Aberystwyth Town FC are saddened to learn of the passing of Club Life President Glenda Charles, widow of John Charles.

John Charles opened the Dias Stand at Park Avenue in November 2000 and he and his wife went on to become regular visitors to Park Avenue for Club Social Occasions. After John’s sad passing Glenda opened the renamed John Charles Lounge in September 2005, and thereafter continued to visit the Club from her home in Leeds. Mrs Charles was always a welcome visitor, her lively and cheerful personality guaranteed to brighten up Club Dinners and other occasions.
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Everyone at Aberystwyth Town FC express their condolences to Glenda’s family and friends on their sad loss.

Below: Glenda Charles opens Park Avenue's new 3G pitch in October 2016 with Tony Bates and Dai Alun Jones

Aberystwyth Town vs Cefn Druids
JD Cyrmu Premier
Friday 15th April
2.30pm KO
 
Aberystwyth Town will be hoping for some Good Friday cheer this weekend with Cefn Druids the visitors to Aberystwyth University Park Avenue.
 
Fittingly, with Easter on the horizon, the Black & Greens hopes of a 7th place finish have been resurrected over the past two games, with victory at Haverfordwest and a draw at Cardiff Met meaning that Antonio Corbisiero’s side currently sit just three points off the coveted spot, with three games to play.
 
It is turning into a real battle for the final playoff spot, with five out of the six teams in the Playoff Conference all realistically in contention. Met currently lead the way, with 36 points from 29 games, with Haverfordwest one point behind having beaten Friday’s visitors last weekend. Aber then sit on 33 points, with Connahs Quay Nomads & Barry Town United both on 31 points. With a maximum of 9 points available to all, this season is moving towards a truly dramatic conclusion and a potential final day showdown between multiple teams!
 
Although Friday’s visitors, Cefn Druids, have already been confirmed to finish in 12th position this season, Aber will know that they are more than capable of causing an upset, having needed a last gasp equaliser from Owain Jones to deny Druids taking all three points at The Rock last month. Goals from Phil Mooney, Liam Thomas and Niall Flint had given Druids a 3-1 lead going into the last 5 minutes, after Harry Franklin had earlier put Aber ahead, before Ben Wynne made it 3-2 on 86 minutes and Jones nodded home on 92 to take a share of the spoils.
 
The Seasiders did however take maximum points from Druids in Phase 1, winning 1-0 at The Rock in October before a 5-0 victory at Park Avenue in January. The two teams also met in the Welsh Cup 3rd Round back in September, when a Mathew Jones hat-trick helped secure a 4-1 win for the Black & Greens.
 
Aber will also be in action on Monday evening away to Barry Town United, with the game being broadcast live on Sgorio on S4C with a 5.15pm kick-off.
 
Tickets for Friday’s game are priced at £7 for Adults, £4 for Concessions & Under 16’s free. The race for 7th is really hotting up now, and with so many teams involved, this one could go right to the wire! You really wouldn’t want to miss out

JD Cymru Premier
Saturday 9th April
Cardiff Met 1 Aberystwyth Town 1

Another gutsy away performance earned Aber a precious Cymru Premier point at Cyncoed Stadium yesterday afternoon, which keeps them in the running for a Scottish League Cup Play Off place at the end of the season. Leigh Jenkins tapped Town into the lead at the back post in the eighth minute, but Kyle McCarthy equalised for Met three minutes after the break, and thereafter the game developed into a stalemate and a fair result at the end.

Aber were roared onto the field by their traditional tremendous support in the Capital, who kept up a non stop racket throughout the game to inspire the visitors, and they made a good start. Mathew Jones’ cross was headed clear, and Owain Jones’ lob was saved by Alex Lang in Met’s goal. Then cue bedlam in the away section as Jamie Veale’s free kick fell for Louis Bradford to head goalbound, and the ball rebounded to Jenkins at the back post, who made no mistake from eight yards for a priceless finish. On came Aber with Owain Jones threatening down the left and Matty Jones testing Lang again with a super low effort. Met came into things as Matt Chubb had a header cleared off the line, and saw two subsequent efforts blocked, before Jon Owen sneaked in a shot from a narrow angle down the right – but Lang kept his side in it. Aber then somehow prevented Emlyn Lewis’ attempt from crossing the line, only for the irrepressible Harry Franklin to go on a mazy run, beating three players before being desperately hauled down on the edge of the area, and Veale sent his free kick just over the bar. Harry Owen then had a shot blocked by Gregor Zabret in Aber’s goal, and with Aber defending stoutly with Bradford, Jenkins and Rhys Davies all outstanding at the back, and some nice touches up front Aber were good value for their half time lead.

Left wing back Sam Jones started the second half well for Met with a dangerous run and shot, and then with Bradford injured up field, Met took advantage with McCarthy finding space to connect with Joe Evans’ ball in to equalise. Then Harry Owen volleyed over from Chubb’s long throw and the hosts started to threaten. Sam Jones threatened twice more and was denied by Zabret, who made another save from Eliot Evans’ corner. Sub Adam Roscrow touched the ball over the bar, and Tom Price volleyed wide, then had an attempt saved with Aber on the defensive. Sub Jack Rimmer came on to bolster the defence, but Met continued to threaten with Harry Owen the next to miss a chance from close range. Up front Steff Davies for Aber tussled with Lewis with the visiting tifosi howling in vain for a penalty, and Harry Franklin sent an effort wide with Aber looking for a golden winner. However towards the end the chances dried up: Franklin headed wide and Chris Baker fired over for Met, and the game ended at 1-1, with Antonio Corbisiero’s players applauded from the field by the Green Army.

So a four point yield from three tough away games in a week keeps Aber in contention for a seventh placed finish in the Cymru Premier Play Off Conference. Town remain in ninth place on 33 points, three points shy of Met, with Cefn Druids next on the menu, this coming Friday at Park Avenue with a 2.30pm kick off. This enthralling season continues!

​Cardiff Metropolitan University vs Aberystwyth Town
JD Cymru Premier
Saturday 9th April
2.30pm KO
 
Aberystwyth Town will be looking to pick up where they left off on Tuesday night this coming weekend, as Saturday’s third successive away trip takes the Black & Greens to the capital for a meeting with Cardiff Met, following Tuesday’s 1-0 success at Haverfordwest County.
 
Louis Bradford’s late winner gave the Seasiders their second win in three games and means that they now sit 9th in the table and embroiled in a fascinating 5 team battle for the all-important 7th position, which enables qualification for the end of season playoffs for a place in next seasons Irn Bru Cup.
 
Saturday’s opponents Cardiff Met currently occupy 7th position, but only five points separate them from Barry Town United in 11th place – the final relegation slot. With each team having 4 games left, there is a maximum of 12 points available for all and with a minimum of three of those four matches being against one of the other teams involved in the battle for 7th, quite literally anything could happen, and it is all to play for!
 
Met come into this game on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Barry Town United on Tuesday. This was only their 2nd defeat in 14 league matches however, and before being beaten by Cefn Druids two weekends ago, they had been undefeated since November. Adam Roscrow is once again their top scorer, with 5 goals so far this season, whilst Eliot Evans and Harry Owen have four goals each.
 
Incredibly, this will be the sixth time that the two teams have faced off this season after a pre-season friendly and a Nathaniel MG Cup match served as additions to the normal league matches. Met have won four of the five meetings so far, but encouragingly Aber’s one win so far in this fixture this season was the only fixture held at Cyncoed Campus, when a John Owen header sealed a 1-0 win back in November. Let’s hope this is a good omen for the Black & Greens this weekend!
 
Saturday’s fixture is significant as it will be the last time that former Aber defender Christian Edwards will face the club in his current role as Cardiff Met’s Manager. Christian, who formed a formidable partnership with Aneurin Thomas at the heart of Aber’s defence for three seasons in the late 2000’s and also served as Caretaker Manager & Assistant Manager at Park Avenue, announced last August that he will step down at the end of the current season. All at ATFC wish him well for his future endeavours!
 
Cyncoed Campus is on Cyncoed Road and the postcode is CF23 6XD. There is car parking available on site at the campus and the stadium can be found by the National Indoor Athletics Centre. If you can’t make the trip, coverage will be available on our Twitter feed @Aberystwyth Town as usual. ATFC have it all to play for … and anything could happen!
 

Aberystwyth Town FC are pleased to confirm receipt of an FAW Tier One Licence, a mandatory requirement for Clubs competing in the Cymru Premier League in 2022/23.

The Club Licensing system aims to assist the continual improvement and development of football clubs at the top level within Wales, covering areas such as Club Infrastructure, Personnel, Finance, Legal and Sporting Criteria.

Licensing Officer Thomas Crockett stated, "This Licence accredits hundreds of hours of work carried out by Club Officials - in particular this year I would like to thank Megan Meredith, Gwion Pugh Jones and Dr Dafydd Edwards for their work on the Player Medicals, David Evans, Nathan Perkins and Jon Waters for coordinating and carrying out some crucial infrastructure work within Park Avenue, Tony Bates for administering the Academy reporting and Rob Gray for producing the Club's annual accounts".

As atfc.org.uk had previously announced, Aberystwyth Town did not receive the FAW's UEFA Licence for 2022/23.
 
In addition, it was a double celebration in Ceredigion as Aberystwyth Town Ladies Team were successful in gaining UEFA and Tier 1 Licenses for the 2022/23 season at the first time of asking thanks to the countless hours of work and dedication from club secretary Lucie Gwilt alongside many other volunteers. ​

JD Cymru Premier
Tuesday 5th April
Haverfordwest County 0 Aberystwyth Town 1
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Aberystwyth Town emerged victorious from a hugely significant tussle in Pembrokeshire as Louis Bradford’s low strike in the 81st minute was enough to beat Haverfordwest County. Yet another inspiring defensive display kept the clean sheet as a base for victory, which was essential to keep Aber in ninth place, three points shy of the Scottish League Cup Play Off berth in seventh.

To the backdrop of apocalyptic rave music a vocal and hardy troupe of Black and Green supporters welcomed Aber to the field at Ogi Bridge Meadow, with Jon Owen returning to the starting XI after a suspension, and he gave the fans what they wanted early on with a Cruyff turn – but sadly to no avail. On a blustery night Ben Wynne for Aber and Jack Wilson for County were on long throw duties, but the Aber defence was magnificent in the air, winning all their headers, with Rhys Davies in particular earning plaudits for a superbly determined display. Ben Fawcett had a shot blocked by Lee Jenkins, Jordan Davies shot over for the hosts, while Jamie Veale sent a snap shot past the post to excite the visiting fans. Gregor Zabret got down well to block a low shot, Corey Shepherd burst through and fired over and Wilson was again denied by the Slovenian stopper soon after – however Aber were always a threat with Harry Franklin curling a volley wide from Matty Jones’ inswinging free kick. More pressure from County saw Shepherd volleying wide again, and more resolute defending kept Aber in it. Lee Jenkins made a superb block on the line to prevent Wilson opening the score, and a solid half for Aber ended at 0-0.

The visitors did benefit from the wind advantage in the second half and Veale had a shot blocked, before Franklin headed over the bar. Zabret picked out Steff Davies with a superb ball but his lob drifted wide, while at the other end Wilson had a shot blocked and Shephard volleyed over for a third time. With results elsewhere going against Aber a goal was urgently needed, and sub Owain Jones swivelled and volleyed an effort with his first touch which Lee Idzi collected. Idzi denied Jones again minutes later with a simply superb save down to his right, and then just when it seemed like a goal would never come, Veale sent in a free kick from 30 yards out which fell perfectly for Bradford to touch into the bottom corner, cue pandemonium in the stands and wild celebrations! With nine minutes plus four of injury time to go, the visiting supporters sung louder, and the home defenders tackled harder to keep the advantage. Corners, long throws and crosses were somehow repelled and finally the full time whistle went, and the Seasiders had their vital, vital victory.

Not for the first time this season, a victory was earned off the back of a superb defensive display from Zabret, Matty Jones, Bradford, Jenkins and Rhys Davies, who will be savouring their clean sheet this morning, and it was great to see the players celebrating with the fans at the end of the game. Three positive performances in a row have taken Aber to ninth place in the JD Cymru Premier Play Off Conference with four matches remaining, on 32 points, three short of Cardiff Met in seventh, whom they visit on Saturday afternoon (ko 2.30pm). It’s time to reassemble the Green Army!