Chris Venables became the outright record appearance holder in the JD Cymru Premier on Tuesday evening as he played his 537th match and fittingly scored the only goal of the game in spectacular style as his Penybont side defeated Barry Town United 1-0.
Venables’ acrobatic effort after 20 minutes was enough to seal the three points and with it take the overall top-flight goal tally of the 38-year old to 222.
One of the most-talented and consistent performers in the JD Cymru Premier over the last two decades, there are few more deserving candidates to take top spot on the appearance table above his good friend and former team-mate Wyn Thomas, and his latest display suggests that he isn’t ready to call time on his career just yet.
A mainstay in the domestic game, Venables has represented six different clubs. Scoring in the League Cup final penalty shoot-out for Caersws delivered his first piece of silverware in 2007, and more team and individual honours would follow.
A JD Welsh Cup winner with Llanelli and Bala Town, history repeated itself earlier this year when he scored in the penalty shoot-out to lift the League Cup for the Lakesiders.
The league title may have eluded Venables for now, but his incredible goal return has seen him claim the Golden Boot five times between 2013/14 and 2020/21, while also gaining international recognition with Cymru C.
Venables’ JD Cymru Premier journey began as a teenager at Caersws in the summer of 2003 where he would spend the next four seasons following his departure from the youth ranks at Shrewsbury Town. His performances at the Recreation Ground first attracted Welshpool Town to his potential and then Aberystwyth Town a year later. However, it was his move to Llanelli in 2009 that delivered his first JD Welsh Cup success.
Image credit: Keith Griffiths
Scoring in the 2011 final as Llanelli defeated Bangor City 4-1 at Parc-y-Scarlets, Venables had become an established and well-respected figure in the top division at that stage, although playing a deeper role meant that he had never been regarded as an outright goalscorer.
This would change in 2012 when he returned to Aberystwyth Town, and it would change significantly when Ian Hughes replaced Tomi Morgan as manager the following year. In fact, by December 2014, only Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo had a better goal-per-game ratio in all of Europe’s top divisions that season.
“I’m playing in a more advanced role than I have done previously,” Venables told UEFA.com at the time. “As a team we play a formation that gives me more freedom and less defensive responsibility. My preparation and application when I’m away from the training ground is what I consider the main reason for my goalscoring form.
“However, I have to give a lot of credit to the manager, Ian Hughes, for the success I’m having. He has identified what formation works best for us as a team and for me personally. This is one of the most attacking teams that I’ve ever played in.”
Venables would win three consecutive JD Cymru Premier Golden Boot awards between 2013 and 2016, scoring 72 goals in 88 league appearances. His form attracted the attention of Bala Town, and that summer he made the switch to Maes Tegid.
Over the course of the next seven seasons, Venables would claim two more Golden Boot awards, and would lift the JD Welsh Cup for the second time in his career as his side defeated The New Saints 2-1 against the odds in the 2017 Final. He departed as captain having scored over 100 goals for the club.
Now fully-focused on the league, Venables has already scored seven goals in all competitions this season, and Penybont are again pushing for a European place at the top end of the table.
Maintaining a desire to compete and win at this level has been key to Venables’ longevity in the JD Cymru Premier, and while he continues to lead his side to victory as he did on Tuesday night, this incredible journey seems far from over.
