Match Preview
Pre Season Friendly
Saturday 1st August (ko 2.30pm)
Caersws v Aberystwyth Town


The Black and Greens are back on a familiar path leading to the Recreation Ground this weekend, as they prepare to take on Friendly Rivals Caersws in their third Pre Season Friendly of 2015/6.

Ian Hughes's side comes into the game on the back of two friendly wins against Welsh Alliance sides Llandyrnog (2-0) and Llangefni (3-0), though Saturday's opponents come with a higher pedigree as they finished last season in eighth place in the Cymru Alliance league, and held the Black and Greens to a 0-0 draw last pre season, after beating them 3-0 two years ago. Sandwiched in between those games was a tense Welsh Cup Quarter Final tie at Park Avenue in March 2014, which Aber won 2-1.

The Bluebirds, managed by onetime Seasider Graham Evans, have so far beaten Barmouth and Knighton in pre season, and drawn with Penycae and Welshpool, and will be certain to provide a stiff test.

Manager Ian Hughes told atfc.org.uk this afternoon: "We're going to take a mix of First Team and Under 19s Players to Caersws at the weekend. This is probably my last chance to look at the Under 19s Players properly, before we enter the Business End of Pre Season from next week onwards. I hope to see a number of the younger players staking a claim to play in the last few friendlies on Saturday."

We understand Caersws will be using the occasion to open a new Stand, and we hope to see a good contingent of Aber Town Supporters making the journey for a Derby game which for many years was one of the highlights of the Calendar. Kick Off at the Recreation Ground is at 2.30pm. 

Aberystwyth Town are delighted to confirm that Goalkeeper Phil Draper has signed forms to remain at the Club for 2015/6.

Draper, currently recovering from a knee injury, has been a popular Member of the Squad since he joined the Club last summer. Last season he was called on a number of times to stand in for Keeper Mike Lewis, notably in both UEFA Europa League ties against Derry City, where Draper earned high praise for his performance in the first leg after Lewis' sending off. The 24 year old also helped the Club to wins over Cefn Druids in November, at Carmarthen in January, and saved a penalty against Port Talbot seconds after coming on in December. In total he made 2+2 WPL Appearances last season.

Draper originally hails from Llandrindod Wells, and his former clubs include Penrhyncoch, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth University and the Welsh Universities Squad. Draper also once memorably scored a penalty to earn promotion for Builth Wells, whilst playing up front!

The acquisition of Draper brings Ian Hughes' squad up to sixteen players, as the Black and Greens' Manager prepares his Squad for the WPL Kick off on August 22nd. 

Pre Season Friendly
Saturday 25th July
Aberystwyth Town 3 Llangefni Town 0

Rhys Griffiths marked his home debut for the Black and Greens with a two goal salvo which, allied to an own goal, eased Aber to a relatively comfortable victory over their Welsh Alliance visitors from Anglesey.

Along with Griffiths, other new signings Lee Surman, Jack Rimmer and Darren Thomas also made home debuts, and it was good to see the hosts starting in the same commanding vein in which they performed last week against Llandyrnog. Within the first minute visiting keeper Liam Ewing conceded a penalty by bringing down Craig Williams in the box, but he then redeemed himself by parrying Rhys Griffiths' penalty to safety.  Griffiths headed over the bar from the resultant corner, and then in the sixth minute headed the opener from close range after Geoff Kellaway's teasing cross fell nicely into his path. Griffiths and Darren Thomas were prominent, and the chances kept coming. Stuart Jones headed over before Griffiths hit the bar with yet another header. Cledan Davies created a good chance for Kellaway, and then himself had a header cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble. Kellaway fired wide from a good position, then Williams and Rimmer both brought saves from Ewing in nets, then at the other end Llion Jones' cross created a superb opportunity for Craig Evans, but he headed wide, and a half dominated by Aber ended 1-0.

Town were rocked at half time by a hand injury to keeper Mike Lewis, but Cledan Davies stepped into the breach and was barely tested after the break, with Tom Jones coming on and impressing down the left side. Stuart Jones headed wide from a corner, before Llangefni's tricky Paul Rowlands had a shot deflected to safety. The hard working Griffiths then created a chance with a left wing cross which Kellaway was unable to convert, but then in the 54th minute Darren Thomas went on a swashbuckling run right at the heart of the home defence and beat four players before crossing for Griffiths to control and convert to double the lead. Six minutes later Kellaway again caused havoc down the right and his arrowed cross into the box was turned past his own keeper by the unfortunate Andy Sinclair for Aber's third. With the game more or less in the bag Manager Ian Hughes turned to his youthful bench and brought on Liam Lewis, Sion Evans and Ryan Edwards, who all made their presence felt. Griffiths was denied by Ewing again, Ryan Edwards went close with a right foot volley and Lewis hit the side netting. With the visiting fans signing Rowlands fired wide for Llangefni, and Craig Evans hit the cross bar with a volley from distance, before Griffiths was denied a deserved hat trick by an offside flag. Craig Evans headed just past the post, and then Lee Surman lobbed just over the bar for Aber, and an entertaining game ended 3-0 to the Black and Greens.

Manager Ian Hughes will be pleased by another dominant performance, and another clean sheet which sets Aber up nicely for next Saturday's challenging Mid Wales Derby at the Recreation Ground, Caersws, which kicks off at 2.30pm. The Home Club will be opening a new Stand on the day so a decent crowd can be expected. See you at the Rec next week! 

Aberystwyth Town FC are preparing for their first home game of 2015/6, as Welsh Alliance side Llangefni Town visit Park Avenue tomorrow for a pre-season friendly, kicking off at 2.30pm.

Onetime Welsh Premier side Llangefni achieved promotion to the Welsh Alliance Division One last season after finishing runners up in the Anglesey League, and the Team and its Manager Chris Roberts are known to have a large following of vocal supporters. A 72 seater Coach and a minibus are reported to be travelling down for the game, and a group of Supporters have booked out the Executive Box for the afternoon, so there is certain to be an exciting atmosphere at Park Avenue.

Black and Greens Manager Ian Hughes has close connections with Llangefni Town, having started his Coaching Career as Assistant Manager to Lee Dixon at Cae Bob Parry, where they won the Cymru Alliance in 2008/9. Town's quixotic midfielder Darren Thomas was part of that side and will undoubtedly also be looking forward to facing some old friends tomorrow. 

Town Supporters will be glad of the chance to acquaint themselves with Thomas, along with Town's other New Signings Rhys Griffiths and Lee Surman, as well as the coterie of local young players who did the Club so proudly in last week's 2-0 win at Llandyrnog: Jack Rimmer, Tom Jones, Ryan Edwards, Liam Lewis and Sion Evans.

Footy's Back at Park Avenue! Early Bird Season Tickets will be on sale tomorrow for £80, and the match kicks off at 2.30pm. We can promise it won't be boring!

Aberystwyth Town FC Early Bird Season Tickets for 2015/6 will be available for sale at Saturday's Pre Season Friendly against Llangefni Town, at the knock down price of £80.

All applications received with payment by Friday 7th August will be guaranteed the Early Bird rate, and thereafter the price will rise to £85.

Season Tickets for Over 65s will be available for £50, while Under 16s Season Tickets will cost a mere £10. A Family Season Ticket is also available providing admission for 2 Adults and 2 Children for £160.

Finally Vice President Season Tickets will be available for £150, providing access to every League & League Cup home game, free match day programmes for each game and an official Aberystwyth Town Football Club tie, Scarf or Hat. Vice Presidents will automatically become members of Aberystwyth Town Football Club Ltd.

Supporters unable to attend on Saturday can email a request for a Season Ticket Application form to the Club at [email protected].

The Black and Greens enjoyed their best season for many years last time round, competing in the UEFA Europa League and the Top Six for the first time, reaching and hosting the Europa League Play Off Final, and finishing fourth. Attendances at Park Avenue rocketed and over 9,600 people attended Aber's home games, producing the WPL's second best overall average attendance of 458.

With the retention of all their major players, including WPL Player of the Season and Top Scorer Chris Venables, and the exciting signings of Rhys Griffiths, Lee Surman and Darren Griffiths, 2015/6 is guaranteed to produce another thrilling ride, and can guarantee yourself a front row seat from start to finish for just £80.

Admission prices for WPL games at Park Avenue next season will remain the cheapest in the Dafabet WPL at £6 for Adults, £4 for Concessions, £1 for Children over 11, and free for under 11s. 

Saturday 18th July
Pre Season Friendly
Llandyrnog United 0 Aberystwyth Town 2

Goals from Geoff Kellaway (11 minutes) and a debut strike from 16 year old Ryan Edwards (67 minutes) earned the Black and Greens a relatively comfortable victory in their first pre season friendly of 2015/6, away to Welsh Alliance side Llandyrnog at the Llanfwrog Playing Fields this afternoon. 

Aber started with new signings Rhys Griffiths, Darren Thomas  and 16 year old Jack Rimmer making their debuts, with a bench comprised of four under eighteens, and they made a promising start with Kellaway bringing a save out of Dan Lewis in United's goal. Aiden Belle then managed a shot on target for the hosts, which was gathered by Mike Lewis. Griffiths fired over for Town before Ross Stephens sent a superb left wing cross into the area and Kellaway popped up at the far post to rifle home for 1-0. The chances kept coming with Darren Thomas going close on a number of occasions, hitting the post with a header and seeing another deflected over before the homesters' Matthew Pendleton was off target at the other end. Rimmer was showing some excellent composure and a good range of passing in Central Midfield, and he saw a shot saved before sending in a super cross which caused consternation at the back. Thomas played a one two with Craig Williams before drawing another save from Dan Jones and Stuart Jones headed over, but the second goal just would not come, so Town had to settle for the one goal lead at the break.

The pattern of the game continued after the break with Craig Williams, Stephens and Kellaway ever more prominent in Town's remorseless attacks. Youngsters Tom Jones, Ryan Edwards, Liam Lewis and Sion Evans all came on in the game's third quarter, meaning that Town finished the game with two 16 year olds and three seventeen year olds on the field, and Edwards did superbly to reach Williams' deep cross to score the second at the far post with a header with 23 minutes remaining. United's Dafydd Evans fired one effort wide of the post but then Aber kept coming. Lewis was twice just off target, Kellaway went close with a number of chances, Sion James headed over yet another Williams cross, then Wyn Thomas had a header and two shots saved within a minute by sub keeper Rich Goldstone, and Edwards went close with time almost up.

On another day the Black and Greens would have converted more of the 21 attempts at goal they managed in a dominant performance, but considering the side was today without Chris Venables, Lee Surman, Luke Sherbon and Antonio Corbisiero, a comfortable win and a clean sheet is definitely an acceptable return - and Manager Ian Hughes will have learned that he has plenty of young local talent to challenge for Squad Places too over the next few week.

Aber give Black and Greens fans a chance to check out their exciting new signing close up next Saturday as they host another Welsh Alliance side, Llangefni Town at Park Avenue (ko 2.30pm).