Guilsfield - the village club which always meets new challenges

Before reflecting on their recent history, it is worth taking a brief look at Guilsfield's earlier years, particularly for those not familiar with their story.

A club was formed in the village in 1957 and entered the Montgomeryshire League, but the following 30 years were relatively uneventful, apart from the occasional cup final appearance.

The Clos Mytton men claimed their maiden title in 1994/95 and were successful in their application to the Spar Mid Wales League. The Guils finished third on their debut and established themselves in top-half of the league over the next few seasons.

The 1999/00 campaign saw the club shock Connah's Quay Nomads in the Welsh Cup and reach the League Cup final before succumbing on penalties to Penrhyncoch.

A past team picture of Guilsfield FC.

The following term was curtailed due to foot and mouth, with the club lying fifth in the league, but was successful with their promotion application to the Cymru Alliance.

Guilsfield initially found life tougher at the higher echelon but Michael Barton was appointed player/manager during their second season and guided his charges to sixth place in 2003/04.

The Montgomeryshire men improved on this two seasons later, finishing fourth after being embroiled in the title race, whilst defeating Tywyn/Bryncrug to lift the Central Wales Challenge Cup.

The Guils reached the final again 12 months later, this time defeated by local rivals Llanfyllin Town, while Barton left to replace Mickey Evans at Caersws and former Llanrhaeadr boss Graham Evans took up the managerial reigns.

The following term saw Barton return as manager but his charges finished just above the drop zone.

Ian Clarke in action for Guilsfield.

Guilsfield bowed out of the Welsh Cup to TNS at the second round stage and were beaten on penalties by Holyhead Hotspur in the League Cup semi-final.

The 2009/10 season saw the Guils focus on maintaining their status, given the FAW's plans to restructure the Welsh Premier, with just over half of the Alliance clubs to be demoted.

Despite a first round Welsh Cup exit to Llangollen Town, the Montgomeryshire outfit concluded the season in sixth place, thus preserving their league membership.

Russell Cadwallader was appointed manager in 2010/11, when the Guils finished just about the relegation places and bowed out of the Welsh Cup to Rhos Aelwyd in the third round.

Jon Gamble in action for Guilsfield.

The campaign will be remembered for the club lifting the League Cup for the first time after overcoming Porthmadog in the final.

The floodlights were officially opened at Clos Mytton, where the club had developed what was the reserve team pitch to ensure the Guils would play second tier football in future.

The following term saw the Montgomeryshire men finish just inside the league's top-half and defeat Aberaeron Town to lift the Central Wales Challenge Cup for the second time.

Cadwallader stepped down that summer and was replaced by former Port Vale midfielder Matthew Burton, who assisted Barton when the Guils finished fourth in 2005/06, before managing Ellesmere Rangers with the Clos Mytton men finishing sixth in 2013/14.

The following campaign was possibly the best experienced thus far when the club finished third and reached the League Cup final for a second time.

Adam Jenkins in action.

On this occasion, the Guils went down to Caersws under the leadership of Mike Parry.

Guilsfield could reflect on the fact that they were now amongst the leading protagonists in the Alliance but their disappointing Welsh Cup record continued with a second round exit at Caernarfon Town.

The Clos Mytton men built upon the 2014/15 season by finishing fourth the following term, with striker Danny Barton having been appointed player/manager, and negotiated their way to the last 16 of the Welsh Cup.

Barton was an experienced former Welsh Premier striker with Newtown, Rhyl and TNS amongst his former clubs and had joined the Guils in 2011.

Andy Ford in action for Guilsfield.

Barton stood down from the helm due to work commitments and replaced by Nathan Leonard, who had been at Clos Mytton since 2012, and was Barton's assistant for the previous two seasons.

Leonard is assisted by Guilsfield coaching stalwart Bernie Jones and is the son of former Shrewsbury Town, Cardiff City and Hereford United defender Carlton Leonard.

Leonard departed to manage hometown club FC Oswestry but returned following the club's demise and has ensured the villagers hit the ground running this season and still unbeaten in the league by early October.

The facilities developed further with extra seating added to meet the requirements of the upcoming second tier licence, complementing the purpose built changing rooms, floodlights and refreshment/hospitality building.

Given the increased demands being placed on clubs at this level, the Guils appear ready to cope with such changes, as they have constantly evolved on and off the pitch during the past two decades.