Third prodigal son returning to Park Avenue is Porya “Rio” Ahmadi!

Iranian-born Rio is a clinical and mobile striker with previous Welsh Premier League experience after spending spells with Bangor City and Rhyl between 2015 and 2017.

​​He was Bangor's top goal scorer in the 2015/16 season - netting 8 goals in 29 appearances, and started his footballing career with Sheffield United's Academy. Ahmadi has also spent time playing for Chorley, Droylsden, New Mills, and most notably Salford City, where he scored hat-tricks in consecutive games back in 2014. 

Rio was a top performer for the Black and Greens in Phase I last season, scoring five vital goals and proving himself to be an accomplished and skilful finisher at this level, as well as an excellent crosser of the ball. He left the Club to join Newtown in January 2019, but has now opted to rejoin Matthew Bishop’s men.

Rio also boasts a rare accolade shared only with Cledan Davies, as being possibly the only two Aberystwyth Town keepers never to have conceded a goal. His 40 minute spell between the sticks in the opening game of 2018/9, which preserved a crucial three points for the Black and Greens at home to Llandudno still live long in the memory!

Welcome back Rio!

Second to return is Star Man Joe Phillips!

He originally signed for Aberystwyth Town in July 2017 having played for the same Stourport Swifts side as Ryan Wollacott, for whom he scored 16 goals from 46 appearances in 2016/7.

Joe made some prominent contributions to Town's pre-season of 2017, not least when he scored a terrific goal with a low drive against Hull City Under 23s in August. He became a permanent fixture in the First Team Squad of 2017/8, scoring a perfect hat trick against Connah's Quay in January 2018 (highlights here). Joe was part of the Town side which reached the Welsh Cup Final in 2018 and his thrilling performances down the wings and behind the strikers had the supporters singing his name with glee.

Joe’s best moment last season was a stunning goal at home to TNS which was very unfortunately disallowed, and although he left Park Avenue for a brief spell at Alvechuch last season, he is back, with his attacking flair expected to thrill Black and Green supporters further in 2019/20.

Welcome back Joe … and we are also delighted to retain Joe’s father Mark who remained a loyal supporter of the Club even after Joe’s departure. 

First to return to training with the Black and Greens is fan favourite Malcolm Melvin. His last involvement with Aber was in the Welsh Cup Final of May 2018 when Town fans still claim his 30 yard pile driver crossed the line. He also nearly scored in the Semi Final against Newtown in April.

This immensely talented Central Midfielder originally joined Aber from Halesowen Town on Transfer Deadline Day, January 31st 2017, and lead the Black and Greens  to WPL safety with a crucial goal at Llandudno in April 2017 which caused supporters to run the length of the touchline in joy and sealed his legendary status.

Despite being born in Birmingham, Malcolm has represented Scotland Under 17s, Under 18s and Under 19s and has also played for Walsall, Crewe, Aston Villa, Notts County, Barwell, Sutton Coldfield and Halesowen Town in his career to date.

If Malcolm can rediscover the magic touch he displayed in his first seventeen month spell at Park Avenue Town supporters are in for a treat. Welcome back Melvs!!

Defender Leo Riley is the latest player to commit to the Black and Greens for next season, set to join from Cymru Alliance Champions Airbus UK Broughton.

23 year old Leo made 40 Welsh Premier League appearances for a successful Llandudno side between 2015-17, before joining Airbus and helping the Wingmakers to a Championship triumph this Spring with 20 appearances and 4 goals. He has previously played for Tranmere Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Liverpool as a youth player.

Riley also has a sweet free kick, which he used notably with a match winning strike for Llandudno over Haverfordwest in ther WPL in November 2015.

Everyone at Park Avenue welcomes Leo to Aber where we are sure he will be a roaring success.

Following a highly impressive season which included winning the Welsh Women's League Title and regaining the CWFA Ladies Cup, Aberystwyth Town Ladies ended the successful season with their annual end of season dinner/awards night.

Here are the award winners:

PLAYER'S PLAYER OF THE SEASON:
Tania Wylde
MANAGER'S PLAYER OF THE SEASON:
Caroline Cooper
GOAL OF THE SEASON:
Tania Wylde vs Barry Town United Ladies (Home)
HIGHEST GOAL OF THE MONTH WINS AWARD:
Tania Wylde (6)
MOST IMPROVED:
Pippa Richards
TOP GOALSCORER:
Tania Wylde (34)

For winning Player's Player of the Season, Tania Wylde also received a specially-designed glass award. (Pictured below)

Aberystwyth Town can announce pre-season friendlies against opposition from four different leagues, providing a varied schedule in July 2019.

First to visit Park Avenue on Tuesday 9th July will be near neighbours Llanidloes Town. In the 1970s and 1980s the Daffs were major rivals to the Black and Greens in the Central Wales League, and they finished second in the Mid Wales League, missing out on Promotion to the National Conference (North) on the last day of the season, on goal difference to Llanfair United.

Gresford Athletic, next to visit the Ceredigion Coast on Saturday 13th July, ply their trade in the Cymru Alliance, which this year will reconfigure into the National Conference (North). A respected mid table side they will be expected to test the Black and Greens further.

Gloucester City play in the National League (South), one League below the Conference, although they will be moved to the North section this season. They played last season in the same League as ASFC Telford who won at Park Avenue last July, and are likely to provide tough opposition. Currently groundsharing with Evesham Town, they will host a friendly on Thursday 18th July.

Finally Alvechurch last season finished fourth in the Evo Stick Central Premier League and only missed out on promotion to Level Seven (National League North) in a Play Off Final at Kings Lynn. Church signed Joe Phillips from Town last February and again will provide another new challenge.

Aber are currently in negotiations with an opponent for 3rd August and the Black and Greens plans for that day will be confirmed in due course. Their Welsh Premier League duties will begin with a League Cup Second Round Tie the weekend of August 10th, with WPL Matchday 1 kicking off the following weekend.

Aberystwyth Town FC Pre Season Schedule 2019
Tuesday 9th July LLANIDLOES TOWN (HOME) KO 7.30pm
Saturday 13th July GRESFORD ATHLETIC (HOME) KO 2.30pm
Thursday 18th July GLOUCESTER CITY (Away, at Evesham United FC) KO 7.45pm
Saturday 27th July ALVECHURCH (HOME) KO 2.30pm
Saturday 3rd August To Be Confirmed