Following the news earlier this week that Sean Eardley would be leaving his role as manager of Caernarfon Town to take over the reins at hometown club Llandudno, Cofi’s supporter Osian Jones has taken a look back at his time in charge at the Oval.
As I write this, I am still in shock.
The news has had over 24 hours to settle in, but the reality that we won’t see another Sean Eardley celebration in front of the Marcus Street End at the end of a game just hasn’t hit me quite yet.
Beating his hand against the badge on his chest as “Sean Eardley’s Cofi Army!’ belts around the Oval.
It’s the 11th of November 2017. Sean and the boys make their way to Broughton for the new manager’s first game since being promoted from assistant manager to the head honcho.
The Canaries head to the Hollingsworth Group Stadium top of the Huws Gray Alliance thanks to the fantastic job that outgoing manager Iwan Williams did at the club, and are hoping to achieve promotion to the then-Welsh Premier League having missed out the previous season due to licensing issues.
All is not well, however, as the team go in to the dressing room at half-time trailing by three goals. Whatever Sean said at half time certainly had the desired effect, as it galvanised his side as they fought back to draw 3-3 and claim an unlikely point. Following on from this, Caernarfon went unbeaten all the way until the season’s end to claim the title and its place back in the top flight for the first time in 9 years. Caernarfon were back! But whether they could stay there was a different question.
Eardley guided Caernarfon to consecutive top-half finishes in the Cymru Premier. (Photo: Matthew Lofthouse)
As the 2018/19 season kicked off, not many gave Caernarfon Town a chance of surviving. Sean had a modest playing budget to work with and a squad made up predominantly of local players.
The Town started the season brightly, two wins from the first three games showed that Caernarfon were more than capable of holding their own in this league. A 3-0 loss to perennial league winners The New Saints was nothing to be ashamed about, and they bounced back brilliantly to beat then league leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads 1-0 in their own backyard.
Caernarfon were not only stamping their mark on the division, but could keep up with the big boys. Wins away at TNS (1-0) and Bala (3-1) proved this, as the Cofi’s secured their place in the league by virtue of finishing in the top half come the split. They could focus on looking up, rather than down for the rest of the season now.
Eardley was hugely popular with Caernarfon supporters. (Photo: Oval Ways)
The second phase went, if anything, better than the first phase did, as the Town finished 4th, and went into the play-offs for the last remaining European spot. There was also the small matter of a derby victory over Bangor City in the Welsh Cup. Gareth Edwards secured Cofi hero status for life by nodding in the winner to knock Bangor out of the Cup.
Eardley has left Caernarfon to manage hometown club Llandudno. (Photo: Matthew Lofthouse)
Unfortunately, they were beaten 3-1 by Cardiff Metropolitan in the play-off semi-final. The disappointment of the defeat needed to wear off quickly as the squad had to focus on not letting second season syndrome creep in.
Smart signings in the shape of young striker Sam Jones and the versatile Gruff John added to a strong squad, and the signing of Leo Smith on a permanent deal proved a masterstroke. The campaign panned out in much the same way as the previous one, as they finished in the top half and were looking forward to a Welsh Cup semi-final against Cardiff Metropolitan before the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to the Welsh domestic season. What might have been!
To understand Sean’s contribution, you simply have to look beyond the superb results on the field. To understand the fans’ love for him, you have to look at the man himself and his personality. The Cofi Army’s adoration comes in much the same form as Liverpool’s for their manager, Jürgen Klopp. His connection with the fans leads you to believe that he was Caernarfon born and bred, one of our own, however, he in fact hails from Llandudno.
He always tried his best to learn Welsh, and attempted to hold at least some of his interviews in Welsh. This is something the Cofi’s hold very dear, with Caernarfon having one of Wales’ highest percentages of Welsh speakers.
He would always come to the clubhouse after the games and walk around the tables having banter with everyone win, lose or draw. When we went down to Bala for the last away day of the season, a fancy dress Mexican theme was agreed between the fans, and Sean told us he had a little surprise planned for us. Before the game he came out in a poncho and Sombrero complete with a moustache and cigar!
Eardley learned Welsh and made the effort to conduct some interviews in his second language. (Photo: Oval Ways)
Caernarfon Town has not only lost a fantastic manager but a very loveable person as well, and the league as a whole is poorer for his departure. I’m sure it won’t be for long as Llandudno will inevitably be coming back up soon. With Sean at the helm it’s merely a question of when, not if.
Make no mistake, similarly to Klopp, Sean is not merely a huge character who is a great man-motivator, but an astute tactician who had his teams set up meticulously between him and his management team to get superb results away at strong opposition such as TNS, Connah’s Quay Nomads and Bala Town; while simultaneously turning the Oval into a fortress – a ground which every team in the league who visited knew they were going to have to be at their A-game to leave with the spoils.
His knowledge of the game was gleamingly obvious, as he talked about opposition players and management teams with such detail. His love for the game as obvious as his love for his family, his wife Lisa his rock, and his pride for his brother and his career was clear as he followed Lincoln City up and down the country when work commitments permitted to cheer Neal on.
I am truly gutted to see him leave, but I can only wish him well as he leaves for his hometown club and thank him for everything. For all the good times and the memories all us fans have had during his time with us. He gave us his absolute everything, and for that he will always be welcomed back to Caernarfon with open arms.
Ain’t Nobody, Like Sean Eardley.
(Featured image: Oval Ways)
Allan Oliver
Brilliant read Hooch m8 nicely done