Caernarfon Town

The Impressive Caernarfon Castle
Huws Gray Alliance League
Caernarfon Town 0 
Holyhead Hotspur 0
Atten 350











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Beauty & The Beast



To be honest it wasnt a great game, even the locals apologised to me. There was no need because I had thoroughly enjoyed my time for many reasons. Chances were at a premium and even the new signing “The Beast” chances were limited. The real enjoyment was found meeting the people and learning what the Club is really all about.This was no Disney film as today i had seen with my own eyes 'The Beast' but more importantly 'The Beauty'.





The first football club in Caernarfon, known as Caernarvon Athletic, was formed in September 1876 and played at various grounds before moving to the Oval in 1888. On 30 October 1886, Caernarfon was the first team from north west Wales to enter the FA Cup and lost 10–1 away to Stoke City. Five years later, however, that particular club went out of existence but, in 1894, several former players began a new team called Caernarvon Ironopolis. That club competed in the North Wales Coast League, winning the championship on two occasions and reaching the semi-final of the Welsh Cup in 1900 and again in 1902. Unfortunately, following a dispute with the league, Ironopolis folded in 1903. The demise of the club resulted in some of the players forming the Caernarvon Colts while others affiliated to the Caernarvon RWF (Royal Welsh Fusiliers), both clubs playing at the Oval.



In 1906, the clubs amalgamated to form Caernarvon United and in 1909 the new club won both the Welsh and North Wales Amateur Cups. After the Great War, the demobbed United players formed a new club (Caernarvon Athletic) which, until 1921, played in the North Wales Coast League and thereafter the Welsh National League Division Two (West), with mixed fortune. In 1926, however, a limited company was formed and a full-time manager and professional team engaged. The club met with immediate success, winning the Welsh National League Division One championship in 1926–27, ahead of Bangor City and Rhyl, and repeating the feat in 1929–30 having been pipped to the title by Connah's Quay & Shotton 12 months earlier. Caernarvon Athletic are still remembered for their FA Cup run in 1929 when they defeated Darlington before going out to Bournemouth in a second round replay, the first game at the Oval attracting a crowd of some 9,000. In 1930, however, the club went into liquidation but two years later a re-formed team won the Welsh Combination before quitting over problems in using the Oval.





It's never quiet at The Oval as in 2010 they came uncomfortably close to folding completely. The tipping point came when they were served a suspension notice from the Welsh Alliance League. But for the determination of a group of supporters and a newly formed committee they somehow were able to fulfill the remaining fixtures.



The following season forward steps were made albeit baby steps. A better financial position and better results on the pitch lead to a serious attempt at gaining promotion to the second tier of the Welsh Pyramid. The last part of the jigsaw was the right type of Team Manager to lead them at a critical time in the club's renaissance. The 2012/3 season was a treble winning season on the pitch. But really it was a 'world cup' winning season off the pitch as the club had finallyregained its dignity and pride and then some.

The day started with a brisk walk along the beach at Rhos-on-Sea in the crisp winter sunshine and well earned Full English Breakfast washed down with delicious brewed coffee. My day came to an end watching another game Llandudno Albion v Llandudno Athletic. A feircely contested local derby one might presume ..... final score was 17-1. As the evening chill had set in and the score was standing at 13-1, i decided that the home win was now secure and it was an appropriate moment to vacate the premisis. A perfect start to the day and an enjoyable finale but it was what was in the middle that will live longer in the memory .... Oval Stays are Enjoyable Days !




A fantatsic book for anyone ...
Oval Ways & Treble Days by Paul Evans  
Tells of behind the scenes story of the club during possibly one of the most important periods in the clubs history. Written with humour and honesty, the author also has another story to tell – about home town heroes and life itself.



To get your copy contact @OvalWays on twitter 
 ISBN 978-1-784-61-072-1

Or leave a message on here and i will make contact.















Morley RUFC


National League 
Div 3 North
Morley 11 
Firwood Waterloo 18

Atten 300ish
Gate £7







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Todays visitors were Merseyside based Firwood Waterloo and they just shaded a competitive game against hosts Morley (Leeds).

I thoughly enjoyed the exciting game played in ideal conditions, a crisp winters day and a soft muddy pitch. The "Maroons" ground is a corker and the obvious 'jewel in the crown' being the main stand which covers the whole of one side of the pitch.


Morley played and won its first match on the 9 November 1878, against Dewsbury Birkdale. Morley was a member of the Northern Union, however, when the Northern Union clubs broke away from the RFU to form what is now rugby league, the Morley representatives missed the train to Huddersfield as they were still in the pub. As a result Morley remained with the RFU

When the club won the Yorkshire Cup for the first time in 1932 in its fourth final, Morley borough council granted permission for the municipal coat of arms to be worn on the club's jerseys. The figures and devices on the coat of arms were symbolic of the principal industries of the Borough - the manufacture of woollen cloth, coal mining and quarrying.


In the 2009–10 season Morley had an excellent season, losing just 3 league games. As a result they finished top of the league and gained promotion into National Division 2 North for 2010–11 season. Recent seasons have been less kind to the club and they were soon back in National 3 North to which they find themselves today.

A very muddy day out but a very enjoyable one.