Aberystwyth Town FC’s Board of Directors have reluctantly accepted the resignation of First Team Manager Antonio Corbisiero, with immediate effect.

Corbs took over as Manager in June 2021 and lead his young side to a Top Eight finish last season, earning famous victories against TNS and Newtown, reaching the Welsh Cup Quarter Finals and getting a crucial win at Barry Town last month to guarantee the Club’s safety in the Cymru Premier for the forthcoming season. 

Antonio’s Assistant Manager Gari Lewis, and Coaches Stuart Jones, Bari Morgan and Dave Owen will also be standing down from the Management Team. 

Chairman Donald Kane said:
​“We are saddened to receive Antonio’s resignation, particularly after a positive season which promised well for the future. However we respect and accept his decision and wish him the best.  

Antonio and his team were hugely effective in bringing together a unit of very young players and locals whereby every game played by our Club was contested with good football, physicality and a set up where every player knew his role. This at times was all consuming for him as I know how much any defeat or bad performance hurt him personally: he was harder on himself, and always looking for ways to improve. 
 
Corbs, Stuart, Gari, Bari, and Dave will always be welcome at Park Avenue after the excellent job they have done over the past twelve months.” 

Corbisiero told atfc.org.uk today:
“It is with regret that I step down as Aberystwyth Town Manager, it has been an absolute pleasure. I want to thank all the fans, the Board and people behind the scenes who don’t get the recognition they deserve.  

I’ve loved every moment of it and I wish all the Players, the Board, the fans and the new Manager all the success possible for the upcoming season. Corbs – the Gaffer.” 

Further updates regarding the recruitment of a new First Team Manager will follow in due course. 

Aberystwyth Town Football Club is delighted to learn that young full-back Jamie Jones has received a call-up to the Welsh Schools U18 International squad, joining fellow Seasider Cameron Allen on a journey to the Italian capital for the Roma Caput Mundi tournament this weekend!

Following the recent fantastic success of the squad in securing their first Centenary Shield in over 40 years with a 2-0 win over The Republic of Ireland at The Oval, home of Caernarfon Town, Marc Lloyd-Williams' boys are looking forward to what is sure to be an unforgettable trip to Italy for the Roma Caput Mundi tournament. A European invitational tournament hosted in Rome, the Welsh Schools FA collaborate with the Welsh Colleges U18 to form an international team to take on other international national teams, amateur teams and schools/college teams.

18-year-old Jamie was ever-present in Town's U19s Development team and collected his first senior minutes with an appearance from the bench in November's 1-0 victory over Champions-to-be TNS before a 30 minute stint in Town's 6-0 victory over Cefn Druids last month. 

Jamie told us:
"It means so much to my family and myself to see my hard work paying off with this reward. I'm eager to keep putting in the work to carry on improving and developing my game!"

The club is over the moon to have both Jamie and Cameron representing our club, academy, and town in this great honour for both lads. Pob lwc bois!!

Central Wales Cup Final
Sunday 8th May
Aberystwyth Town Women 7 Llanfair United Ladies 1

Everyone at Aberystwyth Town FC congratulates the Black and Greens Women's side who yesterday retained the Central Wales FA Ladies Challenge Cup with a resounding 7-1 win over Llanfair United, at Victoria Park, Llanidloes.

After Llanfair had taken a second minute lead from an own goal Gwenllian Jones headed an equaliser on 36 minutes. Town improved significantly after the break: Libby Isaac put the Seasiders ahead eleven minutes in, and Jones got her second on the hour. Amy Jenkins then got on the scoresheet on 73 minutes and added a second eight minutes later. Town then cruised to victory with Gwenllian Jones (88 minutes) and Amy Jenkins (89 minutes) completing their hat tricks to make things safe.

The Cup win completes a memorable first season under Gavin Allen, as the Black and Greens saw some impressive young talent coming through, attained an impressive fourth place finish in the Genero Adran Premiership, and secured the necessary Tier One Licence to ensure another season at the Top Table in 2022/23. We're looking forward to next season already! 

JD Cymru Premier
Saturday 23rd April
Aberystwyth Town 1 Connah’s Quay Nomads 1

Sixteen year old Cameron Allen nodded Aber into an eighth placed Cymru Premier finish with a cool 76th minute equaliser, as the Black and Greens held last season’s Champions Connah's Quay, who had gone ahead through Craig Curran (39 minutes), to a 1-1 draw. The point was not enough to take Town into the end of season Play Offs but did ensure a very respectable finish in one of the most competitive Play Off Conferences in Cymru Prem history.

Aber went into the game missing talismanic Steff Davies (injured) and Jamie Veale (suspended), with Jack Rimmer and Alex Darlington returning to the starting XI, but the visitors started with most of the possession and a series of corners, with Curran firing the first chance over. Paulo Mendes headed over for Nomads but with Louis Bradford in commanding form opportunities were few and far between. At the other end Harry Franklin made a great interception, ran in on goal and swivelled, only to slip at the vital moment, unlucky. Ryan Harrington was next to blaze over for Connah’s Quay, then at the other end Matty Jones’ deep ball in was headed back by Lee Jenkins and Rhys Davies had his effort blocked from 5 yards. Franklin made another great run before having a shot blocked, and Jack Thorn’s tap in was disallowed for offside, but then before the break John Ufuah’s shot was saved by Gregor Zabret, and Curran snaffled up the rebound to open the scoring. Aeron Edwards headed wide for Quay and they held on for a slightly fortunate lead in a game of few clear cut chances.

Into the second half the visitors again held a lot of possession without creating too many chances of note. Josh Williams did have a long range effort deflected for a corner, and Zabret made a brilliant save to deny Mendes from close range but as young Cameron Allen came on the hosts were looking for a hero with twenty minutes to go. Jack Rimmer sent in a free kick which Bradford glanced wide, and then with barely fifteen minutes left, the dangerous Ben Wynne gathered the ball in his own half, outpaced his marker on a 50 yard run and sent in yet another peach of a cross, which found Allen in space, and the 33 goal Development League star made no mistake, finding the far corner with a deft flick. This incidentally was Wynne’s fourth assist in four matches, with Aber’s transfer deadline day signing making a name for himself on the Ceredigion Coast. Matty Jones sent in a dangerous free kick which Oliver Byrne gathered on the line, then Zabret had to be alert to deny Harrington. Byrne then gathered Bradford’s chip and sub Jamie Insall sent a shot spinning past the post. Some characteristically strong and resolute defending saw Aber through, and Wynne sent in one final thrilling cross, but it evaded everyone in Black and Green, and then game ended fair and square as a 1-1 draw.

While some Aber supporters might be disappointed to miss out on the end of season Play Offs, the bigger picture is that 40 points and an eighth placed finish is a big achievement for Antonio Corbisiero and his young side, who have punched above their weight this season, and achieved some big scalps throughout. Brighter days lay ahead and after earning 14 points from their final seven League games the Seasiders can look forward to 2022/23 season with confidence. The future is bright, the future is Black and Green!

​Photo: Colin Ewart 

JD Cymru Premier
Monday 18th April
Barry Town 0 Aberystwyth Town 1

A brilliant second minute diving header from Steff Davies, allied to an outstanding defensive display won a crucial game for the Black and Greens away to Barry yesterday afternoon, as Jordan Cotterill saw red for the hosts for two yellow cards near the end. The three points keeps Aber right in the running for a Scottish League Cup Play Off place with one round of Cymru Premier matches to go, and ensures the Club's survival at Cymru Premier level for the thirtieth consecutive season!

The magnitude of the game was magnified by its late movement for the TV Schedules, and a family fun day centred around a Black and Green bouncy castle, as well as some brilliant support for both sides, ensured a big crowd of 712 and a Cup Final atmosphere. The unchanged Black and Greens, needing a point to ensure their Cymru Premier status would have wanted a big start and that is what they got. In the third minutes Jamie Veale picked out Ben Wynne down on the right and his cross fell beautifully for Steff Davies to score a goal with a diving header which has already earned legendary status. On come Aber and Davies volleyed over soon after, again fed by Wynne, before Matty Jones crossed for Wynne to head goalbound – but Mike Lewis was equal to it. Then Aber had an incredible let off when Jordan Cotterill found himself one on one with Gregor Zabret in Aber’s goal – but his effort rebounded into Zabret’s hands, to huge relief among Aber Town’s super singing Sole Crew. Rhys Abruzzese volleyed a great chance just over but then back came Aber again as Steff Davies crossed for Harry Franklin to head wide. Matty Jones was then so close to repeating the free kick trick he has twice played on Barry this season – but the ball dropped inches wide of the goal – and back came the hosts with a series of corners which produced chances for Luke Cooper (blocked) and another attempt headed just wide. The effervescent Ben Wynne was a constant threat down the right wing and with Steff Davies and Jon Owen also causing havoc up front the visitors looked capable of a second – however Kayne McLaggon stung the palms of Zabret with a wicked curling shot which the keeper did brilliantly to shovel wide. Veale threatened at the other end with a free kick but Aber got to half time a goal to the good and forty five minutes from a huge result.

Aber started the second half on the front foot with Steff Davies crossing for Franklin, but Town’s main man from Hereford couldn’t quite convert. Ben Wynne then had a shot parried by Lewis, and Franklin saw a low drive blocked by a great diving tackle, as did Louis Bradford minutes later with the hosts in danger of being put out of their misery. Veale then nearly sealed a fantastic move, but his volley went over the top, and Bradford was next to drive over. Franklin then tested Lewis, before Wynne volleyed over with Aber thoroughly on top. Barry then made a quadruple substitution and with the sun setting on the Linnets’ hopes they did at last enjoy a period pf pressure from set pieces, only to find an Aber back four defending like Trojans, with Rhys Davies and Lee Jenkins commanding at centre back. Sub Marcus Day tested Zabret with a lob, and then with only two minutes remaining Cotterill received a second yellow for a ridiculous dive and the game was almost up. Five minutes of injury time were added, and once two headers had flashed past Zabret’s far post, the game was up and Nick Pratt’s final whistle ensured huge celebrations both off and on the pitch, with both Players and Supporters showing mutual admiration for a job well done and a crucial win in a momentous game.

Those of a Black and Green persuasion celebrated late into the night but at the same time Aberystwyth Town FC sincerely commiserates with Barry Town United – a fantastic Club who for this season at least are now consigned to the bottom two, but who belong back in our National League very soon. Aber’s win leaves them in eighth place in the Cymru Prem, level with Cardiff Met on 39 points, and a win at home to Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday in the last game on the season, allied to a draw or defeat for the Met, would guarantee a Play Off Place for the Black and Greens for the first time in seven years. Kick off is at 12.45pm – you wouldn’t want to miss out!