Cardiff Met still aiming high after summer of change
Cardiff City v Cardiff Met in Adran Trophy Final at SDM Glass Stadium on 12th March 2023. Credit: Perry Dobbins.
Out of all the teams in this season’s Adran Premier, none of them have had a turnover quite like Cardiff Met.
Last season was certainly a mixed one for the Archers. While they did retain the Adran Trophy and became the only side to defeat Cardiff City last season, the end of the campaign certainly fizzled out. For defender Tiggy Webb, while there were negatives, there were also parts where Met showed exactly who they are.
“Last season didn’t exactly go to plan, especially with how we finished the season. But we still came away being around the top of the table which is all we could have asked for.
“It was a nice feeling to retain the Adran Trophy too. Especially with all the talk around the game that Cardiff Met were not going to turn up, but we did, and we showed who we are.”
The changeover at Cyncoed has been on an incredibly large scale. After the departure of Yzzy Taylor before phase two, the club appointed Daniel Delahay as their new manager.
Taylor was in charge for several years and the club wouldn’t be where they are without her. Delahay certainly has big shoes to fill, but Webb believes the club are on the right track with him at the helm.
“This will be my third season at Met, and it is a little weird not having her around. Especially as one of the younger players, you here so many stories from players, and Yzzy was such a huge part of all of that, whether that’s winning trophies or getting into the Champions League.
“But Dan coming in is a good thing. He’s bringing in fresh ideas, he knows what he’s doing, and he’s going to get us to where we want to be this season.
“He’s demanded high energy, he wants the best for the team, and he’s made it clear about what he wants from us as players and what he’s going to give to us as a manager.”
As well as a managerial change, there’s been a lot of turnover in the playing squad too.
Some of the squad’s veteran players, including Steph Turner, Sophie Brisland-Hancocks, Emily Allen, and Robyn Pinder all departed, with the club now focusing on bringing through a younger crop of players.
“Don’t get me wrong, they were all key players last year, especially with what they bought to the team in terms of their experience in the league. But the players that have been bought in by the management team have done really well in pre-season.
“Even though they may not be as senior as the players who have left, they still bring quality and skill, and I have no doubt that they will thrive.”
With so many key players now gone, there is a chance people will underestimate the Archers.
However, according to Webb, the team are as hungry as ever and they will aim to do what they’re so used to doing, winning.
“The expectation is the same as last year; go out there and do the best that we can. We also want to come away with some titles this year, winning the cups is such a big thing for us.
“We want to be in that top four too and challenge the very top teams in this league, like we have done in previous years.
“Perhaps people have seen that we’ve lost some experienced players, but I think that happens every year with every team.
“People may be underestimating us, but at the end of the day, we are still Cardiff Met, and we still have that fire in our belly that we’re going to bring to every game.”
Met will need that fire straight away, as they face reigning champions Cardiff City on the opening day.
Last season, they opened their campaign against then champions Swansea City, and Webb is looking forward to kicking off the season against the invincible Bluebirds.
“It’s always good to have a strong game on the first day of the season, because that sets the tone for the rest of the season. You know what’s going to be expected of you, and it means you go out there wanting it straight away. You have to want it from the beginning.”
Whatever happens to the university side this year, it promises to be a season full of intrigue and growth.
For Webb, she is looking to play a key role in that and help her team push to win more silverware.
“I want to do well this year and try and make a name for myself. I also want people to know that we still are Cardiff Met. All of us play a key role in this team, it’s not based on individuals. We’re a whole team, and we are going to win as a team this year.”
