News Archive : 2001/2002
May/June

Lee Williams leaves Rhyl FC
Rhyl Football Club has parted company with manager Lee Williams. Managing director Peter Parry said: "We felt, after discussion with Lee, that it would be unfair for him to work within the constraints set by the club for next season.

"Lee is an ambitious young manager and has taken us to our highest ever position in the League of Wales and on the verge of Europe." Mr Parry and vice chairman Norman Jones will be taking a sideways step next season while the club takes a year of consolidation after two seasons of rapid growth both on and off the field.

Club News

RHYL soccer supporters are mourning the deaths of two stalwarts.
Lifelong supporter Jack Davies, grandfather of Andy Davies and Gareth Davies, has died in hospital after a long illness at the age of 72. Jack, of War Memorial Court, Rhyl, had been assistant club trainer in the 70s and was the brother of former chairman Eric Davies.

Winger Billy McMinn died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning aged 78. He was one of several post-war Scottish players who moved to North Wales to play for Rhyl's highly successful side of the 40s and 50s. His funeral will be on Friday at St Ann's Church at 1pm.

Our condolences go to the families of both.

RHYL FC Cobras under 14 girls side are Welsh champions - at under 16 level!
The squad of eight players represented Denbighshire against four other regional winners at Newtown last week and came out on top without conceding a goal. First to fall were Ceredigion thanks to a Kelsey Evans goal. Then came a 0-0 draw with Llanrumney followed by a 1-0 win over Pwllheli with Kirsty Hood netting.

In their final game Cobras beat Powys 2-0 with goals from Kirsty Campbell and Jane Davenport. Other squad members were Natasha Commings, Sophie Feliciello, Claire Williams and Carley Russell.

Belle Vue gets another facelift!
Work to improve the facilities at Belle Vue will continue over the summer, with the next stage seeing the toiletry facilities at the main entrance being upgraded. A new disabled toilet will be built, and a roof will be erected above the existing structures.

Hulse's Heroes!
Rhyl FC are pleased to announce the appointment of John Hulse as Rhyl FC first team manager. John, who has had LoW experience with Bangor City and Conwy, was assistant to Lee Williams last season. Rhyl are delighted to have promoted from within, and look forward to building upon the on-field progress of the last two years.

Soccer Sevens
Rhyl FC  need Stewards and Pitch Managers for the Soccer Sevens tournament to be held on Saturday 1st June and Sunday 2nd June. Initially the stewards will help with Car Park duties and then be allocated a pitch to look after.  Start time at about 8.30am. Please contact the club if you can help.

Rhyl FC in association with Colwyn Bay FC present

A Night of Comedy

featuring

John Martin
Phil Walker
and Sports Impressionist
Leslie Gibson

Friday, 17th May, 2002 for 8pm

at the Oriel House Hotel, St Asaph.

Tickets (including a five course meal) £25

Coathup named assistant

Rhyl FC is pleased to announce the appointment of Lee Coathup as assistant to manager John Hulse. Lee joined Rhyl last November, and has a wealth of experience in the game. He will still be registered as a player, being one of the stars in the team that finished so highly last season. We wish him well in his new post.

Reserves matchday programme scoops award
Years of sterling work by programme editor Ian Johnson has been recognised  by the Wirral Programme Club. They have voted the Reserves'  matchday programme the best in the Welsh Alliance League, beating off some stern opposition from the other clubs in the league. The club is very proud of Ian's achievement. He is also co-editor of the First X1 Programme. 

Call for volunteers
This weekend sees the 2nd Annual Soccer Sevens Tournament, hosted by Rhyl FC. All age groups are fully subscribed, with teams coming from as far as Bradford to participate. It is a huge undertaking  organising this event, and supporters who can spare a few hours to assist on Saturday and Sunday   will be made most welcome.

All Change - but business as usual!
(courtesy of rhyljournal.co.uk)
IT'S ALL change in the Rhyl Football Club boardroom but business as usual.
Managing director Peter Parry, assistant managing director Paul Higginson, vice chairman Norman Jones and director Les Harker have moved over to a newly formed strategy and planning group to look at the longer term future for the club.
"This doesn't mean in any way that we are scaling down our efforts," said Mr Parry.
"In fact we will be looking to up the profile of the club and secure more sponsorship which will put us on a firmer footing. We can look at the bigger picture leaving the day to day running of the club in capable hands."
Another major change is the appointment of Jim Smith as Director of Football aided by former Belle Vue favourite John Evans which will see him oversee all footballing aspects at the club through its 15 teams right up to first team level.
"We have some very good youngsters coming through the ranks and we are determined to give them the chance to move through our system right into the first team," he said.
"Continuity is the key and hopefully youngsters who join the club at under 9 level will stay with us right through until they are young men and ready to play in the League of Wales."
The focus on home grown players has borne fruit this season with a clutch of trophies for the teams. The latest pieces of silverware were won by the Under 17 side, playing in the Gwynedd and Aberconwy League.
The team, Rhyl Colts, under the managership of Peter Duffy and coached by Mark Thomas did the double picking up the league trophy and the league cup.
Other boardroom changes see Doug Mortimer moving from vice chairman to managing director with Dave Milner taking over as vice chairman as well as retaining his role as company secretary. Dave Simmons will continue as chairman.
"Dave Simmons had been a vital cog in the club's success over the past few years," said Mr Parry.
"He works tirelessly for the club and his enthusiasm and energy are essential to our future."
Youth development is high on the list of priorities for the coming years and the club has appointed Billy Harrison as schools liason officer.
"We are slowly building up our community links," said Jim Smith.
"These things can't happen overnight but we are determined to do more for the town and the surrounding area. We have an obligation to the community and our sponsors to develop youngsters and play our part in helping them grow into useful citizens," he added.
Rhyl Football Club fields teams at under 9, 11, 12 13, 15, 17, 18, 21 plus two girls teams at under 12 and under 14 and three senior sides, the Thirds, Reserves and first team.
Sponsorship is a major factor in running a club the size of Rhyl, the only club in Denbighshire which plays at the highest level.
"The club has never been bigger" said Mr Parry.
"In its 120 year history Rhyl Football Club has never come near to the 270 personnel that we have at the club now with players, managers, coaches, general helpers and board members. It is a credit to all involved that we have achieved this with volunteers.
"We cannot rest on our laurels however and we are constantly revisiting our roles to ensure the board isrunning as efficiently as possible.
"It is important that we have a clear focus and direction and we are always looking to recruit key personnel to take the club further," said Mr Parry.
"Rhyl is a club with a proud history and a bright future."

Annual General Meeting
Will  be held at the Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl, at 8pm on Friday, 28th June. Supporters are welcome to attend. 

First friendly announced!
The Isle of Man will present Rhyl with an early start to their preparations for the new season when they visit Belle Vue on the 13th of July. The IoM are preparing for their annual summer tournament with a whistle-stop tour of the mainland, and will face other Welsh sides during their stay.

Williams rejoins as goalkeeper!
Former goalkeeper Dave Williams has rejoined the club, becoming John Hulse's first major signing since being appointed manager. Williams shone during his first spell 'between the sticks' at Rhyl, and the club are delighted to have been able to secure his return.

Rhyl FC's new signings
RHYL'S new manager John Hulse has almost completed his summer signing spree by adding another four names to his squad for the coming League of Wales season. Midfielder Chris Edge has signed from TNS along with former Rhyl favourite Mark Powell while striker Chris McGinn from Camell Lairds and former Blackburn Rovers Academy player John Hughes complete a busy week's work for Hulse.

"Chris Edge is a good acquisition for us," he said. "He spent over two years with Tranmere Rovers and wasn't happy about the rotation system in place at TNS and chose to come to Rhyl in search of a regular place.

"Mark Powell is made up to return to Belle Vue. He enjoyed his time at the club and we welcome him back with open arms".

Chris McGinn has topped the scoring charts in the West Cheshire League with 20 to 30 goals every season and Hulse is delighted to have nabbed him from under the noses of a number of Unibond League sides.

"Chris worked shifts and that meant he had to restrict his playing to local leagues but now he has switched jobs and is free to show his full potential," said Hulse.

John Hughes is an 18 year old student who was released by Blackburn and has turned down contracts at Falkirk and Motherwell to continue with his studies. He is equally at home as right or left wing back.

Hulse is still speaking to a couple more players but says last season's squad still have hold of the shirts and will have a major part in his plans.

"Andy Moran has re-signed after turning down offers from Southport and Runcorn. We are pleased he has shown his commitment to Rhyl and he is keen to carry on where he left off last season," said Hulse. Rhyl will not be taking up the option of another year on the contracts of Lee Spike and Nick Welton but have offered the pair the chance to return as non-contract players.

"I have also spoken to all of the club's young players who are knocking on the door and have promised them all the chance to stake a place in the first team," he said.

Pre-season training starts on Tuesday July 9 when all senior teams will meet up at Belle Vue.

(courtesy of www.rhyljournal.co.uk)

Manager to face fans!
Rhyl's new manager John Hulse will be taking part in an informal "question & answer" session for supporters after the club's AGM on friday. The AGM starts at 8pm. Supporters who cannot attend in person are welcome to submit a question for John to answer. Please email before 12pm on Friday for your question to be put to the 'gaffer'.

A brief report of the AGM will appear on these pages.