At the start of our third season in the Spar Mid Wales League we hope to improve on our mid table finish last season. Although twelfth place was not exactly spectacular, in the bigger picture it represented another year of significant progress for the Club with our reserves having been promoted to the Cambrian Tyres first division and several teenagers having established themselves as first team regulars. The reserves’ promotion and our survival were the Club’s two main objectives at the start of last season and so on the whole I’m satisfied with our progress.

Having said that, there is clearly plenty of room for improvement. I think our three main problems last year were a lack of fitness, a lack of goals and a series of catastrophic errors that were punished severely by other teams who proved to be far more ruthless than us in front of goal. Fortunately, I think that all three of these problems can and will be addressed this season and my new management team of Peter James (Player Assistant Manager) and Richard Lucas (Coach) will help me ensure that this proves to be the case.

Pete is a former League of Wales player having represented Aberystwyth Town at every level and was also a Welsh Schools International. It is over 15 years since he made his debut for the Club and he has won the prestigious Emrys Morgan Cup with Bow Street on no less than three occasions (albeit that on the first occasion he was the mascot!). Pete is already our Club Captain and an important member of the first team squad but I am delighted that he has agreed to live up to his reputation of being “Mr Bow Street” by also adding this important role to his CV.

Richard also made a few appearances for Aberystwyth Town in the League of Wales before spending much of his career playing for local rivals Penrhyncoch. However, he switched allegiance to Bow Street almost a decade ago and has since established himself as a popular player and committee member and more recently as the driving force behind the Club’s Junior set-up which is recognised as one of the best in Wales. Richard is currently undergoing training for his UEFA C Licence and I have no doubt that his vast experience on and off the field of play will be a tremendous asset to the first team during the forthcoming season.

As Pete and Rich begin their new roles I must take this opportunity of thanking my outgoing assistant Gerwyn for all of his hard work over the past four seasons. Although this year Gerwyn’s involvement with the first team has reduced due to him banging in the goals for the reserves in their quest for promotion, his help and support during my time as manager has been immeasurable and invaluable and his contribution towards the progress of the first team and the Club generally over the past few years cannot be understated. Cheers Ger – you’ll be sorely missed but not forgotten!

I don’t think last year’s squad was far off being a top 6 side but with the signings I have made over the summer I would like to think that we will be able to emulate our league position of our first season at this level with a view to winning the league within the next two or three seasons. Whether I am around to witness the lads challenging for the title remains to be seen but I am confident that in a few years’ time we will have established ourselves as one of the top sides in mid Wales.

There’s not a cloud in the sky, the sun is shining bright, and we’re off to watch the Bow Street ‘cos they’re……dynamite!"

Batesy