Presteigne St Andrews FC’s Under 18’s manager Trevor Gummer has begun the search for potential pre-season opponents as he builds towards the new campaign.
While much of the country is wrapped up in the World Cup, Trev is already planning for the new season and is after potential opponents for warm-up games.
The decision not to enter CP Llanandras in the Spar Mid Wales League second division will work to Trevor and his assistant Adam Jones’ advantage as they should be able to select from the vast majority of eligible Presteigne players.
Had CP Llanandras been in the Spar Mid Wales League second division then under the, ‘one player, one club’ rule, any Under 18s playing for them would not have been eligible for Presteigne St Andrews Under 18s as they would technically have been with a different club.
While this issue is no longer going to affect us this season, there are reports that some clubs genuinely fear for the future of youth football in Mid Wales so maybe it is high time the FAW changed that particular rule so that it doesn’t include Under 18 teams.
After all, while we are running an Under 18s team we will not be able to call on players from clubs that might not be – maybe Hay St Marys or Rhosgoch Rangers (assuming Rhos play in the Spar next season).
The FAW clearly needs to take a look at this ruling again otherwise it will surely only be to the detriment of youth football across the Principality and particularly, perhaps, in the more rural areas of Mid Wales where clubs rely on including players from neighbouring clubs that don’t run Under 18 sides in order to field a squad.
Trev, though, remains confident he will be able to field a decent team for next season and is keen for any club that fancies a pre-season game to get in touch by email. Your details would then be passed on to Trev and he will get in touch.