Gwent trio appoint rookies (From South Wales Argus)

Gwent trio appoint rookies

12:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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RELEGATED trio Newport YMCA, Croesyceiliog and Cwmbran Town have all named rookie managers as they seek first-time promotion back to Division One of the MacWhirter Welsh League.

All three men are virtually unknown in local football circles and will be taking their first steps into management in the senior men’s game following previous coaching experience.

YMCA, who finished 16th of 18 at the end of last season, have appointed William Meehan, who was a coach to Bristol Rovers’ youth team and was at one stage involved in women’s football in the English city.

He replaces Mark Coldrick, who resigned on the completion of the 2008-09 campaign - but he remains with the Mendgalief Road club as its newly-appointed director of football.

Croesyceiliog, who ended 17th, have turned to former Cardiff City junior player Gavin Morgan, who also appeared for Dinas Powys and Taffs Well.

He went on to become a coach with those two MWL clubs and was with eventual champions ENTO Aberaman Athletic until Christmas of last year.

Bottom-placed Cwmbran’s new man is Barrie Hughes whose playing and coaching career is remarkably similar to Morgan’s Hughes was also at Cardiff as a junior before he went onto play for Bridgend Town, Aberaman, Dinas Powys and Taffs Well.

On the coaching front, Hughes has been associated with Aberaman, Taffs Well and Garw Athletic.

Meanwhile, Meehan and Morgan will go head-to-head on the new season’s opening day on August 15, when YMCA are scheduled to host Croesyceiliog at Mendgalief Road.

Cwmbran are on the road at Ammanford while Division Three newcomers Abertillery Bluebirds face a county derby at Newport Civil Service.

MacWhirter Welsh League first-day fixtures involving Gwent clubs on Saturday, August 15. Division One – Caldicot Town v Caerleon. Division Two – AFC Llwydcoed v Tredegar Town; Ammanford v Cwmbran Town; Llanwern v Garw; Newport YMCA v Croesyceiliog; Treharris Athletic Western v Cwmbran Celtic. Division Three – Aberbargoed Buds v Goytre; Newport Civil Service v Abertillery Bluebirds; Risca United v South Gower; Severn Sisters v Monmouth Town.

l Risca United’s have appointed a new managerial team following the departure of former Newport AFC defender Jeff Eckhardt to Division Two outfit Caerau (Ely).

The Division Three outfit has named former player Steve James to head up their coaching team with Simon Woodsford, who also appeared for Risca, as his assistant.

MWL champions Aberaman Athletic have named former Cwmbran Town striker Mattie Davies as their new manager in succession to ex-Ebbw Vale goalkeeper David Morgan, who resigned from the post recently.

l The first-round draw for the Nathaniel League Cup has paired local clubs Aberbargoed Buds and Croesyceiliog on Saturday, September 19 while Caerleon and Monmouth Town are among those clubs who’ve been handed byes through into the second round.

Full Nathaniel League Cup first-round draw: Caldicot v Penrhiwceiber, Seven Sisters v AFC Porth, Cwmbran Town v Ammanford, Ely Rangers v AFC Llwydcoed, Llangeinor v Troedyrhiw, West End v Tredegar Town, UWIC v Llanwern, Aberbargoed Buds v Croesyceiliog, Goytre v Cwmamman United, Newcastle Emlyn v Newport YMCA, Garw v Treharris, Cwmaman Institute v Cwmbran Celtic, Garden Village v Porthcawl, Bridgend v Aberaman, Llantwit Fardre v Abertillery Bluebirds, Taffs Well v Caerau (Ely), Bettws v Corus Steel, Bryntirion v Maesteg Park, Barry Town v Risca, Afan Lido v Pentwyn Dynamo, Cambrian and Clydach v Pontypridd Town, Newport Civil Service v Pontardawe. Byes: Dinas Powys, Caerleon, Briton Ferry Llansawel, Monmouth, Cardiff Bay Harlequins (formerly Grange Harlequins), Goytre United, Pontyclun, South Gower, Cardiff Corries and Ton Pentre.

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