BALA TOWN V the NEW SAINTS Y BALA V Y SEINTIAU NEWYDD BANGOR UNIVERSITY STADIUM, BANGOR 30.04.2017 KO 14:00 ONLY at DAVID

130TH JD WELSH CUP FINAL 130AIN ROWND DERFYNOL CWPAN CYMRU JD BALA TOWN v THE NEW SAINTS Y BALA v Y SEINTIAU NEWYDD BANGOR UNIVERSITY STADIUM, BANGOR 30.04.2017 KO 14:00 ONLY AT DAVID

GRIFFITHSPRESIDENT, FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF WALES LLYWYDD, CYMDEITHAS BÊL DROED CYMRU

WELCOME CROESO I wish you all a very warm welcome to the Hoffwn ddymuno croeso cynnes iawn i chi i Bangor University Stadium, the home of Stadiwm Prifysgol Bangor, cartref CPD Dinas Bangor City FC, for the 130th JD Welsh Bangor ar gyfer y 130ain Rownd Derfynol Cup Final. I congratulate Bala Town and Cwpan JD Cymru. Rydw i’n llongyfarch Y Bala a’r The New Saints on reaching this showpiece Seintiau Newydd ar gyrraedd y Rownd Derfynol Final and wish both teams the very best of a’n dymuno pob lwc i’r ddau dîm heddiw. luck here today. Dyma ymddangosiad cyntaf Y Bala yn Rownd This is Bala Town’s first appearance in a JD Welsh Cup Final and Colin Caton’s team Derfynol Cwpan JD Cymru a bydd tîm Colin will be focused on causing an upset here in Caton yn benderfynol o gynhyrfu’r dyfroedd Bangor in order to lift the famous trophy. yma ym Mangor er mwyn codi’r tlws enwog. For The New Saints, it’s their fourth I’r Seintiau Newydd, maen nhw yn y Rownd consecutive appearance in the Final as Derfynol am y bedwaredd flwyddyn yn olynol they go for a domestic treble for the third yn eu hymgais am drebl domestig am y successive season – the ‘Treble Treble’. drydydd tymor yn olynol – y trebl triphlyg. May I take this opportunity to thank the Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle i ddiolch i noddwyr competition’s sponsors, JD Sports, who y gystadleuaeth, JD Sports, sydd wedi parhau have continued their association with the eu cysylltiad â’r gystadleuaeth am ail dymor yn competition for the second consecutive olynol. Rydym yn hynod ddiolchgar iddynt am OFFICIAL season. We are tremendously grateful to them for their support of this wonderful eu cefnogaeth o’r gystadleuaeth ddomestig TRAININGWEAR domestic competition. arbennig hon. AVAILABLE NOW Finally, I would like to thank Bangor City Yn olaf, hoffwn ddiolch i CPD Dinas Bangor am FC for hosting the 130th JD Welsh Cup gynnal y 130ain Rownd Derfynol Cwpan JD WALESFOOTBALLSHOP.CO.UK Final and for welcoming football fans from Cymru ac am groesawu cefnogwyr ledled y across the country to their home. wlad i’w cartref. All the best. Pob dymuniad da. DOWNLOAD THE FAW.JD APP

All player and club history details has been submitted by the relevant club. www.faw.cymru 3

FTB030_WALES_TRAINING_ADVERT_210X297.indd 1 28/09/2016 14:36 ANDREW ANDREW HOWARD HOWARD FA WALES HEAD OF COMPETITIONS PENNAETH CYSTADLAETHAU, CBD CYMRU

Once again, this season’s JD Welsh Cup has captured the imagination Unwaith eto, mae Cwpan JD Cymru’r tymor hwn wedi dal dychymyg a and dreams of players, fans and communities. breuddwydion chwaraewyr, cefnogwyr a chymunedaus.

Over recent years all of us at the FAW have Here are some of the key statistics that Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf mae pob un Dyma rai ystadegau allweddol sy'n dangos been focused on raising the profile of the shows the growth in the competition since ohonom yn CBDC wedi canolbwyntio ar twf y gystadleuaeth ers tymor 2009/10: competition and progress has certainly the 2009/10 season: godi proffil y gystadleuaeth ac yn sicr mae Lansiad logo swyddogol cyntaf been made. cynnydd wedi’i wneud. • • The launch of the first official Welsh Cup cystadleuaeth Cwpan Cymru This season we have seen a huge level of competition logo Y tymor hwn rydym wedi gweld lefel uchel • Cytundeb nawdd JD Sports yn interest, in all the rounds, on social and • JD Sports sponsorship deal o ddiddordeb ymhob cymal, ar gyfryngau cynrychioli swm chwe ffigwr dros bum digital media from supporters and players representing a six-figure sum over five digidol a chymdeithasol gan gefnogwyr a mlynedd hyd at 2020 across the country. Coupled with this, chwaraewyr ar draws y wlad. Law yn llaw â years until 2020 Cynnydd yn y nifer o gemau teledu byw there has been a significant contribution hyn, mae cyfraniad sylweddol gan glybiau, • Increases in the number of live televised bob tymor ar S4C o 2 i 5 from clubs, sponsors and broadcasters • noddwyr a darlledwyr wedi gweithredu fel matches per season on S4C from 2 to 5 which has acted as a catalyst for the catalydd ar gyfer esblygiad y gystadleuaeth • Nifer y clybiau’n ymgeisio yn y competition’s evolution. • Club entries to the competition up by gystadleuaeth i fyny bron 20% Rydym yn falch o’r cynnydd sydd nearly a fifth Cynnydd o fwy na thraean mewn arian We are proud of the progress made, but wedi’i wneud ond hefyd yn realistig ac • Increase of more than a third in clubs’ gwobr clybiau i £ 48,000 also both realistic and ambitious to know • uchelgeisiol i sylweddoli fod llawer mwy i’w prize money to £48,000 that there is still much to do to continue wneud i barhau i ddatblygu’r gystadleuaeth Pob lwc i'r pedwar clwb dan sylw heddiw a to develop this competition and its brand Good luck to the four clubs involved a’r brand ledled Cymru a thu hwnt diolch o galon i chi a’r nifer o randdeiliaid throughout Wales and beyond. today and a sincere thank you to the sydd wedi cyfrannu at godi proffil y many stakeholders who have contributed gystadleuaeth g hon. to raising the profile of this wonderful competition.

4 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 5 THE ROAD TO THE FINAL - BALA TOWN

Contesting their first ever JD Welsh Cup Final at Bangor today, we take a look back at the Lakesiders’ Road to the Final.

ROUND THREE ROUND FOUR Bala Town FC 6-1 Caldicot Town FC Bala Town FC 4-1 Penybont FC (AET) 3 December 2016 28 January 2017

A rare home tie for the Lakesiders in the A shock appeared to be on the cards in JD Welsh Cup saw Colin Caton’s Bala Town January at Maes Tegid as Rhys Griffiths’ QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS Guilsfield FC 0-3 Bala Town FC Caernarfon Town FC 1-3 Bala Town FC welcome the Nathaniel Cars Welsh League Penybont FC scored late on in regular time 25 February 2017 1 April 1 2017 Division 1 outfit Caldicot Town to Maes to cancel out Kieran Smith’s Bala Town Tegid and it was the minnows who took the opener and send the game into extra time. Having already knocked one Welsh Premier History was going to be made one way or lead against the Dafabet Welsh Premier League side out of the competition in the another in this game, as neither Caton’s Bala League giants. All of the effort expended to stay compact form of Cardiff Met, Guilsfield were a very nor Iwan Williams’ Caernarfon had reached and organised had taken its toll on Griffith’s The Monmouthshire side had a secret difficult opponent for Caton’s side and one the JD Welsh Cup Final before and, after Welsh League Division 1 side by that point taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, it looked like weapon – Ashley Palmer – who’s long he knew all too well from the Lakesiders’ though, and the Lakesiders locked in their the Cofis might be on their way to the final. throw caught out the Bala backline after time in the Huws Gray Alliance League. Quarter-final place with three goals in extra a blistering start by the home side’s Caton’s charges had other ideas however, forwards, and Caldicot had their lead time to make it 4-1, but Caton admitted Despite the tricky conditions and battling as they battled bravely and benefited from through a Matt James header. to being very impressed by the challenge against the elements, Bala battled their some smart substitutions to score three Bala replied instantly through Lee Hunt, Penybont posed. way to what ended up being a comfortable goals in the second half to book a final date and he notched his brace after 44 minutes, “I had them watched, had a few reports on victory thanks to goals from Ryan Wade, with The New Saints and secure European before a second half showering of goals – them, but what was reported compared Chris Venables and John Irving. football for next season. including Hunt securing his hat-trick – saw to what they did on the day against us was “We’ve limited teams to very few chances “I’ve watched Caernarfon a lot over the last Bala run out 6-1 winners. totally different. I was shocked at how well- throughout the competition, and this game couple of years and Iwan has done a great “Caldicot were struggling in the league at the job there,” “They’re a top team, organised they were, how good they were. was no different,”Caton said. “The playing Caton said. time, but they were good against us,” Colin Rhys Griffiths had them well-drilled and they surface was difficult, the weather was awful, but I knew we could beat them. That being said, every big game that they’ve been in, Caton recalled. “They caught us out early-on were really, really good on the day.” there was a problem with the kits, so there they’ve adapted very well and put in great with a long throw-in that they scored from, were quite a few distractions and I’m very which was a tactic of theirs that I wasn’t performances, so it was going to be a huge proud of the lads for coming through that aware of, but we grabbed hold of the game challenge but I back my lads against anyone, one pretty comfortably.” and it was a comfortable win in the end.” they battled very hard and deserved to win.”

6 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 7 DAITH I’R ROWND

DERFYNOL: CPD ROWND PEDWAR Er gwaethaf amodau anodd yn brwydro CPD Y Bala 4-1 CPD Penybont (AET) yn erbyn yr elfennau, talodd waith caled Ionawr 28, 2017 y Bala ar ei ganfed wrth i goliau gan Ryan Wade, Chris Venables a John Irving roi YYn cystadlu BALA am y tro cyntaf erioed yn Rownd Derfynol Cwpan JD Cymru Cafodd y dyfroedd eu cynhyrfu ym Maes buddugoliaeth gyfforddus. Tegid ym mis Ionawr wrth i Rhys Griffiths ym Mangor heddiw, edrychwn yn ôl ar daith Y Bala i’r Rownd Derfynol. “Drwy gydol y gystadleuaeth mae timau o CPD Penybont sgorio’n hwyr o fewn 90 cyfyngedig yn rhoi cyfleoedd cyfyngedig, a munud i ddiddymu gôl agoriadol Kieran ROWND TRI ‘doedd y gêm hon ddim gwahanol,” meddai CPD Y Bala 6 – 1 CBD Caldicot Smith i’r Bala ac anfon y gêm i amser Caton. “Roedd y cae chwarae’n sialens, Rhagfyr 3, 2016 ychwanegol. roedd y tywydd yn ofnadwy, roedd yna Yn ystod un o gemau cartref prin y Bala yng Roedd pob ymdrech i gadw’n dynn ac yn broblem gyda’r dillad, felly roedd cryn dipyn o Nghwpan JD Cymru, croesawodd dîm Colin drefnus wedi blino chwaraewyr Griffiths o sialensiau a dwi’n falch iawn o’r bechgyn am Caton CPD Caldicot i Faes Tegid o Adran Adran 1af Cynghrair Cymru erbyn hyn fodd ddod drwy’r gêm honno’n eithaf cyfforddus.” 1af Cynghrair Cymru a’r ymwelwyr aeth bynnag a llwyddodd y Bala i gyrraedd rownd ar y blaen yn erbyn cewri Uwch Gynghrair yr wyth olaf gyda their gôl mewn amser Dafabet Cymru. ROWND GYN-DERFYNOL ychwanegol i wneud y sgôr terfynol yn 4-1. CPD Caernarfon 1-3 CPD Y Bala Roedd gan y tîm o Sir Fynwy arf dirgel yn Serch hynny cyfaddefodd Caton fod tîm 1 Ebrill 1, 2017 Ashley Palmer, gyda’i dafliad hir yn chwalu Penybont wedi creu cryn argraff arno. Un ffordd neu’r llall roedd hanes am gael ei unrhyw drefn gan amddiffynwyr y Bala. "Roeddwn i wedi’u gwylio ac wedi derbyn Ar ôl dechrau cryf gan flaenwyr y Bala, greu yn y gêm hon gan nad oedd CPD Y Bala adroddiadau amdanynt ond roedd beth na’ CPD Caernarfon erioed wedi cyrraedd Caldicot oedd ar y blaen diolch i beniad gafodd eu hadrodd i mi o’i gymharu i’w Matt James. Rownd Derfynol Cwpan JD Cymru o’r blaen. perfformiad ar y diwrnod yn hollol wahanol. Ar ôl bod ar y blaen 1-0 ar hanner amser, Ymatebodd y Bala’n syth drwy Lee Hunt, Ces i fy synnu eu bod wedi’u trefnu cystal, a roedd hi’n edrych yn debyg mai’r Cofis oedd ac yna wrth sgorio’r ail gôl ar ôl 44 munud. pha mor dda yr oedden nhw’n chwarae. Roedd ar eu ffordd i’r rownd derfynol. Sicrhaodd llu o goliau yn yr ail hanner, gan Rhys Griffiths wedi’u paratoi yn dda ac ar y Roedd gan dîm Caton syniadau eraill fodd gynnwys trydydd i Hunt, mai’r Bala oedd yr diwrnod roedden nhw’n wirioneddol dda.” enillwyr clir o 6-1. bynnag, gan frwydro’n ddewr ac elwa o eilyddio clyfar i sgorio tair gôl yn yr ail hanner “Roedd pethau’n anodd i Caldicott yn y i allu brwydro yn erbyn y Seintiau Newydd i gynghrair ar y pryd ond roedden nhw’n ROWND YR WYTH OLAF CPD Cegidfa 0-3 CPD Y Bala sicrhau pêl-droed Ewropeaidd y tymor nesaf. wrthwynebwyr da yn ein herbyn ni” meddai Chwefror 25, 2017 Colin Caton wrth edrych yn ôl. “Cawsom ein “Dwi wedi gwylio Caernarfon lawer gwaith dros y blynyddoedd ac mae Iwan wedi gwneud dal allan yn fuan yn y gêm gyda gôl o dafliad Eisoes wedi curo un tîm o Uwch Gynghrair hir, tacteg ganddyn nhw nad oeddwn i’n gwaith gwych yno,” dywedodd Caton. “Maen Dafabet Cymru yn y gystadleuaeth, sef Met nhw’n dîm gwych ond roeddwn i’n gwybod fod ymwybodol ohono. Wedi hynny ddaru ni reoli’r Caerdydd, roedd Cegidfa’n wrthwynebwyr gêm gan ennill yn gyfforddus yn y diwedd.” modd i ni eu curo. Wedi dweud hynny, ymhob anodd iawn i dîm Caton, a wyddai hynny gêm fawr maen nhw wedi addasu’n dda a rhoi gystal â neb yn dilyn cyfod y Bala yng perfformiadau gwych, felly roedd hi’n mynd i Nghynghrair Huws Gray. fod yn sialens enfawr ond mae gen i hyder yn y bechgyn yn erbyn unrhyw dîm. Fe wnaethon nhw frwydro’n galed a haeddu ennill.

8 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 9 THE ROAD TO THE FINAL: THE NEW SAINTS Craig Harrison’s men are no strangers to major finals, but this season’s run to the 2017 JD Welsh Cup Final has seen the 39-year-old of that round, so it was a very tough said. “The Lee Trundle factor gave the fixture very good on the day, but the good thing and his club face a who’s who of start to the competition for us. On the a bit more of an edge, but we were a little bit about good teams is that even when they day we beat them comfortably, but it’s fortunate to draw them, at home as well, and don’t play well they find a way to win the game, resilient rivals, both old and new. always a very big ask to get a win against it worked out really comfortable in the end. It and fortunately we did that on the day.” Newtown, so to do that early-on in the was great to draw them, to meet up and look back on what they did in the WPL, and they’re competition was a great result.” SEMI-FINALS on their way back up as well.” Gap Connah’s Quay 0-3 The New Saints ROUND THREE ROUND FOUR 1 April 2017 Newtown AFC 0-3 The New Saints The New Saints 7-0 Llanelli QUARTER-FINALS 3 December 2016 28 January 2017 The New Saints 2-1 Bangor City (AET) Clinical, that’s what The New Saints 25 February 2017 were in this fixture. They had four or five The Dafabet Welsh Premier League’s leading A trip down memory lane was on the chances and stuck three of them in the scorer, Newtown’s Jason Oswell, admitted cards for The New Saints in Round Definitely The New Saints’ most lacklustre back of the net. The Nomads went very earlier in the season that he and his teammates Four as Lee Trundle and Llanelli made performance of the competition so far, close on a couple of occasions to testing always find an extra gear when faced with the the journey to Park Hall to contest Bangor City came very close to knocking Paul Harrison in the TNS goal, but holders prospect of topping The New Saints. one of the most significant fixtures, the holders out of the competition in extra kept Connah’s Quay at arm’s length and A consistently strong foe for Harrison’s side, historically at least, of the round. time at Park Hall as Henry Jones put ten- took their chances when they came to seal Chris Hughes’ men found themselves on the Previously undefeated in their season, man Bangor ahead with 20 minutes to play. a spot in The JD Welsh Cup Final for the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat as the reigning JD the former Welsh Premier League Superb character shown by The New fourth year running. Welsh Cup holders were in imperious form and Champions travelled to Oswestry in Saints, however, saw them find a back into “I thought we were very comfortable from brushed the Robins aside with three second- buoyant mood, but The New Saints the game very late-on with Greg Draper start to finish, to be honest. Paul Harrison half goals from Jon Routledge (2) and Scott soon put paid to that as they were 3-0 and Adrian Cieslewicz scoring to seal their has had one save to make, they’ve hit the Quigley. up at half-time, before adding four progress into the final four. crossbar after a long throw, but from the very “They always rise to the occasion against us,” more goals after the break to seal a “On the day we didn’t particularly play very first whistle we’ve dominated possession and “They’re always a very tough we deserved to win the game and make it 19 Harrison recalled. comprehensive victory. well,” Harrison noted. “Bangor were very, team to beat, and we were the only all-WPL tie JD Welsh Cup wins in a row”. “It was great to play them,” Harrison

10 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 11 Y DAITH I’R ROWND DERFYNOL: Y

NidSEINTIAU yw dynion Craig Harrison yn ddieithr NEWYDD i rownd derfynol prif gystadlaethau ond mae rhediad y clwb yng Nghwpan JD Cymru’r tymor hwn wedi gweld y rheolwr 39 oed a’i glwb yn wynebu gelynion cyfarwydd, hen a newydd.

ROWND TRI ROWND PEDWAR Y Drenewydd 0-3 Y Seintiau Newydd Y Seintiau Newydd 7-0 Llanelli 3 Rhagfyr, 2016 Ionawr 28, 2017

Cyfaddefodd prif sgoriwr Uwch Gynghrair Roedd cyfle i hel atgofion ar y gweill i’r Dafabet Cymru, Jason Oswell y Drenewydd Seintiau Newydd yn y bedwaredd rownd yn gynharach yn y tymor fod ef a’i gyd- wrth i Lee Trundle a Llanelli wneud y trip ROWND YR WYTH OLAF ROWND GYN-DERFYNOL chwaraewyr bob amser yn llwyddo i fynd i Park Hall i frwydro un o’r gemau mwyaf Y Seintiau Newydd 2-1 CPD Dinas Bangor Cei Connah 0-3 Y Seintiau Newydd i gêr ychwanegol pan mae posibilrwydd o arwyddocaol, neu hanesyddol o leiaf, o’r Chwefror 25, 2017 Ebrill 1, 2017 drechu’r Seintiau Newydd. rownd. Yn sicr dyma berfformiad mwyaf difflach y Clinigol, dyna beth oedd Y Seintiau Yn elyn cryf cyson i dîm Harrisson, Seintiau Newydd yn y gystadleuaeth hyd Newydd yn y gêm hon. Gyda phedwar gwelodd dynion Chris Hughes eu hunain Yn ddiguro hyd hynny yn y tymor, teithiodd yn hyn wrth i Fangor ddod yn agos iawn neu bum cyfle’n unig, llwyddon nhw i roi ar yr ochr anghywir o 3-0 wrth i ddeiliaid gyn Pencampwyr Uwch Gynghrair Cymru i wthio’r deiliaid allan o’r gystadleuaeth tri ohonynt yng nghefn y rhwyd. Aeth y presennol Cwpan JD Cymru roi perfformiad i Groesoswallt mewn hwyliau da ond yn amser ychwanegol yn Park Hall, wedi i Nomadiaid yn agos iawn ar un neu ddau awdurdodol i drechu’r Drenewydd, diolch i llwyddodd Y Seintiau Newydd roi taw ar Henry Jones roi Bangor ar y blaen gyda 20 o achlysuron i brofi Paul Harrison yn gôl Y dair gôl yn yr ail hanner gan Jon Routledge hynny ar ôl sgorio 3 gôl yn yr hanner cyntaf munud i fynd, a hynny gyda dim ond 10 dyn. Seintiau Newydd ond cadwodd y deiliaid (2) a Scott Quigley. ac ychwanegu 4 arall yn yr ail hanner i sicrhau Gei Connah ar hyd braich a chymryd eu “Maen nhw bob amser yn perfformio yn ein buddugoliaeth swmpus. Dangosodd Y Seintiau Newydd gymeriad cyfleoedd pan ddaethant i sicrhau eu lle herbyn ni”, meddai Harrisson wrth edrych yn aruthrol fodd bynnag i gael eu hunain yn ôl yn Rownd Derfynol Cwpan JD Cymru am y bedwaredd flwyddyn yn olynol. ôl. Maen nhw’n dîm anodd iawn i guro ac roedd “Roedd hi’n grêt chwarae yn eu herbyn,” yn hwyr iawn yn y gêm gyda Greg Draper a Adrian Cieslewicz yn sgorio i sicrhau eu "Roeddwn i'n meddwl ein bod yn gyfforddus hi’n ddechrau anodd i’r gystadleuaeth gan mai meddai Harrison. “Roedd presenoldeb Lee dyma unig gêm y rownd gyda dau dîm o UGC. Trundle yn rhoi mymryn mwy o achlysur i’r cynnydd i’r pedwar olaf. iawn o'r dechrau i'r diwedd, i fod yn onest. Fe Ar y dydd fe lwyddon ni i’w curo’n gyfforddus wnaeth Paul Harrison un arbediad ac fe ddaru gêm ond roedden ni’n ffodus iawn i’w chwarae “Nid dyna’n perfformiad gorau ni,” ond mae bob amser yn ofyn mawr i gael tri nododd nhw daro’r trawst ar ôl tafliad hir, ond o'r nhw adref ac roedd hi’n fuddugoliaeth “Roedd Bangor yn dda iawn iawn ar phwynt yn erbyn y Drenewydd, felly roedd Harrison. chwiban cyntaf fe wnaethom ni ddominyddu gyfforddus yn y diwedd. Roedd hi’n wych cael y diwrnod ond y peth da am dimau da ydi hyd gwneud hynny’n gynnar yn y gystadleuaeth yn meddiant a haeddu ennill y gêm gan sicrhau y cyfle i’w chwarae, i gyfarfod ac edrych yn ôl yn oed pan nad ydyn nhw’n chwarae’n dda 19 buddugoliaeth yn olynol yng Nghwpan JD ganlyniad gwych.” ar yr hyn a wnaethant yn UGC, ac maen nhw ar iawn, maen nhw’n llwyddo i ennill y gêm ac yn Cymru." eu ffordd yn ôl i fyny hefyd." ffodus fe wnaethon ni hynny ar y diwrnod.”

12 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 13 JONES JONES HOPING FOR YN OBEITHIOL AM CUP FINAL JOY LAWENYDD ROWND DERFYNOL BY JAMIE THOMAS GAN JAMIE THOMAS Having won one and lost two of his past JD Welsh Y GWPAN Ar ôl ennill un a cholli dwy gêm yn ystod ei ddau mae Colin wedi meithrin ynom o’r cychwyn cyntaf. Cup Final visits with Llanelli and Aberystwyth ymweliad diwethaf i Rownd Derfynol Cwpan JD Roedd hyn yn ffactor enfawr yn fy mhenderfyniad Town, Stuart J. Jones will be hoping to even the gyda Llanelli ac Aberystwyth, mae Stuart J.Jones i ddod yma, ac mae’n ychwanegu pwyntiau i’ch scores by leading Bala Town to victory at Bangor in yn gobeithio arwain Y Bala i fuddugoliaeth ym cyfanswm ar ddiwedd y tymor. what is the club’s first ever JD Welsh Cup Final. Mangor gyda’r clwb yn cystadlu yn Rownd Derfynol “Mae pethau wedi mynd yn dda iawn i ni, roedd Reaching this stage of the competition in 2008, Cwpan JD am y tro cyntaf erioed. Colin yn credu ynom ar ôl dechrau heriol ac rydym 2011 and 2014, Jones is all too accustomed Mae Jones wedi dod mor bell â hyn o’r blaen ni wedi parhau gyda’n techneg ni o chwarae. Rydym with the historic nature of Welsh Cup Finals, yn 2008, 2011 a 2014 ac felly wedi hen arfer ni’n ymwybodol o’n cryfderau ac mae’r canlyniadau and believes Bala’s arrival at this final stage is wanting to come here, and it adds points to your wedi adlewyrchu hynny. Ni wnawn ni grwydro o’n total at the end of the season. gyda natur hanesyddol Rownd Derfynol Cwpan just rewards for the development the club has Cymru. Credai Jones fod llwyddiant y Bala yn hunaniaeth na’n egwyddorion a dyna pam fod y tîm undergone since the turn of the millennium. “Things have gone really well for us, Colin believed in y gystadleuaeth hyd yn hyn yn dystiolaeth o’u wedi profi llwyddiant.” “The club has been taking huge strides forward us after a difficult start and we’ve just stuck to our way datblygiad ers troi'r mileniwm. of playing, we know what we’re good at and the results Ers diwedd Medi, dim ond pedair gwaith yn unig over the last five years at Welsh Premier League “Mae’r clwb wedi bod yn cymryd camau enfawr mae’r Bala wedi colli ymhob cystadleuaeth ar hyn level, but this is a journey that has been going on for have come because we’ve stuck to our identity and our dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf yn Uwch Gynghrair values and that’s why we’ve done so well.” o bryd, ond beth yn union sydd wedi sbarduno’r a lot longer than that, and people who have been Cymru, ond dyma daith sydd wedi bod ar y gweill am llwyddiant aruthrol yma i’r clwb? involved with the club since the early days can’t Four defeats in all competitions since late gyfnod llawer hirach na hynny, ac mae'r rheiny sydd “Rydym ni wedi pwyllo a chymryd hi un gêm ar y believe that their little Bala Town have reached the September is Bala’s current record, but what has wedi bod gyda’r clwb ers y cychwyn yn methu credu tro. Rydym ni wedi wynebu nifer o rwystrau, wedi JD Welsh Cup Final. caused the Lakesiders to embark on such a run bod eu tîm bach nhw yn y Bala wedi dod mor bell a ymdrin â phob un yn ei dro a dyma ni heddiw. Does “For everybody involved with the club, it’s going of form? chyrraedd Rownd Derfynol Cwpan JD Cymru. dim uchafbwyntiau penodol wedi bod, ond mae’n to be a huge day out, a huge reward for everyone “We’ve just taken things game after game after “I bawb sydd wedi bod ynghlwm â’r clwb, mae’n mynd rhaid dweud, roedd y dathliadau ar ôl cyrraedd that has worked so hard behind the scenes, but it’ll game. No matter what has been thrown at us, we’ve i fod yn ddiwrnod mawreddog, ac yn wobr i bawb sydd y rownd derfynol yn wych. Roedden i’n teimlo only be a great day out if we win – I’ve been on the taken it all in our stride and now we’re here. I wouldn’t wedi gweithio mor galed tu ôl y llen. Ond ni fydd hi’n rhyddhad ar ôl y gôl i’w rhwyd ei hun. Nawr ein bod losing end of these games before and it’s a horrible say there’ve been any particular highlights, but the ddiwrnod mawreddog os na fyddwn ni’n ennill – dwi ni yma rydym ni bendant eisiau manteisio’n llwyr ac feeling, so when it comes down to kick-off it’ll all celebrations after reaching the final were brilliant, wedi bod ar yr ochr aflwyddiannus y gemau hyn o’r ennill y gystadleuaeth. be about putting on a show and the best possible and I was feeling a bit relieved after the own-goal, but blaen ac mae’n deimlad ofnadwy, felly pan ddaw’r gic “Mae’r gêm hon yn un unigryw, rydym ni’n performance to make sure we win the game.” now that we are here we certainly want to take full gyntaf mi fydd hi’n fater o roi'r sioe a pherfformiad ymwybodol cystal tîm ydyn nhw ond os rydym ni’n advantage and go and win the competition. gorau er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn ennill y gêm.” It’s the sixth meeting between Bala Town and The trio ein gorau a rhoi’r perfformiad gorau posibl Y Bala New Saints this season and the Lakesiders are “It’s a one-off game, we know how good they are Dyma’r chweched tro'r tymor yma i lwybrau'r yna mae gennym ni siawns dda. Dyma’r hyn rydym ni very well acquainted with Craig Harrison’s men, but if we put in the best Bala Town performance Bala a'r Seintiau Newydd groesi. Mae’r Bala yn wedi bod yn gweithio tuag ato ac rydym ni’n gobeithio but Bala’s incredible team spirit and cohesion – possible then we stand a good chance, and that’s gyfarwydd iawn gyda dynion Craig Harrison. Yn ôl bydd diwrnod y rownd derfynol yn un da i ni. instilled by Manager Colin Caton – will be key if all we’ve been working towards and we’ll be hoping Jones, mae ysbryd anhygoel undod a chydlyniad y “Rydym ni eisoes yn Ewrop, rydym ni’n gwybod they’re to succeed at Bangor according to Jones. final day is a good one for us. Bala – wedi’i feithrin gan y rheolwr Colin Caton - yn hynny, ond dwi wedi bod yn rhan o Rownd Derfynol “All we have to concentrate on is ourselves and “We do have Europe already, we know that, but I’ve allweddol os ydyn nhw am lwyddo ym Mangor. Cwpan Cymru o’r blaen ac wedi colli felly dwi our own performance, the result will take care of been in Welsh Cup Finals before and lost them so “Yr hyn sydd angen i ni ganolbwyntio ydi ar ein hunain ddim eisiau bod yn yr un cwch unwaith eto – dwi’n itself and that’s all we can ask for, all we can try to I don’t want to be there again – I know other lads ac ein perfformiad, mi fydd y canlyniad yn adlewyrchu adnabod chwaraewyr eraill sydd wedi bod yn yr do. The team spirit that has been created at Bala have been in the same situation – it leaves a horrible hynny a dyna’r oll allwn ni obeithio. Yr unig beth allwn un sefyllfa – mae’n gadael blas cas. Felly, nid yn is the fundamental thing Colin drills into us from taste, so we won’t be just hoping for the best; we’re ni wneud yw trio ein gorau glas. Mae’r ysbryd o undod unig ydym ni’n gobeithio am y gorau, rydym ni’n the moment we arrive. It was a huge factor in me determined to get a result! a thîm sydd wedi ei greu yn y Bala yn elfen sylfaenol benderfynol o gael canlyniad!”

14 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 15 1. Ashley Morris 1. Paul Harrison 2. Ryan Valentine 2. Simon Spender 3. Anthony Stephens 3. Chris Marriott 4. Stuart J. Jones 4. Phil Baker 5. Stuart Jones 5. Steve Evans 6. Conall Murtagh 6. Jon Routledge 7. Mark Connolly 7. Christian Seargeant BALA 8. Mark Jones 9. Mike Hayes THE NEW 8. Ryan Brobbel 10. Ian Sheridan 9. Greg Draper TOWN 10. Wes Fletcher Black & White Shirts 11. Kieran Smith SAINTS Green & White Shirts Black Shorts 12. Ryan Goldston 11. Robbie Parry Green Shorts Black & White Socks 14. Ryan Wade 12. Tom Matthews 15. Will Bell White Socks 14. Jamie Mullan First Team Manager: Colin Caton 16. Joel Darlington First Team Manager: Craig Harrison 15. Steve Saunders Assistant Manager: Connall Murtagh 17. Jordan Evans Assistant Manager: Scott Ruscoe 16. Connell Rawlinson 18. Lee Hunt 18. Mihai Leca 20. Kenny Lunt 20. Alex Darlington Referee Dyfarnwr Huw Jones 21. Stephen Fisher 21. Adrian Cieslewicz (Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant) 25. Chris Venables 22. Scott Quigley 26. John Irving Assistant Referee 1 Phil Thomas 23. Aeron Edwards 27. David Thompson Llimanwyr 1 (Rhondda) 88. Nathan Burke 24. Jacob Farleigh Assistant Referee 2 Ian Bird 25. Sam Ashworth Llimanwyr 2 (Port Talbot) 26. Ryan Pryce 4th Official 4ydd Swyddog David Morgan (Swansea) 27. James Jones 30. Andy Wycherley

16 www.faw.cymru All player and club history details have been submitted by the relevant club. www.faw.cymru 17 COLIN CATON IS A BALA TOWN LEGEND SAYS NIGEL AYKROYD

Who would have thought that Under the 46-year-old’s leadership, Bala – a the feat as something he considered to “There are too many to list to be perfectly small town of some 1,800 inhabitants – has be almost a fantasy before Caton took the honest,” Aykroyd said of Caton’s a chance meeting with Bala seen its football club gain promotions, win reins at Bala. achievements with Bala. “Gaining Town Chief Executive Nigel trophies, reach major finals and embark on “It’s another dream come true, and when I say promotion to the Cymru Alliance, winning Aykroyd some 16 years ago numerous European adventures. dream that’s exactly what they were some numerous trophies at that level, to winning the league and then finally gaining promotion at a local football tournament “Everything that has happened during Colin’s 15 years ago – they were nothing like reality, tenure with the club has been remarkable,” it never looked like it could happen – but now, to the Welsh Premier League – that has would have resulted in Colin to be the defining moment. To achieve Aykroyd said. “I don’t think anyone could after many years of trying, we’re here. have envisaged this amount of success for that with a tiny club, who started out in a Caton coming aboard and “We regard the JD Welsh Cup as the most Bala Town when he came aboard. We were field somewhere, then to be in a league leading the Lakesiders to one prestigious of competitions, so to be here absolutely nowhere in Welsh football, but where qualifying for European football is in the final is, once again, bordering on the historic feat after the next? we’ve consistently progressed and nobody a possibility, that was probably the most realms of fantasy to be perfectly honest, but could have dreamed we’d go on and do as significant moment. we have every opportunity to take it one step well as we have done since then – I’m not BY JAMIE THOMAS further and win the cup. 23 matches against “We know Sunday will be a difficult situation, sure even Colin did, to be honest, but he’s TNS without a win – something tells me they’ve proven themselves to be by far the very committed, very determined and that’s that’s got to change at some point, so why best team in this league for the last six or reflected in everything he and this club does.” not on Sunday?” seven years, and nothing will change that on the day, but it’s a cup final, we have the Having succumbed to defeat at the Winning the JD Welsh Cup today would strongest squad of players we’ve ever had. semi-final stage of the JD Welsh Cup on surely vault right up to the top of the list of We’re closing the gap and we just need to previous occasions, the Lakesiders have the achievements of Caton’s men during believe. You never know, we’re very positive at long last managed to secure passage his time at the club, but what has been the about it, and we’ll put on the very best to The tD Welsh Cup final, adding another standout moment from his tenure thus performance we can and we have every bit of history to Caton & Co.’s legacy at the far, and how does Aykroyd assess Bala’s possibility to win the game.” Gwynedd club, and Aykroyd reflected on chances in the showpiece final?

18 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 19 COLIN CATON ARWR Y BALA, MEDD NIGEL AYKROYD GAN JAMIE THOMAS

Pwy fuasai’n dychmygu y byddai cyfarfod ar hap gyda phrif weithredwr Y Bala, Nigel Aykroyd bron i 16 mlynedd yn ôl mewn twrnamaint pêl-droed lleol yn arwain at daith Colin Caton dramor i arwain Bala at un gamp ar ôl y llall?

O dan arweiniad y dyn 46 mlwydd oed mae Ar ôl eu methiant yn rowndiau cynderfynol Bala – tref fach o oddeutu 1,800 o bobl – Cwpan JD Cymru ar achlysuron eraill, wedi gweld y clwb yn ennyn dyrchafiadau, mae’r Bala wedi llwyddo, o’r diwedd, i gael ennill tlysau, cyrraedd rowndiau terfynol lle yn rownd derfynol Cwpan JD Cymru, pwysig a theithio i Ewrop. gan gyfrannu at hanes etifeddiaeth Caton a’i gyd-chwaraewyr yn y clwb o Wynedd. “Mae popeth sydd wedi digwydd yn ystod heb ennill – mae rhywbeth yn dweud wrthyf foment ddiffiniol. I lwyddo fel hynny gyda Bu Aykroyd yn adlewyrchu ar y gamp yma amser Colin gyda’r clwb wedi bod yn ei fod e’n hen bryd i hyn newid, felly pam ddim chlwb mor fach, a ddechreuodd mewn cae fel rhyw freuddwyd ffantasïol cyn i Caton rhyfeddol,” medd Aykroyd. “Dwi ddim yn ar ddydd Sul?” yn rhywle, ac yna i fod yn rhan o gynghrair gymryd y llyw ym Mala. credu y buasai unrhyw un wedi rhagweld y lle mae posibilrwydd cystadlu mewn pêl- llwyddiant mae Bala wedi profi ers iddo ymuno. “Rydym wedi gwireddu breuddwyd, a phan Buasai ennill Cwpan JD Cymru heddiw droed Ewropeaidd, dyna oedd y foment Doedden ni’n ddim byd o bwys ym myd ydw i’n dweud breuddwyd dyna’n union yn cymryd y prif le ar restr o lwyddiannau arwyddocaol. pêl-droed Cymru, ond rydyn ni wedi parhau beth oedd y profiadau yma 15 mlynedd yn Caton a’i ddynion yn ystod ei amser yn “Rydym ni’n gwybod y bydd dydd Sul yn i ddatblygu a buasai neb wedi breuddwydio y ôl – doedden nhw ddim byd tebyg i realiti, a y clwb. Pa foment o’i gyfnod hyd yma galed, maen nhw wedi profi ei hunain fel y bydden ni wedi gwneud cystal ers hynny – dwi doedd e ddim yn ymddangos fel petai hyn sydd wedi bod fwyaf arbennig, a sut mae tîm gorau yn y gynghrair am y chwe neu saith ddim hyd yn oed yn siŵr os oedd Colin wedi yn gallu digwydd – ond nawr, ar ôl nifer o Aykroyd yn ystyried y tebygolrwydd y bydd mlynedd diwethaf, a ni wneith unrhyw beth ar rhagweld hynny, i fod yn onest. Serch hynny flynyddoedd yn trio, rydym ni wedi llwyddo. Bala yn ennill y rownd derfynol? mae’n ymroddedig, yn benderfynol iawn ac y diwrnod newid hynny, ond rownd derfynol “Mae Cwpan JD Cymru yn gystadleuaeth “Mae gormod i’w henwi i ddweud y gwir”, mae hynny wedi adlewyrchu ym mhopeth mae y gwpan ydyw, mae gennym ni'r garfan gorau fawreddog, felly mae bod yn rhan o’r rownd meddai Aykroyd o lwyddiannau Caton o chwaraewyr erioed. Rydym ni’n cau'r bwlch ef a’r clwb yn ei wneud.” “Ennyn dyrchafiad i Gynghrair derfynol, yn ffinio teyrnasoedd ffantasïol i gyda Bala. ac mae’n rhaid i ni gredu. All unrhyw beth Cymru, ennill nifer o dlysau ar y lefel hwnnw, fod yn hollol onest, ond mae gennym bob ddigwydd, rydym ni’n bositif iawn am yr holl i ennill y gynghrair ac yna ennill dyrchafiad cyfle i fynd cam ym mhellach ac ennill y beth, ac fe wnawn ni chwarae ein gorau i gael i Uwch Gynghrair Cymru – hwnnw oedd y Gwpan. 23 gem yn erbyn Y Seintiau Newydd bob siawns o ennill y gêm.”

20 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 21 HARRIS ON HARRISON BY MARK PITMAN

Craig Harrison has enjoyed nothing extra levels of fitness and discipline as a but success since the former defender result. Our recruitment has been excellent as arrived at The New Saints as manager in Craig has continued to replace players at the December 2011, and with the club now on right time to ensure that we keep improving. the verge of completing an unprecedented We are a lot faster now than we have ever domestic treble-treble, we caught-up with been before, we are certainly a team with a club owner Mike Harris to find out a little bit lot more pace.” more about the man that has consistently Craig Harrison was introduced to the Welsh delivered silverware to Park Hall. Premier League when he took charge of “Craig demonstrated to us that he was Airbus UK Broughton almost a decade extremely enthusiastic about the club ago, and the opportunity to coach in the from the very start,” “His Harris explained. domestic top-flight rekindled a passion for professional playing career unfortunately the game that he lost when injury cut short ended early due to injury, but he still had a promising playing career far too early. a lot left to achieve in the game. He's very But just how good are Harrison's current driven and he wants to be successful and side when compared to the TNS teams of prove himself as a successful manager. Out the past that have experienced consistent of the long list of candidates we had for the success at the most decorated club in the job, Craig has proved himself to be the best history of the national league? we could have hoped for. He's lived up to “I would say this is the best team we have everything he said he would do.” had,” added Harris. “And this team always In fact, since Harrison took charge of the had the potential to be the best. In 2005 club, The New Saints have claimed six when we did the double we had some great Dafabet Welsh Premier League titles, three footballers, but I would say that they have League Cups, and are today on the verge of been eclipsed by the current team. Our goal lifting the Welsh Cup for the fifth time. has always been to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, but this is In addition, this season has also seen the not a one season project. We are continually club reach the semi-finals of the Scottish improving in every position and Craig is an IRN-BRU Cup, and break a world record set absolute machine! Everyday he is in here by the great Ajax team of the 1970's for the working on how we can improve things. He number of consecutive victories. doesn't sit back and rest on what he's done.” “The team has always been evolving since Craig arrived,” Harris added. “We now have

22 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 23 HARRIS AR HARRISON GAN MARK PITMAN

Mae Craig Harrison wedi mwynhau ymgeiswyr ar gyfer y swydd, mae Craig Harris. “O ganlyniad, erbyn hyn mae gorffennol sydd hefyd wedi profi llwyddiant llwyddiant pur ers i’r cyn amddiffynnwr wedi profi’i hun i fod y gorau y gallwn ni fod gennym lefelau ychwanegol o ffitrwydd a cyson yng nghlwb mwyaf llwyddiannus yn gyrraedd Y Seintiau Newydd fel rheolwr ym wedi gobeithio. Mae wedi gwneud popeth disgyblaeth. Mae’r broses recriwtio wedi bod hanes y gynghrair? mis Rhagfyr 2011, a gyda’r clwb yn awr ar fin y gwnaeth o addo y buasai’n gwneud." yn ardderchog wrth i Craig barhau i gyfnewid “Byddwn i’n dweud mai dyma’r tîm gorau yn cwblhau trebl triphlyg domestig digynsail, chwaraewyr ar yr adeg iawn i sicrhau ein bod ein hanes,” “Roedd Yn wir ers i arrison reoli’r clwb, mae’r ychwanegodd Harris. fe wnaethon ni ddal i fyny â pherchennog yn parhau i wella. Rydym lawer cyflymach nawr gan y tîm yma’r potensial o’r dechrau i fod y Seintiau Newydd wedi hawlio chwe theitl y clwb, Mike Harris i ddarganfod mwy am nag erioed o’r blaen, rydym yn sicr yn dîm gyda gorau. Yn 2005 pan enillon ni’r dwbl roedd Uwch Gynghrair Dafabet Cymru, tair y dyn sydd wedi darparu tlws ar ôl tlws yn llawer mwy o gyflymder.” gennym ni rai chwaraewyr gwych ond Cwpan y Gynghrair a heddiw mae ar fin Park Hall. byddwn i’n dadlau eu bod ddim ond cysgod gallu codi Cwpan Cymru am y pumed tro. Cafodd Craig Harrison ei gyflwyno i Uwch “Mae Craig wedi dangos i ni ei fod yn hynod o’r tîm presennol. Ein nod bob amser yw Gynghrair Cymru pan reolodd Airbus frwdfrydig am y clwb o’r cychwyn cyntaf,” Yn ogystal, y tymor hwn mae’r clwb wedi cyrraedd grwpiau Cynghrair Pencampwyr UK Brychdyn bron i ddegawd yn ôl, ac “Yn anffodus daeth ei cyrraedd rownd gynderfynol Cwpan IRN- UEFA ond nid prosiect un tymor yw hyn. eglurodd Harris. fe wnaeth y cyfle i hyfforddi yn yr uwch yrfa broffesiynol i ben yn llawer rhy gynnar BRU yr Alban, ac wedi torri record byd a Rydym yn gwella drwy’r amser ymhob safle gynghrair ddomestig ailgynnau angerdd oherwydd anaf ond roedd ganddo lawer ar ôl osodwyd gan fawrion Ajax yn y 1970’au ac mae Craig yn beiriant llwyr! Bob dydd am y gêm gafodd ei golli pan ddaeth ei yrfa i’w gyflawni yn y gêm. Mae’n frwdfrydig iawn, am y nifer o fuddugoliaethau yn olynol. mae yma’n gweithio i weld sut allwn ni addawol fel chwaraewr i ben yn llawer rhy yn crefu llwyddiant ac eisiau profi ei hun fel “Mae’r tîm wedi bod yn esblygu drwy’r wella pethau. Tydi o byth yn eistedd yn ôl a gynnar. Ond pa mor dda yw tîm cyfredol rheolwr llwyddiannus. Allan o’r rhestr hir o amser ers i Craig gyrraedd,” gorffwyso ar yr hyn mae wedi cyflawni.” ychwanegodd Harrison o’i gymharu â thimau TNS y

24 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 25 HUW JONES REFEREE Q&A HOW DID YOU GET INTO WHAT DOES YOUR TRAINING REFEREEING AND WHEN DID YOU SCHEDULE INVOLVE? START? We are given our training routines by I began refereeing in 1998. I’d decided the Football Association of Wales via to attend a referee course because I National Fitness Coach Mark Whitby, who thought some local league referees were has done a lot of work to professionalise not very good and I wondered whether I the physical fitness of match officials. All could do any better! of our training routines are monitored and the downloaded details for each WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST SENIOR individual are sent to a sport scientist for GAME AS A REFEREE? their analysis and feedback. My first senior game was a reserve match between Llansantffraid and Caersws in the WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS / Mid Wales League. I remember the game HOBBIES AWAY FROM THE GAME? well because I had to issue two red cards. I’m a family man so my main interest outside of football is spending as much WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS time as I can with my wife and children. MATCH OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR? HUW JONES Without doubt, the highlight of my WHAT IS YOUR DAY JOB AND Referee career was making the FIFA Referees List IS IT HARD TO BALANCE WITH in 2009. It was the result of a lot of hard REFEREEING? OFFICIALS work and was a very proud moment for I run my own electronics repair company, my family and friends, as well as being a so between the day job and refereeing proud personal achievement. it’s fair to say I’m kept very busy.

WHAT IS THE WORST THING ABOUT IF YOU COULD MAKE A CHANGE TO BEING A REFEREE? THE LAWS OF THE GAME, WHAT Probably the worst thing about WOULD IT BE? refereeing is the attitude of some players If I could make one change to the Laws of towards match officials. the Game it would be to introduce a 10 minute sin bin for players and managers who constantly use foul language. PHIL THOMAS IAN BIRD DAVID MORGAN Assistant Referee 1 Assistant Referee 2 4th Official

26 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 27 RELISHINGRUSCOE HIS ROLE YNRUSCOE MWYNHAU EI RÔL YN Y IN SAINTS' FUTURE DYFODOL Y SEINTIAU

With over 400 Dafabet Welsh Premier League GAN MARK PITMAN appearances to his name from a playing career in the domestic top-flight spanning almost two decades, Scott Ruscoe is a familiar name on the Gyda dros 400 o ymddangosiadau Uwch Welsh football circuit. However, his impact on Gynghrair Dafabet Cymru mewn gyrfa chwarae yn erbyn Lerpwl, deiliad y gwpan yn 2005. Fodd the success of The New Saints now takes a very o bron i ddau ddegawd ar lefel uwch ddomestig, bynnag, caiff llwyddiant bellach ei fesur drwy weld different direction, as he combines is role as Head mae Scott Ruscoe yn enw cyfarwydd i unrhyw ei chwaraewyr o’r academi yn gwneud argraff pan of Youth Development with that of assistant to BY MARK PITMAN un â diddordeb ym mhêl-droed Cymru. Fodd ddaw’r cyfleoedd euraidd hynny. 1st team manager Craig Harrison. bynnag, mae ei effaith ar lwyddiant Y Seintiau “O ran yr academi, mae’n wych gweld chwaraewyr “From the academy side of things, it's great to see Newydd yn awr yn dod o gyfeiriad hollol wahanol, yn gwneud y cam o’r system academi a’n gwneud y To find out more about his transition to the players step-up from the academy system and wrth iddo gyfuno dwy swydd, sef Pennaeth mwyaf o’u cyfle gyda’r uwch dîm,” “Mae dugout after spending almost 15 years at The make the most of their opportunities in the senior eglurodd. Datblygu Ieuenctid a chynorthwyydd i reolwr y chwaraewyr fel Jacob Farleigh, Ryan Pryce, Scott New Saints as a player after joining the club from side,” “Players like Jacob Farleigh, he explained. tîm cyntaf, Craig Harrison. Quigley a James Jones er enghraifft wedi gwneud Newtown in January 2002, we spoke to Scott Ryan Pryce, Scott Quigley and James Jones for Fe wnaethom ni siarad â Scott Ruscoe i yn eithriadol o dda ac wedi addasu’n gyflym i Ruscoe for the inside track on his new role and his example have done really well in quickly adapting to ddarganfod mwy am ei ddatblygiad o’r cae chwarae yn y tîm 1af ac wedi bod yn gaffaeliaid responsibilities at Park Hall. playing in the 1st team and have been a real asset to chwarae i’r ystlys a’i gyfrifoldebau newydd yn mawr i ni. Mae’n rhywbeth y mae pawb yn y clwb “Not long after Craig arrived I was appointed as the us. It's something that everyone at the club is keen Park Hall, ar ôl treulio bron i bymtheg mlynedd yn awyddus i weld yn digwydd. Mae’r cadeirydd yn Head of Youth Development, and during that time we to see happen. The Chairman wants to see five or gyda’r Seintiau Newydd fel chwaraewr ar ôl awyddus i weld pump neu chwech o chwaraewyr have been able to put a lot of things in place to grow six players from the academy playing regularly in ymuno â’r clwb o’r Drenewydd yn 2002. o’r academi yn chwarae’n rheolaidd yn Uwch the academy structure at the club,” the Welsh Premier League, and Craig is also fully- Ruscoe explained. “Yn fuan ar ôl i Craig gyrraedd ces i fy mhenodi fel Gynghrair Cymru ac mae’n Craig hefyd yn gwbl committed to it. He isn't afraid to give young players “More recently, as my playing career has come to an Pennaeth Datblygu Ieuenctid ac yn ystod y cyfnod ymroddedig i hyn. Tydi Craig ddim ofn rhoi’r cyfle i the chance to show what they can do.” end, I have also been working as Craig's assistant with hwnnw fe wnes i lwyddo i sefydlu elfennau newydd chwaraewyr ifanc ddangos eu doniau.” the 1st team. The transition from player to coach has a thyfu strwythur yr academi,” But for Ruscoe this is just the start of long-term esboniodd Ruscoe. Ond i Ruscoe, dechrau prosiect hir dymor yn unig been great, I know the club inside-out and the club project to harness the best young players and “Yn fwy diweddar, wedi diwedd fy ngyrfa fel yw hyn, er mwyn mireinio’r chwaraewyr ifanc knows me. make sure that they are part of the next generation chwaraewr, rydw i hefyd wedi bod yn gweithio gorau a sicrhau eu bod yn rhan o’r genhedlaeth “I've played with a lot of the current squad, and even that delivers success for The New Saints. fel cynorthwyydd i Craig gyda’r tîm cyntaf. Mae’r nesaf sy’n darparu llwyddiant i’r Seintiau Newydd. though we have had a recent influx of players that “Not many other clubs can regularly offer players newid o chwaraewr i hyfforddwr wedi bod yn wych “Does dim llawer o dimau eraill yn gallu rhoi’r cyfle only know me as Scott Ruscoe the coach rather of 16 years of age the chance to train and be a part gan ‘mod i’n hadnabod y clwb o’r tu chwith allan, a i chwaraewyr 16 oed i hyfforddi a bod yn rhan o hwythau’n f’adnabod i.” than the player, it's been great. I've really enjoyed of a full-time professional outfit,” he added. “Steve garfan broffesiynol llawn amser,” ychwanegodd the coaching and scouting elements of the job, Evans also does a great job with our young players “Rydw i wedi chwarae gydag amryw o’r garfan Ruscoe. “Mae Steve Evans hefyd yn gwneud gwaith especially this season with the club competing in and is extremely proud to see them making the bresennol ac er ein bod wedi cael mewnlifiad o gwych gyda’n chwaraewyr ifanc ac mae’n hynod the Scottish Cup as well.” step-up to the senior side, and the more players we chwaraewyr yn ddiweddar sy’n f’adnabod fel Scott falch o’u gweld yn datblygu i’r uwch dîm a pha fwyaf can produce the more players we can attract from Ruscoe yr hyfforddwr yn hytrach na’r chwaraewr, o chwaraewyr allwn ni ei gynhyrchu, y mwyaf o Ruscoe enjoyed plenty of success during his the surrounding areas. mae wedi bod yn wych. Rydw i’n mwynhau’r elfennau chwaraewyr allwn ni ddenu o ardaloedd cyfagos. trophy-laden career with The New Saints, and also hyfforddi a sgowtio o’r swydd, yn enwedig y tymor experienced some incredible moments on the “We're already showing that we can compete against “Rydym eisoes yn dangos ein bod yn gallu cystadlu yma gyda’r clwb yn cystadlu yng Nghwpan yr Alban.” European stage, his personal highlight playing the the likes of Shrewsbury and Wrexham, and more and yn erbyn timau fel yr Amwythig a Wrecsam ac yn full 90-minutes in both UEFA Champions League more people are now recognising the TNS name. Fe wnaeth Ruscoe brofi llwyddiant sawl tro yn ystod awr mae mwy a mwy o bobl yn cydnabod yr enw ties against then-holders Liverpool back in 2005. We're certainly not standing still, and we want to ei yrfa ddisglair gyda’r Seintiau Newydd yn ogystal TNS. Rydym ni bob amser yn chwilio i ddatblygu However, success for Ruscoe is now measured expand as much as possible. Our academy is a project â rhai munudau anhygoel ar lwyfan Ewropeaidd, ac eisiau ehangu gymaint ag sy’n bosib. Mae pawb by seeing his academy products making the right that the whole club embraces, and that's great for gan gynnwys uchafbwynt personol o chwarae 90 yn y clwb yn croesawu prosiect yr academi ac mae impression when opportunity knocks. everyone involved.” munud yn y ddwy gêm Cynghrair y Pencampwyr hynny’n arbennig i bawb sy’n rhan ohono.”

28 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 29 JD WELSH CUP PLAYERS OF THE ROUND The JD Welsh Cup Player of the Round award is an exciting initiative that recognises the exceptional performance in the competition on a round-by- round basis.

Players from all levels of the pyramid and from all corners of Wales can be recognised with this award, which has proved increasingly popular amongst players and clubs. The Biggest Match in The winners from each round are Women’s Club Football guests of the FAW here at today’s JD Welsh Cup Final. The biggest match in women’s club football is The full list of winners can be found coming to Cardiff this summer as Wales prepares to below: host the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final!

Book your tickets now to witness the European Champions lift the iconic UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy at Cardiff City Stadium. Qualifying Round 1 Neil Thomas (Llanllyfni) Qualifying Round 2 Rhys David Evans (Llanidloes Town) Thursday 1st June 2017 Round 1 Ellis Harries (Trefelin BGC) Kick Off 7.45pm Cardiff City Stadium Round 2 Lee Trundle (Llanelli Town) Adults £6. Children (16 and under) Round 3 Les Davies (Gap Connah’s Quay) and concessions £3 Round 4 James Davies (Llanfair United) To book visit www.uwclf2017.co.uk Round 5 Adrian Ceislewicz (The New Saints) #UWCLfinal Semi-Final Lee Hunt (Bala Town)

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