It has been 87 years in the making, but Saturday could finally be the day Caernarfon Town could qualify for Europe for the first time.
After defeating Cardiff Met at The Oval last Friday, the Cofis are one game away from going on a European adventure for the first time in their history. The story is quite remarkable considering they found themselves at the wrong end of the table last season, but for winger Sion Bradley, the team knew last season was an anomaly.
“I think last year was just a bit of an off season for us. It wasn’t a great season, and things just didn’t seem to be going right for us. Obviously, Fish [Richard Davies] has come in this year, and he’s been really positive. He brought some good signings into club who really fit our culture and our identity here at Caernarfon. Everything has really clicked for us after that first game against Colwyn Bay.”
Since Davies’ appointment as manager, the club have gone from strength to strength. Bradley is certainly testament to that as he has enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career and has been nominated for the JD Cymru Premier Player of the Season award.
“I’ve played under Fish before when I played in tier four for Penrhyndeudraeth. So, from that, Fish knows my game incredibly well and knows how I like to operate, and he gives me that freedom to just do what I love doing, which is to go out there and make things happen.
“I’ve never doubted my own ability, but this year, it really feels that everything has clicked for me. Fish coming in has helped me, but I’ve had a really good season. I’ve really been enjoying my football, and I hope other people can see that I’m enjoying my time out on the pitch.”
Now, the Cofis are looking to end the season in the best way possible. But standing in their way are a Penybont side who are looking to go on a second consecutive European tour. Despite finishing higher than Bont in the league, Caernarfon lost both games to the south Wales side in phase one and Bradley knows how difficult they will be to beat, but believes prior form goes out the window on Saturday.
“We know Penybont are a really good team. They are a team who have played in Europe before, so we know it’s going to be a really tough afternoon. Rhys Griffiths is a good manager, and he has a good team available to him. However, we have a really strong belief in our dressing room, and hopefully we can pick up the win against them.
“I don’t think it matters what’s happened in the past, because this game is a one off. We are confident going into the game, and hopefully we can get this club into Europe, which is what it deserves.”
Cheering Caernarfon on to glory will be a capacity crowd at The Oval, and the Cymru C match winner is relishing the chance of playing in front of such passionate home support.
“The fans are absolutely massive for us. You saw during the game last Friday that they were almost sucking the ball into the net. It is a huge advantage for us to be able to play at home in front of our fans, and I think there will be even more of them out for Saturday, and they will all be making plenty of noise to get us over the line.”
Caernarfon have been so close in the past to getting into Europe, but come Saturday evening, Bradley is hoping he and his team can write an unforgettable chapter in the club’s long history.
“Getting Caernarfon into Europe for the first time would mean everything. We’ve been close before one or two times. We lost to Newtown in a final before, but it would mean everything to me to be able to help this club to get into Europe. I know just what it would mean for the town, and everyone associated with it, and if we do it, it would be an unforgettable feeling.”
