As Berriew sit narrowly at the top of the division on goal difference with Rhayader closely behind them, David Jones is currently on course for promotion to the Huws Gray Alliance.
As part of the five year plan in which Jones is in his third year, the aim for the club is to be playing in the second tier of Welsh football. The club have already applied for promotion for next season should they finish in the promotion spots.
In May of this year, David passed his UEFA B Licence in which he gained valuable experience and information. On top of the UEFA C qualification, it has helped him more than he would have imagined.
After taking over in October 2014 after a spell as assistant manager with Berriew as well as a time with Welshpool. David was unable to keep Berriew up as they were relegated to the Second Division, finishing second from bottom on 27 points, in previous years that would have been enough to have kept a side up.
With the squad being based around a number of good young players. The Berriew committee bought into what David was bringing to the club and that there wasn’t a need to spend as much as other clubs, instead bringing through younger players.
“The young lads had the ability, the season we went down, but lacked slightly in terms of experience and physical strength.”
Every player in the Berriew quad is from a 10 mile radius of Berriew, interestingly the line-up against Welshpool saw half of the squad aged 21 or under. This includes having an 18 year -old keeper and a 20 year-old captain. All of which have remained loyal despite relegation.
Last season, the club won promotion by a stretch, scoring 108 goals in a season, as well as winning the division by 16 points.
There was also joy against Radnor Valley who finished behind Berriew, who went up alongisde them. A 5-0 victory on the day at Llanidloes meant that they had done the League and Cup double.
This was Berriew’s first ever league win since 1991.
“We have two aims, promotion to the Huws Gray Alliance and to win the Montgomeryshire Cup.”
Through all the success he has achieved, he received individual recognition by winning the Spar Mid Wales Division 2 Manager of the Year award last season.
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