It was a memorable day for Caernarfon fans as they watched their side ran out 4-1 winners over Barry Town United.
The game was played in good spirits. Caernarfon shocking Barry, who hadn’t lost a league game this season. Challenges were flying in with both sets of players wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
But it wasn’t just on the pitch that took me by surprise, it was the event itself and the components of it.
It felt like a real match which at times in the Welsh game, has felt like something is lacking. It had the ingredients of what makes supporters enjoy the matchday experience.
A game which had something riding on it, each time a goal went in you could hear a genuine roar. There was a clear identity of who was supporting who. Barry bring a number of flags to showcase their colours, whilst there was a number of Cofi flags draped around the ground.
Creative chants were sung by both sides with banter flying back and forth, with Barry fans even taunting the Cofi’s about their Gwynedd rivals Bangor City.
Forty hearty souls from South Wales made the 345 mile round trip to Caernarfon to make an attendance of 815 at The Oval, whilst the passionate Cofi crowd of over 700 backed their home side to an impressive victory.
Teams in Wales don’t tend to travel well in regards to support, but hopefully, Barry’s support at Caernarfon can be a stepping stone for other clubs to try and replicate a true footballing experience.
Caernarfon themselves have taken to an impressive amount of fans to Cymru Premier clubs and look set to do so again next Friday at Latham Park.
Attendances have been an issue in the Cymru Premier but clubs like Barry Town United and Caernarfon Town have an answer to that. Barry’s slogan of Your Town Your Team isn’t a marketing slogan, it’s real. The same can be said for Caernarfon who have adopted the saying UnClwb which translates to One Club.
These two clubs know that football extends further than what we see on the pitch and should be applauded for the work they do.
There have been other examples of these two clubs in the Cymru Leagues. Despite their search for a win extending to six, it was good to see a small contingent of vocal Penybont supporters at Cyncoed Campus on Friday evening. Kostya Georgievsky’s goal was a huge one for the side, but for the supporters, it sparked jubilant celebrations.
Colwyn Bay, following their return to the Welsh domestic system have also looked to have embraced it. They recently took over 150 supporters to Belle Vue, to see their side win 3-0 at Rhyl.
Ammanford in the Cymru South have developed somewhat of a cult following and more clubs should be encouraged to add to the atmosphere of games in the Welsh system. The football on the pitch is just a small part of the main spectacle.
(Featured Image: Rhys Skinner)
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