Media Watch - Fleet Town

Fans can relive Merthyr’s most famous cup game
Ian Caleb, Celtic Sport

AS MERTHYR Town kick off their FA Trophy campaign for this season with a visit on Saturday by Fleet Town, fans will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Italian side Atalanta being beaten at Penydarren Park.

Predecessors Merthyr Tydfil reached the European Cup Winners’ Cup by defeating Newport County in the Welsh Cup final after a replay and shook the football world by conquering Atalanta from Bergamo by 2-1 before a 10,000 crowd, before losing 2-0 in Italy. It was a memorable time for the club and manager Lyn Jones and chairman John Reddy.

There will be a day of nostalgia at Merthyr on Saturday with the historic win being screened on the big screen at the Candac Suite after the Trophy game. There will be Italian food and quizzes, and some special guests are being lined up. Special football shirts are also available.

So as well as cheering on Garry Shephard’s men, the football fans of Merthyr can relive that exciting clash against the Italians. The home game went ahead at the Park only after the stadium was transformed to meet the requirements of European football.

But at 3pm the sights will be set on overcoming Fleet, the Hampshire side of the Central section of Division One of The Evo-stik Southern League, in the Trophy first qualifying round. And their manager Craig Davies, a former Cardiff City player, has called it a prestigious fixture for his club.

“We had a free week to prepare for our trip to Wales to play Merthyr, a team I know well from my time with Cardiff City,” he said. Davies, after leaving City, played for Bashley, Salisbury City, Gosport and AFC Totton. His club were in 16th place after their opening six games which produced six points.

And in goals for Fleet could be Ryan Price, known to Merthyr Tydfil fans for his spell with Salisbury. He made his Football League debut for AFC Bournemouth when just 17. The club’s other goalkeeper is Cathal Maclean, signed from Alton Town.

The defence includes James Scott, ex-Aldershot Town, while midfielder James Field has made 260 appearances, having netted 90 goals before this season begun. Forward Craig Martin has had experience with Torquay while another striker, Jack White, is an exciting prospect, having joined from AFC Totton.

If Shephard’s side continue their present run, a home win should be on the cards.

I noticed Eston Chiverton in this week's Merthyr Express - in the advert for SWALEC:

'Eston Chiverton - one of your Smart Services Advisers in Newport'

Well he does look smart enough in the photo.

Merthyr look to keep up their good cup run
Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo

MERTHYR Town aim to continue their cup exploits at Penydarren Park tomorrow when they take on fellow EvoStik Southern League club Fleet Town (3pm). The Martyrs crushed Cinderford Town 3-0 in their FA Cup replay this week with Marcus Griffiths netting a hat-trick and now entertain Fleet in the FA Trophy.

On Saturday, September 22, Merthyr are at home again in FA Cup action when Hungerford Town are the visitors. They have earned £3,000 from their cup run so far with more to come if they can beat Hungerford.

First, though, managers Gary Shephard and Danny Carter will focus on tomorrow’s clash with Hampshire club Fleet. Centre-back Andrew Thomas returns after a one-match suspension, while Jamie Rewbury is available before starting a three-game ban.

Nathan Davies faces a fitness test tomorrow, while Jason Welsh is making good progress after suffering a dislocated shoulder. Promising teenager Daniel Payne is also in the squad.

Merthyr are still unbeaten this season, having earned four wins and four draws from eight league and cup matches. They are eighth in the South and West Division table, four points behind leaders Poole Town.

Tomorrow’s opponents Fleet play in Southern League Central, having been saved from relegation last season when Bedfont Town withdrew for financial reasons. Fleet had finished second from bottom and had looked doomed.

Following the match against Fleet, Merthyr host a 25th celebration evening of their European Cup Winners’ Cup win against Atalanta in 1987. Lyn Jones, who was Martyrs manager for that match, plus goalscorers Kevin Rogers and Ceri Williams will be among those attending the event. Doors to the Candac Suite open for the celebration evening at 6pm and entry is free.

Highlights of the match will be shown on the big screen and there will be a guest book open for all supporters at the event to publish their personal memories of Merthyr’s European campaign.

All White now for relieved Fleet Town boss
Jon Couch

FLEET TOWN player/boss Craig Davis was a happy man after watching his young side see off Chertsey Town 3-1 to banish the memories of their midweek drubbing at Ashford Town. A goal from Mark Watkins after nine minutes set the tone for numerous near misses before Chertsey equalised seven minutes before the break through Paul Seaman.

Jack White, a talented 16-year-old who led the line superbly up front, rattled the visitors by restoring the hosts lead immediately after half time, then Watkins set up Danilo Cadette for the killer third.

Delighted midfielder Davis crowed: “We absolutely bossed the first half. We bombarded them. Then they scored a goal against the run of play and as we're a young side, I thought the players might wilt after the Tuesday result [5-0 defeat]. But we came out and did the same again in the second half. It was a real professional job done.”

David wants to put the disappointment of last season's relegation – then reprieve – behind him and added: “We're looking up to be honest. We don't want to be down there again scrapping. That's what happened last year and once you are down there it's difficult to get up. We are a young side who are going to get better and better. We'll be up and down a bit because the average age is 21. It was important to get the win here, and score goals.”

The policy to bring in youngsters is the only way for Fleet and David confirmed: “We can't afford to bring in seasoned players so we've added some more youngsters and those who were here last year have had another year to grow. We are looking to bring in players who have a bit about them and then develop them, so six months down the line they are going to be really good. I’m really excited about the team.”

Making Calthorpe Park a place where visitors fear to tread is the aim for Davis. “ We didn’t do that last year, we were a bit fazed by the slope, to be honest,” he revealed. “This year we're not. Other teams have come here and not enjoyed the slope and we've got to embrace it. We don't look to just smash it long, we look to play exciting football. Our supporters would have looked at the Ashford result and thought 'after the Lord Mayor's Show type thing, winning 4-0, but we bounced back and it means a lot.”

Fleet open their FA Trophy account on Saturday when they make the trip to deepest Wales to take on Merthyr Town of Evo-Stik Southern Division One South.

Wandering wrote:Merthyr look to keep up their good cup run
Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo

They have earned £3,000 from their cup run so far with more to come if they can beat Hungerford.

It's actually £4,750 so far.

Yes, it was £3,000 for overcoming Cinderford. Such payments are great for clubs such as Merthyr.

Merthyr Imp wrote:It's actually £4,750 so far.

Rumours only £2.50 on the J Strand Esq. tax calculator strenuously denied!