Latest news with #HaverfordwestCountyAFC
Entrepreneur
5 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
From Pitch to Pit
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. When Rob Edwards took over a struggling Welsh football club during COVID-19, many would have questioned the timing - let alone the location. Six hours away, with no prior experience in football management, Edwards was flying blind. Yet five years on, Haverfordwest County AFC has not only qualified for European competition twice but also built one of the strongest youth programmes in the country. Now, the founder of London based Morley Sports Management, a sports consultancy and investment group that develops and supports professional sports clubs and events, is turning his attention across the Atlantic to breathe new life into Ohio Valley Wrestling, a cult US promotion once home to the likes of John Cena and Brock Lesnar. His mission? To rewrite the rules of modern sports ownership through community values, clear vision, and relentless momentum. "Taking over a football club during a global pandemic. I live six hours away. I couldn't get there, and I'd never had any experience of running a football club…. but I knew instinctively it had potential," Edwards recalls. "I knew I was never going to relocate, so from day one I had to invest in people. If people don't buy into the values, they don't stick around very long. But if they do, you can build something with a clear vision." Building that team has been central to Edwards' approach. "We've built the best off-field team I could have hoped for – people who are passionate and dedicated and who've completely bought into our dream. It's the same now with OVW in Kentucky. It's a long way away again, a lot of passionate people, but it lacked clear direction. The job is to empower people, put them in the right places, and give them credit for what they achieve." Edwards' entrepreneurial journey is marked by pragmatism and steadiness in the face of challenges. When setbacks come, he keeps a steady head. "You need to stay calm and logical. Not everything goes your way – and when it doesn't, the worst thing you can do is get flustered. I tend not to get too up or too down. I've always kept that middle ground. If you walked past me after a major success or a big loss, you probably wouldn't notice a difference. That's always been my demeanour." Financial backing came largely from Edwards' prior career in finance. "There's been minimal outside investment. Most came off the back of my previous business and my career in finance. The barrier to entry for Welsh football isn't huge, it's very accessible – financially and structurally. It gave us the opportunity to step in and try to build something different from the ground up." The same entrepreneurial mindset is driving Edwards' latest venture with OVW. "Because of our experience with Haverfordwest County AFC in Wales, we saw a similar opportunity with OVW in Kentucky. It's an under-appreciated asset in the industry in modern times, but there's massive potential." His advice to aspiring founders? "Have self-confidence and be open-minded. When I took over the football club, I had no background in it, but I trusted my instincts. I used experience, common sense, and values that mattered to me. That's been the foundation. We're trying to build businesses founded on community and social impact. With those fundamentals in place, commercial success will come. You've got to believe in what you stand for. If you stay true to your values inside and outside of business, you can build something meaningful." For Edwards, motivation comes from the thrill of constant innovation. "I need stimulation. I've never been able to sit still. I wake up when the sun comes up and my brain kicks in – I'm raring to go. I'm impulsive. If I get an idea in my head, I'm all in. What keeps me going is being disruptive, pushing things forward, coming up with new ideas and concepts. With both the football club and OVW, we're constantly evolving – and on top of that we've got consultancy work and partnerships with sporting brands. That forward momentum is what wakes me up in the morning. There's always a new problem to solve." Ultimately, Edwards believes success hinges on leadership and trust. "Be confident in your ability – if you're leading a business and people don't buy into you, it won't work. People buy in to people. Investment in people is 100% at the heart of our model. We're not always on the ground, so we need to trust the teams to run with the vision. But we also lead from the front – if you want people to dive into the trenches, you need to be the one starting the charge. I'm quite demanding, but only because I hold myself to that same standard." Rob Edwards is a rare breed of entrepreneur – one who builds across continents and cultures, grounded in community values and driven by relentless momentum. Whether in Wales or Kentucky, his unconventional playbook is quietly reshaping what modern sports ownership can look like.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Owner of Pembrokeshire football club is taking on wrestling
Rob Edwards has added Ohio Valley Wrestling to his sports portfolio, which includes Haverfordwest County AFC (Image: Steve Bainbridge) The man behind Haverfordwest County AFC's rise is now taking on the world of professional wrestling. Rob Edwards, owner of the football club, has taken over Kentucky's Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW)—the promotion that launched the careers of stars John Cena, Randy Orton, and Brock Lesnar. Advertisement Mr Edwards said: "I've got no idea how I ended up here, really. "In the blink of an eye, I was flying to Kentucky to watch wrestling shows with the view of taking over the running of OVW. "It's completely surreal, but honestly, it all comes from the same place. "I'm obsessed with sport and the impact it can have on communities. "I'm doing things I never imagined doing, but I'm enjoying every second and looking to create a legacy as I go." Mr Edwards' sports management group, MSM, now holds a controlling stake in OVW, which was recently featured in the Netflix documentary series Wrestlers. Advertisement His journey into sports ownership began unexpectedly during lockdown when he came across a listing for a semi-professional football club for sale. Six weeks later, he became the owner of Haverfordwest County AFC. Under his leadership, the Pembrokeshire club has qualified for European competition twice in three years and recently achieved its highest league finish in two decades. Mr Edwards said: "Within three years, we had gone from an amateur side to playing in Europe." He now aims to replicate that success with OVW, expanding its reach beyond Kentucky and into Europe. Since taking over, Mr Edwards has launched a company-wide survey, restructured leadership, and implemented a 'fan-first' approach. Advertisement He believes OVW can become the world's leading independent wrestling promotion. He said: "We're building something that can stand on its own. "A company where people want to stay, not just pass through. "We want OVW to be the best indie promotion in the world – and we want it to feel like home." Mr Edwards also sees OVW as part of a broader vision for MSM, which aims to build a portfolio of five to seven clubs across different sports.
Pembrokeshire Herald
06-06-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
From Haverfordwest to Kentucky: Rob Edwards relaunches iconic US wrestling brand
THE ENTREPRENEUR behind Haverfordwest County AFC's dramatic rise has now set his sights on the world of professional wrestling – by taking over one of America's most iconic promotions. Rob Edwards, who took control of the Pembrokeshire club in 2019 and steered it from the brink of collapse to European competition, has relaunched Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), the US-based promotion that helped launch the careers of John Cena, Batista, Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton. All Rights Reserved by the photographer, Steve Bainbridge. Any reproduction without prio consent is strictly forbidden. Tel:(+44)7887-982798 Email: info@ Edwards' London-based sports management company, MSM, has taken a controlling stake in OVW, which featured in the popular Netflix documentary Wrestlers. He plans to transform the promotion into what he calls the world's 'top independent wrestling company.' It marks an ambitious new chapter for Edwards, whose story began not with a sports background but with a wine business. Speaking to reporters this week, Edwards said the journey began during lockdown, when he was questioning the future of his company and clicked on a listing for a semi-professional Welsh football club – one with no staff, no players under contract, and gates under 100. Six weeks later, he owned Haverfordwest County. The club has since become one of Welsh football's most compelling success stories. It reached its highest league position in 20 years, secured its first-ever European win in 2023, and qualified again for Europe this year. The club's academy also claimed the FAW Youth Cup and a place in the UEFA Youth League. Now, Edwards is applying the same strategy in Kentucky. He told the Herald: 'It's completely surreal. But it all comes from the same place. I'm obsessed with sport and the positive impact it can have on people's lives. With OVW, I saw the same raw potential that Haverfordwest had when I first took over.' Under Edwards' leadership, OVW has already begun to change. A fan-first strategy has been introduced, a new leadership team put in place, and surveys rolled out to reconnect the brand with its audience. 'There's something visceral about live wrestling,' Edwards said. 'The energy, the storytelling, the crowd – it's all there. But OVW needed a new identity and a fresh plan. That's what we're building.' Comparisons have been drawn with the Hollywood-backed revival of Wrexham AFC, but Edwards is quick to distance himself from the celebrity-driven model. 'I was the first Rob to buy a football club in Wales,' he joked. 'But we're not Wrexham, and I'm not famous. This isn't about nostalgia or cameras. It's about real people, grassroots passion, and creating a lasting legacy through sport.' Edwards says MSM's long-term vision is to own five to seven clubs across different sports – each rooted in its community, with strong commercial backing. OVW, he says, is a cornerstone of that plan. 'We're not just bringing OVW back,' he said. 'We want to show the world what modern wrestling can be – and build something that lasts.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Pembrokeshire Herald
VAR could be installed at Haverfordwest County AFC stadium
A CALL to site VAR Video Assistant Referee cameras and works at Haverfordwest County AFC's football ground has been submitted to Pembrokeshire planners. In the application to Pembrokeshire County Council, the Football Association of Wales seeks permission for the installation of a VAR video operations room and associated works at Bridge Meadow Stadium, Bridge Meadow, Haverfordwest. A supporting statement through agent Wardell Armstrong says: 'The Football Association Wales has recognised opportunities to strengthen, improve and build the standard of football and the image associated with Wales's top football league. 'The launch of the Cymru Premier Strategy 2024-2030 has detailed plans to improve the standard of the Cymru Premier League's club facilities, brands, and awareness, alongside strengthening the Cymru Premier 'on pitch' product over a six-year period. 'The implementation of VAR as part of this plan will allow referees to perform at the highest possible level, providing quality decision-making to benefit players, fans and television audiences.' It says VAR 'comprises of a Video Assistant Referee who is a qualified official that watches video footage of the game with access to multiple screens, angles and replays with the purpose of assisting the on-field officials to come to the correct decision,' adding: 'VAR is used globally, currently assisting referees in associated football leagues of over 70 countries to minimise the risk of human error and to enable the referee to make the correct decision using video technology. 'VAR Light will be deployed in the Cymru Premier from season 2025/2026 covering all Cymru Premier matches. VAR Light works on the same principles as VAR – with a Video Assistant Referee but without a replay operator.' It goes on to say: 'Imagery from VAR camera installations will be sent to a self-contained Video Operations Room, where the VAR will be situated. The match referee will undertake any recommended on-field reviews in a designated Referee Review Area adjacent to the pitch, where a monitor will be installed on match days. 'A review of the infrastructure at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium has concluded that the Video Operations Room cannot be provided within existing buildings and as such it will be necessary to provide new additional accommodation.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Parc y Scarlets to host Haverfordwest's European adventure
UEFA Conference League clash to take place in Llanelli stadium PARC Y SCARLETS will once again welcome European football this summer, as Haverfordwest County AFC prepare for their latest UEFA Conference League campaign. The Llanelli-based stadium has been confirmed as the home venue for the Bluebirds' first qualifying round fixtures in the European competition. It marks another major football event for the ground, which has previously hosted Wales men's and women's internationals, most recently in 2023 when Cymru's women faced Ukraine and Kosovo in UEFA Euro 2025 qualifiers. Parc y Scarlets, the home of the Scarlets rugby team, was also the base for Llanelli AFC's European matches in 2009 and has regularly hosted domestic finals and Swansea City reserve games. Haverfordwest County secured European football for the second time in three seasons after their 3-1 victory over Caernarfon Town at the Ogi Bridge Meadow last week. They now enter the UEFA Conference League at the first qualifying round stage. The Bluebirds will find out their opponents when the draw is made at UEFA headquarters in Geneva on Tuesday, June 17. The two-legged tie is scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 10, and Thursday, July 17. Scarlets Managing Director Jon Daniels said: 'We are immensely proud of the facilities we have here at Parc y Scarlets and are thrilled to be hosting Tony Pennock and his Haverfordwest team for such an important fixture. 'We have hosted high-profile international, European and domestic matches since the Parc was opened in 2008 and the team here are looking forward to being part of Haverfordwest's European adventure.' Ticketing details will be announced in due course.
