Author Archives: Hannah

Will Richards Becomes Barry’s Second January Transfer

Barry Town United have announced the signing of Will Richards from National League North side, Gloucester City.

The incoming 32-year-old joins earlier announcement Lee Lucas as a January signing and will add a vast level of experience to the Town squad, subject to international clearance.

The centre-back and Town’s new number 24 has gained 13 years of experience playing around step one and two of non-league football in England after his departure from football league club, Shrewsbury Town.

Richards also boasts playing in the FA Cup proper, scoring in a first round tie before facing League One’s Stevenage in round two when playing for Stourbridge.

Before returning to his home nation, signing for Barry, Richards has picked up over 80 appearances in the National League South and North combined for numerous clubs, most recently Gloucester City.

Welcoming Will to the club, Jenkins has said: “I’ve known of Will for a long time and tried to get him at Hereford. He’s a leader, great character, massively experienced and will be a fabulous addition to the group.”

The club would like to thank Gloucester City for their cooperation with the transfer.

MATCH REPORT: DOMINANT TOWN CRUISE PAST NEWTOWN IN 2024 OPENER

Barry Town kicked off 2024 in style with a convincing 4-0 win over Newtown in the JD Cymru Premier at Jenner Park.

The dominant performance against the fourth placed Robins was led by an unlikely double and an assist from Ben Blythe. Sam Snaith and Ollie Hulburt also secured places on the scoresheet as the Town cruised to victory in Steve Jenkins’ absence.

Blythe opened his account for the Town on 18 minutes with a Rhys Davies cross trickling across the six-yard box for the Swansea loanee to smartly find the bottom corner.

The centre-back completed his brace from a Barry corner with a powerful header. A Jamie Veale corner had the centre-back rising highest to double the hosts’ lead.

Snaith was able to seal three points for the Town inside the hour mark, another Veale corner finding the Town striker to take his goal tally to two goals in two league starts. The 23-year-old’s first league start since August 19.

Ollie Hulburt rubbed salt in the wound when he added a 71^st minute winner. After threatening breaking the line of defence throughout the match, he eventually made it count, slotting home Blythe’s through ball for 4-0.

After a stretched opening few minutes, Ollie Hulburt beat the offside trap with Callum Sainty showing great vision from the back, the Town striker could only force a corner with a good save from Andrew Wycherley.

It was déjà vu for Hulburt ten minutes later. A ball over the top allowed the 21-year-old to demonstrate his burst in acceleration, denied by a brilliant Wycherley save.

Newtown’s chances were few and far between although a looping cross had Louis Robles testing Luc Rees able to make a comfortable save.

Aiden Lewis was given a golden opportunity to double the Town’s lead late in the first half when he intercepted a misplaced goal kick, spraying his effort from outside the box.

League top goalscorer, Aaron Williams had a chance to reduce the deficit in the second half when the ball fell from the sky on the penalty spot. Getting his technique all wrong, the Newtown striker couldn’t find the target.

Despite running riot so freely throughout, Barry couldn’t secure a fifth despite continuing to push in late minutes. A darting run from Mike George down the right-wing found Keenan Patten in an unlikely position in the box but he couldn’t beat the Robins’ ‘keeper.

Barry Town United: Rees, Press ©, Sainty, Blythe, Davies (Hugh 85’), Patten, Veale, Lewis (Tomlinson 52’), Hulburt (Huggins 85’), Snaith (McLaggon 78’).

Subs not used: Tucker, Greening, Sylvester.

Newtown: Wycherley, Sears, Mills-Evans (Hughes 78’), Sutton ©, R. Evans, Robles, Ismael (Boakye 65’), Williams, Cowans, Jones, D. Smith.

Subs not used: Ussher, Sharp, C. Smith, Downs, Taylor.

Goals: Blythe 19’, 43’, Snaith 59’, Hulburt 71’.

Yellow Cards: Patten 82’. Cowans 50’, D. Smith 58’.

Town Sign Lee Lucas from Taunton

Barry Town United have announced the signing of former Wales under-21 international Lee Lucas from National League South outfit, Taunton Town.

The incoming 31-year-old adds a wealth of experience to the Town midfield, boasting appearances in the English football league.

The midfielder started his career with Swansea City where he gained caps at Wales under-17, 19 and 21 level before loan spells with League Two sides Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town.

After a season with Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, Lucas eventually settled in his native country, making over 60 appearances for Merthyr Town before his most recent three-year spell with Taunton Town in the South-West of England where he has made 13 appearances this season.

Lucas is Steve Jenkins’ first signing of the January transfer window subject to international clearance.

Welcoming Lee to the club, Jenkins has said: “I’ve always been an admirer of Lee as a footballer, he’s hugely experienced with loads of quality and fits the profile of player we want at the club to take us forward.”

On his signing, Lee Lucas commented: “I’m delighted to have joined such a historic club in Welsh football. I’m excited to link up with Steve and to help the club push up the table as we step into Phase two of the campaign.”

The club would like to thank Taunton Town for their cooperation with the transfer.

MATCH REPORT: TOWN EDGE PAST GUILSFIELD

Barry 1-0 Guilsfield

Jenner Park, Barry / JD Welsh Cup Round 3 / Saturday 11 November 2023

Barry Town booked a place in the last sixteen of the Welsh Cup thanks to a 94^th minute match-winner against Guilsfield from substitute Sam Snaith.

Breaking down the right, Kayne McLaggon’s cross saw Snaith get ahead of his marker to volley the ball home from close range.

Saturday’s match was the first ever meeting between the two sides, with Barry hosting the mid-Wales club, who are currently sixth in Cymru North, a division below the home side.

It was a stronger Barry side than recent weeks, with defenders Chris Hugh and Curtis McDonald returning from injury to start the game.

Hugh had the game’s first real chance, his seventeenth minute shot from the left cannoning back off the post.

At the other end, Guilsfield’s Andy Evans was proving a handful, heading one chance over the bar and forcing Barry ‘keeper Luc Rees into action with another effort.

Although dominating first half possession, Barry failed to find the net. The best chances before the break fell to Ollie Hulbert and Jamie Veale, but both were saved by visiting keeper, Robbie Williams.

In the second half, Barry’s first chance again came to Chris Hugh. Jordan Cotterill laid the ball back for Hugh to shoot, but his effort went over the bar.

Barry then hit the woodwork for a second time. From a corner, a Callum Sainty shot took a deflection and hit the bar. The attack continued until an acrobatic effort from McLaggon was saved by the ‘keeper.

Guilsfield also had their chances, with Evans again shooting from distance and Izaack Lambert seeing his header saved by Rees.

The visitors have won on penalties three times this season and, with time ticking away, they seemed to accept a goal-less draw and were preparing for spot kicks.

Then came McLaggon’s cross, and Snaith’s match-winning goal.

Barry travel to Caernarfon Town on Sunday for an away match at the fifth placed club in the Cymru Premier.

Share a Smile Campaign is back for 2023

In 2020 we launched our “Share a Smile Campaign“, which incredibly in its first year raised £8,500. The money raised that year bought Christmas gifts for over 130 children. In 2022 we grew our target and raised close to £15,000 giving presents to other 200 children.

We are delighted to now launch our 2023 campaign which will one again see us raise more money to make Christmas extra special for those families who need it most. Every penny of the money raised will be used to purchase high quality toys and gifts which will be donated directly to the families that need it most in our community.

How are we going to do this?

The first team squad will once again be donating a percentage of their wages. Whilst all other sections of the club will be running their own training based challenges.

How can supporters help?

We have an ambitious fundraising target which we know supporters will want to help us hit. You can contribute via our Go Fund Me Page or by popping into the clubhouse. Supporters can donate as much or as little as they can. Every little helps to make a magical Christmas possible for those who need it the most. You have until December 8th to donate.

Our game against Aberystwyth on 4th November will become a Share a Smile official fundraising game and we’ll be sharing more details on that tomorrow.

We will be sharing lots of updates and photos of our fundraising activities over the coming weeks.

Please help us once again to share a smile this Christmas.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/share-a-smile-2023

MATCH REPORT: SPIRITED TOWN LOSE TO TNS

Barry 2-6 The New Saints

Jenner Park, Barry / JD Cymru Premier / Saturday 21 October 2023

Attendance: 340

The scoreline shows that Barry were well beaten by league leaders, The New Saints, but the match itself had a different feel.

After an hour, Barry had equalised to make it 1-1, but the professional side turned the screws and
scored five in a second half similar to Barry’s 6-0 win over Porthcawl last week.

In a frenetic start, the first chance came to Barry after less than thirty seconds, Keenan Patten firing
narrowly over the bar with a shot outside the box.

At the other end, goalkeeper Luc Rees pushed away an on target effort from Gary Brobbel.

Brobbel hit the post before Saints took a 20th minute lead. A Barry corner was cleared and Brad Young ran the length of the pitch before scoring past Rees. A frustrating goal to concede.

Rees was again on top form in saving from Young a few minutes later.

Just after an hour, Barry levelled. This time, TNS failed to clear a near post corner and it bounced across the box for Ollie Hulbert to head in.

Sadly, that scoreline lasted only five minutes as Brobbel’s free-kick was headed in unchallenged by Danny Davies at the near post.

Suddenly, the ball found itself within the Barry six yard box with uncomfortably frequency, the Saints scoring four goals in a 15 minute spell.

Brad Young scored the third and Josh Daniels the fourth, both goal poaching within the six yard box as Barry failed to clear their lines.

A cross from Adrian Cieslewicz was turned into his own net by Barry defender Troy Greening as he tried to clear, while Young scored his hat-trick with the sixth goal.

Barry gained some consolation, with Hulbert’s 93rd minute header crossing the line, from Harrison Bright’s cross.

Barry now face two crunch Cymru Premier matches, Colwyn Bay away next Saturday then Aberystwyth at home on Saturday, 4th November.

MATCH REPORT: TOWN DOMINATE PONTY

Barry 2-0 Pontypridd

Jenner Park, Barry / JD Cymru Premier / Tuesday 17 October 2023

Attendance: 371

A dominant Barry performance saw them take revenge over the club of former boss, Lee Kendall.

The home side were in charge of the game from the start, with hometown boy, captain Kayne McLaggon, making his 200th appearance in a Barry shirt since signing in 2017.

McLaggon almost opened the scoring in the sixth minute, his blistering effort from the edge of the box being pushed onto the bar by Ponty ‘keeper, George Ratcliffe.

It was a busy night for Ratcliffe, probably the best ‘keeper in the Cymru Premier, who played on loan at Barry in 2019.

Barry opened the scoring in the 13th minute. McLaggon and Hulbert created space on the left for a low cross. Keenan Patten dummied the shot and then Harrison Bright steamed in at the far post to shoot low past Ratcliffe.

Harrison Bright celebrates after scoring his debut goal

The second goal came on the half-hour. A corner from the Barry left was inexplicably handled by Jarrad Wright and immediately given as a penalty.

McLaggon’s penalty was saved by Ratcliffe as he dived to his left, but he could only parry, leaving Kayne to put the ball into an open net.

At the start of the second half, a low cross from Rhys Davies was almost met by Jamie Veale, but he couldn’t direct the shot towards goal, while Ratcliffe pulled off two saves from both Patten and
McLaggon.

It could have been 3-0 in the 81st minute, with Mike George and Hulbert setting up McLaggon, but his final touch took the ball wide.

With eight minutes of second half injury time played, Barry boss Steve Jenkins was pleased when his side not just won the match, but kept a clean sheet with it.

Although out of the Cymru Premier relegation zone, Barry’s bounceback faces a tough challenge in leader leaders The New Saints on Saturday (2:30pm kick off). The clubs drew 2-2 at Oswestry earlier in the season.

Appointment: Jenkins brings in new assistant manager

Jonathan Jones joins the Town

Barry manager, Steve Jenkins, has appointed a new assistant manager in Jonathan Jones.

Jonathan brings plenty of experience to the club, previously being a goalkeeper for AFC Llywdcoed and Penrhiwceiber in the Welsh League, as well as working within a range of professional club academies in a variety of positions.

Those appointments included goalkeeping coach, analyst, and assistant head of coaching.

More recently, Jonathan was Manager of Pontypridd Town, who steered Ponty to Cymru South success in the 2021-22 season when the Dragons were promoted to the Cymru Premier.

Jonathan is a current UEFA/FAW Pro Licence candidate, and works as a lecturer in football coaching at the University of South Wales.

Jonathan is excited by his new role at the club, and told us:

“I’m delighted to be working with Steve Jenkins, who is a great person from a highly experienced playing and managerial background.

I’m also excited to have joined the Town, a club with great people, a long history of success and supported by a large, loyal fan-base.”

MATCH REPORT: TOWN CRUISE PAST PORTHCAWL

Barry 6-0 Porthcawl

Jenner Park, Barry / JD Welsh Cup / Saturday 14 October 2023

Attendance: 306

Barry cruised to a place in Round Three of the JD Welsh Cup with a flurry of second half goals, sealing a 6-0 win over Porthcawl Town Athletic at Jenner Park.

After the expected domination in the opening half, Michael George’s 26^th minute opener was long overdue but Town continued to be mostly frustrated by a resolute defence by the Seasiders.

An overlapping run combined with a pinpoint Ollie Hulbert pass allowed for the Town wing-back to fire his effort into the upright of the netting at Andrew Fisher’s near post.

Jordan Cotterill doubled the Town lead on 58 minutes when a silky through ball from substitute Troy Greening allowed Cotterill his first goal of the season with a composed one-on-one finish.

In similar fashion to Cotterill, Hulbert got in on the action when he penetrated a gaping hole in the backline, slotting past Fisher just past the hour mark.

It didn’t take long for Callum Huggins to leave his mark on the second half. A Harrison Bright cross from the left hand side was nodded in from close range by the 18-year-old for his second goal from the bench in as many matches.

Kayne McLaggon made it 5-0 in quick succession, with the captain following similar suite to earlier goals, Cotterill feeding a through ball for the captain to become the fifth name on the scoresheet.

McLaggon secured a brace late on with Cotterill recording a hat-trick of assists, squaring a simple ball to the Barry striker to rub further salt into the Porthcawl wound.

With a league fixture against Pontypridd United just three days after the Welsh Cup Second Round, the Town opted to force a guaranteed place in Round Three of the draw with an imbalance of quality against a midtable, fourth tier Porthcawl Town side.

An array of chances came for the hosts in the first half, Rhys Davies set the intentions within the first minute when he found his way into the Porthcawl box before firing over.

A rare chance came for the visitors after 42 minutes with Evan Press disputing a foul, Jonah Lewis and Jordan Marks were able to link up on the edge of the Barry box before the latter failed to trouble Luc Rees with the effort.

The Town were prolific in the second half with substitutes impressing and total professionalism of a Cymru Premier outfit being shown when everything they touched turned to gold for a five-goal second half.

Barry Town United: Rees, Press, Sainty (Bright 51’), Blythe, George, Davies (Huggins 67’), Patten, Tomlinson (Greening 57’), Cotterill, McLaggon (c), Hulbert (Sylvester 67’).

Subs not used: Tucker.

Porthcawl Town Athletic: Fisher, Greenwood, Best, Budd (Jones 70’), Emery (c), McCarthy, Rayner, Hoven (Joyce 45’), Lewis, Marks, Edwards (Thomas 45’).

Subs not used: Amos, Adams.

Goals: George 26’, Cotterill 58’, Hulbert 65’, Huggins 69’, McLaggon 73’, 87′.

Tomorrow: The Welsh Cup

Barry v Porthcawl Town Athletic

Barry host Porthcawl tomorrow at Jenner Park at 2pm in a Welsh Cup 2nd Round fixture in what is the first ever meeting in any competition between the two clubs.

Barry have had some recent success in the Welsh Cup, being Semi Finalists in 2012-13, and again in 2018-19. We’re also 6 times winners of the competition, having won it in 1954-55, 1993-94, 1996-97, and a famous treble of wins in 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03.

This season also marks the 30th anniversary of the fabulous 1993-94 Welsh Cup campaign which took us all the way to Cup Final glory at the National Stadium in Cardiff, beating much-fancied Cardiff City 2-1 in the process.

We’ve a long way to go to emulate that success, and Porthcawl Town will almost certainly prove stiff opposition for us tomorrow. It’s the magic of the Cup. Anything can happen!