‘Special’ – New Penybont arrival’s bold message after Aldershot Town transfer

Penybont summer signing Ryan Hill has set his sights firmly on a big target this season — knocking The New Saints off their perch in the Cymru Premier.

Hill, who has joined from National League side Aldershot Town, where he wore the captain’s armband, is among a string of eye-catching arrivals at the Dragon Bet Stadium this summer. He links up with players boasting serious pedigree, including former Football League regulars Max Melbourne and Liam Shephard, as well as Eduino Vaz, a familiar opponent from his time in England.

Now, Hill isn’t shying away from ambition as he prepares for his UEFA Conference League debut. Penybont play the Andorran side FC Santa Coloma at the Cardiff City Stadium this coming Thursday.

“I want to be competing at the top of the league and taking TNS all the way,” he said. “I’m not going to hide behind that.

“I haven’t just come here to enjoy European football or a new league. I want to compete; I want us to be the best team in the league, honestly.

“We’ve shown signs of that already, and we’re only going to improve as we gel. The new signings, like Eduino Vaz and Max Melbourne, will help.

“Max has only played one game, but you can already see his quality. And Vaz, I’ve played against him a few times, so I know what he brings.

He said: “The aim is to get through the first round in Europe, and then push on in the league and ultimately win it. If not, we have to be as close to the top as possible.

“There’s a league to win, a league to impress in, and the cup gives another route into Europe. We want a big season and to achieve something special together.”

When Penybont first opened talks with Ryan Hill, he was away on holiday — but that didn’t stop manager Rhys Griffiths from making his move.

Determined to bring the midfielder to South Wales, Griffiths held around four to five conversations with his target, carefully laying out both the club’s ambitions and where Hill would fit into them. The first calls were focused on introducing him to the Cymru Premier, a league he admits he didn’t know in great detail at the time. Later discussions drilled into Penybont’s project — and their growing ambition to go toe-to-toe with The New Saints.

For Hill, it was the clarity of that vision that stood out.

“The conversations with Rhys were massive,” said the former Dagenham & Redbridge man. “I was away on holiday, so it was hard to stay in constant contact, but we spoke four or five times.

“The first one was him explaining the league. I didn’t know much about it, apart from knowing The New Saints had done well in Europe, which is great for Welsh football.

“But the main message was about what he wants to achieve here, for me and for the team. It was exciting, maybe something I’d been missing in recent years — that sense of a real challenge and something to go and achieve.”

Hill arrives in South Wales having endured a difficult spell at Aldershot Town, where he was involved in a relegation battle in the National League.

“Last year was really stressful, being down at the bottom of the table,” he admitted. “Coming here, there’s optimism; anything feels possible. You’ve got European football to look forward to, which I’m excited about.

“The league might not be something people say is up for grabs because TNS are a great side, but I’m positive about the players we’ve brought in, the manager, and the way we want to play. It’s a good place to be.”

In Aldershot Town’s statement announcing Hill’s departure, the club confirmed that a transfer fee had been paid for his services. Such fees are relatively rare in the Welsh top flight, making Penybont’s investment in their playing squad particularly noteworthy.

Following the arrival of new investors Ryan Paisey and David Zeeman, the move perhaps signals a pivotal moment in the club’s history as they seek to close the gap on The New Saints, having finished in the top three twice in the past five seasons.

“It’s nice to know that they’re happy to invest in you as a person and as a player of the football club,” admitted Hill.

“With the new ownership and speaking to the manager, they’re really wanting to get closer to The New Saints.

“What I know about TNS is that they’ve played at a good level of European football, and Penybont want to get closer to them and challenge them for the league.

“I have to repay the faith the club has shown in me, with performances and by being a good person both on and off the pitch. I’m really excited about what I’ve been involved in so far; it’s been thoroughly enjoyable.”