Llangollen U16s lose League Cup final but still make history

* Llangollen U16s line up at The Racecourse ground.

Saturday, April 26 2014 will stay forever in the memories of Llangollen Youth Under 16s players. 

The team played the final of the Wrexham and District League Cup at Wrexham FC’s ground,  The Racecourse, only to lose 4-1 against a very good Ruthin Town side.

Llangollen started the game well and had a couple of chances thanks to Sam Gostage’s pace and Aaron Davies’s skills.

The game was evenly balanced for the first 20 minutes but then Ruthin started to control the midfield and their physical strength made it very difficult for Llangollen to play their own way.

Llangollen had to make one unexpected change as one of our reliable defenders, Nathan Butler, had to retire due to an ankle injury.

Luke Edwards, his replacement, played an excellent game but the lack of option on the bench to cover the back coupled with the huge size of The Racecourse pitch meant that players’ physical endurance and strength would eventually tell.

The first goal came from the midfield and a very good Ruthin move ended up with an easy tap-in.

Llangollen’s players suffered from the blow and Ruthin kept on putting pressure on their goal resulting in a deserved second barely 10 minutes after the first one and coming from a similar play.

In the meantime Llangollen’s first half goal keeper, Jacob Colley, made an unbelievable save to keep his side in the game.

The first half came to a conclusion with the scoreline 2-0 in favour of Ruthin.

The half-time talk was very much about raising the spirits of the players and to make them realise what a fantastic occasion it was. They knew they had to play the passing football they know best and that scoring the next goal could put them back in contention to win the trophy.

With new intent and purpose the players came back fighting at the start of the second half and took control of the game putting a lot of pressure on the Ruthin goal. 

Following a scare in the first minute where our second half goalkeeper, Jack Carver, made a brilliant save, Llangollen were awarded a free kick about 30 yards from goal which their captain Tristan Lloyd dispatched to perfection. The Ruthin keeper managed to palm it away only for Sam Gostage to score from close range.

The roar that came from the stand where the Llangollen supporters were was amazing and lifted the team. Llangollen pushed for an equaliser and had a few chances but none of them fell kindly.

Ruthin had managed the storm and from their first chance in the second half scored a third from a badly defended corner. Llangollen tried to rally but their players had given everything.

Ruthin scored a fourth to give a final scoreline of 4-1 to Ruthin which was harsh on Llangollen.

Llangollen coach Nico Decourt looks back at the team’s memorable cup run ...

Llangollen U16s players will play the final three games of their youth football in the next few weeks before sitting their GCSE exams.

It is a 10-year story that is about to finish but the run they had in the League Cup this year will stay with them forever.

Llangollen U16 has 17 players and is a Llangollen team only in name as just three players live in Llangollen.

The squad has survived only because other local teams have folded – this may be due to a lack of boys born in 1997-98, interest in other sports or more likely the advent of the Xbox.

Meuryn Hughes, Sam Gostage, Mark Jones, Tom Phillips and Euan Decourt made their grand debut for Llangollen Youth FC in September 2004 against Coedpoeth to be joined a couple of years later by Josh Brazier and Nathan Butler.

Four years later it was Niall Roberts, Luke Edwards and Jack Carver turn to join when Acrefair Youth folded.

Other players came and went and although Llangollen was ‘lucky’ enough not to have many local rivals to fight players for, it was always a struggle to have enough reliable players to compete.

Chirk had a team in the early years but most of the players went to play for St Martins.

At the start of the U13s seasons, three years ago, St Martins also folded and Tristan Lloyd, Ross Briscoe and Rhys Kynaston joined the Llangollen squad.

Morgan Jones followed the season after and finally Jacob Colley, Aaron Davies and Brenden Clegg reinforced the squad this year following another team folding, this time Johnstown Youth. 

The misfortune of some made the squad stronger and created the amazing bunch of lads that are Llangollen U16s today. 

Llangollen Youth has never been renowned to be a ‘winning’ club, but more of a nice gentle club. However, over the last few seasons better results have come from some of the junior teams.

It is fair to say that the current Llangollen U16s were never considered title contenders, often winning the fair play awards at younger age groups, until this season.

A brilliant start to the league meant that for the first time Llangollen would be able to challenge for the honours. Their target from early on was the League Cup as the final would be played on Wrexham FC’s ground, The Racecourse.

Although some of the league results didn’t go Llangollen’s way and ended their title aspirations, their run in the league cup started with an away win against Rhosddu 2-1, followed by the only home tie this year and a win against Marford & Gresford 5-2.

Llangollen were now in the quarter finals and the draw put them against Garden Village, a team they never managed to beat. 

Llangollen played the quarter final in the most surreal weather - sunny to start with then windy in the first half quickly followed by rain, hailstones and lightning in the second half.

The game had to be abandoned with nine minutes to go and Llangollen winning 2-1. The game was replayed three weeks later and they won it 1-0.

The final step to The Racecourse was a game against the other Ruthin team, Ruthin Blues, which proved to be a fantastic game which Llangollen won 4-3.

Llangollen’s trip to The Racecourse was booked and they went there in style.

They booked a team coach, all suited with club ties, and although they lost the final to a worthy Ruthin team they all came back to Llangollen to watch Llangollen vs Chirk while enjoying a BBQ.

It was a fantastic day with the weather being kind to us and made extra special thanks to the support provided by many people from a wide Llangollen area – the roar that came after our goal will stay in my memory forever. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Never before had a Llangollen Youth team made the final of the league cup and as such this year’s Under 16s have made history. But with other fantastic teams coming up the age groups it won’t be long until another Llangollen team goes to The Racecourse and brings the cup back to town!

Stop-off points for Queen's Baton Relay announced

With only a month to go, the excitement is building in Denbighshire ahead of the Queen's Baton Relay's visit to the county on Friday, May 30.

A host of events are being arranged throughout the day to welcome the Baton to Denbighshire, only one of a handful of counties selected throughout the whole of Wales.

The baton relay routes and associated events are:

Rhyl Harbour  (9am-4pm)
The baton is welcomed into Denbighshire during the official opening of Rhyl Harbour.  At the beginning of the event, families will be able to enjoy a festival of colour and activities, including face painting, a treasure trail, bouncy castle, food, demonstrations from rescue services, kite surfing, watersports on Marine Lake and so much more.  For further details visit www.loverhyl.co.uk .  The baton  will be present between 9am and 9.30am

Rhyl Harbour to marsh tracks baton relay (9.30am-10.00am) Six local baton bearers, Michael Kitchin, Nathan Montgomery, Callum Perrin, Jamie Turley, James Morgan, and Tracey Jones will carry the baton between the two Rhyl events. Starting from the harbour at 9.30am, around Marine Lake to promote water sport activities, over the railway footbridge and along the countryside services path at Glan Morfa and into the Marsh tracks cycling centre on Marsh Road.

Marsh Tracks, Rhyl,  (10am-4pm) Free BMX and Road cycling bike hire and coaching, mountain bike track open as usual. Street games activities such as  football, rugby, ultimate frisbee, athletics, dance and more! Test your power against Team GB cyclists scores on the watt bikes leader board and recuperate with FREE drinks supplied by Asda (until stocks last) and food available to buy on- site from the taste academy, Rhyl. The baton will be there between 10am and 11am.

Moel Famau (12 noon – 4pm) The baton arrives on horseback, walking groups will relay the baton to the peak of Moel Famau, come and join in and see the views across the Clwydian Range whilst listening to a live band performance at the summit too! Fell runners will take the baton back down. The baton will be there between 1pm and 3pm.

Ruthin Family FUN day, Cae Ddol (12-5pm) An afternoon on activities for the whole family. Come down to Cae Ddol and join in and watch the battle of the bands, local sport fixtures, bouncy castles, face painting and sporting taster sessions from local clubs such as rugby league, netball, athletics, football, fun fitness boot camps, tennis, golf and bowls.  The baton will be there between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

Coed Llandegla Forest (9am – 8pm), Oneplanet Adventure site Fun open day for mountain bike enthusiasts, all mountain bike tracks open as normal. Go-Race events organised by Welsh Cycling throughout the day, test your power against Team GB cyclists scores on the watt bikes leader board. Live music and entertainment from 6pm for the official baton handover event. The baton is there between  5pm and 6pm.

Councillor Huw Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Leisure said: “It’s great that local athletes and those with connections with the county are to be given an opportunity to be part of this major event and will hopefully inspire a new generation of children and young people to see the benefits of sport and leisure activities in general."

Jamie Groves, Head of Communications, Marketing and Leisure for Denbighshire, said: “We have a team of staff working tirelessly to welcome the Baton Relay into the county and to arrange activities to coincide with this historic event.

“It is also a great platform for the county to show the rest of Wales and beyond that Denbighshire is a great place, not only to live and visit, but also to host major events of national significance.”

Message for local councils at Llangollen conference

Public sector organisations in Wales should learn from each other - that was the message at a conference recently hosted by Denbighshire County Council in Llangollen.

Delegates from public sector organisations across Wales attended the Learning for Change conference at Llangollen Pavilion and heard from the council about Denbighshire's experiences of managing the challenges faced by the authority following a critical Estyn inspection report in 2007 and a Corporate Governance report in  2008.

The Council's Leader, Councillor Hugh Evans and Chief Executive, Dr Mohammed Mehmet spoke about the "dark days" and how the council worked on transforming its culture, communication, performance management and its scrutiny processes following the publication of both reports.

Keynote speaker at the event was Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Local Government who outlined the current challenges facing the public sector in Wales.

The other presenter was Steve Thomas, Chief Executive of the Welsh Local Government Association, who spoke about Denbighshire's experience and the national picture of the public sector in Wales.
Councillor Hugh Evans, said: "It was a good opportunity for us to share our journey of improvement, but to also learn from other organisations about the challenges they have faced and their approach to managing their reputations and making changes to their services.

"I became Leader of the council at the start of our journey in Denbighshire.  We were clear from day one that things needed to change and we have focussed on a change in culture, improved leadership and a focus on performance and self-evaluation. We now have mechanisms in place to improve services and to monitor progress through service challenges and our political scrutiny system."

Mohammed Mehmet said: "Wales is a small nation and we should be sharing best practice and learning from each other. This is even more important during times of change and uncertainty.  

"Denbighshire has certainly gone through significant change and has transformed its way of working over recent years. Regulators tell public sector organisations they should learn from each other- that message came across clearly at the conference. Now we need to make that vision a reality - for the greater good of the public sector in Wales."

The  Minister, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Since becoming the Minister for Local Government and Government Business, I have stressed the importance of sharing best practice  across  the  public sector. It is  a challenging time for  public services but it is also a time of opportunity to consider new ways of working and new approaches to delivering services.

“During my visits across all 22 Local Authorities last summer, I saw many examples of innovative services and was impressed by the vision underpinning them.

“The examples I saw involved Local Authorities working with partners and citizens to create new approaches focusing on prevention, quicker action and more tailored service delivery. They also involved good collaboration within organisations.

“Local Government is at the frontline of providing everyday services for our communities. Delivering the transformational change to sustain services and deliver better outcomes for people and communities. The conference provided the platform for us to learn from each other, share experiences and discuss best practice.

“I congratulate and thank Denbighshire County Council for arranging  this conference,  to enable shared learning on such a  large-scale.”

Meeting looks at Llan newspapers of the past

To launch the availability of "Tuesday Review" and "Broadsheet" on line,  [http://www.peoplescollectionwales.co.uk/  and search for either Tuesday Review or Broadsheet,
there will be a joint meeting of Hanes - Llangollen Museum - and Llangollen Civic Society at the Hand Hotel Wednesday 30th April at 7:30pm.

Peter Jones will give a history of Llangollen Newspapers, from 4th November 1860 to the present day. 

He will also demonstrate how it is now possible to access those from 1868 - 1908 and 1915 - 1919 as well as the newly available 1947 - 1983. 

Janet Wakefield will then show instances of how the newspapers reflected the life of the times that the newspapers were written, by picking out some of the more characteristic pieces of the time. 

For those without access to the internet it should be possible to use facilities at the Library to access the newspapers. 

The museum also holds a collection of the papers from 1868 - 1944 on microfilm, and the digitised copies of Tuesday Review and Broadsheet. 

Hanes provided the bulk of the issues for digitisation, but Llangollen Museum and Llangollen Library were helpful in providing their collections, as were several people in Llangollen.

Llangollen Museum provided the A3 scanner, and the software was bought using a donation from Sara Pugh Jones's first cousin twice removed, in Bogota, Columbia.

Ken's been working on the railroad

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates got his hands dirty during a gruelling shift with a team of volunteers who are reinstating and extending a railway line.


The Labour Assembly Member (pictured right) rolled his sleeves up and got stuck into an afternoon stint with
the Llangollen Railway group in Corwen on Thursday afternoon (April 24).

He said: “It was great fun – I really enjoyed it. This is a fantastic heritage project and a
tremendous amount of work has gone into it so far, but it’s obviously a labour of love for the
volunteers. They’ve made astonishing progress.”

Mr Skates, who is based in Llangollen, spent the afternoon shifting ballasts and helping the
crew align quarter-tonne sleepers ahead of the planned opening of the Llangollen-Corwen.

He added: “It was hard work, but I don’t think I did a bad job keeping up with the volunteers
and I was glad to be able to help. The next step is to build and install a 100-metre platform and
access ramp leading off the embankment at Dwyrain Corwen East, but the laying of the track
was completed recently ahead of schedule so it’s now full steam ahead.

“I’d like to thank the team for having me along and wish them the best of luck – I’m sure their
wonderful vision will soon become a reality.”

200 flock to Plas Madoc photoshoot

* Kids in roller disco gear for the photoshoot at Plas Madoc.

More than 200 people turned out to show their support for a campaign to save under-threat Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.

Alison Roberts, a committee member of the recently formed Splash Community Trust, organised a photoshoot to help with marketing material as the charitable group bids to reopen the popular facility in Acrefair this summer.

 

The shoot was held to coincide with a half-term roller disco for children on Thursday – and Alison, who works in marketing, was thrilled with the turn-out.

 

She said: “It was fantastic. The roller disco event is hugely popular and there was in excess of 200 there despite many thinking the centre had already closed. We had a professional photographer come along and the shots will be used in future marketing material.

 

"Parents and children were happy to support so we’ve got some brilliant pictures to use to promote Plas Madoc while our work to reopen it continues.

 

“It was an event tinged with sadness as it marked the last one, and for children, parents and staff it was emotional to say farewell to this iconic activity at Plas Madoc.”

 

The Splash Community Trust is working to take over the running of the Plas Madoc from Wrexham Council and operate it as a community enterprise, with all profits ploughed back into the facility. But they face a major battle to generate the funds needed.

 

Alison added: “The centre has been really busy over Easter, so we’re confident that if we can reopen in time for the summer, when usage is always high, we will be able to get off to a great start.”

 

A third public meeting is expected to be held over the next few weeks. In the meantime, anyone with fundraising ideas is asked to email jennymiller08@hotmail.co.uk or call Jenny on 07921 659099.

Musical mission in Llangollen

* Ksenija Sidorova is heading for Llangollen. 

“I am on a mission”, declares Latvian-born Ksenija Sidorova as she talks about her appearance at the 2014 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The classical accordion player, a former student of London’s Royal Academy of Music, says she wants to bring her instrument to the world and to audiences that simply don’t appreciate its versatility or true possibilities.

Ksenija, the ‘j’ is silent she is quick to point out in near perfect English, says she is honoured to have been asked to appear at the Eisteddfod having heard all about the festival from Bryn Terfel.

The Welsh bass-baritone knows Ksenija well, particularly after her success in being named, in 2012, the first international award winner of the Bryn Terfel Foundation.

Ksenija will be performing Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus Colores alongside acclaimed American tenor Noah Stewart and musicians such as Venezulan trumpet player Pacho Flores and a host of others.

She said: “I’m delighted to be having the chance to appear and perform under the baton of Karl Jenkins, who I admire so much.

“I’m really excited about the concert particularly as Bryn Terfel has told me so much about the festival and its wonderful history. It really will be an honour to perform in Wales again.

“I have worked with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and performed at Bangor a few years ago but I haven‘t been to Wales for quite a while. And I have never been to Llangollen which I’m told is such a beautiful place.”

Ksenija, 25, was encouraged to play the accordion by her grandmother although she says her mum also plays a similar instrument.

She said: “My mum plays a Bayan, a type of Russian button accordion, while my grandmother plays a slightly different instrument. Both are nothing like the classical accordion I play which has a keyboard and not buttons.

“As a child my grandmother encouraged me to learn and play and I’m glad I did. It wasn’t quite love at first sight but there was always something about the instrument. My family is quite musical, my dad also plays the guitar, but they only really play for their own pleasure.

“I had a very serious music teacher and everything had to be absolutely right and I was a quick learner. Perhaps my path in life, my destiny, was already set out for me and the accordion.

“I also played the piano which had more of the cool factor about it that, perhaps, the accordion didn’t. Other children seemed to find the accordion funny but I was always, more and more, sort of drawn to it.

“It’s a wonderful instrument and can be so many things, cool, sweet, sexy, it can produce sounds to suit any mood. It’s almost there when it comes to being recognised as a truly classical instrument. We just need to finally secure its place with the general public.

“It is up to people who have fought for it to have its own identity and to gain its full acceptance to bring it to the world, so everyone can listen and hear its true potential.”

Ksenija says she is delighted to be able to fit the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod into her busy concert schedule.

She said: “I have travelled extensively this last year with concerts in Morocco, Spain, Portugal and Kazakhstan to name just a few places; it’s been a really hectic year.

Ksenija moved to London from her native Latvia as she wanted to take advantage of more concert opportunities and the chance to study at the Royal Academy of Music.
She became a prize-winning undergraduate before receiving her Master’s degree with Distinction.

Awards and international competition successes have flowed regularly since 2009 and she is now very much in demand as a classical concert accordionist and has worked with a host of composers including Hans Abrhamsen, Samantha Fernando, Elspeth Brooke and of course, Karl Jenkins.    

Always keen to promote the accordion, Ksenija manages to fit in outreach work at primary schools across the UK with the support of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

And like many musicians Ksenija says she treats her instruments almost as human.

She said: “I have two accordions, both Italian and made by Pigini. They are delicate and I’m afraid I have to pay full adult fare on flights around the world for them. Whichever one I’m using travels with me and is placed on the adjacent seat.  
  
“As an instrument they are far too delicate to be put in aircraft baggage holds and, at £20,000 each, too expensive to replace.

“A benefactor helped pay for one while the other I had to pay for myself through a lot of saving and hard work although my family helped too.

“Each has its own characteristics, despite being the same model, and sound, to me very different but each also becomes an extension of my being when I play.”

She added: “I am really excited about the Llangollen International Music Festival and working with Karl Jenkins. I think Colores is a magical mix of classical and Latin music which the audience will really enjoy.

“And if I can convert another audience into loving the accordion as I do, well, it will be mission accomplished in Wales!”

The curtain raiser for this year's Eisteddfod will mark the return of opera superstar Bryn Terfel to Llangollen.

 

The acclaimed bass baritone will be playing the lead production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street featuring a stellar cast including top tenor Wynne Evans.

 

This year's will also feature concerts by Dutch jazz sensation Caro Emerald and veteran British rockers Status Quo.

 

The Friday night concert, Spirit of Unity, will feature the Cape Town Opera, Africa’s premiere opera company, famed for their "vibrant vocalism and high-octane stage performances".

 

Appearing with them will be Wales’ representative in Cardiff Singer of the World, Gary Griffiths, the Wales Millennium Centre Only Kidz Aloud Chorus under the baton of celebrity conductor Tim Rhys Evans and British Sinfonietta, one of the UK's leading independent professional orchestras.

 

The Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy on the Saturday night is the blue riband event of the week-long festival which will close with a Sunday night concert by Status Quo.

 

To book tickets ring the box office on 01978 862001 or go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk