Craig Wells celebrates Ynyshir Albion’s title success
Ynyshir Albion’s Craig Wells says the clubs promotion will be hard to beat after winning the Premier Division this season.
For the first time in the clubs history, they earned promotion to the Welsh League, a long-term goal of theirs since their inception.
Finishing top of the league with 75 points, The Buns won the Premier Division title after some near misses.
It’s now a time for celebration for the Rhondda club who will be contending with some of the bigest hitters in their area.
The player-manager said: “To have the chance no manage your local team in the Welsh League and to be able to do it alongside your mates and with the support of your local community it doesn’t get much better than that.
“It’s down to a lot of hard work and commitment from a lot of different people that all share the same goal.”
Signed as a 17-year-old, his ambition was to get the club Welsh League football.
The Buns had a three year spelling which they continued to challenge at the top of the division between 2002 and 2005.
But as the club spurned that opportunity, their now legendary figure at the club spent ten yers away with nearby AFC Porth and Cambrian & Clydach Vale.
He did have a brief part to play in their Division Two success after recovering from injury but it wouldn’t be until 2015 that Wells would return.
As the club struggled, Wells brought the club some much needed stability as a player, before moving into management.
Asked what it meant to finally achieve that goal of Welsh League football, Wells replied: “It was a relief, having come so close all them years ago and it was with players from that time who are still connected with the club.
“It was great to get the job done and it really is the fulfilment of a lot of hard work from a lot of people down the years and we’re all just really excited to draw a line under it now and start a new chapter in the clubs history.”
A number of clubs like Llantwit Major, Penydarren BGC and STM Sports have gone through a meteoric rise of the Welsh pyramid system, having plied their trade in the South Wales Alliance League.
Penydarren this season achieved a League and Cup double, having never played in the Welsh League before.
But having waited so long for Welsh League football, the end goal next season will be about stability.
“I think it’s a case of waiting and seeing what happens. We’ve got a big pre-season ahead with the potential new faces coming in.
“I’ve already learned that since our promotion that Welsh League is a lure for new players.
“While a good player who buy into what we’re about as a club will always be welcome; I do think stability is important. I believe that we already have players at the club that can take us forward.
Emphasis has been made of their success of the Youth team, in what is a tough area for your football. The Rhondda has a number of youth academies.
Nearby Cambrian & Clydach Vale have shown the way in giving their own a chance in senior football.
“The club also has a youth team who have been very successful this season and there are players from that team that can definitely compete for the senior team in the coming year.
“We see them as the future so it’s crucial that there’s a pathway for those players to come through and have the opportunity to prove themselves.
With three years of management under his belt, the 36-year-old still has a part to play on the pitch.
The former Cambrian forward was on the scoresheet late on in their 2-1 victory over Canton Liberal, putting them one game away from promotion.
There aren’t many player-managers in the Welsh League but with 115 goals in 200+ appearances, he could call upon himself with that Welsh League experience to help the Buns.
“Everyone including myself will have to prove themselves all over again and if someone comes in and shows me enough to suggest that they can start the season as our number nine then that would mean that I could turn my attention fully to the management side of things.”
