Jd Welsh Premier League News

We chatted to Connah's Quay Nomads' Director of Football Jay Catton about all things football in the latest episode of Getting to Know podcast.

We sat down with JD Cymru Premier General Manager, Gwyn Derfel to discuss his time in the role so far, as well as the challenges of the last 12 months.

The first episode of our 'Getting to Know' series in 2021 sees Jamie Thomas catch up with Cardiff Met Women's FC's Chloe O'Connor.  After two years out from football with a shock injury, Chloe rejoined the Archers last summer and well and truly hit the ground running, bagging five goals in her first five league games before lockdown brought WPWL action to a halt. On the podcast, Chloe discussed her beginnings in the game as a die-hard Swansea City fan, playing for the Swans' Ladies team, numerous UWCL appearances and representing Wales in the Cyprus Cup. She also discusses the circumstances behind her injury, and how delighted she is to be back on the pitch after two years out.  Hear more from Chloe in this latest episode of our 'Getting to Know' series!

Episode 28 of our Getting to Know series sees Jamie Thomas catch up with Newtown AFC's newest recruit, Jordan Evans, for a great episode discussing the 24-year-old's storied journey in the game to date, as well as his many passions outside football as a barber and a guitarist. Jamie and Jordan talk about the latter's beginnings in the game as a passionate young lad from Wrexham who later went on to sign for Fulham, to play at Wembley in front of 60,000 people for Oxford United, before playing for his hometown club and his country at the Racecourse, and then finding himself gracing the JD Cymru Premier with his talents.  Listen to the full episode to find out more about Jordan's journey so far and what his hopes are for the future as he looks forward to the next step of his career at Latham Park! 

In the latest episode as part of a special series of our 'Getting to Know' podcast, we introduce our listeners to another of the newly-promoted sides who will be competing in Tier Two next season! In this, the third episode of this feature, Jamie Thomas speaks to fellow Holywell Town boss Johnny Haseldin about the challenges that lay ahead for the Wellmen after securing an instant return to Tier Two level, having been relegated at the end of the 2018/19 season. Johnny discusses just why Holywell Town means so much to him, his passion for the club and taking the team as far as he can, and his hopes for the coming season. Tune in to find out more from Johnny! 

We continue our 'Getting to Know' series with this episode, as we sit down with Trefelin BGC manager Richard Ryan. Trefelin BGC achieved a second consecutive promotion this season, as they secured promotion to the #JDCymruSouth. Ryan discusses his managerial style, how excited he is at being involved in the re-branded Cymru Leagues and the fierce competition in the Port Talbot area ahead of the new season. 

It is a landmark 25th edition of our 'Getting to Know' series with this episode, and we're delighted to have none other than one of our domestic game's greatest exports, Christian Doidge, joining us on the airwaves! Jamie Thomas speaks to Christian for this special 25th edition of the podcast about his beginnings in the game as a young player, how he nearly gave football up as a teenager (and became frighteningly good at basketball in the process!), before coming back to football and embarking on a journey that has taken him from his local club Croesyceiliog to the Scottish Premier League with Hibernian, where he is now banging on the door of the Wales national team! It is quite the story, and Christian shares it all in this special edition of our podcast. Tune in to find out more!

Eight days ago, he was in Wembley lifting the EFL League One Playoff trophy with his now-Championship club Wycombe Wanderers ... but today, former Aberystwyth Town prospect Alex Samuel joins Jamie Thomas on the JD Cymru Leagues podcast to look back on his incredible journey to date. From his senior debut at Park Avenue as a 16-year-old to Wembley and discussing everything else in between as Alex's rise through the footballing ranks continues with distinction, don't miss this excellent episode of our 'Getting to Know' series!

In a special series of our 'Getting to Know' podcast, we want to introduce our listeners to the newly-promoted sides who will be competing in Tier Two next season! First up, Jamie Thomas speaks to fellow Anglesey native and current Holyhead Hotspur Manager Darren Garmey, after his side secured an instant return to Tier Two level, having been relegated at the end of the 2018/19 season. Dean talks to Jamie about what football means to a town like Holyhead, how relegation to Tier Three may well have helped the club in the long run, and what the club's hopes and ambitions are going forward. Be sure to listen to the full podcast to find out more!

From his beginnings in the game playing alongside the likes of Gareth Bale and Adam Lallana in Southampton's renowned youth set-up to playing against Wayne Rooney in the FA Cup and representing his hometown club Barry Town United on the European stage, this is a great episode of the 'Getting to Know' series with none other than Kayne McLaggon.  Listen to the full pod to hear more from Kayne and his full conversation on all of the above and more with Jamie Thomas. 

Episode 21 of our 'Getting to Know' series sees Jamie Thomas catching up with former Caernarfon Town and Llandudno FC Manager Iwan Williams - current Director of Football at Bangor 1876, who are making their own charge through Welsh football to try and reach the pinnacle of the Welsh game, Having started his managerial journey at just 29 years old at The Oval with the Cofis, Iwan took the JD Cymru North by storm in his first year at the club, taking the Canaries to a league-and-cup double, before masterminding many more memorable moments for the Gwynedd club ... eventually taking the opportunity to go and manage the club he spent much of his playing career representing: Llandudno FC. Jamie and Iwan discuss the latter's journey in the managerial game - covering all of the above and a little bit more in depth and so much more - in this latest podcast. Be sure to listen in and find out more! 

In the 20th episode of our 'Getting to Know' series, Jamie Thomas caught up with the man who scored the winning penalty to help Cardiff Met University secure a UEFA Europa League spot last summer - yes, it is Eliot Evans. Having gone to Met as an undergraduate student, it is fair to say the 28-year-old got a bit more than he bargained for from his time at Cyncoed, as he's since amassed over 300 appearances for the side, helped them reach the pinnacle of Welsh domestic football, and been a part of their historic adventure to Europe, too!  Jamie and Eliot discuss all of that in depth and so much more in this latest podcast. Be sure to listen in and find out more! 

In the latest episode of our 'Getting to Know' series, Aberystwyth Town Captain Marc Williams joined Jamie Thomas for this edition to reflect on his career in the professional game and his storied adventure through the JD Cymru Leagues over recent years. Having come through the ranks at Wrexham AFC and had a good professional career, Marc came to the JD Cymru Premier in 2015 with a Llandudno FC that he would later help fire to European football for the first time in their history.  Jamie and Marc discuss all of that in depth and so much more in this latest podcast. Be sure to listen in and find out more! 

For this latest edition of our 'Getting to Know' series, Jamie Thomas caught up with one of Welsh football's rising stars, Niall McGuinness - who has taken Flint Town United to the top tier of Welsh football for the first time in 22 years. Niall began his journey as a senior manager at just 24 years old when he took the helm at Rhyl FC, and now - still under 30 years old - he has achieved regular success with Flint, as they've improved year-on-year under his leadership, to the point where they will now be competing in the JD Cymru Premier next season.  Hear more from Niall's conversation with Jamie via the podcast!

For this latest edition of our 'Getting to Know' series, Jamie Thomas caught up with probably one of the happiest men in Welsh football at the moment as his new side were promoted to the JD Cymru Premier on Tuesday - yes, the new Chairman of Haverfordwest County AFC, Rob Edwards, joined Jamie on the podcast this week.  Reacting to news of Haverfordwest's promotion, as well as detailing why he wanted to get involved with the club and what his aspirations are for the club's future, hear more from Rob's conversation with Jamie via the podcast!

We have another JD Cymru Leagues legend featuring in our 'Getting to Know' series this week as we catch up with new Taff's Well Manager, Lee Kendall.  Jamie Thomas catches up with the legendary shot-stopper in this episode to discuss his storied career both on and off the pitch that saw him qualify for Europe with every club he played for, and since go on to have a super coaching career too.  Catch up with Lee and his conversation with Jamie in this latest episode of our Getting to Know series.

This latest episode of our 'Getting to Know' special series see us catching up with one of the JD Cymru Leagues' most prolific goal-scorers, Mr Rhys Griffiths! Jamie Thomas catches up with the current Penybont Manager in this episode to discuss his storied playing career in the Welsh domestic game and the lessons learned that helped set him up for a career on the touchline, where has has - unsurprisingly - accomplished many a feat in his short managerial career to date. Catch up with Rhys and his conversation with Jamie in this latest episode of our Getting to Know series.

In this latest episode of our 'Getting to Know' special series, we catch up with the man of the moment, Aeron Edwards, fresh from his move to Deeside to join Connah's Quay Nomads.  Jamie Thomas speaks to Aeron in this episode about his journey from part-time football to an incredible 11 years at The New Saints - winning everything it is possible to win in Welsh domestic football over and over again - before discussing his recent blockbuster move to the Deeside Stadium to join the new JD Cymru Premier Champions, Connah's Quay. Hear more from Aeron and his conversation with Jamie in this latest episode of our Getting to Know series.

The fifth and final episode of our 'Getting to Know' specials this week, celebrating some of the success stories in the JD Cymru Leagues this season, is here, as we catch up with one of the Welsh game's all-time great goal-scorers, Michael Wilde. Mike chats with Jamie in this episode about his storied career in Welsh football, picking out some of the glorious highlights along the way, and looking at what motivates 'Wildey' to keep playing, having achieved everything there is to achieve in the Welsh game - including helping guide Connah's Quay Nomads to their first ever JD Cymru Premier League title this season. Hear more from Mike and his conversation with Jamie in this latest episode of our Getting to Know series.

Time for another one of our Getting to Know special episodes, as we catch up with the manager of the story of the JD Cymru South this season, Dafydd Evans of Swansea University FC.  In this edition, Jamie Thomas speaks to Dafydd about his beginnings in the game, transitioning into a coaching career that took him across the pond to the United States for 16 years, before coming back to Wales to work with Cardiff Met and eventually Swansea University, who he has this season led to glory in winning the JD Cymru South title.  Hear more from a great conversation between Dafydd and Jamie in this latest of our Getting to Know specials!