With the new first-team management duo now formally in place, it’s an opportunity to learn more about them and their hopes for the coming season at Llanandras Park.
We hope to catch up with Rob Evans in the next few days but, first, here are a few thoughts from Gareth Jenkins who has been talking to Trevor Owens.
Trevor began by asking Gareth to outline his local footballing ‘pedigree’ as he begins the job of turning around the fortunes of the Llanandras Park club.
“I played for Hay St Marys all my life; I had a season managing Hay’s Sunday team when we came second and were promoted,” said Gareth.
“I stepped up the first team and had five-and-a-half years in charge and we won two promotions from Spar Two; we won the Radnorshire Cup, two Otway Cups, three Hay Cups and two Gateway Cups as well.
“So, it was one major cup and a fair few minor cups in what was a good few seasons.”
Gareth is justifiably proud of the success he enjoyed during his time at Forest Road and feels he played a part in establishing Hay St Marys as a sold Spar One club.
“We finished fourth in the first year which was our highest we’ve ever finished in Welsh football.
“The year after we finished seventh which I think is still very respectable but we lost a few players to injury that season and didn’t really kick on in the way we wanted to.
“But fourth and seventh in Spar One is very respectable for a team like Hay.”
So, what was the attraction of the challeng at Llanandras Park?
“Every time I’ve ever played or managed at Presteigne it’s always been a very welcoming club,” said Gareth.
“I’ve known Ammo [secretary, Tom Ammonds] and Weedo [chairman, Mark Weiland] for a fair few years now.
“There’s always a nice atmosphere there and I know they’re well run and there’s a lot of backing from the committee.”
The new management team will be just that – a team. Gareth explains the partnership with Rob Evans came about largely by chance.
“I’ve known Rob for years – mainly through refereeing – and I’ve always got on well with him.
“Two weeks after I finished at Hay, Rob texted me to see if I wanted to go as coach or assistant-manager at Radnor Valley.
“But it was too soon what with finishing at Hay and also with my job so I had to turn him down.
“Weedo offered me the job at Presteigne a fair few months ago but I couldn’t do it at that stage and then I phoned Rob out of the blue and he said he’d been offered the job as well so we said: ‘Why don’t we do it together?’
“I know they have struggled for the last couple of years but, with the backing of the committee and, given the ground and facilities….everything’s in place – not so much for Spar Two – but everything’s in place for Spar One.”