacity sizing to be done. The new website will still show news, fixtures and results but the “Match Console” area will be of special interest as it is this area which will contain the higher video element.
In early February the URL www.unibondleague.com will change to the new site with access to the old site information and archive via a button on the new home page. The old website results will still be updated until the end of the season but may be a day or two after the actual game. This is so we may complete the season for archive purposes.
29-01-09: CONNOLLY LOAN DEAL ON ICE
Due to injury problems, Rhyl FC have now refused to allow Mark Connelly’s to join us on loan and with the Welsh Premier Transfer window closing next Tuesday the move is now unlikely to happen. However, another loan deal for a midfielder is now likely to go through next week.
FOOTBALL FUN AND SKILLS SESSIONS FOR UNDER 8s
The programme of Fun Football sessions at the ground prior to home games is now successfully under way. Due to popularity the frequency of the sessions are now being held every other week. Numbers have gradually increased despite adverse weather conditions. There is still room for new members and it is anticipated that in future the sessions will be conducted in tow groups to suit age and ability levels.
The sessions commence at the Ground at 11.30 on the following dates (Weather permitting):
NEXT SESSION - Saturday 21st February.
AFTER THAT - Saturday 7th March
Saturday 14th March
Saturday 4th April
Saturday 18th April.
TO BOOK YOUR CHILDS PLACE:
Telephone: 01492 514680 or email: cbfcsoccerskills@live.co.uk
INTRODUCTORY FOOTBALL FUN SESSIONS FOR UNDER 5’s.
Due to the popularity of the Under 8s Football Fun Sessions and popular request, a programme of Fun Sessions is being planned for Under 5s which will be held indoors in the Club House during early evenings. Further details will be published in the near future but to register your interest please contact us at the telephone and email address mentioned above.
24-01-09: MESSAGE BOARD CLOSED
Following discussions and agreement at a recent board meeting it has been decided that, with immediate effect, the message board will be closed.
The board have not taken this decision lightly but feel that in the light of recent posting activity the continuation of the message board is no longer in the best interests of the football club.
Furthermore, any supporter wishing to submit their feedback or comments to the club can do so by sending an email to the following address: colwynbayfc@hotmail.co.uk
24-01-09: CLUB LAUNCH NEW GOLD BOND WEBSITE
Colwyn Bay Football Club are delighted to announce that we have launched a new website enabling fans to join The Gold Bond Weekly Draw securely online.
The Gold Bond Weekly Draw is a valuable source of revenue for the club and over the coming months we will be attempting to increase membership of the draw and ultimately income back into the club. For this reason we’d urge you to join today.
In the past supporters have been forced to download a standing order form and send it off to their bank but with more and more fans now shopping online we decided it was about time we offered a secure online service for our lottery.
Any supporter joining the draw now will give themselves the opportunity of winning the £10,000 annual jackpot prize which is due to be drawn in May.
For just £1 a week membership you will receive 7 ‘lucky’ numbers in the draw and with 315 prizes on offer you stand a good chance of winning a prize of upto £2,000 every week. All prizes are paid automatically without need for claim but once you’ve joined we will e-mail you on a weekly basis with a full list of winners.
Please help to support the club by joining online at:
www.goldbondlotto.com?ref=COBAY
21-01-09: CONNOLLY LOAN DEAL
 Midfielder Mark Connolly has agreed to sign from Rhyl FC on a one month loan deal.
Connolly scored both goals for Rhyl in a 4-2 home defeat at Belle Vue against Irish side Bohemians in the Intertoto Cup last summer. Previously with TNS & Bangor "Conno" has been a success for Rhyl since signing for them in 2005 but has recently fell out of favour. He is known for his work-rate, crossing ability and lethalness from dead-ball situations.
Neil Young is grateful for the assistance of Jamie Digwood, who is Rhyl’s Director of Football, in allowing him to secure the deal for the highly rated player.
Young also expects to tie up another loan deal for a midfielder from a football league club in time for next weeks home game against Mossley.
20-01-09: SPORTING DINNER - DETAILS CONFIRMED
Our first Sporting Dinner of 2009 features local legend, ex Wrexham, Man Utd, Everton & Wales star Mickey Thomas along with comedian Bill Woolland at the Colwyn Bay Football Club Lounge on Thursday 19th February, KO 7.30pm.
Relive the moments as Mickey talks about one of the most remarkable, colourful and controversial careers in football as detailed in his recent, highly acclaimed autobiography, “Kickups, Hiccups, Lockups”. Copies of which will be available for signing on the night.
 Taken from a review of his book:
“Like the man he has been most compared to, George Best, his life was dedicated, too, to pulling birds, pranks and generally getting into scrapes which would make Paul Gascoigne look like a choirboy. Mickey has survived as one of the greatest characters the game has ever known”
At 15 years old Mickey from Mochdre and his friend, Joey Jones, were taken on by Wrexham and at 17, made his Wrexham first team debut. Under manager John Neal, Mickey helped Wrexham get to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 1974, European Cup Winners Cup quarter-finals in 1976 and ultimately led Wrexham to the 'old' Third Division in 1978. For the next three years of his career he spent at Man Utd making 90 appearances and scoring eleven goals. From Man Utd, Mickey moved on to Everton, the club he supported as a boy but had a row with manager Howard Kendall after Mickey refused to play for the reserves!
His next two clubs were Brighton and Stoke City then in 1984 he was re-united with his first boss, John Neal at Chelsea where he became a cult hero for the fans who recognised his rogue and unique genius.
After Chelsea, Mickey went to WBA, then Derby County, Wichita Wings, Shrewsbury Town, Leeds United, Stoke City and finally Wrexham.
Mickey wrote his name into football folklore after his wonderful free-kick helped Wrexham to knock out Arsenal of the FA Cup in 1992.
As a Welsh International he made 51 appearances, scoring 4 goals.
Thomas currently provides analysis on all Man Utd matches on MUTV & "Total Football" on Key 103 and Piccadilly Magic 1152. After every United match, Mickey hosts a phone-in called “Talking Football”, which is rapidly becoming cult listening.
Tickets for what promises to be a very entertaining evening cost just £25 each or a discounted rate of £200 for a table of 10. Price includes a two course meal.
As with all our Sporting Dinners, places are limited and bookings are NOW being taken on a first come, first served basis.
If you would like to book a table then please contact Grant on 07769 538012
or email: egmcindoe@yahoo.co.uk
17-01-09: THE NEW YEAR FROST DAMAGES THE BAY
Colwyn Bay FC has suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage following the extreme weather conditions over the New Year period.
The freezing weather conditions caused several pipes to burst, flooding the changing rooms and board room, damaging carpets, furniture, ceilings and electrical lighting.
Managing Director Darren Cartwright explained “We were due to play Prestatyn Town in a friendly last Tuesday evening, but such was the damage, we had to postpone the game. Thankfully Prestatyn understood the seriousness of the damage and are happy to delay the match until this coming Tuesday evening (20th Jan).”
The cost of the damage is estimated to be in excess of £10,000 as there were multiple bursts in the pipes that run along the roof space of the changing rooms and clubhouse.
16-01-09: BRANDRETH IS GOING - NOWHERE
 Manager Neil Young has been informed by defender Tim Brandreth that he has no intention of leaving Colwyn Bay FC and will be staying put.
Speculation started after it was reported on Prestatyn Town’s website that their clubs player/manager Neil Gibson had put seven days' notice of approach for three players, Colwyn Bay defender Tim Brandreth being one of them.
Tim Brandreth is well known throughout North Wales as a commanding centre-half who began his career with Stockport County and had a spell in the League of Wales with Caernarfon before signing for Colwyn Bay in 2004.
Although Tim Brandreth left the club at the start of 2008, he returned soon after to start the 2008/09 campaign in Colwyn Bay colours for pre-season.
 Colwyn Bay Manager Neil Young stated "I am pleased with Tim's response, but he gave me the the answer I expected such is Tim’s excellent attitude since I have known him."
Many fans will also be breathing a huge sigh of relief with Tim Brandreth's (Affectionately known as 'The Rock') decision as he has become a real fans favourite over the five years he has been at the club.
14-01-09: HOPLEY EXTENDS CONTRACT
The club is delighted to announce that this season’s current top scorer Rob Hopley has this week signed an extension to his current contract which has secured his services for next season. Rob has attracted interest from a number of clubs and to have been able to secure his signature is a major boost for Neil Young, who has already committed his future to the cause to the end of the 2011/2012 season.
 Rob Hopley said after signing “I am very happy to have agreed an extension to my contract. I’ve really enjoyed playing my football here at the Bay and the supporters have been fantastic towards me.
After sitting down with the Manager and Gary and listening to their plans for the club I decided that I wanted to stay and be a part of it.”
Rob, in his first season at the Bay, has so far managed 14 goals in a team which has been through a number of changes since the beginning of the season. He was previously with Leek Town in the Unibond Premier Division.
Neil Young commented on the deal “I am delighted to have agreed an extension with Rob on his current contract which will keep him with us until at least the end of the 2009/2010 season. It has always been my intention, since talks about my own contract started, to ensure we kept Rob for at least next season. Rob has been excellent since I arrived at the club, has already scored 14 goals and I believe he has a big future in the game“
12-01-09: YOUNG COMMITS UNTIL 2012
Colwyn Bay Football Club are delighted to announce that Manager Neil Young has committed his future to the Bay and has agreed to sign a deal that will see him remain at the club for the next three-and-a-half seasons.
Young has made a big impression since taking over the job from Steve Pope in September last year. Under his guidance the team has achieved some impressive results and recent league form has put the club in a position to challenge for a potential play-off spot.
Since coming in, Young, along with his assistant manager Gary Jones, has made a number of changes to the playing personnel and been able to attract experienced former professional players in ex-Tranmere Rovers duo Dave Challinor and Graham Branch as well as proving his ability to spot promising young talent.
Neil Young comments “I have thoroughly enjoyed my short time at the club and I am genuinely excited about the future of the squad we are currently building and the plans for the football club. I have realised in the time that I have been at the club how much it means to the supporters and I look forward to assembling a team going forward that will bring success.”
“I also have a great relationship with the board and they have really impressed me with their enthusiasm and ideas for the club and what is also important is the faith they have shown in me to offer me, in non-league terms, a fairly lengthy contract. When it was first put to me just before Christmas about extending my stay for the next three and half years it really didn’t take long for me, after consulting with Gary, to accept the offer”
Managing Director Darren Cartwright explained “The board decided that we had to secure Neil’s services for the longer term in order to provide the stability “on-the-field” that the club has desperately needed. I made it my priority to ensure that this happened and we very quickly agreed terms that suited both parties. We have every confidence that, given time, Neil will bring the success to the club that our supporters deserve.”
In addition to securing the manager on long term contract, work has also been continuing behind the scenes with plans being drawn up to further develop the stadium, community initiatives and youth football schemes. Further announcements are expected to be made over the coming months once the various plans have been finalised.
10-01-09: FRIENDLY MATCH ARRANGED
Due to recent weather conditions leading to the cancellation of a number of recent fixtures which has left the players short of match practise. It was hoped that a home friendly game with Prestatyn could be arranged in midweek. Unfortunately, because of the extent of the damage to the changing rooms due to burst water pipes last week, the necessary repair work to the ceiling and lighting systems could not be completed in time to host the game.
Therefore a Friendly match has now been arranged with Flint Town at their Cae`r y Castell ground in Flint this coming Tuesday 13th January with a 7.15pm Kick off.
The club is also trying to secure a further home friendly the following week on Tuesday 20th January.
With Neil keen to get the players some match sharpness, the run out’s will prove a worthwhile exercise, and give those of us craving a game of Football some relief!
09-01-09: CALVIN RETURNS TO THE BAY
Neil Young has secured the return of former Bay Striker Calvin Davies. Davies has signed from Denbigh Town where he scored 6 goals in a short spell after a move to Warrington from Welshpool at the beginning of the season that didn’t work out.
Calvin scored 24 goals in his previous spell at the Bay and overall boasts an impressive 1 in 2 strike rate during his spell in the Welsh Premier for Welshpool. He is looking to regain sharpness and match fitness after a spell on the sidelines. Calvin has been cleared in time to join the squad for tomorrow’s away match at Wakefield after a last minute rush to secure his registration.
Neil Young said he was pleased to finally get Calvin’s signature, which is just one of many players he has been looking at.
07-01-09: DANNY HUGHES REQUIRES OP
The club are sorry to announce that midfielder Danny Hughes is going to have to go under the surgeons knife next Wednesday. It was hoped that his injury was not as bad as first thought, but further x-rays on his ankle has proved he has a double fracture and will need a metal plate putting in place.
This scuppers any hope of Danny returning to football this season, but is still in reasonably high spirits and still hopes to get to the ground to support the squad.
04-01-09: THEY'RE BACK
Colwyn Bay FC present those magnificent JALAPENOS boys back to the clubhouse at Llanelian Road on Saturday 17th January, 2009 amd will be supported by local rockers Swamproot.
Tickets are a measly £4.00 and doors open 6.30 p.m.
The first band on at 7.20 p.m.
Tickets available from Mike Lloyd, Arthur Holden, or Neil Brampton. Neil Can be contacted on 'neilbramps@hotmail.com' or by ringing 07818 426793
£4.00 for two bands including the outstanding Jalapenos - you can't go wrong!
02-01-09: MANAGERS PROGRAMME NOTES
Neil Young did a piece for the New Year Day programme, but with the Trafford match postponed, I have put Neil’s entry on the website for all to read.
Good Afternoon and a happy and healthy New Year to everybody.
I am writing this before the Lancaster game, due to printing constraints over the Christmas period so hopefully with another 2 games now been played my notes are still relevant.
Firstly I would like to welcome Ged Kielty and his Trafford team to Llanelian Road this afternoon. Ged played for Rhyl when I was there and is a real nice guy and his team represent the way Ged played his football with good passing and movement.
As I think we are all well aware we had a pretty convincing defeat against Trafford last time out in the cup and even more so the week before I arrived at the club and we are looking to put that right this afternoon.
On the positive side though I think it has been there for all for all to see that we have come on fairly strong since then in a very small space of time and recent results, particularly against Ossett, have been very pleasing.
The current squad we have, have impressed me immensely with their attitude to training and games and their never say die attitude in matches. My own and Gary’s job have been made very enjoyable because this current group of players are giving us everything that they have each week and are now seeing results improve considerably. I can’t praise them enough for their effort and commitment that they are showing.
I am sure now that January has arrived everybody will be asking if we will be looking to sign players. As I have always said that if players become available who will improve the current squad and have the correct attitude to fit in with the group I will be trying my best to sign them and I know I have the full backing of the Board of Directors in achieving this.
We do have a strategy, which for this season is based on recent results and our results over the next couple of weeks to determine our strategy for the rest of the season. We also have a longer term strategy looking towards next season and the challenges that will bring to achieve success.
Myself, my management team along with the board will be doing everything we possibly can to bring success to Colwyn Bay Football Club.
I now think its time for us all to stick together and all work towards our one aim in bringing success to this club and you must not underestimate your role as supporters because with your excellent support and enthusiasm week in and week out, enables the players to play with confidence and get the results required.
Please keep supporting the lads as you have done since I arrived at the club and as I have previously stated and I know I have already spoken to many of you I am very approachable and am willing to sit down and talk about football all day in a constructive manner.
Many thanks and here is to a successful year.
Neil Young
Team Manager |
