Tag Archives: First team

Evan Press and Luc Rees celebrate following Barry's 1-0 victory over Guilsfield in the Welsh Cup

Retained players: 2024-25

Barry Town’s retained players list for the upcoming 2024-25 Cymru Premier season is as follows

Retained players:

Mike George

Callum Huggins

Ollie Hulbert

Aiden Lewis

Kayne McLaggon

Keenan Patten

Evan Press

Luc Rees

Will Richards

Drew Perrett

Callum Sainty

Sam Snaith

And with thanks to players who have now departed the club:

Ben Blythe (end of loan)

Jordan Cotterill

Rhys Davies

Chris Hugh

Mike Lewis

Lee Lucas

Curtis MacDonald

Lucas Tomlinson

Jamie Veale

We appreciate the effort and commitment to all those players.

The squad returns to training next week and new signings will be made over the coming weeks.

You can see the lads in action in our upcoming pre-season friendlies:

6 July: Oxford City (3pm at RAW Charging Stadium, Oxford)

13 July: Yate Town (2:30pm at Jenner Park)

16 July: TBC (7:45pm at Jenner Park)

20 July: Newport County (2:30pm at Jenner Park)

23 July: Hereford Pegasus (7:45pm at Old School Lane, Hereford)

27 July: Swansea City U21s (2:30pm at Jenner Park)

Chris Hugh

Chris Hugh departs

Following 8 very successful years with Barry Town, Chris Hugh will depart the club

Chris, a pivotal signing in the summer of 2016, made 218 appearances, scored 14 goals, lifted 4 trophies, secured 2 promotions and qualified for European football on two occasions.

Chris Hugh receives a Man of the Match Award

Chris also enjoyed a successful Futsal career, where he captained the Wales national side – scoring the winning goal for Wales in a 3-2 away win over Sweden in Visby in 2017.

Of course, Chris also frequently represented his club at Wales ‘C’ level, and was first selected for Wales ‘C’ duty in March 2018 – in a match against England at Jenner Park.

Chris Hugh FAW graphic

His competitive debut for Barry was in the 2-0 league win over Undy Athletic on 18th August 2016 at Jenner Park. Winning promotion to the Cymru Premier for 2017-18, Chris featured in our first league win over The New Saints in over 18 years.

Our 1-0 victory on 4 November 2017 was a long time coming, following our previous victory in Llansantffraid over the then named Total Network Solutions way back in August 1999.

Indeed, Hugh’s eight away matches at Park Hall include our two victories, and the three 2-2 draws.

Chris Hugh celebrates in front of the Old Stand

Chris has been an ever present player at Left Back during his time, scoring some wonderful goals. Not only an exceptional footballer but a fantastic person who is idolised at our club.

Seen by many as the best left back at the club since Gary Lloyd, it’s a pleasure to call him one of our own.

Thanks for everything Chris, we have been blessed to have you at our club for so long.

A presentation will be made to Chris at tonight’s awards evening; you can purchase tickets here for an opportunity to say goodbye.

Watch: Chris Hugh with the assist for Kayne McLaggon’s goal as we topped the table in December 2018.

Mikey Lewis

Town ‘keeper Mike Lewis to depart the club

After 8 fantastic years Mike Lewis is set to depart the club.

Mike has been a huge part of our club since first signing in the Summer of 2016 making 225 appearances, lifting 4 trophies, securing 2 promotions and qualifying for Europe twice.

His competitive debut for Barry was in the 2-0 home league win over Undy Athletic on 18th August 2016, keeping a clean sheet in his first game.

It was a good omen, with Mike keeping six consecutive clean sheets in his opening six league and cup games, helping us to reach the Nathaniel MG League Cup final that season and earning promotion to the Cymru Premier as Welsh League Champions.

Mike Lewis

In total, Mike earned 21 clean sheets in that first season going on to make 70 in his Barry career.

A significant clean sheet for Mike came in our return to Europe in the home game against Cliftonville in Summer 2019, with Barry drawing 0-0 against the Belfast club.

Not only a fantastic Goalkeeper but a wonderful role model to our young ‘keepers across the club and a supporters’ favourite whose presence around the club will be missed.

Thanks for everything Mike, wishing you all the very best on your next adventure.

A presentation will be made to Mike at next week’s Awards Evening. You can buy tickets for an opportunity to say a deserved goodbye.

Mikey George celebrates

MATCH REPORT: COUNTY GRAB A POINT

BARRY 1-1 HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY

Jenner Park, Barry / JD Cymru Premier / Friday 23 February 2024

A 1-1 draw with Haverfordwest County last Friday leaves Barry in ninth place in the Cymru Premier, five points away from the play-off place in seventh, and six points clear of the relegation zone.

Barry took the lead just after the hour mark, and looked to have won a valuable three points, but were pegged back by the visitors with a 96th minute equaliser.

Haverfordwest’s Jack Wilson had the first real chance of the game, his 17th minute shot going across the face of the Barry goal.

Moments later, Mike Lewis, making his first appearance since injury in September, pulled off a spectacular reaction save from a close range header, preventing an almost certain goal.

At the other end, Keenan Patten’s cross took a deflection which forced visiting ‘keeper, Zac Jones, to tip the ball over the bar.

Jones was again called into action when a Rhys Davies shot forced him into a low full-length dive to his right, and when Jordan Cotterill’s effort on the turn saw him push the shot away from the top corner.

Haverfordwest were awarded a penalty just before the break when Dan Hawkins was fouled in the box, but Kai Whitmore’s low penalty was well saved by Lewis, Whitmore putting the rebound over the bar.

Barry took the lead after 62 minutes.  Michael George fired a low cross from the right which Haverfordwest’s Jazz Richards turned into his own net under pressure from Keenan Patten.

However, late in injury time, Whitmore shrugged off a number of Barry challenges, passing to the right.  Rio Dyer’s cross picked out Rhys Abbruzzesse, who headed home at the far post to earn the visitors a point.

Barry travel to Aberystwyth Town on Saturday, 2nd March for a crucial match to stay away from the relegation zone, before entertaining Colwyn Bay at Jenner Park on Saturday, 9th March (2:30pm).

MATCH REPORT: TOWN HELD TO DRAW BY PENYBONT

Barry were held to a 2-2 draw as the 10-man Penybont came from behind twice in Phase Two of the JD Cymru Premier.

Aiden Lewis gave the visitors the lead into the break and Sam Snaith added to his season tally in the second half, separated by second half equalisers from Kane Owen and Keyon Reffell.

Lewis opened the scoring on 18 minutes after one-way traffic with Ollie Hulburt selflessly pulling back to the advancing midfielder for his first goal of the season.

Owen levelled the game from the spot for Penybont after 64 minutes following Keyon Reffell being brought down by Luc Rees in an arial challenge.

Snaith regained the lead after 71 minutes for the Town with a devastating counter-attack resulting in a header from close range from a Rhys Davies cross.

Reffell was involved once again when Penybont equalised for a second time, this time the end product of a deep cross, sliding home from close range.

Penybont were led to fightback from a 1-0 deficit with 10-men for the majority of the game, Chris Venables was shown a straight red for an off-the-ball incident involving Will Richards in the 24th minute.

Evan Press was the difference between a point and a late comeback as he produced a goalline block from a drilled effort with just 10 minutes to play and the momentum having swung in favour of the 10-men.

Barry were the quickest out the blocks, it took only 27 seconds for the Town to stamp their mark into the game. A Keenan Patten switch to Mike George returning the favour following Patten’s darting run into the box before heading over. Just a minute later, Hulburt found himself firing wide with an effort from inside the 18-yard box.

Hulburt went close again as Barry were boasting all the big chances inside the first 15 minutes. A long, high ball had Hulburt beating the ‘bont defenders heading his one-on-one effort off the woodwork.

The Town’s leading goal scorer had another chance to add to his season tally early in the second half after total domination in the opening period; Davies’ pull back blazed over the bar from close range.

Barry had limited defending to do in the opening half and their first test came from the hosts’ Shaun MacDonald glancing a header wide from a corner early in the second half.

Penybont grew into the game as they equalised for a second time after all momentum appeared sucked out of them following Snaith’s goal, only for the Press-denying chance the difference between a point and none for the visitors in the end.

Penybont: Przybek, Little, Owen ©, Jefferies, Davies (Reynolds 90+2), Harling, Venables, McFayden (Ware 20’), Kircough (Richards 72’), MacDonald, Reffell.

Subs not used: Harris, Krezolek, Griffiths, Borge.

Barry Town United: Rees, MacDonald, Richards, Press ©, George, Davies (Blythe 90’), Patten, Lucas, Lewis (Cotterill 75’), Hulburt, Snaith (McLaggon 75’).

Subs not used: Tucker, Veale, Perrett, Tomlinson.

Goals: Owen 64’, Reffell 76’. Lewis 18’, Snaith 71’.

Yellow Cards: Little 24’, Harling 51’, Owen 62’, Jefferies 82’. Hulburt 25’, Cotterill 80’, MacDonald 82’, Patten 86’.

Red Cards: Venables 24’.

Luc Rees

MATCH REPORT: TOWN WELL BEATEN BY PONTY

BARRY 0-3 PONTYPRIDD

Jenner Park, Barry / JD Cymru Premier / Saturday 3 February 2024

Phase Two of the Cymru Premier season got off to the worst possible start for Barry, who were well beaten at home by Pontypridd.

Despite a strong line-up, Barry lacked the sharpness and competitive edge needed to take three points.

The result leaves Town in ninth place, five points behind a play-off place but also only seven points away from a relegation spot.

Barry came to close to scoring after six minutes when Lucas Tomlinson’s shot from the edge of the box cannoned off a defender and wide of the goal.

However, the visitors took a fifteenth minute lead through striker Ben Ahmun.

A long ball over the top saw Barry goalkeeper Luc Rees come to clear, only to lose the race to the Ponty striker, who lifted the ball over Rees before slotting into the empty net.

Five minutes later, Barry came close to equalising, with Sam Snaith knocking the ball down and Oli Hulbert firing across the face of the goal from the edge of the box.

After an hour, Ahmun nearly doubled his tally, outpacing the Barry defence but shooting across goal, rather than on target.

Nevertheless, Ponty made it 2-0 a few minutes later. Owain Jones saw his shot saved by Luc Rees, but scored from close range from the resulting corner, getting in front of the Barry defence to head home.

The visitors continued to push, with Keston Davies going close from a free-kick which went just wide, and Luc Rees saving his effort from close range.

Eventually the pressure told, and Pontypridd scored a third. Barry gave up possession cheaply in midfield and, although Luc Rees saved the initial shot from Ahmun, the ball stayed in play and fell to Owain Pritchard, who netted comfortably.

Barry travel to Penybont on Saturday 10 February for a 12:45pm kick-off, with the match being screened live online by Sgorio.

2023/24 JD Cymru Premier Phase Two fixtures released

Barry Town’s Phase Two fixtures for the 2023/24 JD Cymru Premier season have been confirmed. 

Play-Off Conference

Matchday 23 / Saturday 3 February, 13:00

Barry Town v Pontypridd United

Matchday 24 / Saturday 10 February, 12:45

Penybont v Barry Town

Matchday 25 / Friday 23 February, 19:45

Barry Town v Haverfordwest County

Matchday 26 / Saturday 2 March, 14:30

Aberystwyth Town v Barry Town

Matchday 27 / Saturday 9 March, 14:30

Barry Town v Colwyn Bay

Matchday 28 / Saturday 16 March, 14:30

Pontypridd United v Barry Town

Matchday 29 / Friday 29 March, 12:30

Barry Town v Penybont

Matchday 30 / Friday 5 April, 19:45

Haverfordwest County v Barry Town

Matchday 31 / Saturday 13 April, 14:30

Barry Town v Aberystwyth Town

Matchday 32 / Sunday 21 April, 14:15

Colwyn Bay v Barry Town

Town Long-standing Player Departs

Barry Town United can confirm that Troy Greening has today departed the club by mutual consent following an incredible 11 years service.

The Town’s stalwart played 224 games for the club, netting 17 goals from midfield during his time.

After debuting at Pontardawe Town back in 2013, Greening has since won four promotions, winning four league titles and qualifying for Europe twice in his 11-year tenure. He has seen it all and more with our club.

A central figure and key cog in the system for Barry for a number of years, the Town’s number eight made 11 appearances this season.

After 21 appearances in last season’s Cymru South winning campaign, Greening played his landmark 200th game for the club in December 2022 against Cwmbran Celtic, the same opposition he played his 100th Town match against in 2017.

We’d like to thank Troy for his time, efforts, loyalty and dedication to our club and we wish him and his family the best in his future. You’ll always be welcome in the stands at Jenner Park Troy.

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.

Newtown 2-4 Barry

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 71st 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’.