Cwmbran Celtic F.C.

Cwmbran Celtic

Full name	Cwmbran Celtic Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Celts
Founded	1925
Ground	Celtic Park, Cwmbran NP44 3YS (Capacity: 150)
Chairman	Bob Smith
Manager	Gareth Morgan
Coach	Della Cheedy
League	Welsh Football League Division One
2010-11	Welsh Football League Division One, 12th (of 16)
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Cwmbran Celtic F.C. is a football club based in Cwmbran, Torfaen, South Wales. They currently play in the Welsh Football League Division One.

They are one of the largest football clubs in Wales in terms of the number of teams they run. In season 2011/12, this is 16.

The first team plays in the Welsh Football League First Division and the Reserve Team plays in the Welsh Football League Reserve Division (East) of which they were champions in 2010/11.

The 3rd team plays in the Newport and District Football League in the Premier "Y" Division of which they were champions in 2010/11.

The club is in partnership with the Football Academy at Fairwater High School, Cwmbran. The under 19 team are the current 2010/11 MacWhirter Welsh Youth League champions and the under 18 team plays in the Gwent County F.A. Youth League. This is an exciting part of the club's structure and the relationship brings great benefits to both parties. Of the current senior squad 22 of the players have come through the Academy - a remarkable statistic.

The club runs junior teams at every age level from under 7 up to under 16, together with a girls teams at under 14 level. All these teams play in the Torfaen Junior and Youth League, except the girls who compete in the South Wales Girls League.

All the teams play at Celtic Park, Henllys Way, Cwmbran, which is adjacent to Cwmbran Stadium.

History

Formed in 1925 Cwmbran Celtic are the town's oldest established football club. In the early years the club was known as CYMS (Catholic Young Men's Society). After the immediate success of winning the Newport & District Division 2 Section A title in 1925/6 there was then a 25 year gap before the next trophy, the Premier Division title in 1950/1. The club was re-formed in the early 1960s under the new name of Cwmbran Catholics. In 1972 with playing membership open to all denominations the club dropped the catholic title and re-named as Cwmbran Celtic. In season 1972/3 Celtic won the Gwent Amateur Cup and were runners-up in the Gwent Premier League.

In 1979 the club bought its own premises at Oak Street, Old Cwmbran which is the club's present headquarters. The club's ground was in Cwmbran Park but over the seasons the drainage deteriorated and the club sought and was granted the use of the grounds outside Cwmbran Stadium which were shared with Cwmbran Cricket club. The cricket club later moved to Caerleon and Celtic were granted the lease.

Cwmbran Celtic played in the Gwent County League throughout the 1980s and 1990s and after gaining promotion as champions of Division 2 in 1986/7 they were comfortably placed in the 1st division for the next dozen or so seasons. However a disastrous slide found the club languishing in the 3rd division when Paul "Dishy" Richardson became manager in 1999. Richardson transformed the side bringing in experienced ex-Cwmbran Town stalwarts Mickey Copeman, Kevin Payne and Gary Sturch alongside teenage striker Shane Williamson who is still playing today. The side was later bolstered by the return of ex-professionals Ben Graham and Mark Parfitt. The side gained successive promotions from the 3rd to the 1st division between 1999 and 2001 and in season 1999/2000 they won the Gwent County league cup.

In season 2004/5 under new player-manager Mickey Copeman, the club were runners-up to Clydach Wasps. The champions of the Gwent County League are eligible to apply for membership of the Welsh Football League. Clydach applied but their ground was adjudged not to be of the required standard. As runners-up Cwmbran Celtic applied for the place. Their own ground on the field outside Cwmbran Stadium was also not up to standard but Celtic were able to share Cwmbran Stadium with Cwmbran Town and so the Welsh League accepted the club's application.

In their first season, 2005/6, Celtic struggled near the bottom of the 3rd division all season. In April 2006 Celtic travelled to Chepstow Town knowing that they had to win this game to stay in the league. They went 1-0 down. With minutes of normal time remaining substitute Jason Price equalised but a draw was not enough. In the 9th minute of time added on player manager Mickey Copeman went up for a corner. The ball was cleared off the goal-line by a Chepstow defender, it hit Copeman on the back and rebounded into the net. Celtic had achieved a last gasp win and, after winning their final match against Seven Sisters, Celtic escaped relegation on goal difference.

The following season, 2006/7, Celtic, now back at their upgraded and newly named ground, Celtic Park, were transformed. They only lost 2 games all season and enjoyed a 24 match unbeaten run. When they went to Risca Town for their last match of the season they were already promoted but they had to beat the home side if they wanted to win the Championship ahead of Llanwern. Going into the last 3 minutes of normal time Celtic were 1-0 down and playing with 10 men when Sammy Winter scored with a speculative long range shot. A draw was not enough to win the league but in the last minute a Risca clearance found full back Ben Graham outside the box. Ben volleyed the ball hopefully towards goal and struck it so perfectly that it looped over the goalkeeper's head and into the net. Celtic were champions.

In Division 2 Celtic consolidated their position in seasons 2007/8 and 2008/9 during which they introduced a number of players from their new partnership with the Fairwater High School Football Academy in Cwmbran which was managed by Celtic coach Della Cheedy. In season 2009/10 they were front runners destined to win the Championship. However they lost two key defenders who transferred to Aberaman Athletic at a crucial time and vital points were dropped. Nevertheless Celtic still finished their games in 1st place and would win the title if Penrhiwceiber failed to win at Newcastle Emlyn. The home side was 2-0 up at one stage but the visitors clawed their way back to win 3-2 and deny Celtic the championship. At the end of the season Mickey Copeman stood down after 7 years in the role during which he secured 3 promotions for the club from the Gwent County League to the top division of the Welsh League.

In their first season in the 1st division, 2010/11 under new manager Ben Graham, Celtic struggled during the first half of the season and were firmly planted in the relegation zone but a superb run-in during which they won 7 and drew 3 of 14 games placed them safely in 12th place out of 16.

In season 2011/12 the side made a good start to the season under Alan Dibble who decided to step down in September 2011 with the team in 5th place in Division 1. In October 2011 the club appointed Gareth Morgan, a progressive character with a proven record of success with Taffs Well, Dinas Powys, Aberaman and Croesyceiliog, as the new manager.

Honours

Welsh League Division 2 Runners-up 2009/10

Welsh League Division 3 Champions 2006/7

Gwent Premier League Runners up 1972/3

Gwent County League Division 1 Runners-up 2004/5

Gwent County Senior Cup Winners 1970/1; Runners-up 2007/8 & 2008/9

Gwent County Amateur Cup Winners 1972/3

Gwent County League Cup Winners 2000/1

Welsh League Reserve Division East Champions 2009/10 & 2010/11

Welsh League Youth U19 Division East Champions 2007/8, 2008/9, 2009/10, 2010/11

Newport & District League: Div 2 Section A: Winners 1925/6; Premier Div: Winners 1950/1, Runners-up 1956/7; Premier B: Winners 1968/9, Runners-up 1972/3; Premier A: Winners 1969/70; Div 2B: Winners 1969/70, Runners-up 1972/3,1979/80; Premier Y Winners 2000/1,2006/7,2009/10,2010/11, Runners-up 2005/6

Newport & District Cups: Senior Bowl: Winners 2005/6; Runners-up 1968/9, 2010/11; Junior Bowl: Winners 1950/1, Runners-up 2005/6; Div 3 Cup Winners 1956/7

Officers and team management

President: Terry Cunningham

Chairman: Bob Smith

Secretary: Brian Stanley

Treasurer: Sue Perrett

1st team manager: Gareth Morgan

1st team coach: Della Cheedy

1st team physio: Mike Baugh

1st team captain: Craig Cheedy

Reserve team manager: Matthew Ryder; Assistant: Robbie Wall

3rd team manager: Neil Gilmore

Youth (U19) manager: Mike Baugh

U18 manager: Kevin Griffiths

Other Committee members: Tony Strange (Welsh League secretary), Mike Shirlow & Ian Jones (Newport & District League secretary), Andrew Meaney (Asst Treasurer & Junior Secretary), Malcolm Jarrett (Special Projects), Barrie Desmond (Events & Fund raising), Steve Harvey (Commercial), Tyrone Bourke (Merchandising), John Stockwell (Disciplinary & programme), Gerard O'Sullivan (Programme Editor), Mike Williams (Junior Secretary). Kate Harvey (Minute Secretary), Steve Roberts (Photographer & programme), Shaun Worsfold, Steve Perkins, Pat Murphy

Match day personnel: Mike Baugh (Ground manager), Richie Morgan (Ground superintendent), Rose Woodhouse (Refreshments), Rhiannon Baugh (Sports therapist)

Current squad

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

No. Position Player GK Nicky Church DF Liam Palmer DF Stefan Marchant DF Lee Challenger DF Steven Peel DF Richard Crees DF Ben Luck MF Rakesh Patel MF Craig Cheedy MF Luke Sallis FW Scott Lanyon DF Tom James DF Ryan Timms MF Dominic Broad

No. Position Player MF Dale Howarth FW Owen Llewellyn FW Shane Williamson MF Owen Cook FW Chris Pike DF Michael Hiles DF Michael Baugh DF Luke Jones GK Giles Cutlan GK Lewis Watkins DF Lloyd Davies MF Dominic Connor FW Nanah Baah

External links

• Official website