2024-2025 thoughts

An incredible season is nearing its end. As I write this, we are waiting to see if The New Saints can beat Connah’s Quay in the Welsh Cup Final on May 4th. If TNS wins, then Penybont automatically gets a UEFA Conference League place, and Haverfordwest gets to host the Play-Off Final at the Ogi Bridge Meadow.

Talking of Bridge Meadow, unless you have been living under a rock, you will have known that Haverfordwest County started their season playing at the LHP Stadium in Carmarthen due to a 3G pitch being installed at The Bridge Meadow. This was definitely a case of one step backwards and two steps forwards. Lots of fans didn’t like this as the issue of getting trains/transport etc, to Carmarthen, but, simply put, this had to be done to secure the long-term existence of the club.

A 3G pitch was crucial for several reasons;

1. It increases the chance of playing in any weather. So no more waterlogged or frozen surfaces that force us to play on a Tuesday night, and playing catch-up with the rest of the league

2. We can train on the pitch however much we like. There would be no issues with the grass quality due to excessive use. This also means not paying Carmarthen Town any more to use their pitch for training 

3. The pitch is instrumental in the community hub that the club is trying to create. Any grassroots teams can hire out the pitch, thus creating links with the local community and making money

4. We can now have a Women's team enter the Cymru Leagues.

You could argue that our time at the LHP was a success: 3 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss. In many of the draws, we were unlucky not to have made the most of all the chances we had created, but to leave games frustrated and still getting points is great progress. I would say that if those games were at The Meadow, we would have won; Barry, Connah’s Quay and Bala spring to mind.

Our home support is nothing but super and has been growing steadily over the years. Let's look at those averages:

Season	Average Attendance
2021/2022	378
2022/2023	388
2023/2024	437
2024/2025 (9 games in Carmarthen)	519

If you only take our Bridge Meadow attendances since the installation of the 3G, that average is a super 780 over 7 games.

It will be fascinating to see what our attendance numbers will be next year, as it should follow the upward trajectory as seen since 2021, but will it stay at an average of 700? Nearly double that of 4 seasons ago? We will have to wait and see.

Star Men

Zac Jones

Our super Kiwi in the sticks has been a joy to watch since he joined the team in 2022 under Nicky Hayen. From Lee Idzi’s understudy to getting national acclaim is a storybook rise. Zac ended this season winning the Golden Glove with an incredible 15 clean sheets in 31 games. He has made saves that shouldn’t be possible and has been such a safe pair of hands in goal. This feeling is one we shouldn’t take for granted, as he and the defence are the reason why we have finished 3rd with a record amount of points in the current iteration of the league

“Oh, I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it, ohhhh, ohhhh, here we go, oh! Super Zac Jones in goal!”

Lee Jenkins

Following on from strong defensive players, Lee Jenkins is equally as important. He can tackle, head the ball, pass the ball, and, particularly this season, can carry the ball from the heart of defence and run with it confidently and effectively into dangerous attacking positions. Lee has been such an important part of our defence since 2022, and we are incredibly lucky to have had him this long. He has had many different centre-back partnerships over the seasons, but this has never affected his quality.

“Leeroy Jenkins! He f*cked off Aber to join the Bluebirds, his head’s f*cking massive!”

Greg Walters

Many people were sceptical about bringing Greg back to Haverfordwest from Carmarthen. The thinking was that because he had been playing in the Cymru South for a few years that maybe he didn’t possess the quality to be a Cymru Premier player anymore. How wrong this turned out to be. For so long, we have wanted someone with a bit of bite in midfield and one who could be the old-fashioned box-to-box midfielder. Well, we got this in Greg. In so many games, he has dictated play alongside Corey Shephard. He covers every blade of grass and never gives up. One moment he could be making a goal-saving tackle in our box, then 20 seconds later he will be sprinting forward to help in attack. He has recently signed a new 2-year deal, which is super news.

“There’s only one Greg Walters, one Greeeeeeg Walters!”

Whatever happens in a semi-final/final this season has laid the foundations of the future of this club for many years.

We have to thank the playing and coaching staff for always giving their all to win, but also those in the boardroom. Beccy has been incredible as COO since arriving from Cardiff Met, and of course, Rob and Morley Sports Management for giving everyone the opportunity to keep expanding our beloved club.

Will it always be sunshine and rainbows? No, but this is football, and anything can happen. This is why we love the beautiful game. 

𝕮𝖑𝖊𝖉𝖉𝖆𝖚 𝕮𝖆𝖘𝖚𝖆𝖑𝖘

Pic belongs to John Smith/FAW