Cambrian and Clydach Vale lose key duo Thomas and Evans to top flight Archers

Cambrian and Clydach Vale duo David Thomas and Joe Evans have departed the club to link up with Cymru Premier outfit Cardiff Metropolitan.

A statement on cambrianbgc.co.uk read: “The CamArmy can announce that we are to lose 2 key players of the 1st team squad.

“Centre midfielder and current club captain David Thomas along with centre back stalwart Joe Evans have both decided to join up with JD Cymru Premier side Cardiff Met for the 2019/20 season.”

3 years done @UniSouthWales! Big thanks to everyone involved with @USW_FootballCP and @USWFootball. Enjoyed every minute and met some great people. An experience I’ll never forget! 👨‍🎓 pic.twitter.com/NgcruFMD0n

— Joe Evans (@joe_evans97) July 9, 2019

Impressive seasons for club and university

Both played key roles in Cam’s memorable run to the final of last season’s Nathaniel MG Cup, where they came up short against the Archers.

Midfielder Thomas, who was named Player of the Year for 2018/19, captained the Tonypandy outfit in their impressive Welsh League Division One campaign last term, which saw them finish second; only behind unbeaten Penybont.

Evans, a centre-back, was a rock for Dane Williams’ side, who conceded just 32 goals in the league.

Earlier this year, Thomas captained the University of South Wales Men’s 1st team to a famous double triumph, as the team won the BUCS Premier South as well as the BUCS National Cup.

Evans has fond memories of the Cup final against Hartpury, after scoring a dramatic winner deep into stoppage time, when the game appeared to be heading for penalties.

⏱ 127mins – and then this happens… pic.twitter.com/Bhea6FWNor

— BUCS (@BUCSsport) March 27, 2019

Thomas, a graduate in Sport Psychology, was a nominee for ‘Best Male Sportsperson’ in this year’s USW Sport Recognition Awards, which were held at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Well wishes from those at the club

Manager Williams made clear his well wishes for the pair, who came through the club’s well-respected Academy to become first team regulars.

“I am so proud to see these lads move on”, he said. “I am proud to have been a small part of their development in what has been a decade spent at the club for them both.

“To attain 200 appearances between them at such a young age, plus all the trophies and international accolades they have won while at the club, it really speaks volumes for the type of commitment they have given me, the managers before me and the club in general.

“I wish them all the very best with their academic and sporting futures.”

Loved every minute of my time with the club and look forward to seeing the club continue to progress⚽

— David Thomas (@DaveThomas97) August 6, 2019

Director of Football Mark Morgans added: “Dai and Joe have been superb for the club over many years.

“I remember both players being part of the Academy system as young ambitious teenagers when I joined eight seasons ago, I remember both playing huge parts in our successful youth team when we won the treble and reached the FAW Youth Cup Final for the 1st time in our history.

“I remember both being thrown in the deep end at 16/17 years of age into Welsh League Football and of course who can forget the part they played in the monumental effort last season finishing runners up and going on the magnificent run in both domestic cups.

“They are role models for our younger players striving to break into the senior set up.”

Other achievements and what lies ahead 

Not content with just playing for their local and university side, both youngsters were also part of the Welsh Universities Men’s Football team, which competed in this year’s Home Nations tournament.

Evans was part of the university’s football coaching degree program, with ambitions to remain in the game once his playing days come to an end.

Both will continue their education at the university, which will provide them with the opportunity to compete with some well-known names.

To break into the first team, Evans will be competing with the likes of club stalwarts Emlyn Lewis and Bradley Woolridge, while Thomas will have Chris Baker and Will Evans for competition; which should help them to improve.

Both were destined to make the step up to the top flight at some stage in their careers, and they now have the opportunity at a young age to prove that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level.

They could be in line to make their Cymru Premier debuts when the Archers kick off their league campaign with a trip to Deeside to face Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday, August 17.

(Featured image: Callum Ellis)