May 2011 Archives

COLWYN BAY have announced their season ticket prices for next season, following their promotion to the Blue Square Bet North.
The price of an adult season ticket is £180 (£160 for early bid applications) and that is up to £20 cheaper than most other clubs in the division.
The other Seagulls season ticket prices are £100 for OAPs and university students (£90 earlybird deal); and £35 for children under 14 (£30 earlybird deal).
Application forms are available on the club website (www.colynbayfc.co.uk) or telephone 01492 514680.
Match admission prices for next season have been raised from £7 to £9, with £5 for OAPs and students and £2 for children under 14.
Managing director Darren Cartwright commented: "Colwyn Bay Football Club endeavours to keep admission prices as low as possible but trust that supporters will understand the reason for the increase for next season following promotion.
"The projected increase in gate revenue will help us to provide a competitive first team budget and assist in funding some of the work that will be required to upgrade the ground to Conference North standards.
"Despite the price rise, Colwyn Bay FC will still be one of the best value grounds to visit in the Blue Square North next season."
In fact, Colwyn Bay will have the cheapest admission price in the division, with other clubs charging from £10 to £12.

THE line-up in the Blue Square Bet North next season is looking like this:

Altrincham
Blyth Spartans
Boston United
Colwyn Bay
Corby Town
Droylsden
Eastwood Town
FC Halifax Town
Gainsborough Trinity
Gloucester City
Guiseley
Harrogate Town
Hinckley United
Histon
Hyde United
Nuneaton
Solihull Moors
Southport
Stalybridge Celtic
Vauxhall Motors
Worcester City
Workington

According to the FA, there are still a number of unresolved issues and the agreed allocations may be subject to further change.

DAVE CHALLINOR has already started preparations for next season by lining up a number of high-profile pre-season friendlies.
Wigan Athletic, who go into this weekend's final games still hopeful of retaining their place in the Premiership, and Tranmere Rovers have already agreed to send teams and a possible visit by FA Cup finalists Stoke City is in the pipeline.
Blue Square Premier Barrow will be coming to Llanelian Road on August 6 and the club are also in discussions with Wrexham and Fleetwood Town over possible games, while the Seagulls have agreed to away games at Gap Connah's Quay, Rhyl and Runcorn.
Pre-season matches pencilled in so far are: July 12: Gap Connah's Quay (away); July 15 (Friday night) Tranmere Rovers (home); July 19: Rhyl (away); July 23: Runcorn (away); July 30: Wigan Athletic (home); August 6: Barrow (home).
Pre-season training starts on June 25th and Challinor says all the current squad will have an opportunity to compete for a place at the club next seasion.
"I expect some of them will get offers from elsewhere and ultimately it will be their decision as to where they see their futures, but I would like to keep as many of them as possible because they have been a terrific group."

LUKE DENSON scooped two awards at Colwyn Bay's end of season presentation night.
The right-back, who has played in every match for the Seagulls this season, won both the Supporters' Player of the Season and the Manager's award.
Fraser McLachlan was named as the Director's Player of the season, while Joe McMahon won the President's award and Alex Titchiner took the Community Player of the Season award for the most involvement in the club's community projects.
Jon Newby's 18 goals earned him the Top Goalscorer award and club skipper Damien Allen won the award for Goal of the Season (a volley from Luke Denson's cross against Whitby).
Player-boss Dave Challinor and assistant Colin Woodthorpe also made a number of awards on behalf of the players, including a signed match ball to Rob Hopley for his hat-trick against Bradford Park Avenue (Bay's only hat-trick of the league campaign) and a photograph signed by all the players to reserve keeper Andy Metcalf, who won't be part of the squad next season as he has recently gained a four-year football scholarship in America starting in August.
The management team also made presentations to supporter Glyn 'Jabbas' Jones, groundsman Elfed Morris and kit man Brian Kelly.
Challinor thanked the supporters for the backing they had given the team during a fantastic season and said: "Hopefyully we can push on next season, although we are under no illusions about the challenge we face in the higher league."
Welsh international Mickey Thomas, a guest for the evening, agreed: "The hard work is only just beginning because next season will be a huge challenge for everyone at the club."
But he congratulated the players on "bringing the good times back to Colwyn Bay" and said player-boss Dave Challinor had become "a legend".

MY TOP 10 MEMORIES OF AMAZING SEASON
WHAT an amazing achievement for a side that were favourites for relegation at the start of the season to finish up winning promotion to the Blue Square Bet North in their first season back in the Evostik Premier.
All credit to the management team of Dave Challinor, Colin Woodthorpe and Steve Aspinall in their first season in management, and particularly to the players who have excelled.
There has been the occasional blip, of course, but only once in a nine-month long season did they suffer two league defeats in a row - and in the club's first campaign back in the Premier Division for seven years that is an amazing record of consistency.
At the start of the season I am sure many of the club's followers would have gladly settled for a top 10 finish. It was a new challenge, in a new division, with a new manager and almost a new team following Neil Young's departure to Chester and taking several of the previous season's promotion-winning squad with him.
Anthony Sheehan, Rob Hopley and Chris Sanna, of course, returned to the fold and played their part in producing another incredible success story.
There have been many memories from the season: Andy Metcalf's three penalty saves in that 7-6 League Cup shoot-out win against Chorley; Ian Sheridan's four-goal haul in the 10-0 Coast Cup win against Connah's Quay (Bay's biggest win in five years), Alex Titchiner's delight at his late, late winner against Retford and Rob Hopley's superb headed goal to secure what was a massive three points at Worksop.
But here are my personal favourite top 10 memories.
At Number 10 is that opening day victory at North Ferriby United. A journey into the unknown after seven years out of the top flight and away to a side that had been in the Premier Division play-offs the previous season and were destined to be there again.
Colwyn Bay won it 3-1 with a super team performance.
Jon Newby started as he finished the season as a match-winner with two goals and taking the man of the match award. But the thing that stuck in the memory was talking to new skipper Damien Allen afterwards when he was already putting down a marker to the doubters.
"People have been predicting we would struggle in the Premier Division this season," he said. "But this result will raise a few eyebrows and our performance showed we will not be an easy team to play against."
Number 9: The 4-1 win at Kendal in which Gaz Evans made his debut after signing from Llandudno, was probably the season's best display of attacking football.
They ripped Kendal apatrt and Dave Challinor crowed aftewards: "It could have been seven or eight by the end."
Number 8: A 1-0 win at Stocksbridge Park Steels in November saw Andy Metcalf keep a clean sheet on his league debut in goal as Jon Newby again hit the winning goal. That was the first time the Bay went with three at the back, but my lasting memory of that game was Luke Denson and Mike Lea bombing down the flanks with two of the best displays of wing back play I can remember. They gave the Stocksbridge defence a torrid time down the flanks and both should have scored in a series of missed chances.
Number 7: Dave Challinor's 35th birthday saw the team score two goals in an amazing last seven minutes to rescue a point at Whitby after their unbeaten away record looked to be over at 0-2 down. Gaz Evans' header got the 90th minute equaliser, and the Bay then almost won it in added time.
It was the longest away trip of the season, but worth it for that dramatic finish - and the excellent fish and chips down by the harbour!
Number 6: Another good away day saw a 4-1 win in the rain at play-off contestants Bradford Park Avenue, with Rob Hopley scoring his first hat-trick for 22 injury-hit months. My big memory, however, was Chris Sanna marking his return to the club from Chester with a superb second half penalty save which prevented Bradford getting back in the game at 3-2.
Sanna gave the credit for that to Luke Denson. "He was signalling to me which way to dive," joked Chris afterwards. But nothing could take away the importance of that save or two tremendous one-on-one saves Sanna made in the first half.
That game was a big turning point in the season for me. The side had had a bit of rocky time with three defeats and 10 goals conceded in the previous four games. Chris's return helped in re-stabilising the back four and 11 clean sheets in the remaining 18 league games (including seven 1-0 wins) played a huge part in the side finishing in runners-up spot.
Number 5: Another Sanna master class in a backs-to-the-wall 1-0 victory at Gigg Lane against FC United in February. Chris made some stunning saves behind a gutsy and battling team display to keep another clean sheet as Jon Newby's cool finish saw the Bay steal three more crucial points.
"There are some very tired bodies in that dressing room I can tell you, because the lads had to put in a huge shift to get that result," said Dave Challinor afterwards.
Number 4: Another performance of real character saw the Bay twice come from behind to get a battling 2-2 draw at Chasetown. The goal scorers that night, Mick McGraa (who was playing so well before his injury) and Sam Bailey, were not part of the final thrilling run in to the season, but it shows that everyone connected with the squad over the last nine months has played a role.
Number 3: Jimmy McCarthy's sensational debut as substitute at home to Whitby in March when he came on and changed the game. He wowed the fans with his electrifying runs and Ronaldo-style step overs and was instrumental in the Bay scoring two goals in two minutes to win the game.
Jimmy's signing lifted Bay's attacking play to a new level over the closing weeks of the season and the contribution he made to the side's ultimate success, including his two match-winning goals at Ossett and that brave header to clinch victory in the play-off semi-final over North Ferriby, cannot be underestimated.
It was a shame for him that the eye injury he got heading that semi-final goal prevented him playing in last week's final.
Number 2: Llanelian Road erupted as I have rarely seen before when Danny Grannon scored a late matchwinning header against runaway leaders Halifax in front a big New Year crowd of over 800 in early January. That was one of the big moments of the season for me.
The Bay had gone behind and had lost Dave Challinor and Mike Lea through injury before half-time, but they came from behind to get a fantastic win with Danny's goal after Damien Allen had driven in the equaliser 14 minutes earlier.
It meant the Bay took more points (four out of six) than any other side against a Halifax side that finished 19 points clear at the top of the table.
Danny Roberts got man of the match with an eye-catching league debut display in goal, but his time at the club was to be short-lived due to the return of the experienced Chris Sanna from Chester.
And my number 1: Well it has to be the play-off final victory over FC United in front of a sell out 2,000 crowd. I never thought I would see the day people were queuing down Llanelian Road to buy tickets to watch the Bay!
It was a tremendous day for the club, but the thing that will stick in my memory, apart from Martin Lyons' great photo of Jon Newby after scoring that winning goal with the packed crowd behind him, was at the final whistle when Newbs, beaming all over his face, ran across the pitch with his arms outstretched to sweep up his young son who was running to meet him.
A wonderful moment; wonderful memories - a wonderful season!

COLWYN BAY.........1
FLINT TN UTD...........1
(Colwyn Bay won 5-3 on penalties)
COLWYN BAY had to go to a penalty shoot-out to win the North Wales Coast FA Challenge Cup for the first time in 11 years against battling Flint Town United at Llandudno.
And player-boss Dave Challinor was thankful that a half-hour session in training devoted to practising penalties ahead of the two recent Evostik play-off games proved useful in the end.
"That preparation has paid off tonight. It also gave me a good guide as to who to pick to the take the penalties and fortunately they all put them away," he said afterwards.
"It was nice to finish on a high and win what is a very nice trophy, but we didn't play well and all credit to Flint who made it a really tough game for us.
"I think mentally our season finished when we beat FC United in the play-off final to secure promotion and it is hard to keep yourself going for another week or so and not switch off after coming through such a big occasion like that."
Flint Town United boss Paul Davies said his players had done the Cymru Alliance club proud.
"It is always disappointing to lose that way (in a penalty shoot-out), but we can take real pride in our performance. The players have shown great commitment and a lot of quality and there were times out there when you wouldn't have known which side had just won promotion to the Blue Square Conference North.
"We can take a lot of encouragement from that performance into next season."
Flint were stronger in the tackle, more committed to winning 50-50 balls and although they had a bit of luck with an own goal by Danny Meadowcroft putting them level at 1-1, it needed two or three excellent saves by Bay keeper Andy Metcalf to prevent them taking the lead.
Jack Abrahams had an outstanding game for the Cymru Alliance side and deservedly took the Man of the Match award.
Rob Hopley brought a good one-handed save from Flint keeper Richard Walker early on as the Bay had most of the possession, but Flint defended well and Metcalf made a fine reaction save to claw away Simon Thellwell's goalbound header from six yards.
Colwyn Bay, however, took the lead on 29 minutes when Flint's defence were undone by a long ball over the top and Jon Newby raced clear to shoot past Walker.
Flint then finished the half very strongly and almost equalised before half-time.
Thellwell's shot was deflected narrowly wide for a corner and from the flag kick he got in another good effort on the turn which Metcalf had to beat away for another corner, from which Stefan Halewood lifted a chance narrowly over the bar.
Flint continued to pile on the pressure after the interval and equalised on 49 minutes.
They got in a good cross from the right and Meadowcroft's misdirected header looped over the stranded Metcalf and into the far corner of the net.
Both sides went for it after that with Metcalf diving to beat away a swerving shot from Shaun Beck, while at the other end Walker leapt to palm a shot from Luke Denson round the post.
Extra time failed to provide a winner, with Hopley heading the best chance straight at the keeper from a corner, while Beck shot wide from Flint's best opening.
Some of the Flint players, who had run themselves into the ground, were almost on their knees in the last 10 minutes of extra time, but they battled on superbly to take the game to penalties.
The Bay, however, quickly gained the advantage in the shoot-out with Luke Denson scoring their opening spot kick while Shaun Beck shot against the bar with Flint's first effort.
That proved the decisive miss. Jon Newby, Steve Aspinall, Karl Noon and finally Anthony Sheehan all successfully converted Colwyn Bay's other kicks, meaning successes for Flint's Matty Roberts, Jason Renshaw and Stuart Hughes were in vain.
Colwyn Bay: Metcalf, Denson, Lea, Meadowcroft, Grannon, Challinor (McMahon 59mins), Sheehan, Titchiner (Aspinall 75mins), Hopley, Newby, Davey (Noon 53mins). Subs not used: Woodthorpe and Sanna.

COLWYN BAY will stick with the squad players who have got the club to their first North Wales Coast FA Challenge Cup final in 11 years when they bid to lift the trophy against Flint Town United at Llandudno tonight (7.30pm).
And player-boss Dave Challinor says some of them could be playing for their places in next season's squad when the club make their debut in the Blue Square Bet North.
"We have used the Coast Cup this season to give a game to squad players who have only been used occasionally in league fixtures and this is their chance now to finish the job and win a trophy," he said.
"I wasn't happy with the attitude that some of them showed in the first half of last week's semi-final against Barmouth and this is their chance to prove to me they are good enough to be part of next season's squad.
"Having got to the final we want to win this cup now and I know the fans want us to win it too and finish off a great season on a high. With all respect to Flint, even without some of our regular first choice players, we should have enough quality and ability to do that."
Colwyn Bay will be without midfielder Fraser McLachlan and winger Jimmy McCarthy who is due to see an eye specialist this week as he is still having problems with his vision following the eye injury he suffered against North Ferriby in the Evostik play-offs semi-final two weeks ago.
Karl Noon, Gareth Evans and Damien Allen are all carrying injuries and are rated as doubtful, while Challinor is expecting to play himself in midfield.
Andy Metcalf, who was on loan at Flint for a while earlier in the season, will continue in goal and he has yet to concede a goal in this competition after four straight clean sheets.
He will be keen to maintain that record in tonight's final as the Seagulls look to add to the 23 goals they've racked up in wins against Gap Connah's Quay (10-0), cup holders Porthmadog (5-0), Llanrug United (4-0) and Barmouth and Dyffryn United (4-0).
Flint Town United, however, who last won the Coast Cup in 2007, have actually outscored the Bay with 26 goals in their four games - made up of wins over Holyhead Hotspur (6-1), Blaenau Ffestiniog (14-2), Rhyl (2-1 after extra time) and Denbigh Town (4-0).
Flint finished seventh in this season's Huws Gray Cymru Alliance with 13 wins and 10 defeats, and in Shaun Beck, a pre-season trialist with the Bay a couple of seasons back, they have a player who has been the club's top scorer for the past seven years.
Colwyn Bay: (from) Sanna, Denson, Sheehan, McMahon, Grannon, Aspinall, Davey, Challinor, Newby, Titchiner, Noon, Hopley, Lea, Meadowcroft, Evans, Woodthorpe.

DAVE CHALLINOR has again been named Evostik Premier Manager of the Month for April/May and will receive his award before Wednesday's (May 11) North Wales Coast FA Cup Final at Llandudno.
The club's presentation night is scheduled for Friday (May 13th) at Llanelian Road starting at 7pm, and is due to be preceded by an open top bus tour of Old Colwyn, Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea by the players starting at 6pm.

COLWYN BAY have won the £1,000 cash prize for finishing top of the Evostik Premier Fair Play League.
The Seagulls, long time leaders of the league, had just one red card all season (Joe McMahon for retaliation against Matlock) and finished ahead of second-placed Nantwich, with Halifax third.
That is a great tribute to the team's overall discipline. The club were also placed runners-up in a nationwide competition run in conjunction with the Respect campaign.

BARMOUTH & DYFFRYN 0 COLWYN BAY 4
FOUR second half goals ended Barmouth's brave resistance and put Colwyn Bay into next week's North Wales Coast FA Cup final against Flint Town United.
That is to be played at Llandudno next Wednesday (May 11th, 7-30pm kick off).
Barmouth kept themselves on level terms for nearly an hour at Farrar Road tonight, but the introduction at half-time of Jon Newby, last Monday's matchwinning hero against FC United, made the difference.
Colwyn Bay, with eight changes from last Monday's starting line-up, dominated possession in the first half but they couldn't get their radar right in front of goal with most of their efforts going high or wide.
Lee Davey came closest when he volleyed against a post, while Alex Titchiner had the best chance when he broke clear through the middle but slid his shot the wrong side of the upright.
Titchiner was also off target with an acrobatic overhead kick and Karl Noon volleyed another good chance over the bar.
Hard-working Barmouth gradually grew in confidence towards the end of the half and it needed a fine save from Andy Metcalf in a one-on-one situation with Shane Jones to prevent the Welsh Alliance side taking a shock half-time lead.
The Bay had 12 attempts at goal to just three by Barmouth in that first half, but never really tested keeper Darren Andrews, although he did make one brave save at the feet of Gaz Evans.
Evans later had to go off with a dead leg after 24 minutes.
Newby's arrival for the second half changed the game and after hitting a post with his first attempt at goal, he put his side in front with his second on 58 minutes from Titchiner's low cross.
Barmouth tried to hit back and Metcalf had to beat away another shot from Shane Jones after Ieuan Brooks had earlier got the ball in the Bay net only to be flagged offside.
But two goals in two minutes then killed the game off.
Anthony Sheehan broke through on his own to finish well on 71 minutes and then he crossed for Newby to sweep home his second.
Dave Challinor added a fourth seven minutes from the end with a really classy finish, bursting into the area, side-stepping a defender and firing left footed into the bottom corner of the net.
Andy Metcalf's two fine saves meant he kept his fourth consecutive clean sheet in a competition in which the Bay have scored 23 goals and conceded none.
Assistant manager Colin Woodthorpe, despite a sore hip, had an excellent game in the centre of defence in what he tells me was his first full 90 minutes since he played for Bury against Darlington in 2008!
Colwyn Bay: Metcalf, Denson, Woodthorpe, Challinor, Grannon, Aspinall, Sheehan, Evans (Allen 24mins, McMahon 76mins), Noon (Newby 45mins), Titchiner, Davey. Subs not used: Hopley, Meadowcroft.

COLWYN BAY will be without at least six of the side that won promotion to the Blue Square Conference North on Monday for Thursday night's North Wales Coast FA Challenge Cup semi-final against Barmouth and Dyffryn United at Bangor's Farrar Road stadium (7.30pm kick off, admission price £3).
The management team of Dave Challinor, Colin Woodthorpe and Steve Aspinall are all likely to play and reserve goalkeeper Andy Metcalf will be in goal in place of Chris Sanna who has a knee injury.
Fraser McLachlan, Michael Lea, Danny Meadowcroft, Rob Hopley and Jimmy McCarthy are also carrying injuries and won't be involved, so Lee Davey, Gareth Evans, Danny Grannon and Alex Titchiner, who were all on the bench on Monday, will be in the starting line-up.
Colwyn Bay haven't won the Coast Cup since the 1999-2000 season, but with the club on a massive high after Monday's play-off final victory over FC United, they are looking to make it a hat-trick of trophies by adding the Coast Cup to the Evostik Premier runners-up trophy and play-off final trophy that are already in the cabinet.
Barmouth and Dyffryn United have had a tough season and finished in the bottom three of the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division 1, surviving relegation by just one point after a 2-2 draw with Llandudno Junction on Monday.
The winners tonight will play Flint Town United, 4-0 winners over Denbigh Town in the other semi-final last week, in next week's final.
Colwyn Bay (from): Metcalf, Aspinall, Woodthorpe, McMahon, Grannon, Sheehan, Challinor, Davey, Titchiner, Evans, Noon, Denson, Allen, Newby.