As part of our ongoing coverage of the Cardiff Combination Football League, we want to feature the clubs that make up the league, profiling their respective histories and plans for their future.
Our third of the series involves a new club with big ambitions, Glamorgan AFC. We interviewed First Team Manager Joey Goode.
Glamorgan AFC were formed in 2016, and this is their first season as a club in any league. Goode, who had previously played for fellow Combination side Marshfield Athletic (now BC Athletic), decided to start a club of his own. Goode says “We’re made up of players who have grown up with each other and although [some players] have played parks football for many years, we have never fully together like this season. Some players have played at a higher level with the likes of Daniel Geach and Nathan Gates playing at Pontypridd; Ben Hewings, Sam Salter and Thomas Jones playing at Ely Rangers and Joseph Dacey who was so successful at Wenvoe FC had seen him linked with Airbus UK Broughton of the the Welsh Premier. Our top goalscorer, Joshua House is in fact an ex-rugby player whom, up until this season had never played football before. He’s quick and strong, the main attributes you need to be a striker at this level and he’s currently reaping the rewards of having blistering pace.
Goode who combines his role as manager with club secretary, also said that despite being friends with his team outside of football.
“The line between mate and manager is often clouded come 9pm Friday evening (that’s when I release the team sheet) but luckily the guys are understanding.”
He also explains the roles other players have at the club saying “Daniel Green, who I have played with since the age of seventeen but known since the age of eleven is the assistant captain and leader on the pitch. What he lacks in pace he more than makes up for in positioning and knowledge of the game. Kieron Yorke, who I brought with me from the then Marshfield Athletic, is a mainstay of the midfield and all the boys love having him in the team. His calmness on the ball and the ability to pick a pass frees up those around him and in turn the performance of the players lifts. Our right-back Jason Coulthard who I signed after he had a two year hiatus from football is like a Welsh Phillip Lahm. His pace gets the defence out of so many difficult situations and having that insurance policy is something every manager loves to have!”
Talking about this season Goode states that “Our season so far has gone exactly to plan! I wanted to win the league, and so far we’re top [of Division Two] with four points more than over 2nd to 4th place and we have to still play the bottom team [Pontprennau Pumas] to play twice.
If we win those games we win the league. The cups were a bonus and after playing on unplayable pitches in ridiculous conditions it just wasn’t meant to be. Our only losses have come in those conditions which can’t be helped.”
Finally, Goode goes on to talk about the five year plan he has in place for his club
“In our first season we wanted to establish ourselves and win the league. Next year we want to have a second team, and try to win or at least win a cup final. In our third and fourth seasons we want to make sure we win a cup, obtain a coaching C-Licence and have two and then three youth teams set-up, all with qualified coaches – as well as being in the Premier League and going for promotion into the South Wales Alliance.
Our fifth year should see us owning our ground [currently The Mound] and meet SWAL criteria so we can also play home FAW Trophy games, and have five youth teams in total from under 8’s to under 13’s.”
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