STONES SIGNS FROM RHYL AS MOVE FOR CONNOLLY STALLS
Colwyn Bay are delighted to have secured the signature of Rhyl’s versatile defender / midfielder Greg Stones, who has been released by the lilywhites today.

Greg, who is 6ft 4”, played for Rhyl from 2004 to 2006 before going full time with The New Saints. He had a trial at Crewe Alexandra in 2007 and went on to play at Stafford Rangers and Cammell Laird before returning to Belle Vue in early 2008 helping the team win the Welsh Premier league last season scoring 7 goals.
Welcome to the Bay, Greg!

However, the much publicized move for Rhyl’s top-scorer Mark Connolly has today stalled. The player had agreed personal terms during the week with move set to be completed after Rhyl’s Welsh Cup game today. However, Rhyl have had a backer come in at the last minute in order to allow them to honour the player’s contract and are now refusing to release the player. Connolly was put on the bench for today’s game but came on to score twice. The Welsh Premier transfer window closes on Monday.

More comments to follow…

NonLeague24 On Sale Now

NonLeague24, 132 glossy pages of pure Non-League football,
is out now and available in the clubshop!

On sale nationwide at WHSmiths, Martins, McColls and other leading retailers, NonLeague24 is the UK’s only magazine devoted exclusively to grassroots football from the Blue Square Premier to Step 7 and below.

Non-League football’s profile has never been higher and the magazine’s motto reflects that – Real Football for Real Fans. From groundhoppers to angry refs and crazy fans, NonLeague24 offers in-depth coverage of the stories behind the nes with action packed pages of features, statistics, pictures, columnists, news, views, opinion and comment.

JEBB LEAVES FOR BANGOR CITY
Eddie Jebb has today signed for Bangor City after both clubs agreed a fee.

Eddie was signed from Cammell Lairds almost 12 months ago after Colwyn Bay had beaten Bangor City to his signature on that occasion. Jebb was transfer listed in November after an inconsistent start to the season and was due to be out of contract in the summer after failing to agree terms for next season. Jebb has scored 7 goals for the Bay this season.

Bay manager Neil Young said: "The decision to sell Eddie was mine and mine alone. His contract was due to run out at in the summer and although he had been offered a new one he said that he wanted time to think it over.”
 
"It was by no means certain he would have signed one in the summer and so I felt it was right for the club to accept the offer from Bangor City as we have other players coming in now who can play in that position.
"He has been a bit inconsistent this year, but that is the nature of a winger and I would like to thank him for the effort he has put in. We all wish him well."

Everyone at the club would like to thank Eddie for his efforts and wish him well for the future.

Further news….

Lee Davey has this week joined Llandudno Town on a loan agreement and appeared for them in midweek whilst Cammell Lairds captain Anthony Lynch has completed his move to the Bay this week.   

More news on further transfer activity is expected within the next few days.

CLUB PRESIDENT APPOINTED
The club is delighted to announce that Roger Skinner has been appointed as the clubs new President. Roger takes on the role which was made vacant when Glynn Owens sadly passed away in 2009.

In announcing the appointment, Club Chairman, Geoff Cartwright commented:
"Roger has done an excellent job for the Club during his spell on the Board. He has been a great ambassador who is very well respected by the supporters, people within the community and the football scene as a whole. Everyone on the board felt Roger to be well deserving of this honour."

In response to his appointment, Roger Skinner commented:
"I am greatly honoured to have been appointed as Club President, as well as continuing my role as a director on the board along with the various duties that I carry out at the club ".

Roger, who lives in Old Colwyn, is married to Pamela and has two married daughters. He previously served the community of Colwyn Bay as a policeman for over 30 years and originally joined the clubs board of directors in 2003/04. Roger has supported Colwyn Bay Football Club for over 20 years and has represented the club at various official functions, as well as taking care of the clubs sponsors on a Matchday. He has also been a very prominent figure in helping to run a number of fundraising functions, also taking the lead as the clubs Master of Ceremonies and stand-in matchday announcer.

HOPLEY INJURY BLOW AS OLLY RETURNS – Squad Update

 HOPLEY INJURY BLOW
Colwyn Bay FC have been dealt a major blow this week with the news that last seasons player of the year, Rob Hopley, will now require surgery on the knee injury sustained against Witton Albion in the FA Trophy back in October which will now rule him out for the rest of the season. On a more positive note, the specialist has deemed that the injury does not require a full re-construction operation but less intrusive keyhole surgery which is due to take place within the next month. If the recovery from the operation progresses as planned then Rob is hoping to be fit enough to join up for pre-season training in July. The club would like to wish Rob a speedy and successful recovery.

LOAN SIGNING MEADOWCROFT RULED OUT
Another injury blow has been dealt with the news that Northwich Vics defender Daniel Meadowcroft has injured his ankle in training this week and will not be available for this weekend’s game at Warrington. An agreement for a months loan deal was finally agreed with Northwich Vics this week with the dominant defender also keen to sign as he is looking to build up match fitness following a broken leg earlier in the season. Meadowcroft is expected to have recovered in time to join up with the squad for the next home game against Harrogate Railway on Saturday, 30th January.

OLLY RETURNS
Colwyn Bay Manager Neil Young’s attempts to strengthen the squad has been met with more positive news with the confirmation that former team Captain, James Olsen, has now re-signed for Colwyn Bay after agreeing personal terms. Experienced midfielder Olsen, will be included in the squad for Saturdays game away at Warrington after impressing the manager in the midweek friendly win over Bala. As well as playing for Tranmere, he has also appeared for Southport, Altrincham (in the Conference) and Vauxhall Motors (Conference North) with Marine (Unibond Premier) agreeing to his release in order to sign for the Bay this week.

LYNCH SET TO JOIN FROM LAIRDS
The defence is set to be strengthened with the signing of left-back Anthony Lynch from Cammel Lairds who is expected to complete the necessary paperwork on Friday. Anthony has been a mainstay in the Cammell Laird side for a number of years, he is quick and strong and excellent from dead ball situations. 

MORE ON THE WAY?
The club are also currently involved in talks with a Welsh Premier league club to sign 2 players who would be considered major additions to the side. Personal terms have been agreed after having been given permission to talk but much will depend upon their current club agreeing to their release as both are on contract.

PUBLICATIONS FOR FOOBALL FANS AVAILABLE AT THE CLUBSHOP

MATCHDAY PROGRAMMES
Colwyn Bay FC have always stocked an array of old programmes from various matches. With prices starting at just 50 pence,many supporters of Colwyn Bay as well as the travelling support have spent much of the pre-match build up scouring through the massive stock as they look for that missing programme from their collection.

Match Day Programmes are priced at £1.50
Older programmes start at just 50 pence

NON-LEAGUE24 MAGAZINE
For the hard core non-league football supporter, there is now a dedicated monthly magazine that is available at Colwyn Bay FC's club shop priced £3.95

Over the years, there have been several attempts to publish successful magazine, but it looks like the 'NonLeague24' may have got the formula right. Loosely based on the 4-4-2, it is written for Real Non-League Fans. From groundhoppers to angry refs and crazy fans, NonLeague24 offers in-depth coverage of the stories behind the news with action packed pages of features, statistics, pictures, columnists, news, views, opinion and comment.

The NonLeague24 is a 132 page glossy magazine of pure Non-League football, which is on sale nationwide at WHSmiths, Martins, McColls and other leading retailers. NonLeague24 is the UK’s only magazine devoted exclusively to grassroots football from the Blue Square Premier to Step 7 and below.

THE PRIDE OF NORTH WALES
North Wales’ Greatest Footballers pays homage to a region rich in sporting talent by celebrating its most influential football icons in an 84-page souvenir special.

Detailing the careers of what a proud public voted their Top Ten, this glossy publication takes you on the journey of each player, from their North Wales roots, right through to their modern day hero status.

The dedicated chapters include memoirs and amusing anecdotes from the impressive cast including Ian Rush, Ryan Giggs, Neville Southall and Gary Speed, while rare archive pictures illustrate their rise to the top.

Bound with facts and figures, and priced just £3.99, this literary commemoration profiles the contribution of North Wales’ greatest sons.

To reserve your copies contact Sheila on 07851 197369 or simply call into the clubshop on a matchday.

PITCH UPDATE
More sleet and snow at Llanelian Road this week has left an icy covering of snow on the pitch and all around the ground. The ground working party have worked hard to try and make areas around the ground safe but conditions are very difficult. The pitch underneath the snow is still frozen so therefore this Saturday’s scheduled home game against Mossley (16th January) is very doubtful.

There will be a further inspection Friday morning and a decision is likely to be made so please check back for more information.

PRESS RELEASE
FRIDAY 8TH JANUARY 2010
COLWYN BAY FITC SECURES SPORTS COUNCIL CASH INJECTION

A sponsorship deal from one of the UK’s leading retailers ‘The Co-operative’ has been matched by the Sports Council of Wales to ensure that Colwyn Bay Football Club’s newly launched football in the community programme (CBFITC) gets on track for future success.
CBFITC will invest the full amount of £15,000.00 received into the development of an ‘Inclusive’ football programme, which through a wide range of initiatives will cater for ‘ALL’ local needs and aspirations. More specifically, the ‘inclusive’ programme will encourage young people, particularly those with a disability and from disadvantaged backgrounds, to participate in football and other sports on a regular basis (weekly).

Initiatives that will be run in the New Year include:

• Under 11 and Under 13 Girls Fun Football Sessions
• Under 12 Pan Disability Sessions
• Under 12 Fun Football Sessions
• Parent and Child Football Learning Sessions; and
• Futsal Taster Sessions

To find out how you can get involved, and when and where the initiatives will take place please visit the CBFITC web pages at:
www.colwynbayfc.co.uk

Kelly Davies, CBFITC General Manager commented: “We are delighted that the Sports Council for Wales has supported our ‘inclusive’ programme and sports matched the sponsorship fee we so kindly received from our main community partner ‘The Cooperative’.

“Since its launch in September CBFITC has had an excellent start; building strong relationships with key partners and members of the local community. Running alongside the several social inclusion and educational programmes planned for the New Year, this project, will really enable us to ‘KICK’ on in 2010 and produce positive outcomes for the local community and the club itself”.

Sportsmatch Cymru is a Welsh Assembly Government business incentive scheme for sport in Wales, managed by the Sports Council for Wales. It is designed to encourage more business backing for grassroots sport by matching new or additional sponsorship ‘£ for £’. With the aim of giving business an incentive to support more grassroots sport, Sportsmatch Cymru can allocate awards of between £300 and £50,000.

Chair of the Sports Council for Wales, Philip Carling, said: “Businesses in Wales play a huge part in the sporting success of our nation and we can only continue to excel if we invest in tomorrow’s champions now.

“In return, sports sponsorship offers businesses the opportunity to achieve commercial marketing objectives by raising brand awareness and increasing customer loyalty. It also allows them to fulfil social responsibilities, which is fast becoming a key objective for all companies”.

The Cooperative is a multi-national company which provides a variety of services to the public, for example, financial & legal services, funeral care, food shopping, pharmacy etc… The Cooperative has local links within the Colwyn Bay area, and pride themselves on supporting local communities and inspiring young people to make positive contributions. 

David Messom, Director of Trading for Cooperative Food Retail commented:
“We are impressed and delighted at the way in which Colwyn Bay Football in the Community actively works within the local community. The Sports Council for Wales support for CBFITC, matching our own financial commitment, ensures greater opportunities for the young people of the area to become more involved in sport. “And the recognition of both the Sports Council and The Cooperative endorses the progress that Colwyn Bay Football Club and CBFITC are making on and off the pitch together”.

For further information, please contact:
CBFITC General Manager, Kelly Davies
Mob: +44 (0)7725 576 997
Email: Kelly@cbfitc.co.uk

Notes to Editors
Sports Council for Wales

• At its launch in 1992, the scheme was billed as one designed to double the benefits of sponsorship investment for grassroots sport in the community and to support the activities that will increase participation and raise standards at grassroot level – particularly among young people.

• The Sports Council for Wales is the national organisation responsible for developing both sport and physical recreation. It is the main adviser on sporting matters to the Welsh Assembly Government and is responsible for distributing funds from the National Lottery to sport and recreation in Wales.

Colwyn Bay FITC

• Colwyn Bay Football Club created the new community interest company ‘CBFITC’ on the 11th September (2009), in order to offer a more diverse and extensive outreach programme within the local area.

• CBFITC aims to promote all areas of football development and will use the motivational power of football and the inspirational setting of the football ground (Llanelian Road) to educate and promote positive lifestyle messages.

VICS DEFENDER JOINS ON LOAN
COLWYN BAY manager Neil Young has reached agreement for another loan signing in 6ft 3ins central defender Danny Meadowcroft from Conference North side Northwich Victoria.

The former Halifax Town captain, who has also had spells with Stockport County, Morecambe and Droylsden, rejoined Northwich in March last year and was influential in them ending last season with six successive wins. He has recently recovered from injury and will join the Seagulls next week, initially for a month.

He joins up with young Towyn-born striker Alex Titchener who is also joining the Seagulls on a month's loan from Crewe Alexandra.

That follows the possible signing of winger Russell Headley from Woodley Sports, who has initially agreed tojoin Colwyn Bay FC.

Report courtesy of Tim Channon – Seagulls Online

CREWE’S ALEX TO JOIN ON LOAN
A one-month loan deal has been agreed for promising, young striker Alex Tichiner who arrives from Crewe Alexandra. Locally based Alex, who comes from Towyn, is a first year professional at Crewe and has been included on the substitute bench for the first team this season. Alex is described as quick and a good finisher who scores goals regularly.

BAY BOSS LOOKS TO PUT THINGS RIGHT AFTER HOME DEFEAT
Following the disappointing 4-1 home loss to Radcliffe on New Years Day, Colwyn Bay boss Neil Young has spoken about his plans to put the defeat right.

“The performance on Friday was diabolical and probably the worst from my side since I have been at Colwyn Bay. The lads involved are well aware of my thoughts and we will look to put things right with additional training at Colwyn Bay this week.” said the manager.

“I think Friday highlighted the need for new faces in the squad. We have brought in some good young players but now need more experience and quality when we add to the squad and we are actively seeking those players.”

With strikers Tom McGill & Neil Black currently struggling with injury and with the recent loss of Adriano Rigoglioso to FC United, the manager has moved for tricky Woodley Sports forward Russell Headley who is expected to sign on Monday and a deal is also hoping to be struck early in the week with a Coca Cola League Two side to take a forward on loan. A number of other enquires have also been made to try and strengthen the squad.

Colwyn Bay’s next game is at title favourites FC Halifax on Saturday (09/01) who are currently forth and five points behind Colwyn Bay but with 4 games in hand. Despite the defeat on New Years Day, Colwyn Bay still occupy second spot in the UniBond First Division North 2 points ahead of Curzon Ashton who the Bay are still yet to play against this season.

FC Halifax vs. Colwyn Bay (January 9th, KO 3pm)