How Briton Ferry defied the odds in the Adran Premier

Plenty of clubs across the Adran Premier, as well as in the North and South leagues, have had seasons to remember, but what Briton Ferry have done is nothing short of sensational.

For so long Ferry have always felt like the bridesmaids rather than the bride. Finishing second behind Abergavenny in 2022, losing to Wrexham in the playoff final a year later, all after having been demoted from the Welsh Premier during the Adran rebrand. It did feel like the odds were stacked against them.

But then 2023 comes around, and with it, momentum. After winning the Adran South for a second consecutive season, Ferry faced Llandudno in the playoff final, and after defeating them handsomely, finally, completed their journey back to the top tier.

When embarking on your first campaign back in the topflight, staying up is more often than not the number one target. For Ferry, it was, but what they’ve done is otherworldly. Incredible performance after incredible performance meant the Reds finished second. The man at the helm for most of this run has been Rhys James, and he reflected on how special this journey has been.

“Last season and the year before that, the objective was to win the Adran South and get promoted, and that was something we set out to do really early on to do.

“That was my job when I came in as manager was to get this club back into the Adran Premier. That expectation was always set on the group.

“When we got to the Adran Premier, the expectation was obviously a little different, and that was to just try and remain in the league, and these players have gone above and beyond every single week.

“It’s not just one-off magical results like beating Wrexham at the Racecourse, they haven’t been smash and grab performances, we’ve been strong and dominant. We deserve to be where we are.”

And like James said, it’s not just one-off games that have defined their season, it’s been impressive result after impressive result. Beating both Cardiff City and Swansea City at Old Road and drawing with both away from home. Beating Hollywood Wrexham at the Racecourse, and a memorable victory against TNS at Park Hall.

Ferry have forced people to stand up and take notice of them over this past year, and for Lucy Powell, she’s known for a while just how much talent this squad had.

“We’ve known for the last few years that we’re good enough to be in the Adran Premier, and it’s just about showing to people what we can do.

“We all can play football, we all want to be here, and there’s a real desire about how we do things. This year everything has fallen into place, and it’s been really fruitful.”

We could delve into the tactical minutiae of the Adran Premier runners-up or focus on the contributions of some of the league’s brightest talents, but in truth, if you’ve watched Ferry this season, one thing sticks out above everything else. Togetherness.

While every team will hark on about how together they are and how close-knit they are on and off the pitch, with this Ferry side you really see it. For players like Powell who have been at the club for a while, it’s something that just comes so naturally.

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“At Briton Ferry, we don’t have the perks that a lot of other clubs around us have. If you come to Ferry, it’s because you want to be there. You can’t describe how it feels to be a part of this club. I know everyone says they’re together, and I know it’s cliché to say, but we really all get along.

“We have little arguments on the pitch sure, but it’s because everyone wants it so much and everyone wants to do the best for the club. Anyone in this team has the ability to go elsewhere if they wanted to, but they want to play here.

“They want to play for the people, and that rubs off on everyone in the community. Everyone knows how hard everyone works, from players to staff to those behind the scenes.”

And when you delve into it further, it’s not just a togetherness in the women’s team. It flows from the men’s setup to the women’s setup, to the youth sides and the academy. To play for Briton Ferry means something very different compared to playing for anyone else in this league. And when you’re in, you’re in for life, as James explained.

“Briton Ferry means a lot to me. When I came to the club, I had fallen out of love with football. I needed to be somewhere that wanted me, and that’s exactly what I found here. Isaac rang me to be his number two, and that’s probably the best phone call he’s ever made, and the best one I’ve ever received!

“From the men’s side to the academy to the community, everyone is so respectful in terms of what they want. You do see clubs that neglect the women’s side, but they don’t do that here. Andy Dyer finished a game before our final game and mentioned us straight away.

“You can see that respect and they understand the importance of having other arms of the club, and we’re certainly playing our part.”

And while there is so much to celebrate about this season, there is a tinge of sadness to this Ferry story, because some key protagonists have taken their final bow on their stage.

James has now managed his final game for the side that means so much to him. It’s difficult to think of a Briton Ferry team without him on the side lines, but he says it’s time to focus on other matters that are closer to home.

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“My reasons for leaving are nothing to do with the club. The club have been excellent with me from the minute I walked through the door. It’s just for personal reasons my departure in regard to my health, so I’m taking some time out to look after myself a little better.

“It’s quite a stressful job as you can imagine in this division, especially battling against strong teams like Cardiff City and Wrexham, so I’m just taking time to look after myself.”

On the playing side, Alison Witts and Lexi Clayton have called time on their careers. Both have played a huge part in Ferry’s rise on the pitch, but for Powell, their losses will be felt a lot more inside the dressing room.

“The changing room is massive for us and they’re both big personalities. We haven’t seen much of Lexi on the pitch this season, but she’s been a massive part as to why we’re here in the first place from our rise in tier two to winning promotion.

“Alison has been getting the goals for us this season and the last one, and at this club, what we’ve noticed the most is the off the pitch stuff. When they go missing, in terms of both of them leaving, we will notice that they’re not around, and we will miss that.

“As a club, we’re around each other all the time, and obviously on the pitch they’re a loss as well, but off the pitch, they will be huge misses. They’ve both done their bit for us.”

Next season will feel very different for this team, but what can they achieve?

Every club wants to finish higher than the previous season, and in Ferry’s case, that would be winning the title and booking a spot in club football’s greatest competition, the Champions League.

While a task that monumental can be a bit daunting for some, Powell feels quite the opposite.

“Anything is possible! We’ve done things this year that nobody expected us to do. A couple of results go the other way this season and maybe we could have been a lot closer this year. The goal is to always do as best as you can, so we have to turn up and try again next season.”

For now, attention on next season can be laid to rest, but there is a feeling around this team; why not them?

What Briton Ferry have shown this season is how far a clear club ethos, hard work, and togetherness can get you. They have been a breath of fresh air in an Adran Premier that was beginning to feel very monotonous.

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)