TWO diehard Llandrindod Wells football fans are making a plea for supporters to back their hometown club as they embark on a new chapter of Mid Wales football.
Brothers Matthew and Nick Evans grew up in the town and have been faithfully following the club since the 1970s. And, even though they now live a few hours away, both were in attendance at the Broadway as the Spamen kicked off their 2021/22 season against unfamiliar opposition at the weekend.
Gareth Jones’ hosts put in a spirited performance as they went down to a narrow 3-2 defeat against visiting Panteg AFC – Jack Evans opening the scoring and Robbie Nicholls equalising after Panteg went 2-1 up, only to see Dylan Dinham nick the three points for the visitors with six minutes remaining.
“My brother and I travelled from near Bristol and Cardiff respectively to watch Llandrindod in their first match in the newly-formed Ardal South East League,” said Matthew, 62, who now lives near Bristol.
“We have supported them since we were teenagers in the 1970s but now live too far away to get to many games.
“This is a big step up for the team, now pitting themselves against unknown, and likely sterner, opposition from South Wales. However, what we witnessed on Saturday was a pulsating, end-to-end encounter with Llandrindod fully playing their part and eventually losing, undeservedly, 3-2.
“It was a game full of skill, commitment and some brilliant goals – a fantastic afternoon’s entertainment and well worth travelling all that distance to be there.”
Following a reshaping of the football pyramid in Welsh football during the Covid-19 pandemic, the footballing landscape looks vastly different for many clubs, particularly those in Mid Wales, with a lot facing long away journeys to South Wales, especially in the newly-formed Ardal Leagues.
One such Powys club is Llandrindod, who rather than going toe to toe with local rivals like Builth Wells, Knighton, Welshpool, Caersws, Llanidloes and Radnor Valley, instead face trips to Newport City, Abertillery, Tredegar and Croesyceiliog as they have been placed in the third-tier Ardal South East League for 2021/22. Their only close rival is Rhayader Town, with the opening clash of the Spamen’s league season against Panteg seeing the team from Pontypool make the 51-mile, one hour and 27-minute journey to the Broadway on Saturday.
After growing up in the Radnorshire town, Matthew and Nick have both since moved away, and they fear the strange new setup of the Welsh footballing pyramid may be alienating local supporters after a sparse crowd turned out for opening day.
“The sadness for me and my brother was that so few locals turned up to see it and cheer the team on,” said Matthew.
“Can I therefore make a plea to many of your readers from the area who love their football and love their town? Come along and support these players who give so much for the badge each week. Come with your mates. Come with your family. Come on you Blues.”
The Evans family lived in Llandrindod in the 70s, with Matthew and Nick and their other brother and one sister all attending Llandrindod High School – before it merged with Builth to form Ysgol Calon Cymru a few years ago – and they come back to the spa town regularly to see friends. Nick, 58, a lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University, can still be seen often fishing at the local lake with their other brother, Andrew.
And no trip home is complete without a nostalgic visit to the Broadway – with memories of the Spamen’s old Spar Mid Wales League Division 1 title triumph and promotion to the Cymru Alliance back in 2014 still vivid in Matthew’s mind.
Jack Evans gives the Spamen an early lead. Picture - DRL Photography
“We used to watch them in the heyday of Phil ‘Robbo’ Robinson – there was no striker like him in those days, and there hasn’t been one since,” he added.
“Neither of us were ever good enough to play for the club. We went away to university and, sadly, never came back to live due to the job situation.
“However, we come back regularly for holidays and to see friends. And we both fondly remember when we had a picture taken with the Mid Wales League Division 1 trophy the day we were promoted to the Cymru Alliance back in 2014.”
Next up is one of only two local derby matches Llandrindod will play in the league this season; Jones’ men make the short seven-mile trip up the road to take on Rhayader at the Weirglodd on Tuesday night, August 3.
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