Firstly my apologies for not sending out a bulletin for so long; a number of matters have taken priority with the prime offender being the first WFDA book.
“The Football Coast - The History of the Cambrian Coast League” is now available from Siop Lyfrau’r Hen Bost, High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3HA. The price is £6 plus £1.26 postage and packing.
“The Football Coast” is a brief history of the Cambrian Coast League from 1905 to 1963 but also includes details of an earlier Cambrian League, formed in 1896, which did not survive.
Over the years familiar clubs from Pwllheli and Porthmadog to Aberystwyth competed in the league, as well as some more unusual names such as Cookes United, Tywyn Celtic, REME Tonfannau and 140th RAF Llanbedr. Many towns and villages in the area from Criccieth, Pwllheli and Harlech as far as Aberdovey were represented and the league has become part of the local history of these places. During the era of National Service various army sides based at the Tonfannau camp took part in the competition and a number of prominent English League First Division players featured in the league.
Mel Thomas recounts the history of the Cambrian Coast League for the first time from its hesitant beginnings, through the FAW reorganisations of the leagues in the 1920s, to its sad demise in 1963. The league is still fondly remembered by many fans and ex-players and its closure left a gap that has never been adequately filled.
This A5 booklet is lavishly illustrated and includes league tables as well as a statistical section
It is the first publication from the team behind the groundbreaking Welsh Football Data Archive and will be of considerable local interest as well as to soccer fans throughout Wales.
The book is self-published with honorary members David James and Dylan Llewelyn personally sponsoring two thirds of the print run with myself funding the rest. Further copies will be printed by re-cycling the payments so please allow up to 21 days for delivery.
Ammanford member Rob Culley is progressing leaps and bounds with his research into the Ammanford and District League and his work to date should be on the site soon.
We have a new volunteer in David Edwards from Pembrokeshire who is ready to take on the research into the Pembrokeshire League
At this point I would like to bring up the matter of administering the WFDA and the fact that I am unable to devote the time the organisation needs to progress at a faster rate.
I am therefore asking each member to consider taking over the running of the group. The basics really only involve little other than co-ordinating new info, forwarding to the webmaster and generating a bulletin now and then.
What is additionally needed is time to develop ways of attracting new people on board; writing to Leagues, Area Associations, local papers websites etc building up publicity and encouraging people to research their local leagues etc.
In order for the WFDA to develop we need someone less time-restricted than myself to take us forward. I will continue to do research as and when I can but I feel the WFDA is stagnating under my administration.
Ongoing research
Mid-Wales (South) League
Some areas between 1950 and 1962 still require attention. Time has not allowed us to clear this gap.
Aberystwyth & District League & Cardiganshire League
Aled and Richard Huws are slowly digging out the few seasons that are missing
Full International line-ups
Steadily being updated by Ian Garland who, with Gareth M.Davies, is looking towards a 2nd edition of their collaboration “The Who’s Who of Welsh International Soccer Players”
Amateur line-ups
Progress still being made.
Those directly involved with the project so far are:
- Mel Thomas
- Ian Garland
- Aled Jones
- Alun Evans
- Peter Arrowsmith
- Gavin Grosvenor
- Dave Rapson
- Alan Ahearne
- Gareth Hughes
- David Edwards
- Clive Wyatt
- Dave Collins
- Tony Griffiths
- Gwyn Jenkins
- Gwynant Phillips
- Bernard Steer MA
- Gary Pritchard
- David James
- Gareth M Davies
- Dylan Llewelyn
- Terry Grandin
- Michael van Baaren
- William Davies
- Joe Furnival
- Keith Parry
- Rob Culley
- Richard Huws
- Mike Robinson
- Ken Davies
Mel 18/05/10
