Latest news with #CaernarfonTown
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Striker Lloyd 'delighted' with St Johnstone move
Caernarfon Town striker Louis Lloyd has joined Scottish Championship club St Johnstone for an undisclosed 21-year -old, who won last season's JD Cymru Premier young player award having scored 16 goals, has signed a three-year deal with Simo Valakari's spent two seasons with Caernarfon after leaving Wrexham at the end of the 2022-23 and also had a spell with Shrewsbury Town."I'm delighted to get this move over the line," Lloyd said."From the minute I heard about the interest, I thought it was a place I can flourish and show my talent."The stature of the club was a big pull for me. "I got a great buzz off the head coach and that made me want to come to the club even more. His style of football suits me."
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cambridge sign former Swansea goalkeeper Hughes
Ben Hughes spent the second half of last season on loan at Caernarfon Town [Getty Images] Cambridge United have signed Welsh goalkeeper Ben Hughes on a two-year contract. The 21-year-old joins the League Two U's after leaving Swansea City earlier this year, where he had played for the club's under-18 and under-21 sides. Advertisement Hughes has yet to make a senior appearance in the EFL and says his move to Cambridge is "a big moment in my career" and "the right step". "I just want to develop as much as I can, get that first-team exposure and help the group however I can," he added. The transfer is subject to international clearance and Cambridge have not revealed the length of his contract. Hughes is U's the club's second permanent signing of the summer window after former Manchester City forward Ben Knight agreed a one-year deal.
Pembrokeshire Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Henri Cynwyl claims podium in Wigan rally
IN the days leading up to Sunday's play-off final, Haverfordwest County manager Tony Pennock said one thing clearly: 'The boys are looking forward to it and will be up for the challenge.' He wasn't wrong. While supporters rightly celebrate a 3–1 win over Caernarfon Town and the return of European football to the club, it's worth remembering that this moment was forged not in 90 minutes, but across a season built on togetherness, hard graft, and quiet conviction. Pennock, reflecting before the final, pointed to signs he'd seen as early as last June. 'From the first session up at the Racecourse, then the beach the following week, you just saw a group that really wanted to work hard for each other,' he said. That unity has defined the Bluebirds' campaign. They achieved a club-record 51 points and finished with the best defensive record in the Cymru Premier — conceding just 26 goals in 32 games. It was a season not of flashy wins, but of collective discipline, focus, and belief. And while Haverfordwest's third-place finish guaranteed them a home final, it also meant an unusually long layoff — nearly four weeks without competitive football. For some, that might have spelled rust or lost momentum. For Pennock, it was opportunity. 'The break has given us a chance to get a few of the injured boys back fit,' he said on Friday. 'No excuses from us — the boys are ready.' Sunday's performance proved that readiness, not just in energy but in character. It was a composed display from a squad that knew what was at stake and trusted in the process that had brought them this far. Behind the scenes, there was also a challenge: keeping the squad focused and mentally prepared during the long wait. 'Whatever happened in the previous 32 games doesn't matter anymore,' Pennock said. 'It's all about Sunday.' With the job now done and European qualification secured for the second year running, attention turns to logistics, the UEFA draw, and the question of whether Haverfordwest will again have to play at Cardiff City Stadium due to ground regulations. But for now, the focus remains on a season that delivered on its promise — and on a manager who asked for belief and got it in return. Photo caption: Stronger together: Haverfordwest's season success rooted in unity and belief (Pic: HCAFC) Cover photo by Pic by Craig Thomas/FAW
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Europe twice in three years is special for Pennock
"Two out of three ain't bad" is a fitting cliché for Haverfordwest County manager Tony to joining the Bluebirds in 2022, Haverfordwest had only once tasted European competition, that coming back in took up the reins left by Belgian manager Nicky Hayen and secured qualification in only his second a lengthy absence in continental competition, Haverfordwest acquitted themselves well in the Europa Conference League. They claimed a famous victory over Shkendija before losing out to B36 Torshavn in the second qualifying narrowly missed out last year, but Sunday's 3-1 play-off final win over Caernarfon Town marks a welcome return to Europe. "The club has grown so much since I have been here in three years and continues to grow and improve," Pennock told BBC Sport Wales. "There's lots we can get better at, and we'll keep striving to be better, but twice in three years is something special for all of us."We'll enjoy tonight and start working hard in a few weeks' time because we want to do well in Europe like we did the last time."Pennock, 54, spent five years as the head of Swansea City's academy, and also headed up Hull City's academy before a stint as first team coach. He arrived in Haverfordwest with big boots to fill as Hayen had taken the club from the threat of relegation to play-off contenders in a matter of has successfully built on the now Club Brugge manager's work and this season led Haverfordwest to their highest ever position in the Cymru Premier while reaching a club-record points tally of 51. "I am so fortunate to be their manager, they're a great bunch, we have a good laugh together, they work hard when they have to work hard," Pennock said."When I first came in the club had never finished in the top six in a 12 team league. "We were proud of where we finished this season in third, the highest ever for the club, least goals conceded, 15 clean sheets. "It's been a really good season and as much as we wanted to celebrate that, it would have been a tough one to celebrate if we'd lost at home today [Sunday] in a play-off final."Pennock was also quick to brush aside any links with his former club Newport County who are managerless after Nelson Jardim's departure."It's nice to get linked," he said, "my ambition is getting to Europe for Haverfordwest County and the fact that we've done it twice in three years now is massive for us all."We are better prepared going into Europe this time than we were two years ago. We learnt a lot from that experience as a club, players and staff."I'm looking forward to a trip to Geneva for the draw to see what's in store for us."Haverfordwest played their home European matches at Cardiff City Stadium last time out, but it is understood they will be based at Llanelli's Parc y Scarlets for their next European adventure.
Pembrokeshire Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Manager reflects on unity, discipline, and a season built on belief
IN the days leading up to Sunday's play-off final, Haverfordwest County manager Tony Pennock said one thing clearly: 'The boys are looking forward to it and will be up for the challenge.' He wasn't wrong. While supporters rightly celebrate a 3–1 win over Caernarfon Town and the return of European football to the club, it's worth remembering that this moment was forged not in 90 minutes, but across a season built on togetherness, hard graft, and quiet conviction. Pennock, reflecting before the final, pointed to signs he'd seen as early as last June. 'From the first session up at the Racecourse, then the beach the following week, you just saw a group that really wanted to work hard for each other,' he said. That unity has defined the Bluebirds' campaign. They achieved a club-record 51 points and finished with the best defensive record in the Cymru Premier — conceding just 26 goals in 32 games. It was a season not of flashy wins, but of collective discipline, focus, and belief. And while Haverfordwest's third-place finish guaranteed them a home final, it also meant an unusually long layoff — nearly four weeks without competitive football. For some, that might have spelled rust or lost momentum. For Pennock, it was opportunity. 'The break has given us a chance to get a few of the injured boys back fit,' he said on Friday. 'No excuses from us — the boys are ready.' Sunday's performance proved that readiness, not just in energy but in character. It was a composed display from a squad that knew what was at stake and trusted in the process that had brought them this far. Behind the scenes, there was also a challenge: keeping the squad focused and mentally prepared during the long wait. 'Whatever happened in the previous 32 games doesn't matter anymore,' Pennock said. 'It's all about Sunday.' With the job now done and European qualification secured for the second year running, attention turns to logistics, the UEFA draw, and the question of whether Haverfordwest will again have to play at Cardiff City Stadium due to ground regulations. But for now, the focus remains on a season that delivered on its promise — and on a manager who asked for belief and got it in return. Photo caption: Stronger together: Haverfordwest's season success rooted in unity and belief (Pic: HCAFC) Cover photo by Pic by Craig Thomas/FAW
