Double licence award for town

CARMARTHEN Town Football Club officials are celebrating their success in achieving two Football Association of Wales licensing awards.

The club has been granted both Domestic and UEFA (European) Licences for next season, 2016/17.

“Achieving the two licences is no mere tick-box exercise; a huge amount of hard work has to go into preparing the applications,” said club Chairman Jeff Thomas.

“Our club general manager/ secretary Gareth Jones, club licensing officer John Collyer, groundsman Jonathan Lewis and treasurer Anthony Parnell can be singled out for special praise for their significant roles within the process.”

Chairman designate Chris Edwards said: “All officials, volunteers, supporters and helpers can take pride in the fact we have been granted these two licences.

“The Domestic one is key to our participation in the Welsh Premier League and the UEFA licence means that we can stage European games. This has paid dividends for us in the past as we fly the flag for south and west Wales clubs in having this status.

“The licences add extra status to our ground at Richmond Park. Without a doubt, we have one of the finest football grounds in the Welsh Premier League and facilities that are the envy of many.

“We will continue to work hard to constantly improve the facilities at Richmond Park. Of course, central to our current plans is our bid to bring a new 3G pitch to Richmond Park. We are progressing that plan and hope to update our fans and the wider community on that proposal as soon as we have news to report.”

An independent panel awarded domestic licences to 14 Welsh clubs.

The only existing Dafabet Welsh Premier League club, not to be awarded the licence was Port Talbot Town.

Barry Town Utd of the Welsh Football League was awarded the domestic licence for the first time, while Cefn Druids and Flint Town Utd of the Huws Gray Alliance League were also granted the licence.

Cardiff Met. University, Penybont, Caernarfon Town, Porthmadog and Prestatyn Town were the other five ‘Tier 2’ clubs to be rejected the licence.

The panel also assessed the 12 Dafabet Welsh Premier League clubs’ applications for a UEFA licence, with nine UEFA licences being granted, including a first UEFA licence for MBi Llandudno. Port Talbot Town, Rhyl and Haverfordwest County were not awarded the UEFA licence.

The FAW domestic licence is mandatory to participate in the Welsh Premier League, whilst the UEFA licence is a pre-requisite for UEFA Club competitions.