Friday, 31/3/2000

RHYLFC.COM EXCLUSIVE!

SHAREHOLDERS BACK
CLUB'S PROPOSAL AT EGM

DAWN OF NEW ERA AT RHYL FC

50 shareholders voted unanimously to accept the club's proposal to restructure the Board and Company articles.

Chairman Dave Simmonds said that the move was made to protect the interests of the incoming and existing board.

The consortium led by former player Peter Parry - and consisting of several other well known former Rhyl players - will now be able to take an active role in the running of the club.

Peter Parry said that he intended to generate substantially more resources for the club, and that he was looking forward to working with the existing board members.

Thursday, 30/3/2000

YOU can be FIRST with the breaking news from the EGM!

Bookmark rhylfc.com and visit us tomorrow night for an exclusive report!!

Extra-Ordinary General Meeting

Friday, 31st March, 2000.

Elwy Hall, Grange Road,Rhyl

Starting at 7.30pm

Only fully paid up members by 24/3/2000 are able to attend.

When Saturday Comes ....

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

Tim Steel on the ball for Rhyl against Caersws
at Belle Vue in the 97/98 season. Rhyl won 2-0.

At one time Caersws were regarded as a bogey team to Rhyl, but in recent years we have managed to turn the tables on our Mid Walians visitors.

It was in the 1988/89 season that mid-Wales League Caersws caused a major upset by toppling high-flying Rhyl in the Welsh Cup. They drew 2-2 at Belle Vue in the first game, then, with a date against Swansea City awaiting the victors in the next round, they won 1-0 in the replay.

League of Wales matches against them have been close-fought affairs, and those at Belle Vue have ended in two Rhyl wins, two draws and a defeat. No game has ended scoreless yet so it augurs well for Saturday's match.

Rhyl's deadline day signing Dave Savage may make his debut as manager Adie Jones attempts to get the club back on the winning track and fighting for a place in the Premier Cup.

With the outcome of Friday's EGM likely to be widely known by kick-off, make sure you're at Belle Vue to gauge the reaction first hand!

Forza RHYL!!!!

Sunday, 26/3/2000

UMBRO OVER-40's CUP: RHYL VETS 3 MERSEY ROYAL 0

Rhyl qualified for the knockout stages of the Umbro Cup with this comprehensive victory and now face a game against Ilkeston at Belle Vue in the next round. Goals from Peter Parry (2"), Karl Lewis (9") and Steve C Jones on 55" took Rhyl through.

Saturday, 25/3/2000

RHYL UNLOCKED BY QUAY - Winning run comes to an end

CONNAH'S QUAY 2 RHYL 0

Rhyl's winning run came to an abrupt end in a methodical fashion at the Deeside Stadium. There were two changes in Rhyl's starting line-up, Peter Evans and Tony Ungi were recalled in place of John Fisher-Cooke (who was missing due to an injury picked up on Coast FA duty last Wednesday) and Liam Murray who was put on the subs bench.

Nomads took the honours in the first half through a Kevin Davies goal on 17 minutes. Rhyl did come close to scoring when Danny Barton's shot was cleared off the line and Tony Ungi saw a few of his efforts go wide. Barton had another glorious chance when he turned on a ball from Karl Evans only to see his shot go agonisingly wide. 

Rhyl enjoyed a purple patch in the second half when they looked like scoring but the Nomads defence stood firm, and went on to make sure of the points three minutes from the end with a Stuart Raine goal.

Rhyl team: Embleton, Pickthall, Curtis, Brewerton, Antrobus, Fuller (Liam Murray), P Evans, D Wynne, D Barton, T Ungi (A Thomas), K Evans (Pomford)

Att: approx 160 with around half from Rhyl.

Friday, 24/3/2000

Rush and Southall at Belle Vue? - Corrected

Rhyl veterans, losing finalists in last season's Umbro Cup have named Neville Southall and Ian Rush in their squad to face Mersey Royal in Sunday's game at Belle Vue. Rhyl must get a result to progress in this season's competition, and are hopeful that these two former Welsh Internationals will complement a team already featuring Mel Pejic, Joey Jones and Mickey Thomas. Kick-Off at Belle Vue is 12 midday.

When Saturday comes ...

preview: Connah's Quay v. Rhyl  (2.30pm)

Nomads' main stand being built in February 1998.
Let's hope it's not so draughty on Saturday!

Rhyl face their sternest test of the month (on table placings at least) when they make the short trip along the coast to our friends at the Deeside Stadium.

Firm ties were established between the two clubs in 1998 when the Nomads found a temporary home at Belle Vue whilst their new stadium was being built. It was a good move for them which saw them win every one of their Welsh Cup games at Belle Vue before losing to Bangor City in the final. Problems with waterlogging at Deeside Stadium in the 98/99 season also meant that they played another two 'home' games at Belle Vue.

Rhyl do not have fond memories of their last visit to the Deeside Stadium when the Nomads romped home to a 6-2 midweek success. The 97/8 season 'away' game was played at Belle Vue and ended one apiece with the Rhyl team having to use the 'away' dressing rooms! Rhyl's four LoW visits to the Old Halfway stadium (now the Oaks Housing Estate) opened with a 4-0 success on a Friday night in 94/5, followed by three defeats - including a 4-5 reverse in the League Cup.

Rhyl beat a young Nomads team 2-0 in the Floodlit Cup earlier in the season but that means nothing when it comes to the League and Rhyl will have to be on top-form to record a win.

A win could also put manager Adie Jones in contention for a Manager of the Month Award. Rhyl and leaders Barry Town are currently unbeaten in March and if the results go the club's way (Barry are playing at Carmarthen) then Adie could pip the award.

Rhyl look like fielding the same side that has done so well of late. Quay's dangermen will be Stuart Rain and Jon Kenworthy - both of whom seem to enjoy their games against Rhyl.

If you can make it to the game please do so, the team does value your support.

Stop Press: Rhyl Athletic's (nee Reserves) fixture for Saturday has been re-arranged and they will now be playing at Colwyn Bay YMCA.

Thursday, 23/3/2000

Rush and Southall at Belle Vue?

Rhyl veterans, losing finalists in last season's Umbro Cup have named Neville Southall and Ian Rush in their squad to face Manchester Royal in Sunday game at Belle Vue. Rhyl must get a result to progress in this season's competition, and are hopeful that these two former Welsh Internationals will complement a team already featuring Mel Pejic, Joey Jones and Mickey Thomas. Kick-Off at Belle Vue is 11am.

Saturday, 18/3/2000

Barton's Late Show!

Premier Cup qualification a possibility?

RHYL 2 INTER CARDIFF 0

Rhyl left it mighty late before securing the points in front of 178 fans in this entertaining game at Belle Vue . It had looked like being one of those days when Rhyl would do everything bar score, but top-scorer Danny Barton had other things on his mind when he rushed through on a one-on-one after 81 minutes to rifle home the opener! 

Inter must have had a sense of deja'vu five minutes later when Barton was through yet again. His initial shot was smothered by the keeper, but he managed to regain the ball before being pulled down by defender Mark Colman. Referee Gilham had no hesitation in sending off Colman and awarding Rhyl a penalty. Pickthall stepped up to take the spot-kick and duly scored to make the final score 2-0.

The win, which makes Rhyl one of the form teams in the league, has re-opened the possibilities of qualification to the BBC Sponsored Premier Cup. Rhyl are now only only six points behind the  eighth qualifying position and could squeeze in if results were to go the club's way. Rhyl face showdowns with Llanelli, Llansantffraid, Aberystwyth and Connah's Quay (next Saturday) before the end of the season and these games must be won if Rhyl are maintain any hopes of qualification.

Rhyl team: Embleton, Pickthall, Curtis, Brewerton, Antrobus, Fuller, Fisher-Cooke, Wynne, Barton, Murray, K Evans.

Friday, 17/3/2000

When Saturday Comes ....

preview of Rhyl v. Inter Cardiff (LoW) ko 2.30pm

Rhyl will be hoping to finish the week with a 'hat-trick' of wins against struggling Inter Cardiff at Belle Vue. Inter are the third club in the League of Wales  to have experienced financial problems this year, seeing their entire first team squad walk out on the club last November. The club have been fielding students from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff in their LoW games since and have failed to recapture their early season promise.

Rhy were 'unlucky' to play Inter on the 6th of November -  just two weeks before their exodus of players - and fell to a 2-1 defeat courtesy of a very late goal.

Inter have always found Belle Vue a tough place to visit, suffering some early defeats before getting the better of things of late. They will not be looking forward to the trip after last week's 7-2 home humiliation against Caersws but Rhyl must not be complacent if they are to register another three points.

Danny Barton will be looking to add to his four goals scored this week with some more to consolidate his position as Rhyl's record goalscorer in the League of Wales. It looks like being an unchanged team again from Rhyl - one of the most stable ever in recent years!!

It promises to be a good game, none of the previous games have ended goal-less so make sure you're at Belle Vue on Saturday to cheer the 'whites up the table!

Thursday, 16/3/2000

Too much muscle for the Musselmen!

CONWY 0 RHYL 2

Rhyl's run of successes continued with a comfortable win against a struggling Conwy United side at the Morfa. Danny Barton added to his goals tally on sixteen minutes and Rhyl never really looked like relinquishing the lead. Darren Wynne added a second after the interval to give Rhyl the boost of moving up to 10th position in the league - the club's highest in the league since before Christmas. Some supporters are said to be suffering with vertigo this morning!

Wednesday 15/3/2000

Preview of Conwy v. Rhyl

This was the scene at the Morfa on Boxing Day when Rhyl should have originally played the game.
Rhyl fans have been told that they will not need their swimming trunks for tonight's match!

Conwy United have had the better of encounters between the two clubs of late but this season's meeting may be a different matter. Conwy have opted for a 'locals' policy in their bid to reduce the debts built up during the last four years. Despite building an excellent stadium and having success on the pitch, they have failed to attract the crowds and have been forced to ditch playing staff to ensure the future of the club.

Their form appears to have improved of late, and with several games in hand for them in the league they look strong candidates for pulling away from the relegation zone.

Rhyl have not had much success at the Morfa since joining the LoW - despite winning 2-1 there in the first season. The four matches since have seen 2-7, 2-3, 1-2 and 1-2 defeats so there is every likelyhood of a few goals in tonight's match.

Rhyl, encouraged by the victory at Caernarfon on Saturday should field an unchanged side which will give Danny Barton the opportunity to add some more goals to his already impressive tally.

If you can make it to the match please do so, the team really do appreciate your support.

Tues 14/3/2000:

The future is bright, the future is Rhyl FC!

Rhyl seem to be bucking the trend in the League of Wales at the moment with news that a consortium, led by former player and respected businessman Peter Parry, have unveiled a package which will secure the on and off-the-field future of Rhyl Football Club.

These proposals will be unveiled in full to shareholders of the club at an EGM which is being held at the end of March. The seven-strong group consisting of respected professionals have ambitious plans for the development of the club and are looking to work with the existing Board.

The EGM will be held at the Elwy Hall on Grange Road, Rhyl on Friday 31st March, and only fully paid-up shareholders by the 24 of March will be able to attend and vote on the proposals.

Keep visiting rhylfc.com for the latest information!.

Saturday, 11/3/2000

Chirpy Rhyl tweet their fans!

Barton hat-trick - Cofi's look doomed

Caernarfon 2 Rhyl 3

The omens are not good for Caernarfon after Rhyl recorded their first 'double' against the Ovalites for a long long time. The match itself was an open contest played on a very unpredictable surface that hindered both sides. Rhyl played the more purposeful football although Caernarfon were full of running and endeavour.

Danny Barton opened the scoring after fourteen minutes when he took advantage of a static home defence to head home from a cross. Chances fell to both sides in the rest of the half but wayward shooting kept the scoreline intact. That was until shortly before the interval when Darren Emmett jigged past a challenge to ram home an equaliser.

Rhyl became very much the dominant force in the second-half with Fisher-Cooke tormenting the Cofi left back and the back four soaking up the best Caernarfon could muster. It was only a matter of time before Rhyl's pressure resulted in a goal and Danny Barton was on hand to break through from a Darren Wynne ball to put Rhyl ahead. Caernarfon came back though. Dave Fuller committing 'Hari-Kari' shortly afterwards when his back pass put Curtis under pressure and cNeil was able to dispossess him and shoot past Embleton into the bottom left hand corner. With Rhyl looking as if they had thrown the three points away, up rose Danny Barton in the last minute to head home from a free-kick and seal another three points.

It is sad to see Caernarfon languishing so low in the table, and with a difficult run-in to the end of the season it looks like "Mission Impossible" for them to stay up. One of the articles in the programme summed up the mood; "They think it's all Oval .... It is now". We hope their absence will not be a long one.

Rhyl team:
Embleton, Pickthall, Curtis, Brewerton, Antrobus, Fuller, Fisher-Cooke, Wynne, Barton, Murray, K Evans

Friday, 9/3/2000

Saturday Preview: Caernarfon v. Rhyl (2.30pm)

Caernarfon Town have received substantial funding for ground renovation which will see a new stand and dressing rooms built in the summer.

Rhyl face a short trip along the coast to Caernarfon on Saturday hoping to avenge some pretty miserable performances there over recent years.

The slope at the Oval has never really suited Rhyl's play and  three of the previous four LoW encounters have ended in defeat. The heaviest of these being the 8-1 defeat in the 1995/96 season when Rhyl themselves adopted a pre-dominantly local policy on playing staff. Whilst Rhyl's change was staged over the period of two months,  Caernarfon have had to come to terms with a brand new team almost overnight.

They are  rooted firmly to the bottom of the table with only one win all season and will be hoping for a change of fortunes in their attempt to avoid relegation. Rhyl managed to do that in 95/6 season with a team of players from within a fifteen mile radius of the town - so Caernarfon fans shouldn't lose heart just yet. We wish them well after Saturday's match.

These games are of course the ones where Rhyl have slipped up in the past, and considering the club's woeful record there over the years it will need another solid performance to nip the three points and an extremely rare double over them.

Adie Jones looks to field the same side who beat Lido at the death last week.

Rhyl supporters are usually made very welcome at Caernarfon so if you can make it to cheer the lads on please do so. The club appreciates your support!

Saturday, 4/3/2000

DE JA 'VU FOR ANTROBUS AS RHYL SECURE FIRST 'DOUBLE'!!

RHYL 1 AFAN LIDO 0

A goal in the last three minutes from Mark Antrobus sealed another valuable three points for Rhyl at Belle Vue.

The match appeared to be heading for stalemate when Mark Antrobus - repeating almost to the minute what he achieved in the 'away' match - snatched the winning goal.

Afan Lido can count themselves unlucky after a first half in which they dominated without really troubling Danny Embleton. A tight, but more even game followed in the second half, with Dave Fuller winning the man-of-the-match accolade for a good performance in midfield.

RHYL: Embleton, Pickthall, Curtis, Brewerton, Antrobus, Wynne, Fuller, Fisher-Cooke, Barton, Murray, K Evans. Sub: Peter Evans for Karl Evans, Rutter, Pomford (not used)

Attendance: 155

Thursday, 2/3/2000

When Saturday Comes ...

Preview: Rhyl v. Afan Lido (2.30pm)
Match kindly sponsored by RHYL VETERANS.

Good luck to them in this season's Umbro Cup competition from all at Rhyl Football Club.

Peter Evans launches a goalbound effort
in the game at Lido last month.

Rhyl face a stern test against a resurgent Afan Lido team if they are to record their first 'double' of the season. Rhyl's win at the Lido exactly a month ago raised some eyebrows, and since then Lido have gone on to beat Llansantffraid in the Welsh Cup, and Newtown and Caersws in the League.

Rhyl will be heartened by some solid displays in the past few weeks and will be hoping for another three points to push the club further up the table. Adie Jones looks like fielding an unchanged team with everyone coming through last week's game at Carmarthen without serious injury.

Danny Barton, who was a constant thorn in the side of Lido in the first encounter will be looking to propel his name up the scoring charts with a few more on Saturday. In opposition, the evergreen Mitch Patton will be one of Rhyl's main threats. He was on target twice in last week's games and will be relishing a possible 'hat trick' at Belle Vue.

Rhyl have won the last two meetings at Belle Vue, only losing 0-1 in the first meeting between the clubs in 1994/95  - the season when Lido finished second and qualified for Europe.

Encounters between the clubs are generally open affairs with plenty of goalmouth incident, so if you're looking to avoid the rugby match in Twickenham then you can do no worse than popping into Belle Vue for some football fayre!!

See you there !