Haverfordwest County had made history. The bus back home from Newtown you would have assumed was one full of partying, however, this was not the case (on the bigger bus I happened to be on). Merely an hour before we ran on the field, getting our heroes to sign shirts. We got photographs with the trophy and celebrated in front of the Sgorio cameras with a smaller junior blue pretending to drink champagne and Corey Shephard, our penalty hero swearing live on TV. I had never experienced anything like this. We all celebrated in unison, the players had done their bit but the fans, my goodness how we pushed our beloved blues over the line.
We were shattered on the bus. I think because we had given so much in those few hours in Latham Park we had no energy left. The footballing phrase ‘gave everything on that pitch’ only usually gets associated with players but on the 13th May 2023, everyone who was at Latham Park that was associated with the club had given their all to the team winning.
Football is all about fans. Always has been and always will be. I’ve grown up seeing football change right in front of me. The shift from football just being the football team to now being a business that happens to play football. It makes me really sad to think this but, and I say this complimentary, this will never happen at this level.
The Cymru Leagues is pure football. Yes, you have to get your books in order and approach everything in the most professional manner you can but it’s the football and community that is at the hearts of these clubs. Multi-million pound TV deals, advertising and silly transfer money have spoilt the once beautiful game. You see players celebrate winning run-of-the-mill games like they have won the cup final. Now, I am not saying you can’t celebrate any victory, because you absolutely can, however, I believe as there is a staggering amount of money in the top level of the game it puts huge pressure on teams to win even the most ordinary matches.
The Bluebirds didn’t have much of a summer break due to Qualifying Round 1 of the Europa Conference League starting in July. This was the price of playing European football. Nobody minded, however, as most Cymru Leagues teams find this would affect them having such a long season.
The first game of pre-season was against Carmarthen Town in the A40 derby. New signings Kai Whitmore, Martell Taylor-Crossdale and Tyrese Owen were on display. We went on to win 3-2. If I was to be critical we didn’t play particularly well however being the first game of preseason and the players having only up to a month off, this was expected. I think the goalpost is still shaking after a thunderous Tyrese Owen shot that threatened to take the net off.
Talking of transfers, the double blow of departures hit me like a tonne of bricks. Jordan Davies had left to return to Connah’s Quay Nomads and our hero, Corey Shephard left for a new adventure in Pontypridd United. This was our Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes leaving. They were instrumental to our success.
Pre-season ends with losses to Northern Irish champions Larne, Cymru South side Briton Ferry and also fellow European qualifiers Penybont. I was not optimistic.
What made things even worse was that captain, Dylan Rees had done his cruciate in the Larne game and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
Kai Whitmore, Tyrese Owen and Martell Taylor-Crossdale had their work cut out if they were going to fill the huge gaps left behind by Davies, Shephard and Rees.
(from left to right) New boys, Tyrese Owen, Kai Whitmore and Martell Taylor-Crossdale had big shoes to fill
During the time between the playoff final and the middle of the preseason, the location of our home game was up in the air. Unfortunately, but not a surprise, the Ogi Bridge Meadow didn’t have the relevant UEFA standards required to play UEFA competitions. To even have this problem just 12 months after Nicky Hayen had kept us in the league was remarkable, to be honest, and showed what a massive 12 months the Bluebirds had had.
Talks of playing at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth and Parc y Scarlets were spoken about however they didn’t materialise.
Haverfordwest County are pleased to announce that they will play their home Europa Conference League game vs KF Shkendija and potential Round 2 vs B36 Torshavn/Paide Linnameeskond at the Cardiff City Stadium
Well goodness me, I thought, that was outstanding. To be able to play at least one game in the home of the Welsh National football team in a UEFA European competition was amazing. Yes, playing at the Bridge Meadow would have been sensational, however, no one ever thought that would happen so this was a phenomenal alternative.
The time had finally approached. Haverfordwest made their way to North Macedonia to face KF Shkendija. The lucky fans who were able to go and watch the Bluebirds travelled on the same Wizz Air plane as our heroes. Something which you would never have in the upper echelons of football. The weather stayed a consistent mid-30 degrees and often higher. The European leg of the You Can Have It All was in full swing documenting everything that happened.
Haverfordwest were also followed by reporters from The Athletic who sponsored the limited edition European kit that had a Sampdoria feel to it. This wasn’t playing Undy Athletic in the first round of the cup anymore, this was the big time!
For the first time ever, fans who hadn’t travelled had to watch on a totally legit streaming site. This blew my mind as this was still Haverfordwest we were talking about!
The game went well, in the context. KF Shkendija often plays European football and had a closely fought loss versus Premier League opposition Tottenham Hotspur, managed by Jose Mourinho only a couple of years prior. They had most of the possession and the Bluebirds had to find a way of absorbing pressure. Which we did remarkably. The first leg ended in a 1-0 loss.
(left) The Tose Proeski Stadium, image by Wikimedia and (right) The Bluebirds flying the flag for the county pose before the prematch warm-ups for the first leg, image by Haverfordwest County
Talk of the next leg was already in full swing
“It’s only one goal you know…”
“If we get a good crowd behind us and get an early goal…”
“Anything can happen in football…”
1,716 people made their way to the Cardiff City Stadium to watch what would be the most dramatic game that Haverfordwest had ever played.
We started well. The positive support had an impact. You could feel the excitement and enormity of the event. We were playing good football when we had the ball. The experienced North Macedonian side had a lot of the ball which again we expected.
Made it to half-time. The game plan going well. We are still in it.
Halfway through the second half, Pennock makes changes. We have gone to a back 4 now with Jazz Richards becoming our right winger. We were chasing the equaliser. At this time if we were to go onto lose we would have left with our heads held high. We went toe-to-toe with European opposition and we didn’t look out of place.
But park that thought……
1,716 fans watched a dramatic late Lee Jenkins equaliser in normal time then an even more eventful penalty shootout. Zac Jones was the penalty hero yet again! The Bluebirds from South West Wales put themselves on the map by defying the odds and beating the Ballistet 3-2 on penalties.
Bluebirds bask in joy as we celebrate the greatest night of the nearly 125-year history of Haverfordwest County AFC. Photos belong to John Smith/FAW
We didn’t have much time to celebrate (though we all absolutely did!), the next game was imminent.
The next round was one full of controversy. In the first leg in the Faroe Islands, the Bluebirds saw themselves locked out of their dressing room at halftime. With no staff around to help; this seemed too specific to be a mistake. The Bluebirds saw themselves losing by a tight margin of only 2-1 with a goal from new signing, the ex-Chelsea and Fulham player Martell Taylor-Crossdale halving the deficit.
(left) The Bluebirds land in the Faroe Islands image by Club Deportivo Remo Sevilla. (right) Dan Hawkins in mid-battle to retrieve a loose ball. Image by Alvur Haraldsen
The 2nd leg was one that unfortunately controversy followed.
A super attendance of 2,119 saw the local boy, Ben Fawcett score in the 66th minute to make it 2-2 on aggregate. We made a noise that sometimes a full Cardiff City Stadium doesn’t achieve. This was a remarkable feeling!
To be fair, Haverfordwest deserved to be winning. The same tactic of absorbing all pressure from the experienced European sides and playing good passing football on the break seemed to be working. During extra time the most ridiculous handball and penalty was given against Fawcett, despite his arms being tucked into his stomach. Naturally, B36 went on to win and Haverfordwest was eliminated.
(left and centre) Ben Fawcett gets the important equalising goal and the team celebrates with the fans images belong to PA Media. (right) Martell Taylor-Crossdale in a battle (image belongs to Simon Galloway).
In a very rare anomaly, Haverfordwest can say they won, drew and lost this game,
Winning 1-0 in 90 minutes on the night
Drawing 2-2 in 180 minutes on aggregate
Losing 3-2 on aggregate over two legs plus extra time.
Despite the heartbreak, Haverfordwest won much adulation online as everyone thought we were unjustly knocked out of the competition. Added to the fact that snide, negative comments from one of B36’s sponsors AndyRobsonTips on Twitter. The Twittersphere imploded in support of Haverfordwest during these 2 games. This felt like Wales was being scrutinised and we all did our bit to defend our country like our lives depended on it.
It is cliche to say, however, it is completely true. Haverfordwest represented our town, county and country proudly during this European adventure. New heroes had been made for all ages of fans and the popularity of the club had never been seen like this for a long, long time, if not ever.
The unjust nature of Haverfordwest’s week wouldn’t just end there. That weekend was the scheduled match in the Nathaniel MG Cup, with the U21 teams from Cardiff City and Swansea City entering the competition for the first time. The club had appealed to the FAW to postpone the game as it was only three days after the B36 game. However, our request was denied.
Ridiculous.
So the management decided to use the game as a test for our development team. It would have been totally unfair and unwise to make our firsts play after such a grueling and exhausting European game just three days before.
Oh, and by the way we were scheduled to play Cardiff City U21’s….
It wasn’t a close game, unfortunately. The full-time nature of the professional academy was evidently clear. Cardiff City U21 went on to win 4-0 with all goals coming from Cian Ashford.
Nobody was disappointed or annoyed at this. Our hearts were full and will be full from our journey in the UEFA Europa Conference League for a long time.
The end of these brilliant few months seemed to end in disappointment, but we have absolutely transformed the image of Haverfordwest County and this can only be used as a good thing. We didn’t know what the future would bring however we have given ourselves an excellent springboard to go on from here.
Haverfordwest County AFC. The Pride of West Wales.
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