Knockout Cup
Nineteen teams enter
The draw for the Knockout Cup was made by former Chairman, Dennis Murphy and Mathern’s Jim Edwards. Three preliminary round games will be decided on October 24th before the first round proper of the Knockout Cup can be played on Sunday 21st November. The final is scheduled for Sunday May 8th 2011. Several clubs have entered both their Over 40 and Over 45 sides so some interesting ties could take place.
The holders are Abercarn who beat Port Talbot 2 -
Preliminary round games are :-
Albion Rovers v Pembroke
Taffs Well Over 40 v Abercarn
The Martyrs v Rhondda Over 40
The first round proper throws up some interesting games. Holders Abercarn have been drawn away to old rivals Taffs Well Over 40s. These clubs would be seeded one and two so it’s a pity that one is going to be eliminated so early in the competition. Albion Rovers will make the short journey to Mathern if they beat newcomers Pembroke Vets. Newport Reps will find Aneurin Labour a hard nut to crack while both Nelson teams have been drawn away - the Over 40s at Swansea and the Over 45s meeting the winners of the Martyrs versus Rhondda Over 40s. Another interesting match up is Barry Vets against Llantrisant Over 45s. They met is last season’s Over 45 semi final with Barry winning through to face eventual winners Taffs Well.
For full first round draw
Team Managers
Appointments for 2010/11
The managers of the Wales Veterans Representative teams for this season are as follows:-
Over 40 - Jeff Evans and Keith Nelson (Swansea, pictured above)
Over 45 - Robbie Ryan and John Convery (Llantrisant)
Over 50 - Jim Edwards (Mathern) and Dicky Batt (Barry)
Over 55 - to be announced
Veterans News
Wales to play host to Northern Ireland
Over 45s to play at Cardiff Athletics Stadium
Wales Veterans are looking for a sponsor for their game against Northern Ireland at Cardiff Athletics Stadium on Saturday 9th October 2010. Anyone who can help should contact John Herniman on 07986 568376.
The Welsh team will be selected from those who play in the Over 45 league and the managers will be Robbie Ryan and John Convery.
Special thanks are due to Jeff White of Barry Vets and ‘Jeff White Motors’ for his support of this event. Please also support other sponsors who can be found by clicking here .....
Robbie Ryan of Llantrisant, seen left in the picture, will manage the Wales Over 45s team to take on Northern Ireland in the first Veterans International between the two countries. The experienced John Convery will be joint manager. Wales are also playing Scotland in Glasgow in February or March. It is hoped that an International tournament involving the four home countries and Ireland will take place in 2011.
We are looking for a ground to stage the over 50s Internationals against England scheduled for Saturday October 30th. Any ideas then please contact John Herniman on 02920 311598.
Hall of Fame
It has been decided to set up a Wales Veterans ‘Hall of Fame’ which will contain distinguished Wales Veterans International players who have decided to hang up their boots. The first two players nominated are Howie Beynon and Phil Preene.
Howie played for Aneurin Labour and Llantrisant in the Vets’ league. His greatest asset was his pace and everyone was sorry when his leg was broken while he was playing for Penyrheol, his local Saturday side. This injury brought to an end the distinguished career of a footballing artist.
The same cannot be said of Phil Preene. He was known as a tough tackling midfielder and many a player will regret that he has retired before they had chance to ‘get their own back’. He has wisely decided to call it a day but the sight of Phil Preene strutting the streets of Pontyclun in his Wales Vets shirt will never be forgotten (by the way we’ve got the shirt back now) .
Phil Preene
Howie Beynon
Mathern and Merthyr warm up
for the new season
Mathern entertained Merthyr in this pre - season friendly. Both sides took the game seriously but some nasty tackles led to one or two injuries. Hopefully this behaviour will be replaced by the usual spirit of friendship that normally prevails in the Over 45 league. For the record, Paul Caviel (pictured right in white) opened the scoring for Merthyr when he headed home Darren Griffiths’ cross. Newcomer Ian Thomson (right in blue) equalised for Mathern with 15 minutes to play.
Both clubs look to have plenty of experienced players and are sure to be in contention at the end of the season although Merthyr appear to have lost the services of Gary Jones to The Martyrs.
Goalkeepers, Mike Dowler of Mathern and Martin Smith of Merthyr, have been capped by Wales, Dowler for the Over 50s and Smith for the Over 45s. Their form in this game showed that they are going to be very hard to dislodge.
Over 40s
Fixtures for week 1
Eleven teams have entered the league and will each play 7 games with the top 4 clubs meeting in the Champions Cup semi finals in April and the next 4 playing in the Consolation Cup semi finals. Games scheduled for 5th September are :-
Dafen v Swansea
AFC Llwydcoed v Abercarn
The Martyrs v Albion Rovers
Taffs Well v Nelson
Over 45s
More teams aim to take the Cup from Taffs Well
The first games are scheduled for September 12th and Taffs Well will face strong opposition when they defend the trophy they won last season. Mathern, Nelson and Rhondda Vets join last year’s challengers, Barry Vets, Llantrisant, Merthyr Vets and Swansea in a strong league. Bryntirion return after a season out and Pembroke and Newport Reps, both experienced Veterans campaigners join us for the first time.
A representative side from this league will play Northern Ireland in Cardiff on October 9th.
Over 50s
- Get together in September
- England games in October
- Scotland in the new year
All over 50 players are invited to meet up in September at Albion Rovers ground in Newport in preparation for the fourth series of matches against England which will take place on October 30th. This will enable team selectors to cast their eye over all available talent. See the Over 50s section for more details.
Also lined up is a game in Scotland at the indoor arena next to Hampden Park, Glasgow. This game will take place in February/March 2011. More details will be announced in September.
