Two-thousand and nineteen – being the club’s first full calendar year since formation in 2018 – has been one of growth for Pontypridd Football Club.
There have been ups and downs on the field, but the players and coaches in all our teams continue to develop even if at senior level it sometimes feels like results and performances are “one step forward, one step back”. Nevertheless, we have more teams, more players and parents involved at the club and there remains scope for further expansion in 2020. We continue to have excellent relationships with our sponsors whose support we are so grateful for and as a club we continue to try and be a positive force in the community through participation in various schemes and strategies. There is more we want to and can do on this front and aim to develop this future in the next 12 months.
So with 2019 at it’s end, we would like to mention and thank the people that have helped the club get to the point we are at.
Firstly, our deepest gratitude goes to Western Security Systems and Prichard’s. Their financial support through sponsorship during the last two seasons has really helped the club get on by kitting out the players in excellent matchday and training gear. This season’s bespoke matchday home kit for the first team and under 14s is well-liked across the club and also ensures the teams at least look good when they go onto the field. There has also been training kit provided for these sides, as well as kit for the players in our new minis section. We were also honoured as a club to have Steve Outing and Tom Prichard representing their companies at the senior presentation evening in June.
Our thanks goes to FJ’s Print Shop for the service they have provided with matchday kits, training kits and club equipment. Our home matchday experience also includes visits to the Rose & Crown, our thanks to Snowy Insole and his team for their hospitality and support for the club.
The club does not function without the volunteers that give their time to perform the essential operations of the club. Our committee work hard behind the scenes trying to create the best possible environment for all the players at all levels and we have excellent coaches whose work developing the players does not go unnoticed. The club has more coaches than 12 months ago, all having received training from the FAW and at least two set to embark on FAW Coaching C Certificates in 2020 as the club aspires to provide the best possible coaching and a higher standard of accreditation from the FAW. The only negative was the loss of Paul Dennis from the senior coaching set-up but we will always be grateful to Paul for helping the club get started and wish him the best of luck and good health in the future.
The club is fortunate to have excellent groups representing us at senior and under 14s level. There may be better sides out there but the way our teams conduct themselves, respecting the game, opponents and match officials makes them a credit to us. We hope they can go on in 2020 to achieve the goals they have set themselves.
The parents of our junior players are part of this, their commitment and faith in the club as the right environment for their children to learn and develop their football is something we are grateful for. This season our under 14s squad has “maxed out”, we have had to turn players away and that in itself is testament to the work those involved with the under 14s are doing. A special mention to our new minis set-up. Formed this summer, we have an excellent group of enthusiastic children between 4 and 7 years old enjoying learning to play the beautiful game in a fun, friendly atmosphere. Our thanks to those committed players and parents who have braved cold, dark (and often wet) autumn Wednesday evenings.
Marie Ward joined the club as matchday photographer this season and the quality of her work has really helped to enhance the club’s profile in terms of social media and the website. We are certainly grateful for the service she provides the club. There are also a number of other individuals and organisations that have supported us in various endeavours, these include (but not limited to) Sport RCT, Football v Homophobia, David Gaule of the East Glamorgan Welsh Guards Association, Boom Kids TV, South Wales FA and the Taff Ely Rhymney Valley Alliance League.
Finally thanks goes to those hardy souls that support the senior team, home and away, at more or less every game. Your support for the boys is incredible and really boosts the morale and team spirit on matchdays.
Happy New Year
The Committee | Pontypridd FC
