Summer Football

[Guest]

They were promoted LAST season though and this season are not having a great time of it and have lost some of the players responsible in a big way for that success.

It's irrelevant anyway. At least the 2 sides we say would hold most of the players in such a side pull most of their players locally - unlike the club who we are saying would not figure!

[Counting Crows]

It's all very well people saying Town, Celtic and Croesy should merge, but who would this benefit?

Why would the village of Croesyceiliog want to lose their own club? Would Brytirion like to lose their club to be part of Bridgend?

Why would Celtic - a club steeped in youth development - want to lose their history and their own club?

Why would a proud, historic club like the Crows - who are going through a lean spell at the moment - want to 'cheat' their way to Division 1 by merging?

The only good enough reason to merge/lose clubs would be if there was money available to build a ground capable of hosting WPL football that this club merged club could play at.

Otherwise, what's the point? What's the point in winning the Division 1 title a few times a decade if you can be promoted?

[Cwmbran Realist]

It is highly unlikely these clubs would ever merge, Celtic and Croesyceiliog loathe each other with a passion, and the other has sunk so low it has nothing to offer the other two. In short all they have in common is the all play their football in the town of Cwmbran.

As far as i can tell it may be logical to merge but it would never happen. The only purpose would be to improve what is already there. That would mean the Welsh premier, a risky place to go without deep pockets. The Town of Cwmbran had a top class Welsh premier side for the best part of ten years, the public of Cwmbran was completly underwhelmed! It would be no different if a club from the town got there again, with or without the Holy Grail of local players.

[watcher]

it was a completely hypothetical suggestion, based on the fact that this Watcher has more knowledge of the Cwmbran area than say the valleys.

of course the clubs would never want to merge. Croesy (which is a district of cwmbran, not a village) have a great social side to the club and Celtic have their community involvement as well. Town will cease to exist if they don't do something drastic soon because another relegation is looking on the cards and they have absolutely nothing to bring to the table.

basically my point was that the only way to improve the quality of the league would be to go the way of rugby with regional teams. the Welsh Premier has almost got this situation already via organic means but still the south east of Wales is under represented due to the massive competition for players and finances in that area.

[Counting Crows]

I didn't realise Croesyceilog was a bit like Tŷ Coch, Coed Eva etc. i honestly thought it was a separate village.

I think this merger idea/suggestion will pop-up from time to time, because multiple clubs in towns is always going to mean that players and supporters are spread more thinly.

Mr. Realist - you are indeed correct in your summary. Even if there was a Cwmbran side in the WPL now, i doubt it would attract crowds more than 120-130. Which is a shame. Apparently there was a four-figure crowd with the Crows played Inter Cardiff in that first season (it was a title decider).

I'm against a merger at the moment, but if someone could guarantee a "bloodless" merger and a tidy WPL-compliant ground (with an on-site social club), then i'd be all for it. I still believe fans want more from a matchday that just 11 v 11 for 90 mins.

Anyway, we appear to have hi-jacked the thread!

I'm against summer football to be honest. As i keep saying on other forums - ask the players! I bet the majority are happy playing footie in the winter and going on holiday in the summer.

[albion]

So are we for or against Summer football?

[Counting Crows]

First we have to establish which divisions would go to summer football, then i'd be able to give a proper answer.

However, broadly speaking I would expect players who want to play football in the winter and who are able to secure themselves an English club (at whatever level) to move out of the Welsh system. Merthyr Town would have the pick of the best D1 players!!

So broadly speaking i'm against it.

I personally think more comfortable surroundings/facilities would attract more people. On Saturday i had to wait till full time to take a leek - or bother the sheep - because the club house / changing block was locked up for HT.

No wonder my girlfriend never wants to accompany me on away trips!!

Not having a go at our hosts on Saturday either - it is just one example of spectator-unfriendly / female-unfriendly venues in the league. And before people conplain that we have a rented stadium i've said time and time again that i'd prefer to have our own ground than our current 'home'.

And a more professionally-run league might help too.

[albion]

You hit the nail on the head there Counting Crows, my Mrs stopped coming years ago because of the dog rough facilities at so many of these grounds. It shouldn't just be about the size of the pitch, how many shower heads you have lets make these grounds attractive to spectators.