Monday, 8/5/2000: End of "Ground Centenary" Season Message

The players and officials of Rhyl FC  wish to thank our supporters for
their fantastic support over the course of the season.
With the appointment of Brian Kettle as manager and the continued
development of Belle Vue it looks like being an exciting time ahead.
We look forward to your continued support and wish
you all an enjoyable summer break.

Rhyl FC Squad 1999/2000
(Pictured at Rhayader 8th April, 2000)

Back Row:
Kevin Warner (physio), Steve Myers (ass. manager), Tony Ungi, Stuart Pickthall, Mark Rutter,
Darren Wynne, Steve Jones, James Brewerton, Gary Curtiss, Marl Antrobus.
Front Row:
Aaron Thomas, Peter Evans, Dave Fuller, Danny Embleton, Danny Barton,Liam Murray, Karl Evans.

Sunday, 30/4/2000

TERRIERS TERRORISE RHYL

RHYL 2 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 5

The Nationwide League team had the upper hand in this entertaining friendly match, played in glorious weather at Belle Vue.

It was a 'three-goal' salvo early in the second half that killed off Rhyl - who were only trailing 1-0 at the interval to a Eugene Dadi goal. Zilo on 46", Senior on 47", and Dadi again on 52" gave the visitors an unassailable four goal lead, and although substitute Liam Murray pulled one back on seventy eight minutes, Horsley scored Huddersfield's fifth four minutes later. Jon Fisher-Cooke scored the final goal of the afternoon four minutes before the end.

Saturday, 29/4/2000

SOSPAN MEN TAKE THE POINTS

RHYL 1 LLANELLI 3

Rhyl fell to defeat against a very polished Llanelli side in their final match of the League of Wales season. Llanelli impresed all present with their footballing prowess and took the game by the scruff of the neck when Dickeson opened the scoring on twelve minutes. The visitors ran up another two goals before Danny Barton scored a late consolation for Rhyl on 88".

Rhyl team: Embleton, Pickthall (Rob Jones), Curtis, Rutter, Antrobus, Fuller, P Evans, P Evans, D Wynne (K Evans), Barton, A Thomas (L Murray), Fisher-Cooke.

Attendance: 192

Monday, 24/4/2000

CONWY VOODOO STRIKES AGAIN!

Fuller strike saves face

RHYL 1 CONWY 1

Rhyl failed to crack a very lively Conwy United team in this local encounter at Belle Vue. Rhyl had the upper hand in the first half until a twenty-minute shower made the playing surface heavy. Conwy adapted best and after the interval they earned the applause of the home fans with a number of good moves. After hitting the crossbar it was Chris Adamson who eventually notched the opening goal when he jinxed past three challenges before slamming the ball into the back of the net.

Rhyl didn't look like equalising but right at the death a quickly taken free kick from Stuart Pickthall found Dave Fuller free on the left wing. He had time to pick his spot and fire the equaliser into the bottom right hand of the net while the visitors were appealing for offside.

Rough justice on Conwy with a result that looks like sending them down to the Cymru Alliance League with Caernarfon Town. 

Rhyl team: Embleton, Pickthall, Curtis, Brewerton, Antrobus, P Evans,Fuller, Wynne, Barton, A Thomas (Ungi),K Evans (R Jones).

Saturday, 22/4/2000

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
TO VISIT BELLE VUE

Rhyl Football Club is pleased to announce that a prestigious friendly fixture has been arranged against Huddersfield Town for Sunday, 30th April at 1pm.

Huddersfield are currently riding high in the first division of the Nationwide League and manager Steve Bruce has promised to send a strong team to Belle Vue.

Admission to the game will be by payment at the turnstiles.

More details to follow.

Barton goal not enough

Llansantffraid 2 Rhyl 1

After playing well in a scoreless first half, Rhyl gave away a sloppy goal shortly after the interval before forcing themselves back into the game with a superb Danny Barton header from a Stuart Pickthall cross. With the gluepot pitch making the match a lottery it was the hosts who took the points with a close-range effort from Evans. Rhyl could so easily have salvaged a point from the game at the death but Darren Wynne and Tony Ungi saw their efforts stopped by goalkeeper Lee Williams.

Rhyl team: Embleton, Pickthall, Curtis, Brewerton, Antrobus, P Evans,Fuller, Wynne, Barton, A Thomas,K Evans (Ungi).

Thursday, 20/4/2000

Preview: Llansantffraid v. Rhyl (2.30pm)

Rhyl are expecting to bring a large following from the Coast as they return to the scene of one of the club's proudest moments. It was here in the Welsh Cup run of 1992-93 that Rhyl secured their semi-final place with a 4-0 win, and went on to face Cardiff City in the final at the National Stadium.

Memories account for nothing of course and Rhyl will aim to dent the host's winning run by bagging the three points in this fixture. The game at Belle Vue before Christmas was dominated by Rhyl only for the visitors to snatch two breakaway goals towards the end and take the points. Recently however, Rhyl have had a steady run of success culminating in that ten-man win against Aberystwyth at Belle Vue last Saturday.

With an outside chance of Premier Cup qualification it looks like being a stern encounter. The Rhyl team always raises it's game against them so if you can make it to spur the lads on please do so!

Forza Rhyl!!

Saturday, 15/4/2000

Aber-daba-do!

Barton celebrates award with goal

RHYL 1 ABERYSTWYTH 0

Rhyl were back to winning form in this pulsating encounter despite playing the whole of the second half with only ten men! James Brewerton was the Rhyl player to see red after two bookable offences against Aber's dangerman Glyndwr Hughes in an evenly balanced first half.

Rhyl stepped up a gear in the second half and saw reward for their efforts when Peter Evans' effort was parried by goalkeeper Jones for goal-poacher Barton to register his twentieth league goal of the season.

It was a double celebration for Barton as he also won the Supporters' Player of the Season award at the club's end of season function. Mark Antrobus gained the Players' Player of the Season award and James Brewerton won the director's 'Best Newcomer' of the season award.

Fisher-Cooke nets winner for Coast FA

Scottish Youth 1 North Wales Youth 2

Rhyl's John Fisher-Cooke was in the right place at the right time to head home the North Wales Coast FA's winner in this annual representative fixture at Airdrie.

A keenly contested match saw the Coast team fall behind after a defensive lapse let in Rennie and he rounded the keeper to put the home team ahead. The coast team were under the cosh for the rest of the half but stole an equaliser out of the blue when Bangor City's Harvey ran twenty yards before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the bottom left of the net on 45 minutes.

The Coast FA team created the majority of the chances after the interval as the Scots appeared to lose their first half composure. It was good work from Harvey that led to the winner. His shot at goal looped to the unmarked Fisher-Cooke standing on the six-yard box and his header flew into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

It was a good all-round performance from the North Wales team as they successfully retained the Rhuddlan Borough shield for the third season in a row.

Attendance: 300

Wednesday, 12/04/2000

Brian Kettle appointed Rhyl's new manager

The former Liverpool midfielder takes over the reigns at the end of the season at a revitalised Belle Vue.

Managing Director Peter Parry said "Brian comes highly recommended from my old mentor John Williams who is now Director of Football at Northwich Victoria". "We are lucky to get somebody of Brian's pedigree to Rhyl, it shows the level of commitment at the club that we can attract such a high-profile name."

Kettle, aged 44, played 500 times for Liverpool reserves as well as a handful of games for the first team, and played under such managers as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Ronnie Moran, Joe Fagan and Roy Evans.

He picked up two European medals and seven Central League trophies before cruciate ligament injury forced him out of the professional game while playing for Wigan Athletic.

Kettle then turned to management and won the Liverpool Senior Cup and Northern Premier League title with South Liverpool before joining Southport where he won a clutch of trophies as well as leading his side to 13 cup finals and 15 semi-finals.

During his time at Northwich he got the club to a place in the FA Trophy final at Wembley.

Monday, 10/4/2000

TV CAMERAS MISS
DANNY'S GOALS

... but rhylfc.com is ALWAYS "on the ball"

Goal Number One

The club's top scorer adds to his impressive tally of goals with this equaliser at Rhayader on Saturday.

Goal Number Two

Tony Ungi saw this effort parried by goalkeeper Michael Barton only for Rhyl's Danny Barton to hammer home the rebound in the dying moments of the game.

Saturday, 8/4/2000

Dan's Yer Man - 21^st Goal Today!

RHAYADER 2 RHYL 2

In this end-to-end game played in a great spirit, Rhyl almost threw away the points before battling back for a draw and almost grabbing a last-minute winner.

Rhyl had the upper hand in the first half but failed to turn possession in the final quarter into goals. Rhayader then had a breakaway a few minutes before the interval and opened the scoring with a low drive from Russell.

That setback served to spur Rhyl on in the second half and Danny Barton equalised when Aaron Thomas squared the ball into his path for him to neatly fire past Michael Barton in goal. Rhyl's defensive line was kept busy for a while until a chance punt up the field from a midfielder McPhee - barely inside the halfway line -  deceived everyone and crept inside the top right-hand corner of the net to put the homesters ahead.

Rhyl's never-say-die attitude saw them battle until the end, forcing a number of corners before substitute Tony Ungi was found in space on the right. His ran at goal and saw his shot parried by Michael Barton only for the ball to run along the goalmouth and be hammered home by Danny Barton yet again!

With the home team's heads down, Rhyl could have snatched a late late winner but in the end both sides could be satisfied with a point for their afternoon's efforts.

Rhyl: Embleton, Pickthall, Curtis, Brewerton, Antrobus, Fuller, P Evans, Wynne, Barton, A Thomas (Ungi), K Evans.

Att: 104

Thursday, 6/4/2000

When Saturday Comes ....

Preview of Rhayader v. Rhyl (ko 2:30pm)

Few League of Wales grounds enjoy such a nice backdrop as at Rhayader. If your team isn't doing too well you can always admire the countryside!!

Since the first meetings between the clubs in the Cymru Alliance days of the early 90's, Rhyl have always enjoyed their trips to Rhayader. The reason being twofold; (1) We have won every game played against them so far! and (2) the welcome we receive there is one of the best in the whole league.

With Rhayader hovering above the relegation trap-door and Rhyl harbouring outside hopes of qualification to the Premier Cup, the match looks like being a classic. Previous games between the two have been fast-paced, incident-packed events and this match promises more of the same. Who can forget last year's match when Rhyl desperately needed a win and secured one in the dying moments of the game?

With Steve Jones likely to field the team that has done so well in the past few months, Danny Barton (pictured) will be given a chance to extend his season's goal tally into the 20's. It will be the first time that has been achieved by a goalscorer at the club since joining the League of Wales in the 94/5 season.

With Rhayader keen to turn the tables on Rhyl it promises to be a good game. If you can make it to the Weirglodd please do so, the team really does appreciate your support.  

Tuesday, 4/4/2000

Managerial change at Belle Vue

Press Statement

Rhyl Football Club Manager Adrian Jones has been released by the club.

There has been an air of uncertainty around the club the past few weeks, and it was felt that it was in the best interests of all concerned that this decision was made sooner rather than later.

Steve C. Jones assisted by Steve Myers will be running team affairs on a temporary basis.

Plans are in hand to install a new management team during the close season to take Rhyl forward from a position of strength.

Saturday, 1/4/2000

BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Barton and Evans on target

RHYL 2 CAERSWS 0

It took Rhyl until the fourth minute of first half injury time before opening their account against a resilient Caersws team at Belle Vue. The visitors had enjoyed the lion's share of the game up until that stage but were powerless to prevent Danny Barton from adding to his impressive tally of goals for the season with a sweet shot.

Rhyl came more into the game in the second half with powerhouse Dave Fuller pulling the strings in midfield and the defensive line soaking up everything Caersws could muster. On 75 minutes the match was settled beyond reasonable doubt  when some intricate play led to Karl Evans firing home with a low shot from outside the box. 

Another valuable three points in the bag, and with Bangor City slipping up at home against Carmarthen Town, the race for the eighth spot in the League of Wales is certainly hotting up.

Team: Embleton, Pickthall,Curtis,Brewerton,Antrobus, Fuller, David Savage (debut - replaced by Peter Evans), Wynne, Barton, A Thomas, K Evans.

Att: 158