Caerau FC

[austinpowers]

I have just heard that Caerau FC have decided to pull out of the Welsh League!?!?!?

Not sure of reasons why but is this a potential for Barry Town to take their position? Or will the Welsh FA feel by doing this they are admitting defeat? Going back on this Merthyr Town went bankrupt and only dropped 2 dividions to the next 'available' position (dropped a further division due to lack of facilities at Taffs Well's pitch)?

It's all going on this summer! Who needs Corrie or Eastenders when you have the Welsh League?

[dannyg]

If this is true, then the ideal and most sensible solution would be to promote Pontypridd Town from division 3 to division 2 and place Barry Town United in division 3

[rocky]

They have indeed folded. This is very sad news, and despite being a Barry Town supporter for over 20 years, I do not wish to turn this thread into being about us.

More than that, this is about another local level club folding because of the lack of long term structure or planning or input by the FAW.

Until there is a serious re-structuring of the entire Welsh Pyramid - which I can't see happening any time soon, this will keep happening, and its tearing communities apart. I know very little of Caerau, being honest I had to check which division they were in, but regardless of their level or my knowledge of them, it is incredibly sad for all connected with the club.

Will the FAW give a sh*t, hell no. They'll just blame it on poor financial management by those at the club. As long as one or two clubs get to Europe every year, they don't give a damn about the rest (no disrespect to those who made it this year of course) but they will fall at some point too, and will the FAW be there to protect them in their hour of need and act like the custodians of the game that they should be? No. They'll just let Prestatyn and TNS and Bala die in a ditch while they enjoy a trip abroad with whichever club happens to be doing well at the time.

Apologies if this sounds at all bitter, and I'm sure it does, but despite the fact I live in Bristol - the 'wrong side' of the bridge, I am massively passionate about what is happening in Welsh football at the moment, and find it very sad that another local club is gone, and another nail bangs down on the coffin of the domestic game in Wales.

Is it any wonder that Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, and others too have migrated to the English game given the way the Welsh game is run? And now Welsh players like Mr Bale are off to sunny Spain - will he be making himself available for Wales again - I doubt it. You ask an £80m+ player whether he'd prefer to play a friendly for Wales against San Marino at Belle View or El Classico for Real Madrid at Camp Nou?

Am I the only one that thinks if we took on the same format as Scottish football (which is edging closer to the English system) that the domestic game will benefit, home grown players will stay in Wales and the National side might improve? How many of the England Squad play in England? All of them. How many of the Scottish Squad play in Scotland - about half I'd say. And in Wales - 0. Zip. Nada. None. Says it all I think.

As for Barry Town filling gaps in the league left by less fortunate clubs - the phrase walking in a dead mans shoes springs to mind. IF and i mean IF Barry Town are to be awarded a place in WL football, it should be because we've earned it, the way we have done for the last few years, and shouldn't have had our place removed in the first place. We should be in there on merit and on principle, and NOT because another club had to fold to allow us a space.

How the WL and FAW people will structure the leagues moving forwards, Barry Town or no Barry Town is anybody's guess - I'd be surprised if even they know.

Anyway, rant over, just hope someone out there agrees with me. Commiserations to all at Caerau FC, I hope they can rebuild in the future.

[bullshitbuster]

I'd suggest Barry getting enough points to stay in Welsh League Division One last season was merit enough to warrant inclusion.

Sad news about Caerau. Have always had a soft spot for them.

[austinpowers]

I opened this thread without commenting about the sad nature of the demise at Caerau. Sorry.

This is a trend which has happened at near neighbours at Maesteg Park as well as Ebbw Vale, Abergavenny Thursdays and many more. I do agree with Rocky that we need to have some sort of support structure, but clubs need to ensure they run within their means (not pointing any fingers as I don't know enough facts to be able to point fingers).

Danny, I also thought about your point but as it seems like common sense I do not think it will happen. Will they be happy to 'bow down' to both Ponty and Barry Town United? I really don't know. I suppose only time will tell.

[ronjeremie]

What will Sully think of this, if there is a space available.
Personally I think it's terrible news about Caerau, we were supposed to play them 1st game.
That's the 2nd team in 3 years that have folded that were playing us 1st, and we played Caerau 1st last season as well.
It wouldn't surprise me if we play the 2nd division with 15 teams this season.

[Deleted]

Blaming the FAW for the demise of Caerau is like blaming the invention of French underpasses for the death of Princess Diana. Who knows whats happened there, it could be down to anything. It's not a generic problem maybe one more to do with the mindset and lack of loyalty these days from players. Who knows?

[sullysports]

Sully will respond. We have a local derby today with Llantwit to get past first. At home of course.

[ctfcspokesman]

Based totally on the fact Pontypridd were the fourth placed team in the third division and there will now be a spare place in DIvision 2 I totally agree with Danny G that they should be promoted. This has no bearing on any challenges they have made against us and totally on results achieved.

Good luck with this .

[rocky]

I must agree with Vogdog - we don't know what has happened at Caerau, but I think that a solid re-structuring of leagues and even education and monitoring on running football clubs will reduce the amount of times this is happening - it could also result in rogue owners being booted out...

Again, I think we could all speculate forever on who should be playing in which league next season, sadly that decision is out of the hands of us loyal supporters....

[ianto490]

I know rumours abound at the withdrawal of Caerau FC and there is no smoke without fire but it is a little premature to write the club off just yet. Its true that there are problems but nothing which is unsolvable at the moment.
We have financial issues but nothing compared to some and I believe that these issues are workable. We are a self funding, self generating club with no major income or major sponsor. Our players were not getting paid but were receiving 5 pints per win, which they funded themselves anyway by the sale of lotto tickets. Over the last 3 seasons there has been lots of work done to bring the Club up to and we believe exceed the 2009 ground criteria, for example the new referees changing room, improvements to the changing rooms to incorporate the showers into the actual changing rooms and more recently the top end of the pitch drainage, all of which has put a substantial drain on our already small bank account. I am also aware that many other clubs are in the same position and in no way am I looking for a sympathy vote, I'm trying to give you an explanation of what has gone on at our Club
There is an issue with lack of committee members, in particular the officers.
There is also a player issue.
Each one of the issues would be workable on their own but with the 3 coming together all at once its something like the perfect storm !!!
The last thing that anyone involved with our club wants is for it to fold and we are currently working hard to rectify these areas. As it stands at the moment I am confident. Financially we are ready to start the season, there is movement with new committee members and I'm waiting to hear about players. If Caerau were to be withdrawn, I want to make sure that I and all at the Club have exhausted all options.
May I wish all clubs good luck with the fothcoming season
Regards
Ian
Secretary
Caerau FC

[rigsby]

If indeed Caerau are folding it is another sad day for local football. Dont know if its financial reasons but if we look at Neath and Llanelli recently that was certainly the reason. Will never get my head around amateur clubs paying amateur footballers to play for their clubs. History is littered with clubs who have spent above their means, Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny Thursdays to add to the long list of established clubs chasing a so called dream. The economic climate at the moment will only see other clubs go to the wall paying out money to pay mercenary footballers who do the circuit. Clubs who work hard for their money use it for better facilities and nurture your youth teams to create loyalty to your club and dont waste it on chasing something that's unsustainable in the future or see more clubs go out of existence

[veritas]

I was going send a long reply to Rocky and others' theory about the FAW and Caerau but "Ianto" said nearly all of it for me !

It's not the FAW, it's the three problem areas he identified. viz,
(a) Sufficient players of ability in your locality.
If you haven't got enough of them , you need-
(b) Enough money to pay players to come and play for you.
If the money runs out, you are in trouble
and, finally,
(c)you need people to raise money and run the club.
Look at these clubs who have dropped out of the League or folded since 2001:-
Porthtowyn, Maesteg, Gwynfi, Garw, Llangeinor, Blaenrhondda, Ferndale, Pontyclun, Abercynon, Tondu, Pontlottyn, Blaenavon and Fields Park/Pontllanfraith.
All from Valley areas where there weren't enough good players locally and where the clubs couldn't afford to pay players to come and play for them and also sometimes couldn't get people to help run the club.
The effect of all this is that the Welsh League is contracting to an area bounded by the M4 corridor from Port Talbot to Newport.
Nothing to do with the FAW or Welsh League Committees , League organization or pyramid systems- just a lack of money and people to run the clubs.

[paule62]

I was involved with Fields Park/Pontllanfaith until they folded....and I live in Bristol !! [parents from Pont].
Finished third in WL div one...then relegated the following season, fell through Div 2, two seasons in Div 3 and then the very small committee called time as they didn't want Gwent county league football.
Shame really as they were a great bunch of people but couldn't attract more people to help out and players with WL experience to keep them there.

[mattbryant473]

Ask barry united to help you
They seem to have all the celebrities behind them and certainly have pots of money
Behind them
Don't wait for an answer you wont get one as they look after themselves and no one else