Football

[Jack in England]

If you wish to play for the Welsh Cup, does your team have to play in a Welsh league?

Yes the Welsh Premier league... but I think it was up until about the late 1990's you were invited to play in the cup if you were on the Welsh boarder aswell just to boost it a bit Shrewsbury,Hereford Kidderminster...etc.

I've watched Swansea play Panathanikos and Monaco in the european cup winners cup......strange but true

There was another cup a few years ago that run for a while called the FAW cup which was on BBC Wales Swansea,Cardiff,Wrexham,Newport and a few other Welsh league teams played in it...it wasn't really up to much and nobody was that interested in it really unless Swansea played Cardiff.
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I'm sure all the Premier League clubs look forward to their increased policing bills..

Thats a bit of a generalisation?.....so all English people go morris dancing?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This is a query that I am sure Greeback with his Welsh connections will know. Was a team called LLANTSANTFFRAID (I think that this is near as I can get), a small village team, ever in a European competition less than 20 years ago and were this team the precursors to THE NEW SAINTS F.C. (being an " English " translation of that name)?

 

[Jack in England]

This is a query that I am sure Greeback with his Welsh connections will know. Was a team called LLANTSANTFFRAID (I think that this is near as I can get), a small village team, ever in a European competition less than 20 years ago and were this team the precursors to THE NEW SAINTS F.C. (being an " English " translation of that name)?

They were also called TNS...... Total Network Solutions
After some computer company bought the club

 

[Greenback]

I believe they hail from the small village of Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain (try saying that after eight pints of Old Peculier) and they worked their way up the Welsh football pyramid before winning the Welsh Cup and finding sponsorship with Total Network Solutions (TNS). This required them to change their name to TNS.

They merged with their neighbours Oswestry Town in 2002 or 2003, as the latetr were in financial difficulties. Oswestry were an English club, governed by the FA but playing in Wales!

The club became The New Saints on the expiry of the original sponsorship deal. The new name is, of course, also TNS!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Couple of things here:

1) Weekends nights are dull without Match of the Day;
2) Whatever happened to Barry Town? They were Welsh Champions for about eight years on the trot and are now struggling in the First Division!

 

[Greenback]

Barry Town are a sad tale. They have had an interesting history over the last twenty years. They originally refused to join the League of Wales when it was set up, then changed their minds. They became the first professional Welsh league Club, but rarely attracted any crowds. The almost went bust in the early 2000's as a result.

Basically, they bought their success in the 1990's but this was unsustainable without a strong support base. this should be a cuationary tale to other ambitious, but small clubs. Particularly thos who are within a few miles an established football league club!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Similarly, a team called Colne Dynomoes played in Lancashire, had a very rich benefactor who decided that he would bankroll the club, who were suddenly fielding a first and second team of part-time professional players. Promotions were achieved with records goals scored...then the demise of the businessman brought down the club. It was said that they could have gone on to greater things.......do you see a comparison with Gretna here?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

A similar thing is happening with Stockport County - a local business man bought Edgeley Park, and then passed its ownership - if you like - to Sale Sharks rugby club, meaning that Stockport County had to pay I think £300,000 a year just to play at their home ground. A sit-in in their final home league match against Cheltenham, both in the centre circle and the top of the stand demonstarted supporter's feelings on this issue.

 

[CarterUSM]

As for Rangers and Celtic in the premier League. Dont make me laugh. They are bottom third PL/top third Championship at best. I have watched quite a bit of SPL football live(as in at the gorunds) and the standard is terrible. Most clubs would struggle in league 1. It says a lot when Richie Foran can go form my team Dalington ( then in league 2) and become a decent SPL forward at ICT. Aso look at the likes of John Daly. Hartlepool - Dundee Utd Or Kevin McBride, who signed for Dalington ( League 2) from Motherwell SPL and went back to the SPL with Falkirk.

IF, and it is a big IF, either of them got through the first season and survived, which i doubt very much, THEN they might be a force once the TV money kicks in and theier pulling power starts to attract decent players.

I agree to an extent, and that is exactly what has happened to many clubs with the very fair income dispersal throughout but I wouldn't get carried away with how good the English league is, because it is massively overhyped considering the money is amazing. I would never have dreamed 20 years ago that teams like Wigan or Blackpool would have more dosh to throw around than mighty Rangers!

 

[Greenback]

A similar thing is happening with Stockport County - a local business man bought Edgeley Park, and then passed its ownership - if you like - to Sale Sharks rugby club, meaning that Stockport County had to pay I think £300,000 a year just to play at their home ground. A sit-in in their final home league match against Cheltenham, both in the centre circle and the top of the stand demonstarted supporter's feelings on this issue.

I believe it is the same in Cardiff, although in reverse - the rugby club has to pay a large sum to use the Cardiff City Stadium!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Whatever happened to Third Lanark, who were once in the Scottish League? Were they formed from members of the 3rd Lanarkshire Regiment?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Same as Vale of Leven, went bust in the 40s I believe, though they had dropped out long before that.

 

[ACE1888]

Whatever happened to Third Lanark, who were once in the Scottish League? Were they formed from members of the 3rd Lanarkshire Regiment?

The club was declared bankrupt after a Board of Trade enquiry and was liquidated in 1967.

Thirds have returned to their now dilapidated Cathkin Park home, playing in Division 3 of the Greater Glasgow Amateur League.[1]
On Monday 9 June 2008, a four-man delegation from the club made a surprise announcement, telling the press that Third Lanark AC would be interested in returning to Scottish Football League, after SPL team Gretna decided to withdraw from the SFL. The other contestants for the vacant league place were Spartans, Cove Rangers, Annan Athletic (selected), Preston Athletic and Edinburgh City.,[2] but there was no formal application from Third Lanark to enter the SFL, so they remained in Division 3 of the Greater Glasgow Amateur League.
Via wikipedia

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Staying on the situation north of the border, the Highland League have now successfully had clubs accepted into the Scottish league who have held their own. Inverness Caledonian Thistle being the most successful and in their Premier League.

Ross County are well placed one division down, whilst Peterhead and Elgin to a lesser degree have not fared too badly.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Don't forget the Highland League's expansion a couple of seasons back that saw Fortmantine United, Strathspey Thistle and Turriff United all join.

 

[Mvann]

Remember seeing Bangor city on tv in a European match. Any reason why wrexham play in the conference rather than the league of wales?

 

[Anon Mouse]

Remember seeing Bangor city on tv in a European match. Any reason why wrexham play in the conference rather than the league of wales?

Because they were relegated from the Football League....

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Newport County are another club that had lost their league status, but are slowly rebuilding the club back to a stronger base. But they have done so in English lower-grade football.

 

[EM2]

All of the Welsh clubs in the English pyramid, that is Swansea, Cardiff, Wrexham, Newport, Merthyr Tydfil and Colwyn Bay joined the English non-league system many many years ago.
It'd hardly be fair a] to force them into another League and b] on teams in the Welsh League to try and compete with them.
The other teams that used to compete in the English League system, that's Bangor City, Barry Town, Caernarfon Town, Newtown and Rhyl opted to join the League Of Wales.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Latest news flash


Rushden and Diamonds have been expelled from the Football Conference for financial reasons, There is to be a winding-up petition to be issued at a court hearing on Monday, 13th June.

The result of this decision will allow Southport to remain a member of the Football Conference.

Thurrock will remain in the Blue Square Bet South league and Bishop's Stortford will move to the Blue Square Bet North league.

 

[valenta]

A shame for Rushden and Diamonds.

 

[Minilad]

Maybe one of these days teams will learn not to spend money they don't have.

 

[HST Power]

Maybe one of these days teams will learn not to spend money they don't have.

Governments would do well to take that warning!

As far as the footballing side goes, Arsenal have clearly being scraping from the barrel over the past four years when it comes to finance and funding.

 

[valenta]

Also, I can't help feeling that Man City are going to run into trouble, though they do have genuinely rich owners, willing to part with their cash. If you spend upwards of around 300 million pounds in every transfer window, you are bound to run out of money sometime.

 

[HST Power]

Also, I can't help feeling that Man City are going to run into trouble, though they do have genuinely rich owners, willing to part with their cash. If you spend upwards of around 300 million pounds in every transfer window, you are bound to run out of money sometime.

Man City will be fine. Their owners probably make massive killings in the industry, more than enough to suffice and keep the club on the up. So many clubs have investments from the Emirates, and investments from the Emirates rarely fail in the Premiership!

 

[valenta]

Man City will be fine. Their owners probably make massive killings in the industry, more than enough to suffice and keep the club on the up. So many clubs have investments from the Emirates, and investments from the Emirates rarely fail in the Premiership!

A pitty Newcastle couldn't get someone massively rich in! Yes, Mike Ashely's a billionaire, but we don't see much of it. I would also prefer an owner who doesn't sell our star player to Liverpool on the final day of the transfer window.

 

[HST Power]

A pitty Newcastle couldn't get someone massively rich in! Yes, Mike Ashely's a billionaire, but we don't see much of it. I would also prefer an owner who doesn't sell our star player to Liverpool on the final day of the transfer window.

In my opinion, I hope Ashley goes. He doesn't seem bothered about Newcastle at all.

 

[valenta]

In my opinion, I hope Ashley goes. He doesn't seem bothered about Newcastle at all.

Couldn't agree more, I think many other Newcastle fans feel the same.

 

[HST Power]

Couldn't agree more, I think many other Newcastle fans feel the same.

The atmosphere at St James' park is unbeatable. There's nowhere quite like Newcastle!

 

[valenta]

The atmosphere at St James' park is unbeatable. There's nowhere quite like Newcastle!

YES! Gave up my season ticket several years back, the atmosphere is brilliant.