Latest News

Firstly, i would like to apoligise for the lack of updates over the last month or so. This has been down to software issues which have finally been resolved. From now on the website will be regulary updated, particulary when the dates of the pre-season friendlies and training announcements have been made.

Right, now that's out of the way onto the club news. Apples came round last season collecting money off people in and around the club in order to get a bench put up Cwmnanty in Shorty's memory (once again, thanks to all those that contributed). The bench has now been bought and is awaiting its unveiling up Cwmnantygroes. It has been decided that on one of the Saturdays before the season starts (beginning of August) we will be arranging a game where an Abertillery Bluebirds XI will take on as many members as possible of the U18's team that Shorty played in; on a day in which the bench will also be unveiled. Please feel free to come along and show your support. Please check back on the webiste for further details as they are confirmed.

The club also went on its Annual tour, this year returing to the familiar shores of Newquay. With our regular hotel ended up as we all expected it would, run down and shut, we managed to get into the Minerva Hotel, which was actually more centrally located than the Bartrip. Despite not making the best of first impressions (Box Sash window making Brett Morgan deciding to push the window, instead of lift it, yes that right.....smash - no wonder they sacked you Brett) we did manage to stay in the hotel for the full three days (Thanks Sally and John) and had an excellent time. The debate will soon be going for where we want to go for next seasons tour so answers on a postcard please.

On Saturday 31st June the club held its annual presentation evening at the Lymes Social Club. The night was a sell out from the off set and didn't disappoint. The night was a sucess and a credit to the people that we have within the club. Thanks also go out to Dale Hooper of Abergavenny Garden and Fence Supplies Ltd who was kind enough to pay for the trophies presented on the evening. Please find below the season reviews for each of our teams and find out the winners on presentation evening:

Abertillery Bluebirds B Season Review 2007 2008

What a season it turned out to be for the “Bs.” With David Townsend and Gareth Coles taking over at the helm the season started much the same as in previous years with either too many players or not enough. However, on the field, things were looking up. A 0-0 draw against Llanhilleth first game of the season showed that the defence of Scott Bishop, Gareth Jones, Liam Herridge and Jonny Townsend were going to be tough to beat and by mid-season we boasted the best defensive record in the league. It was at the other end of the fied where we were having our problems, resulting in far too many draws. A terrible refereeing decision at Treowen saw Coco sent off after the final whistle and a record win against Crusaders were amongst the highlights of the season. Captain, Alex Ferguson and Jonathan Farr helped bring on youngsters Miles Clark and Dafydd Jones, which resulted in the Bluebirds scoring more goals as the season went on. Brett Williams, who had been injured for the first half of the season, decided to take up goal keeping duties half way through the season and turn out to be more than capable. Gareth Bevan also started to find form scoring on a regular basis. With the departure of stato, Steven Hale took over at full back and fit again Rhys Hodges kept the back 4 on their toes. The big tests came against our “A” side resulting in an unlucky 1-0 defeat and a 1-1 draw, which showed just how much we had improved and a finish of 4th in the league was well deserved.
What a story we have to tell in the cups. Firstly we progressed to the quarter final of the Tom Perkins cup we came up against Fleur De Lys; and to say we were cheated by a homer of a ref would be an understatement. With 96 minutes on the clock, and the Bluebirds winning 2-1, the ref decided to award a goal when a scuffed shot hit the side netting. Even the Fleur coach wanted the game abandoned at this point. The game went on into extra time and the frustrated bluebirds didn’t have the legs for extra time going down 4-2.
In the Invitation cup we won our group by winning all 4 games. Against the R.T.B’s Shane Keech managed to last all of 2 minutes before being replaced by Simon Bayliss and Joe Evans became super sub. Through the group we progressed and into the semi finals were we were partnered with......... yes you’ve guest it, Fleur De Llys. 
This time, with a ref and linesmen, we gained sweet revenge, Miles Clark and
Gareth Bevan scoring in a battling 2-1 win.
The final took place at Tredegar Towns ground, against Tredegar Athletic and was well attended by players and officials of our club - thanks for the support lads, you were fantastic all night. Up against a strong Tredegar side we defended for 43 minutes but couldn’t quite hold out until half time, as Tredegar took the lead through a Steven Hale mistake. However, the Bluebirds didn’t read the script; and were level within five minutes of the restart when Nathan Wallace headed home superbly at the near post. Lewis Clark and Michael Vagg must be thanked for their contribution steadying the balance of the side as second half substitutes. 1-1 it finished at the end of 90 minutes and so to extra time, and in turn penalties. Brett Williams saved their first and their last went over the bar whilst we scored all ours.  na na na na na na na won the cup, won the cup, won the f*****g cup.
David and coco would like to thank Gareth Price aka wes and Terry ‘The Terrible’ Townsend for their help, as without them there would be no games; and also a big thank you to club sponsor, Danny Bishop for the cup final kit; and finally to all the supporters who lifted the players with their singing after we went a goal down.

At the presentation evening our awards went to:

Rhys Hodges                               Player’s player
Alex Ferguson                             Player of the year
Gareth Bevan & Shane keech        Top goal scorer

Abertillery Bluebirds A Season Review 2007 2008

After a fantastic season the previous year, in which we won the North Gwent Premier Division with a game to spare, a new challenged dawned upon us, the North Gwent Reserve division! New teams and different venues; everybody was keen to start the new season. Unfortunately, it quickly transpired that this league was not the challenge we were hoping for. There were some good teams (notably Abercarn and our third team, who grew stronger throughout the season).

Our results this season read:
played 18       won 17           Drawn 1         Lost 0             Goals scored 91       Goals Against 10

This gives a good indication of our quality throughout the year. The only team able to take any points of us was our third team; who we met in two physical encounters.
Our cup run was non-existent losing out in both cups to North Gwent Premier teams. Never mind you learn by your mistakes (Well hopefully).
I would like to thank all the players who contributed. Some players only played for us on one occasion but even their input was appreciated, especially as they all had great games. I will not name individuals as there is no I in TEAM!
I would also like to remind all the players that next year the league will be bigger and more difficult; and we do not automatically have the right to the league - The League must be won.

TRAINING: What a shambles (with some notable exceptions who trained on a regular basis). Andy and myself know exactly who’s done what.
I would like to congratulate our Third side who had a fantastic season winning the cup, What a fantastic achievement. I would also like to thank the 3rd and 1st team managers who helped us out with players in our times of need.
Congratulations to the 1st team who had a good 1st year (in Gwent County 1st Division) finishing 3rd. They probably should have won it but they will learn a lot from it.    
   
Top Goal scorer        Tom Evans better known has Tommy Wazza
Players Player           Lee Edwards better known has Skinny
Managers Player      Jamie Edmunds better known has Jamie Edmunds

Thanks from Sean Pagett and Andy Goodenough 2nd team Management

Abertillery Bluebirds Season Review 2007 2008

When asked at the clubs presentation evening to write a season review for the Gwent County side I initially declined as I had spent 50% of the season watching my other beloved Bluebirds, Cardiff City, and in turn, could only make the Gwent County First Division games about once a fortnight. However, looking back through the fixture list, I really hadn’t missed as many games as I initially thought. So here it is, apologies to anyone who disagrees with what I have written, but this is how I saw things from the touchline.

As you could imagine, everyone at the club was still on a high after the previous seasons amazing performance of winning promotion to the 1st division and lifting both Amateur & County Motors cups; and we started where we left off last season with three decent wins against Undy Athletic, Spencer Youth & Panteg respectively. As the season went on, the wheels came off the kart slightly with away defeats to Abercarn United & Chepstow Town, but on the whole we were looking in good shape going into the winter months.  Retrospect is a marvellous thing and looking back, I and many others at the club, believe that the defining moment of our season was the away draw at Mardy. We played them off the park that Saturday, but the lack of self discipline by some players and our inability to finish cost us dearly on that November day. If all our energies had been put into playing football and not spent having a pop at the referee every five minutes, things could have been a lot whole lot different on that day; and the season as a whole.  

Christmas came and went and we found ourselves out of both Amateur & County Motors cup competitions, but we were still in contention for league honours. By mid February Chepstow Town & Newport Civil Service were starting to break away from us, as we were left behind in third. However, we still had to play both of them in that month, hoping we could reduce their leads. We absolutely spanked Chepstow at home, 3-0, giving them hardly any possession in an enthralling game at Cwmnantygroes.  The away game against Newport Civil Service came along next, a must win fixture for ourselves if we were to stay in contention.  Club captain, Paul Samuel, opened the scoring for us on that day totally against the run of play, which took us in at half time surprisingly ahead.  Civil regrouped at the interval and put us to the sword with some exceptional football to eventually run out 4-1 winners, in a match that they thoroughly deserved to win.  

We then remained unbeaten for the rest of the season, but were unable to catch up Civil, who never seemed to lose and deservedly ended up champions. We finished in 3rd spot with 19 wins, 4 draws & 5 defeats on a total of 61 points, only three points behind second placed Chepstow Town. I believe a lot of lessons have been learnt, in this our first season in the Gwent County's top flight and we are looking to push on in the forthcoming 08/09 season and gain promotion to the Welsh League.

I’d like to finish on a positive note and congratulate Adam Bishop, Luke Lewis, David Gibbs & Lee Bancroft who are all members of the Gwent County squad that will be heading to Malta in September representing Wales in the EUFA Regions Cup.  Good luck lads & well done !!!  Whilst I am passing out the platitudes, a big up to Brett Morgan who won both the Players Player & Managers Player of the year at our recent presentation evening. Well done fella!!!  

That’s about all there is to say about the past season, let’s hope that when I sit here to write next seasons review I will be regaling you with tales of how we intend to take on the giants of the Welsh League.

The future is bright, the future is Abertillery Bluebirds !!!!

Brett Morgan      Player’s player
Brett Morgan      Player of the year
Luke Lewis         Top goal scorer

Friendlies

If you would like to talk to us about arranging a pre-season friendly please call club secretary Martin Price on 07875 576 223. The club is looking to play teams off all standards as all three of our teams need games. The first team would also like a few games against Welsh League opposition. Please note (im sure a lot of you are having the same problem) that Blaenau Gwent council will not allow us to play on any of our home pitches until around the start of August. Therefore, any friendlies before this date would have to be played away, Thanks.