How I watched football: 2022-23
16/06/2023 09:04
This season should've started on Ynys Môn. In July I plotted a 17 mile walk round the island's coastal path to Moelfre that would see me arrive in time to watch Bro Goronwy play a friendly. The walk was hot and hard-going, my ankles were stung, my neck burnt, but I made it in time and climbed the hill to Bro Goronwy's Cae Nerys home to find an empty field. The club had folded the night before.
Some may have taken that as a sign. I evidently didn't, watching more games this season than any of the previous ten I've documented. With watching Wales and Doncaster Rovers often out of reach financially and logistically, I threw myself into the Welsh domestic game and the opportunity to see and explore more of my home country, from Hakin United in Milford Haven to Trearddur Bay on Ynys Gybi. And undeterred by the season's false start I tied more games into long walks through the landscape; over the mountains to Conwy, Llanfairfechan and Llanrug; through fields and forests to Henllan, Llannefydd and Llanrwst, and along the coast path to Rhyl and Trearddur Bay.
When collating these images I was trying to think how best to summarise the domestic game in Wales? It's earnest and aspirational, but also unmistakably amateur. More often than not there has been at least one player on the field older than me (I turned 40 this season), Builth Wells had four goalkeepers in their 13-man squad at Llangollen, and at Llansantffraid one of the assistant referees was wearing espadrilles. I should probably clarify that as far as I'm concerned, these are all things for the plus column.
And despite what your local 'they were speaking English til I walked in' bore will tell you, Welsh football clubs are incredibly friendly and welcoming to anyone who shows an interest; I was bought pints by club officials at Ton Pentre, Dafen and Llansantffraid. And as I left Llannefydd in April three different people stopped to offer me a lift – a Llannefydd player, a Penmaenmawr supporter and the match referee – each purely because they'd previously clocked me on the walk there and in the ground.
Pleasingly, such unpretentiousness often extends to the very top level. In February, following their Welsh Cup semi-final victory, the players of Cymru Premier Bala Town stopped for a drink in Flint Town United's social club. On a covered snooker table in the corner, an official duly presented trays of sausages and buttered bread for the players. One of the first up, paper plate in hand, was 43-time Wales international David Edwards. The FA of Wales can try as hard as they like to polish the Welsh domestic game, but I can't imagine they'll ever iron out this inherent homeliness and I for one am hugely grateful.
by Glen Wilson
Below is a photograph from every match I attended this season. No expensive cameras, no special lenses. Just a far from the latest iPhone and the Instagram app.
Match 1 | July
FC United of Manchester 0-3 Doncaster Rovers
Pre-season friendly, Broadhall Park
Match 2 | July
Llandudno 2-2 Colwyn Bay
Cymru North, Maesdu Park
Match 3 | July
Penmaenmawr Phoenix 2-4 Llanrug United
FAW Welsh Cup 1st Qualifying Round, Cae Sling
Match 4 | August
Conwy Borough 1-2 Llandudno
Cymru North, Y Morfa
Match 5 | August
Croesyceiliog 3-1 Newport Civil Service
FAW Welsh Cup 2nd Qualifying Round, Woodland Road
Match 6 | August
Ton Pentre 1-0 Cardiff Airport
FAW Welsh Cup 2nd Qualifying Round, Ynys Park
Match 7 | August
Conwy Borough 0-3 Colwyn Bay
Cymru North, Y Morfa
Match 8 | August
Trearddur Bay 12-1 Holyhead Town
North Wales Coast West League Division One, Parc Isallt
Match 9 | September
Llandudno Junction 1-2 Y Felinheli
FAW Welsh Trophy 1st round, The Flyover
Match 10 | September
Wales 0-0 Slovenia
FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier, Cardiff City Stadium
Match 11 | September
Conwy Borough 3-2 Kinmel Bay
FAW Welsh Cup 1st Round, Y Morfa
Match 12 | September
Mochdre Sports 0-3 Chirk AAA
FAW Welsh Cup 1st round, Swan Lane
Match 13 | September
Cardiff City 2-0 Swansea City
Adran Premier, Leckwith Stadium
Match 14 | September
Wales 0-1 Poland
UEFA Nations League, Cardiff City Stadium
Match 15 | October
AFC Whyteleafe 2-3 Tooting Bec
Southern Counties East League Division One, Church Road
Match 16 | October
Cerrigydrudion 3-4 Y Felinheli
FAW Welsh Trophy 2nd Round, Cae Ty Nant
Match 17 | October
Y Felinheli 1-4 Conwy Borough
FAW Welsh Cup 2nd Round, Cae Seilo
Match 18 | October
Y Rhyl 1879 1-0 NFA
FAW Welsh Women’s Cup 1st Round, Belle Vue
Match 19 | October
Carlisle United 3-0 Doncaster Rovers
EFL League Two, Brunton Park
Match 20 | October
Colwyn Bay 3-0 Holyhead Hotspur
Wlesh Blood Service League Cup, Llanellian Road
Match 21 | October
Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Doncaster Rovers
EFL League Two, Gresty Road
Match 22 | October
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Gillingham
EFL League Two, Eco-Power Stadium
Match 23 | October
Matlock Town 1-2 Buxton
Derbyshire Girls & Ladies League Division Two, Causeway Lane
Match 24 | November
Llanrwst United 2-2 Llandudno Albion (4-3 on penalties)
Ardal North League Cup, Gwydir Park
Match 25 | November
Penydarren BGC 1-0 Trethomas Bluebirds
FAW Welsh Cup 3rd Round, The Bont
Match 26 | November
Hakin United 1-5 Holywell Town
FAW Welsh Cup 3rd Round, The Observatory Ground
Match 27 | November
Bethesda Athletic 2-5 Penydarren BGC
FAW Welsh Trophy 4th Round, Parc Meurig
Match 28 | November
Lewisham Borough 2-1 Forest Hill Park
Southern Counties East League Division One, Ladywell Arena
Match 29 | November
FC Győr 0-3 Diósgyőri VTK
Nemzeti Bajnokság II (Hungarian 2nd Division), ETO Park
Match 30 | December
Glan Conwy 1-2 Llandudno Junction
North Wales Coast East League Premier Division, Cae Ffwt
Match 31 | December
Conwy Borough 2-3 Prestatyn Town
Cymru North, Y Morfa
Match 32 | December
Penrhyn Bay 4-5 Llysfaen
North Wales Coast East League Division One, The Oval
Match 33 | December
Tranmere Rovers 3-0 Doncaster Rovers
EFL League Two, Prenton Park
Match 34 | December
Flint Town United 0-0 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Cymru Premier, Cae y Castell
Match 35 | January
Colwyn Bay 6-0 Guilsfield
Cymru North, Llanelian Road
Match 36 | January
Penmaenmawr Phoenix 1-2 Llanfairfechan Town
North Wales Coast East League Premier Division, Cae Sling
Match 37 | January
Nantlle Vale 2-2 Cardiff Corinthians (2-4 on penalties)
FAW Welsh Trophy 5th Round, Maes Dulyn
Match 38 | February
Bala Town 2-0 Briton Ferry Llansawel
FAW Welsh Cup Quarter Final, Maes Tegid
Match 39 | February
Mochdre Sports 0-2 St Asaph City
North Wales Coast East League Premier Division, Swan Lane
Match 40 | February
Bridgend Street 5-2 Rhos Aelwyd
FAW Welsh Trophy Quarter Final, The Willows
Match 41 | February
Aberystwyth Town 0-3 Briton Ferry Llansawel
FAW Women’s Welsh Cup Semi Final, Richmond Park (Carmarthen Town)
Match 42 | February
Colwyn Bay 5-0 Conwy Borough
Cymru North, Llanelian Road
Match 43 | March
Bala Town 3-2 Connah’s Quay Nomads
FAW Welsh Cup Semi Final, Cae Y Castell (Flint Town United)
Match 44 | March
Stockport County 0-0 Doncaster Rovers
EFL League Two, Edgeley Park
Match 45 | March
Bangor 1876 0-2 Denbigh Town
Ardal North West, Treborth Playing Field
Match 46 | March
Llanfairfechan Town 2-1 Prestatyn Sports
North Wales Coast East League Premier Division, Y Rec
Match 47 | March
Crawley Town 1-1 Doncaster Rovers
EFL League Two, Broadfield Stadium
Match 48 | March
Colwyn Bay 1-3 Holywell Town
Cymru North, Llanelian Road
Match 49 | March
Wrexham 2-1 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Adran North, The Racecourse Ground
Match 50 | April
Knighton Town 8-2 Aberaeron
Central Wales League South, Bryn-y-Castell
Match 51 | April
Conwy Borough 2-1 Holyhead Hotspur
Cymru North, Y Morfa
Match 52 | April
Llannefydd 2-1 Penmaenmawr Phoenix
North Wales Coast East League Premier Division, Cae Llannefydd
Match 53 | April
Y Rhyl 1879 0-4 Denbigh Town
Ardal North West, Belle Vue
Match 54 | April
Llanfairfechan Town 2-1 Penmaenmawr Phoenix
North Wales Coast East League Premier Division, Y Rec
Match 55 | April
Dafen Welfare 3-5 South Gower
West Wales Premier League, Dafen Park
Match 56 | April
Cardiff City 4-0 Briton Ferry Llansawel
FAW Women’s Welsh Cup Final, Penydarren Park (Merthyr Town)
Match 57 | April
Trethomas Bluebirds 2-1 Denbigh Town
FAW Welsh Trophy Final, Latham Park (Newtown)
Match 58 | April
The New Saints 6-0 Bala Town
FAW Welsh Cup Final, Nantporth (Bangor)
Match 59 | May
Llansantffraid Village 5-1 Tywyn Bryncug
Central Wales League North, Treflan
Match 60 | May
Llangollen Town 0-0 Builth Wells
Ardal North East, Tower Fields
Match 61 | May
Llanrug United 1-2 Llanberis
North Wales Coast West League Premier Division, Eithin Duon
Match 62 | May
Bangor 1876 4-2 Cefn Albion
Ardal Northern Leagues Promotion Play-Off, Bastion Gardens (Prestatyn Town)
Match 63 | May
Henllan 2-4 Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd
Llandyrnog and District Village Clubs Summer Football League, Top Parc
Further photographs from each of the games featured in this blog can be found on the popular STAND fanzine, Instagram account
