Geltaidd vs. Prem Stars: Bitter Rivalry Puts Friday Cup Final on Different Level

Thai Pham Memorial Shield Final
Friday 16th October (ko 7pm)
CPD Y Geltaidd v CPD Premiership Stars
 
As the link between the Aberystwyth University Football Digs League and Aberystwyth Town FC strengthens further, this year’s Memorial Shield will be held at Park Avenue in memory of Borussia Teeth player, Thai Pham. The Thai Pham Memorial Shield is the Community Shield equivalent of Digs, with the teams battling it out this year being CPD Y Geltaidd and CPD Premiership Stars.
 
There is nothing friendly about CPD Y Geltaidd and CPD Premiership Stars playing on the same pitch. No matter the occasion, no matter the age, no matter their standing in Digs football (which is almost always pretty high anyway), these Digs teams simply hate each other. These two Welsh-speaking Digs teams were arguably the two most successful teams of last season as Geltaidd lifted the Aber Town Cup on penalties (after being 3-0 down in the 85th minute) and Stars lifted the Champions Cup after overcoming Goal Diggers on penalties.
 
The rivalry resumes this Friday at Park Avenue, the home of Aberystwyth Town FC.
 
By the time the game kicks off, both teams will have played one official friendly each, being the only indicator to how strong these teams are this season. Geltaidd fell 4-3 at the hands of Aber Kadabra and have been heard to blame it on the Rugby social the day before. Stars took on FC Beaver on the Sports Centre Astro Turf yesterday, but were seen to rest a number of players, so many in fact, that they showed up to the game with two men.
 
Following the final whistle, the winning team will be presented with the Memorial Shield, and the Digs League Draw will commence. All teams will be keen to find out their fates for the season. First the three league draws will be made, to decide who will play in the Bundesliga, Premier League and La Liga. Following the League Draws, the Aberystwyth Town Cup will be drawn, with a new format being selected. Fixtures for all other Digs teams will commence on the 21st of October down where dreams are made at Blaendolau Playing Fields.
 
The seedings for the League Draws have been calculated from last season’s performance in the League, with two top seeds and two second seeds being placed into each of the three leagues. The top seeds are the three League winners, Stars, Panthers and FCLMA and three League runners up, Goal Diggers, Geltaidd and SH Pandas. The second seeds are made up of AUFC Freshers, Aber Lions, FC Beaver, We Hate Ben FC, Tekkerslovakia and last but not least, NotInHer Forest.
 
Despite losing a few teams this year, including Aber Town Cup finalists, Toke City, former Premier League winners Obi Wan Kenobi Nil, Pathetic Athletic and Ajax Trees Down, this season is already looking to be tightly contested with new teams Tigers FC and Expected Toulouse keen to make an immediate impact.
 
If the last Digs game at Park Avenue is anything to go by, this game is a must-watch, even if just to find out your team’s fate in the Digs League Draw. Paramount among it all is simply the intense rivalry between these two teams. Expect some fireworks in this one.