Newport YMCA A.F.C.

Newport YMCA

Full name	Newport YMCA Association Football Club
Nickname(s)	The YM or YMCA
Founded	1973
Ground	The YMCA Ground Mendalgief Road, Newport (Capacity: n/a)
Chairman	Viv Edwards
Manager	Peter Campbell
League	Welsh Football League Division Two
2009–10	Welsh Football League Division Two, 10th (of 18)
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Newport YMCA Association Football Club are a football team based in Newport, south Wales. They currently play in the Welsh Football League Second Division.

They were founded in 1973 with the merging of the Newport Central YMCA and Newport Pill YMCA sides and were elected to the Welsh Football League in 1978. Newport YMCA had good Welsh Cup results in the 2000s as they reached the Fifth Round of the competition on various occasions. This resulted in them facing off against three Welsh Premier League sides: Carmarthen Town, Welshpool Town & Bangor City.

History

South Wales Argus Cut Outs

1973: The formation of YM

Newport YMCA Football Club was formed in 1973 when the Newport Central YMCA and Newport Pill YMCA sides merged to form one club.

The merger took place as a result of a decision made by the Board of Management who were responsible for running the affairs of the YMCA in Newport at that time. They believed that it would be in the best interests of both clubs for them to merge and share facilities. After many months of negotiation the two sides, usually fierce rivals on the park, merged to form the one Club, Newport YMCA.

Prior to the merger both sides were successful teams in their own right. Pill YMCA playing in the higher standard Gwent Premier League and Central YMCA in the Newport & District League Premier X Division.

Pill YMCA who had moved onto an eight-acre ground at Mendalgief Road in 1955, boasted two football pitches and a rugby pitch, but suffered from poor changing facilities, whilst Central YMCA situated in the town centre, had better changing facilities, but no ground of their own. At the time of the merger Central YMCA ran five senior sides and Pill YMCA ran two senior sides and a range of junior sides.

The merger proved an instant success with the club running five senior teams plus junior teams from under-12s to under-18s. Cups and trophies came the clubs way on an annual basis.

1978–1981: Welsh Football League status

In 1978 after winning the Gwent Premier League four times in succession they gained election to the Welsh Football League.

Under the management of Michael Carvell the club worked its way up to the Premier Division, which at that time was the highest level of football in South Wales. In 1980–81 the club made it to the final of the Welsh Intermediate Cup (formerly known as the Welsh Amateur Cup) only to lose the game 1–0 to Connah's Quay Nomads.

1982–1984: YMCA's high & low

The pinnacle of success came when the side finished in 3rd place in the Premier Division in 1982–83, their highest-ever finish in the Welsh football pyramid. Despite this high finish the creation of the ‘National Division’ for season 1983–84 effectively demoted the YM, their lack of facilities costing them a place in the newly-created division.

1990–1993: planning ahead

In 1990 The Board of Management at the YMCA decided to sell off the Central YMCA building and half of the land at Mendalgief Road, using the money to finance a new purpose-built facility in Pill. For one season the club were forced to play their home games at Somerton Park, home of Newport County, as uncertainty over the sale of the land and building work meant the club needed to find an alternative venue for home games.

After spending the 1990–91 season at Somerton Park the YM returned to their home at Mendalgief Road as the sale of the land failed to materialise, causing building work to be delayed. Unfortunately the uncertainty over events off the field transmitted itself to the football club and the retirement of older players plus the inability to attract new ones caused the club to suffer relegation at the end of the 1992–93 season.

2000: New era for YMCA

The new building that was planned for 1991 eventually opened in January 2000 and this marked an upturn in the fortunes of the club. In season 2001–2002 the YMCA started their comeback back by winning the Division 3 championship. Two seasons later the club finished just one place below a promotion spot, but in season 2004–05 they secured a return to the top division of Welsh League football by finishing runners-up to Pontardawe in Division 2.

Honours

• Welsh Football League Second Division: Champions: 1979 – Promoted to Division 1
• Welsh Football League First Division: 3rd place 1981 – Promoted to Welsh League Premier Division
• Welsh Football League Premier Division: 3rd place 1983 (Highest ever finish)
• Welsh Football League Third Division: Champions 2002 – Promoted to Second Division
• Welsh Football League Second Division: Runners-up 2005 – Promoted to Division 1
• Welsh Football League Reserve Division: Cup Winners 2005
• Monmouthshire/Gwent Senior Cup: winners 1975, 1976, 1978; runners-up 1977, 2004
• Welsh Cup: Quarter-Finalists 2007
• Welsh Reserve League East: Winners 2007

Local Rival clubs

• Newport Civil Service
• Caerleon
• Llanwern
• Cwmbran Celtic
• Cwmbran Town
• Newport County

Newport YMCA have many local rivals in the city of Newport. Newport YMCA have in recent years enjoyed clashes with cross-city rivals Caerleon and Llanwern. During the 2008–2009 season, they began a rivalry with Cwmbran Town, who had previously been relegated from the Welsh Premier League.

At youth level Newport YMCA have a rivalry with Newport County but at senior level the teams do not compete in the same league system. The used to play each other in an annual preseason friendly. The last time they met was in 2004, twice. First in the Gwent Senior Cup Final, in which County won the match 1–0 and during preseason in a Friendly match, which ended 1–1.

Current staff

• Chairman: Viv Edwards
• First Team Manager: Peter Campbell
• Assistant Manager: Pringles

Welsh Cup matches

Newport YMCA celebrate their greatest victory

Newport YMCA vs. Carmarthen Town (Welsh Cup Third Round)

Saturday November 3, 2007 will go down as one of the greatest days in the club's short history, when they defeated Welsh Cup holders Carmarthen Town in a third round giant-killing at Mendalgief Road. Faraz Yafai gave the home side a shock 8th-minute lead, before Liam Hancock equalised midway through the first half for the Welsh Premier outfit. Newport were dealt a massive blow shortly after the hour-mark when goalkeeper Gareth Wesson was sent-off for abusive language, striker Lewis Sommers putting on the gloves. The hosts showed great determination to keep their top-flight opponents at bay, and they were rewarded when a late penalty from Gareth Lynch gave the home side a 2–1 lead going into the last five minutes. The full-time whistle sparked wild celebrations amongst YMCA players and supporters and signalled a place in the 4th round for the first time in the club's 34-year history.

After that game, YMCA manager Mark Coldrick told the South Wales Argus: "Chatting to the chairman and committee men afterwards, we said it was the greatest result in the club's history."

Newport YMCA vs. Llangefni Town (Welsh Cup Fourth Round)

YMCA went one better in the next round by beating another top-division team, Llangefni Town, 4–3 on penalties. Newport YMCA enjoyed yet another finest hour in their short history with yet another giant-killing act as they sent Welsh Premier strugglers Llangefni crashing out of the Welsh Cup in a dramatic round-four tie.

After an evenly-contested first half, the visitors should have taken the lead when they were awarded a penalty following a 67th minute corner but keeper Gareth Wesson sprung to his left to deny strike Jason Sadler. Having survived that scare, the hosts took one step towards the quarter finals when captain John Pardue fired in a 25-yard cracker with just six minutes to go. But YMCA celebrations were a bit premature as Sadler atoned for his spot-kick miss with a far post equaliser to take the game into extra-time.

Both keepers earned their corn with a number of saves in the added half hour to set up the dreaded shoot-out. Wesson came out trumps again with a save to deny Steve Kehoe with Pardue rubbing salt in the wound to make it 3–2. Substitute Caerwyn Roberts equalised and Cefni were right back in it when Aaron Stewart missed. But Darren Thomas dragged his shot wide to give Gareth Ford the opportunity to clinch a place in the last eight – and he did just that.

Newport YMCA vs. Welshpool Town (Welsh Cup Fifth Round)

Newport YMCA by this point had shown their cup pedigree, and that they can topple any side on their day. They had a wonderful cup run, and they didn't want to end it here, as they previously dumped out 3 Welsh Premier sides. They faced off against Welsh Premier League side Welshpool Town, and after coming back from 2–0 down in the quarter-final on March 1, League giant-killers Newport YMCA staged yet another remarkable late comeback to seal a historic place in the semi final of the Welsh Cup as they bundled home the winner to win 4–3.

Trailing 2–1 with 10 minutes remaining, they twice exposed the fragility of Welshpool's defence at set-pieces to claim their third top-tier victim. The visitors were cruising after taking a fifth-minute lead through Brett Jefferies and looked home and dry when Richard Harris doubled Welshpool's lead on 51 minutes.

Eventually, Danny Heath gave Newport YMCA hope when he pulled a goal back on 67 minute, Lewis Sommers then equalised before Heath popped up again for a winner five minutes from time to gift Newport YMCA a place in the Welsh Cup Semi-Final.

Bangor City vs. Newport YMCA (Welsh Cup Semi-Final)

On Saturday 5 April 2008, Welsh League underdogs Newport YMCA faced off against Welsh Premier side Bangor City and proved a handful. The chance for Newport YMCA to reach the final was here, and they knew that it would take some football to be a very talented Bangor City side.

Newport YM's Aaron Stewart forced Pal Smith into action numerous times, and Bangor's Lee Webber’s 22nd minute header was turned away by keeper Gareth Wesson at full stretch. Bangor drew first blood three minutes before half time when Marc Limbert’s free kick from the left of the box sparked a melee before Hoy fired in a rebound from six yards. Sion Edwards, also went close to a second when striking the bar at full stretch from Limbert’s inviting right wing cross.

A crucial second goal arrived seven minutes after the break when Stott shrugged off the YM defence on the right to break into the box before beating YM Goalkeeper Wesson with his low angled shot. Edwards then increased the margin on 65 minutes when, after Stott had slipped the ball into his path on the left, he drilled his low shot into the net via the far post. The Citizens then saw a scrambled effort ruled out moments later before sub Cueto headed a reply in a late flurry from YMCA.

Newport YMCA vs. Bridgend Town (Welsh Cup Fifth Round)

On 28 February 2009, Newport YMCA faced off against Bridgend Town in the Fifth Round of the Welsh Cup, with a spot in the Semi-Finals at stake. Over past season's, Newport had shown that they had a nice little history with this competition, and wanted to continue that tradition by progressing further on in this cup.

YM knew that a second chance to face Bangor City was at stake, but would they get there was the question.

Ironically, it was former Cwmbran Town striker Raith Plant who fired the decisive goal of the match in Bridgend’s 1–0 win against fellow MacWhirter Welsh League club Newport YMCA, who were out to secure a Welsh Cup semi-final place for a second successive season.

YMCA's Wesson was only forced to make three saves during the game, while opposing goalkeeper Brendan Cropley did not have a save to make. It was the first time in 10 home Welsh Cup ties that YMCA have lost at their Mendalgief Road HQ with Bridgend following up to the previous week's 3–0 home MacWhirter Welsh League Division One win over the same opponents.

External links

• Official site
• Forum
• "Photographs of the Giantkilling": Newport YMCA 2–1 Carmarthen Town
• YM vs Bridgend Highlights
• YM vs Holyhead Hotspur Highlights