Haverfordwest County A.F.C.

Summary

Haverfordwest County Association Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Sir Hwlffordd) is a Welsh professional football team based in Haverfordwest, Wales. They currently play in the Cymru Premier, the top flight of Welsh football.

Haverfordwest County
Full nameHaverfordwest County Association Football Club
Nickname(s)The Bluebirds
Founded1899; 125 years ago (1899)
(as Haverfordwest F.C.)
GroundBridge Meadow Stadium
Haverfordwest
Capacity2,100
ChairmanRobert Edwards
ManagerTony Pennock
LeagueCymru Premier
2022–23Cymru Premier, 7th of 12
WebsiteClub website
Current season

The club was founded in 1899 and was variously known as Haverfordwest FC, Haverfordwest Town, and Haverfordwest Athletic before adopting the current name, and plays at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium, Haverfordwest, which accommodates 2,100 spectators.[1]

History edit

Haverfordwest Football Club was formed in 1899 and was quickly renamed Haverfordwest Town in 1901. In 1936, the name of Haverfordwest Athletic was adopted and the first team switched to the Welsh Football League, leaving a reserve side in the Pembrokeshire League. In 1956 they gained promotion to the Welsh League Premier Division, having won the First Division title. The present name of Haverfordwest County was adopted and the club embarked on a long stay in the top flight. Disaster struck in 1975–76 when the club won only four league matches and was relegated to the First Division. Promotion eluded them until 1980 and they went on to take the championship in their first season back, losing only five games.

In 1983, the Welsh League was reorganised to create a form of "premiership" for the leading clubs and Haverfordwest's facilities, administration and playing record secured their admittance. In the nine years of existence of this National Division, Haverfordwest were out of the top six only once, but their way to the title was blocked by the powerful Barry Town side. Their opportunity to take the championship came in 1990, once Barry had decided to move to English non-league football.

Haverfordwest County were founder members of the League of Wales in 1992–93 but their stay was brief. Having accepted an offer which involved the redevelopment of their Bridge Meadow ground, and unable to find a suitable alternative ground of League of Wales standard, they resigned from the League in 1994. The decision to take a long-term view was fully vindicated by their return to the League of Wales three years later. The league has since changed its name to the Welsh Premier League.

In 2004, Haverfordwest County qualified for Europe via league position in the League of Wales and played in the UEFA cup losing over two legs 4–1 to Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar of Iceland.

In the 2010–11 season, Haverfordwest County were involuntarily relegated from the Welsh Premier League for the first time. On 5 May 2015, they were promoted back to the Welsh Premier League following an unlikely 5–0 victory against Aberdare Town.[2] They were immediately relegated the following season.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw all domestic football in Wales ended before the end of the 2019-20 season. Haverfordwest County had finished in second place, a point behind Swansea University F.C. in the Cymru South, but achieved promotion to the Cymru Premier for the 2020-21 season due to Swansea University failing to obtain a Tier One license. On the 27th of May 2020, Rob Edwards became chairman of the club, and declared his ambition to see the club gain qualification for European Competition within three years. The 2020-21 season saw mixed fortunes for the club, recording a famous 2-1 home win over TNS, but narrowly missing out on a top 6 finish. There was also excitement when in March 2021, the club announced the signing of former Swansea City and Cardiff City player, and Wales international, Jazz Richards.

The 2021-22 season began with a poor run of form that saw manager Wayne Jones step down in December after a 4-1 away defeat to Flint Town United, with Jazz Richards and former club captain Sean Pemberton taking charge temporarily until a new manager was found. On the 31st of December, the club announced Belgian Nicky Hayen as their new manager and technical director, the first Belgian to manage in the Cymru Premier. Under Hayen, form improved significantly in the latter half of the season, recording three of the biggest victories in the clubs history, with two 6-1 wins over Cefn Druids and a 6-0 victory over Aberystwyth Town. The success under Hayen was short lived, however, with the Belgian leaving in June 2022 after an approach from Club Brugge to manage their U23's side, Club NXT.

In July 2022, former Swansea City and Hull City coach Tony Pennock was announced as Hayen's replacement. After a promising start to the 2022-23 season, a poor run of form due to a number of injuries to key players saw the team near the bottom of the Cymru Premier table, however a memorable 2-1 home win over high flying Connah's Quay in the final game of Phase One gave the team reason for optimism ahead of Phase Two. During Phase Two, an upturn in form saw an end of season seven game unbeaten run lead the team to finishing in a Europa Conference League play off spot. Haverfordwest met Cardiff Met at Cyncoed Campus in the play off semi final, a tight and cagey affair saw Haverfordwest as the eventual winners on penalties, with goalkeeper Zac Jones the hero, saving a penalty during regular time, and two in the shootout. The play off final against Newtown A.F.C saw the league's highest attendance for the season, with 1,826 fans there to witness another penalty shootout. Corey Shephard scored the winner for the second successive 4-3 penalty win for Haverfordwest, sending them into the first round of qualification for the Europa Conference League. It was the first time since 2004 the club had qualified for Europe, and only the second time in their history.

In June 2023 the club pulled off another impressive transfer coup, announcing the signing of former Chelsea and Fulham academy player, and England youth international Martell Taylor-Crossdale. July 2023 saw another major coup, when the club managed to secure the signing of Maltese international Luke Tabone for an undisclosed fee from Gżira United.

Rivalries edit

Haverfordwest County's main rivals are Carmarthen Town A.F.C. with the rivalry described as among the most hostile in Welsh League football. Known as 'The A40 Derby', which is the principal dual carriageway between the 2 towns, it is a match that always sticks out of the fixture list for the bluebirds. Haverfordwest County supporters often like to remind their neighbours about their 4-0 win away at Carmarthen on 8 December 2000, being Carmarthen's biggest home loss against any club since they were founded in 1950.

Current squad edit

As of 16 March 2024[3]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   NZL Zac Jones
2 DF   WAL Jazz Richards
3 DF   WAL Rhys Abbruzzese
4 MF   WAL Elliot Scotcher
5 DF   WAL Dylan Rees (Captain)
6 DF   WAL Kyle Patten
7 MF   WAL Ricky Watts
8 MF   WAL Kai Whitmore
9 FW   WAL Ben Fawcett
10 FW   WAL Dan Hawkins
11 FW   ENG Martell Taylor-Crossdale
12 GK   WAL Ifan Knott
14 MF   WAL Harri John
15 DF   WAL Lee Jenkins
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF   WAL Declan Carroll
17 FW   WAL Rio Dyer
18 DF   WAL Aidan McNamara
19 MF   ENG Tyrese Owen
20 DF   ENG Oscar Borg
21 DF   WAL Lucas Davies
22 FW   WAL Jack Wilson
24 DF   WAL Iori Humphreys
25 DF   MLT Luke Tabone
28 MF   WAL Corey Shephard
31 GK   WAL John Chesters
43 MF   WAL Ioan Evans
54 MF   WAL Jacob Owen

Staff edit

Position Name
Manager   Tony Pennock
Assistant manager   Gary Richards
Goalkeeper coach   James Devonald
Physiotherapist   Triston Jenkins
Kitman   Mickey Ellis
Club doctor   Richard Thompson
Club Secretary   Julie Legrice
Media Officer   Tom Pritchard

European Competitions edit

Season Competition Round Club 1st Leg 2nd Leg Agg.
2004–05 UEFA Cup 1QR   Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar 0–1 (H) [a] 1–3 (A) 1–4
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League 1QR   Shkëndija 0–1 (A) 1–0 (a.e.t.) (H) [b] 1–1 (3–2 p)
2QR   B36 Tórshavn 1–2 (A) 1–1 (a.e.t.) (H) [b] 2–3
  1. ^ Match played at Ninian Park, Cardiff
  2. ^ a b Match played at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

Managers edit

  • 2022 – Current   Tony Pennock
  • 2022 – 2022   Nicky Hayen
  • 2021 – 2022   Sean Pemberton (Caretaker)
  • 2018 – 2021   Wayne Jones
  • 2017 – 2018   Sean Cresser
  • 2013 – 2016   Wayne Jones
  • 2011 – 2013   Mickey Ellis
  • 2011 – 2011   Derek Brazil
  • 2010 – 2011   Gavin Chesterfield
  • 2006 – 2010   Derek Brazil
  • 2002 – 2006   Deryn Brace
  • 2000 – 2002   Jason Jones
  • 1999 – 2000   Mike Ellery
  • 1994 – 1999   Mark Hopkins
  • 1992 – 1994   Ray Davies

Honours edit

Biggest Victories edit

  • Biggest Cymru Premier Home Win: 6-1 v Cefn Druids in 2022
  • Biggest Cymru Premier Away Win: 0-6 v Aberystwyth Town FC in 2022

References edit

  1. ^ www.worldstadiums.com Archived 27 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Pitman, Mark (6 May 2015). "Sporting merit a sign of Welsh Premier progress". markpitman1.com. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  3. ^ "First Team". Haverfordwest County A.F.C. Retrieved 25 July 2021.

External links edit

  • Official website