With the FAW Players registration period ending on Tuesday 31st May, Aberystwyth Town FC can provide its supporters with a Squad Update as things stand.
 
Dafabet WPL Golden Boot Holder Chris Venables remains on contract with the Club for next season, and legendary midfielder Luke Sherbon has extended his contract with the Black and Greens for 2016/7.
 
Twice named WPL Player of the Season, Venables won a third consecutive Golden Boot last year after nabbing 20 goals in the WPL, and was also named in the Team of the Season for the third consecutive season.
 
Despite periods away in Australia, with Barry Town and Rhyl, Sherbon has played 225 WPL games for Town since 2003, scoring 56 goals and his influence in Aber's Central Midfield is simply huge.


A number of players however will become free agents and leave the Club as from tomorrow. 
 
Goalkeeper Mike Lewis, Centre Backs Lee Surman and Stuart Jones, and Central Midfielder Ross Stephens will all be moving on, with thanks and best wishes from all at the Club for their service in Black and Green.
 
Mike and Stuart have been with the Club for four seasons since joining in  June 2012, making 109 and 122 WPL appearances respectively, as well as representing the Club in the Welsh Cup Final and UEFA Europa League in 2014. Ross Stephens rejoined Town for a second period in January 2015 and helped the Club to a fourth place finish while Surman joined the Club last June and had an influential season at Centre Half.
 
Newtown have already pre-announced the signing of Craig Williams, and Rhys Griffiths chose to announce his departure from the Club via his twitter account last week.    

The remainder of the Playing squad have been offered terms by the Club and Manager Matthew Bishop and his Assistant Wayne Jones are working very hard to bring together a fresh squad for 2016/7. Further announcements will be made once the FAW Transfer Window reopens on June 9th.

There’s no place like home and that’s certainly the case for Penrhyncoch based Matthew Bishop, writes Club Media Assistant Matthew Wallace. The new manager of Aberystwyth Town returns to Cardigan Bay after a successful playing and coaching career away from his home county. Although Bish pulled on the Aber Black and Green eight times, this opportunity represents the first time he has spend significant time at Park Avenue.
 
“I’m excited! I’m looking forward to the new challenge! It’s great to be very much working at home! Almost my whole footballing career and my coaching career has been down south or across the border.
 
“It’s always been my home town club. I had a very short spell as a player but I certainly came down there as a youngster, watching them win the league and watching them in Europe. ”

After last season’s 8th place finish, Aber will be hoping to go one better and hit the Top 6 next season. But for now, Bishop is  only setting short term goals.

“The challenge is first getting the team together and gelling that team. We want to be competitive and take every game seriously, including the Cup games and let’s see where it takes us. If we adopt that attitude you never know.
 
It’s going to be tough because of where we are geographically. But we’ve got unbelievable contacts and it’s our job to get the right players in so that we can move forward as a football club. “

Bishop joins Wayne Jones on the management side with the former Haverfordwest County manager assuming the role of second in command. The duo have already been busy in the seven days since the official announcement.

“We’re already busy and have been for the past week or so. I’m speaking to ‘Wolvesy’ two or three times a day already about things, players and what we can do. We’re looking to bring some fresh faces into the squad and freshen things up a bit so that we can put a team that’s competitive on the pitch.”

“Ultimately, our priority, Wayne and I, is to come in to reinvigorate the squad and look forward to the new campaign. We want a team that’s fit and a team that’ll work hard. We want to play and get the ball down. We’ve got the new 3G pitch coming in which will help spread the play about. 

With some of last year’s squad leaving Park Avenue for pastures new, Bishop and Wolvesy have the task on their hands of reassembling a squad before the first match day in August.

“It’s about looking for the best value for the money. You want good players at a football club. You want players that are hungry, you want players that are willing to work hard and want to win things. It’s about getting a side together that’ll be competitive. If you’ve got players that are hard working, willing to sacrifice, add that with a bit of talent and you can get some success out of it and that’s what we want. We’re looking to add some legs and we want to give it a go.
 
It will be tough as some of the big boys are spending big money. But we want to assemble a squad that’ll be competitive, give it a go and entertain at the same time.”

Bishop joins the Seasiders after coaching spells with Aldershot, Newport and most recently Hereford where he was part of the management side that won an incredible three trophies in their maiden year since their phoenix club rose from the demise of the old Hereford United in the High Courts and Bish was quick to praise his former employers.

“I had a phone call from Peter [Beadle], our paths had crossed when I was at Newport, he was on an A license course that I was directing. We hit it off and kept in touch throughout the year so when the phone call came from him, especially from a club like Hereford with the history and tradition, it was a very quick decision.
 
“It was a unique year! When I arrived, the club had just reformed, we didn’t have a single player signed on. We won the league, we won two cups and it was unfortunate, we went to Wembley and on the day we didn’t quite get there.
 
But taking 21,000 fans to Wembley will remain a special day. It’s put the club back on the map and it was always going to be difficult leaving there. Having the opportunity to come back home and make a difference.“ 

Aber Town's brand new 3G pitch will herald a new era for the club. For the first time, the opportunity to play on Park Avenue will be available to all. The all weather surface will provide a stimulus for the community and those links are something that Bishop is keen to nurture and use.

“It’s going to be brilliant for the Town, club and the community. We want a team that’ll entertain so that people will come down and enjoy what they see.
 
“One of the key things we have to do as a football club is reengage ourselves back in the community. We’ve got to work closer with our local clubs. Look at Penrhyncoch! Gari, Freddie and Bari have done an unbelievable job at Penrhyncoch. Not only them, we need to get the likes of Bow Street, Cardigan and many more on board because we want the best players playing for Aberystwyth Town.
 
“We’re only going to do that if we have good relationships and it works both ways.  We want the best footballers playing football so we’d like to send some of ours out to the Cymru Alliance because there’s no better experience than actually playing competitive football. Not only that but getting used to the travelling and the competitive element of football.” 

But for now, Bishop is excited and relishing the opportunity to cut his managerial teeth in the league with his hometown club.

“I’m just delighted to be given an opportunity to manage a big club in the Welsh Premier League It’s lovely to be back in the Town and I'm looking forward to exciting times ahead.”

Aberystwyth Town FC are delighted to announce the appointment of Matthew Bishop as First Team Manager of the Club. 
 
Penrhyncoch-based Matthew, or "Bish" as he is fondly known, has just completed an incredible season as Assistant Manager at Hereford FC with a Wembley FA Vase Final last Sunday. The Bulls had already won the Midland Football League Premier Division, League Cup and Herefordshire Challenge Cup in a remarkable first season for the Club.
 
He previously Coached Newport County to promotion into the Blue Square Premier in 2009/10 with a record points total, and has also worked with Aldershot Town, Wales Under 16s, 17s and England Under 20s sides. Matthew is currently employed by the FA as Senior National Coach Developer and of course holds the prerequisite Pro Licence Certificate. 
 
42 year old Bish played eight games for the Black and Greens in their first two WPL seasons (1992-4) before moving to Bangor City, Conwy United and Rhayder, making a total of 61 WPL appearances, scoring once.
 
Matthew will be supported by Wayne Jones, who will fulfil the role of Assistant Manager.
 
Club Chairman Tony Bates said: "We are delighted to have secured Matthew's services, and when you look at his Coaching CV it must be a coup for Aberystwyth Town FC to have him on board. Having a locally based Manager was important to the Club for a number of reasons as we look forward to the 3G era and given his experience and track record of success Matthew fitted the bill perfectly."
 
"I know Matthew is very keen to hit the ground running as the window for signing players opens on 9th June. I am also extremely confident that “Bish” will work well with our new Assistant Manager Wayne Jones.

At this point I would also like to thank most sincerely our previous management team of Ian Hughes and Wyn Thomas and wish them both every success in their future footballing careers: they will both always receive a warm welcome at Park Avenue.”

Gydag ymgyrch Cymru ym Mhencampwriaeth UEFA Euro 2016 yn Ffrainc yn goshau, mae S4C wedi trefnu taith clybiau ar hyd a lled Cymru i ddathlu cyffro’r Ewros gyda’r cefnogwyr.

Bydd S4C yn dangos pob un o gemau grŵp yn fyw yn y gystadleuaeth Euro 2016 fis Mehefin, ond cyn croesi’r Sianel i Ffrainc bydd y tîm cyflwyno yn mynd ar daith i bump o glybiau pêl-droed Cymru. Ac fe fydd pob panel yn cynnwys un o gyn chwaraewyr rhyngwladol Cymru, pyndits sy’n fodlon cynnig barn liwgar a difyr.

Yn y pum digwyddiad yng nghlybiau pêl-droed MBi Llandudno, Bangor, Y Bala, Penrhyncoch ger Aberystwyth a Chaerfyrddin ym mis Mai, byddan nhw’n trafod pêl-droed, cicio pêl neu ddwy a chael tipyn o sbort.
Ac mae croeso i gefnogwyr ymuno â chriw cyflwyno Euro 16 S4C yn y digwyddiadau rhad ac am ddim pan fydd y cyflwynydd Dylan Ebenezer neu’r sylwebydd Nic Parry, yn cadw cwmni i gyn chwaraewyr fel Malcolm Allen, Iwan Roberts ac Owain Tudur Jones.

Bydd y daith yn ymweld â’r clybiau yma ar y dyddiadau canlynol, gyda’r digwyddiad yn dechrau am 5.30yh ym mhob lleoliad: Nos Iau, 19 Mai - MBi Llandudno;  Nos Wener, 20 Mai - Bangor;  Nos Fawrth, 24 Mai - Bala; Nos Fercher;  25 Mai - Penrhyncoch; Nos Iau, 26 Mai - Caerfyrddin.

Yn ogystal â holi’r sêr pêl-droed am obeithion Cymru yn y gystadleuaeth, bydd cyfle i gefnogwyr ifanc ddangos eu doniau a chael tips gan y cyn-chwaraewyr. Hefyd bydd y peldroediwr triciau Ash Randall - sydd â sawl record byd Guinness - yn dangos ei sgiliau anhygoel gyda’r bêl.

Bydd cwis a raffl elusennol hefyd yn cael eu cynnal ym mhob clwb, gyda’r arian yn mynd at yr elusen Street Football Wales, elusen sy’n anelu at wella bywydau a chyfleoedd pobl ddigartref a phobl sydd wedi eithrio’n  gymdeithasol yng Nghymru. Bydd offer cyfieithu a lluniaeth ysgafn ar gael ar y noson.

Dywedodd Pennaeth Marchnata a Hyrwyddo S4C, Jane Felix Richards: “Rydym yn falch iawn yn S4C ein bod yn darlledu  gemau grŵp Cymru ym Mhencampwriaeth UEFA Euro 2016 yn fyw. Mae’r daith hon yn ffordd o ddathlu hynny ac yn gyfle i gwrdd, trafod a chael hwyl gyda dilynwyr y gêm.”

With Wales’ historic UEFA Euro 2016 Championship campaign in France growing ever nearer, S4C will embark on a tour across Wales to spread the Euros excitement among supporters.

S4C will be showing live coverage of each of Wales’ group stage matches in June, but before they make the journey across the Channel, the presentation team will be touring football clubs across Wales.

And with some former Wales international players in the line-up, club members are in for some frank, interesting discussions.

The five events will take place at MBi Llandudno, Bangor City, Bala Town, Penrhyncoch and Carmarthen Town football clubs, where the S4C team will be talking football and kicking a ball or two.

Presenter Dylan Ebenezer or the commentator Nic Parry will host the evenings, and they will be joined by ex-Wales internationals, Malcolm Allen, Iwan Roberts and Owain Tudur Jones, and supporters are being invited to join in free of charge.

The tour will be visiting these clubs on the following dates, starting at 5.30pm every evening:
Thursday, 19 May - MBi Llandudno;  Friday, 20 May – Bangor;  Tuesday, 24 May – Bala; Wednesday, 25 May – Penrhyncoch;  Thursday, 26 May - Carmarthen.

Young fans will be given the chance to show off their skills and receive tips from the ex-internationals in a series of age-group kickabouts, while freestyle footballer Ash Randall – the holder of several Guinness World Records – will be displaying his jaw-dropping tekkers.

There will also be an opportunity to hear from the S4C Euros team in a question and answer session, and supporters can also take part in an Euros-themed quiz and a raffle, with the proceeds going to the charity, Street Football Wales, that exists to improve the lives and opportunities for homeless and socially excluded people in Wales.

Translation equipment and light refreshments will be available on each evening.

S4C Head of Marketing and Promotions, Jane Felix Richards, said: “We are delighted to be showing each of the Wales team’s group games in this UEFA Euro 2016 Championships live on S4C. This Euros tour is a way of celebrating the team’s achievement and gives us a chance to meet, greet and have some fun with football fans.”

Aber's Talismanic number ten Chris Venables keeps on picking up the plaudits!

Having been confirmed as WPL Top Scorer for the third consecutive season three weeks ago, he has now been named in the official Dafabet WPL Team of the Season, also for the third straight season.

Inclusion in this elite squad, nominated by Managers of all twelve Dafabet WPL Clubs, is a huge honour and everyone at Aberystwyth Town FC congratulates Chris on another terrific season in Black and Green.    

Dafabet WPL 2015/16 Team of the Season
Goalkeeper
Ashley Morris (Bala Town)
Defenders
Simon Spender (The New Saints), Kai Edwards (The New Saints), Mike Pearson (Airbus UK Broughton), Chris Marriott (The New Saints).
Midfielders
Jamie Mullan (The New Saints), Aeron Edwards (The New Saints), Chris Venables (Aberystwyth Town).
Strikers
Tony Gray (Airbus UK Broughton), Marc Williams (MBi Llandudno), Lee Hunt (Bala Town).
Substitutes
Dave Jones (Newtown AFC), Mike Williams (MBi Llandudno), James Joyce (MBi Llandudno), Matty Owen (Newtown AFC), Callum Morris (gap Connah's Quay), Scott Quigley (The New Saints).