PREVIEW: BALA TOWN (A)

Aber’s pre-season schedule ramps up this coming week, with two matches against JD Cymru Premier opposition to come ahead of the league campaign starting on 26^th July. First up is a trip to Bala Town, who have been regular opponents over the past 15 years.

ATFC fans have had three opportunities to get to know the new look Black & Greens already; with the new boys registering one win, one draw and one defeat from the three pre-season outings so far. Garin Evans (2) and Desean Martin have been on the scoresheet in these games.

Bala Town have endured a summer of change following the departure of long serving manager Colin Caton, who served the club for nearly 22 years and was at the helm for nearly 900 matches. He has been replaced by Steve Fisher & Ryan Valentine who take on the roles of First Team Manager and Head Coach respectively, and have both been involved with the Lakesiders for many years themselves.

The new management team have wasted no time in shaping their squad for the forthcoming season, with fan favourite Hussein Mehasseb returning to the club and Harry Dean signing from Wrexham, in addition to key players such as Lassana Mendes, Joel Torrance and Nathan Burke re-signing for 2025/26.

There will also be a couple of familiar faces in the opposition line up too. John Owen joined the hosts this summer after spending four and a half years at Aberystwyth University Park Avenue, creating many memorable moments along the way, in what was his second spell after a previous 18-month spell between 2017 & 2018. Defender Will Bell also had a 6-month spell in Black & Green in 2016, under current Assistant Manager Matthew Bishop.

Balatownfc.net provides the following directions to the ground … Coming into town from the east continue along Bala High Street, turning right at the White Lion Hotel (turn left if coming from the west) – then in approx 100 metres continue over the next crossroads. Go straight across and the ground is on the left in another 100 yards. Parking for approx 100 cars is available at ground. The postcode for your SatNav is LL23 7UY. Join us at the lake for a fine summer evening’s football!