31-01-08: CHRIS WHITLEY NAMED YOUTH ACADEMY CONSULTANT
Colwyn Bay Football Club have today announced Chris Whitley as its Youth Academy Consultant. In this role, Whitley will oversee the Colwyn Bay Football Club Youth Development System, including the club's Elite Development Centre and Grassroots Training Programs.
"After an extensive search for a Youth Academy Director, we are pleased to announce that Chris Whitley has joined Colwyn Bay Football Club," said Chairman Geoff Cartwright. "We are excited to have the knowledge, experience and network of contacts that Chris brings to this club. We look forward to his positive contribution not only to our youth development system and community, but also to the Colwyn Bay Football Club first team once the system is fully established"

Chris Whitley is currently the Education Welfare Officer for the Football Association of Wales UEFA international squads and is Chairman of the Technical Committee of the FAW Trust.
He has worked in a coaching capacity with Schools and Youth international squads for over thirty years with experience of over 350 international matches. He holds a UEFA "A" Licence in coaching and is currently working with the Wales Under 16 and 15 national development squads. Players that Chris has worked with include Ian Rush, Mark Hughes, Kevin Ratcliffe and more recently Craig Bellamy, Gareth Bale (pictured left) & Chris Gunther (both Spurs).
Chris Whitley commented on his appointment "having played for Colwyn Bay Football Club and now living in the area I am pleased to be in a position to help make a significant contribution to improving and developing local talent"
Chris brings a wealth of experience having established a successful academy system at Barry Town before their departure from the League of Wales.

28-01-08: COLWYN BAY MAKE ANOTHER SIGNING
With injuries and suspensions in mind, Manager Gary Finley has signed Welsh defender Steve Rowland to bolster the squad further. The tough tackling 26 year old was with Port Vale since his schooldays and was a regular in the side making over 100 appearances until his release at the start of last season when he signed for Southport in the Conference. Steve has also been picked twice for the Wales under 21 squad but on both occasions was unfortunately ruled out by injury. Steve can play anywhere across the back four.

Assuming the paperwork is processed in time Steve may be involved for the game at Warrington.

24-01-2008: GROUND GRADING ACHIEVED
On Wednesday 23rd January 2008, Colwyn Bay FC were visited by FA and Unibond League officials with a view to having the ground graded.

Each football ground has to meet with certain standards to enable a team to play in a particular division. The club are pleased to announce that they have now received a grade D from the FA with the possibility of achieving a Grade C status by 31st March 2008 providing some minor works are attended to.

Colwyn Bay Football Club Stadium Projects Director Chris Roberts said " This is a huge boost to Colwyn Bay FC, especially knowing that we are in a position to gain a Grade C, this would mean that if and when the club gets promoted, our ground is automatically suitable for playing in the higher division. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who have given up their valuable time to assist in gaining the required grades. Our thanks is also extended to all our sponsors and local businesses who's assistance has been sincerely appreciated".  

22-01-08: FUNDRAISING MEETING 21/01.08 - update
Venue: Club Lounge

Meeting Summary

Last nights fund raising meeting held at the club was chaired by Club Patron John Martin. There were 8 people in attendance including John and the Chairman which was a little disappointing but considering the weather and football practice later on that evening wasn't too surprising.

John Martin kicked off the meeting by stating that in the past number of years the club has spent the summers "putting fires out" financially, dealing with problems with a total hand to mouth existence. The club has not been in a position to start planning to give a bit of a head start come the new season. This time, although there are still some ground works pending, we possibly have a chance to go one better. In the past we’ve all been guilty of maybe starting to look at the summer in May. John feels we can start earlier, planning events and fundraising a bit better.

John explained some of the ideas that he had (although he stressed he didn’t have the answers, nor was he the fundraising coordinator but just a fan trying to get things going) some ideas discussed as follows: 

• SPONSORED BIKE RIDE – this would run the length of Wales for which we could be looking at a full time commitment of a week or so. 

• ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS - Also an idea to get one or two shows going in the summer, even if they are smaller scale with John and a guest singer.

• DARTS NIGHT – possibly featuring Keith Deller, who John knows well or Mark Webster who has just won the World Championship. One of the attendees mentioned that he is familiar with the local darts leagues and he is going to ask Mark Webster if he would want to come to the Bay for a night.

• LOCAL BAND NIGHT - was also mentioned and will be investigated by one of the attendees.

• FA CUP FINAL DAY - Mark Williams talked about the success of FA Cup final last year. He is now looking for ideas of what to do that day, in the morning prior to the Staff vs Fans game.

• VARIETY SHOW – John feels that there is also potential for a good variety show on at the Theatre in Colwyn Bay but John explained that the overheads and the deal with the theatre may not be favorable but it is an avenue that could be explored.

• WORLD BAY DAY – any opportunity where Bay fans living abroad could get involved. This may attract some good media coverage which would help funds.

• GOLF DAY – this will be organized in the summer, details to be announced.

• SPORTSMANS EVENING is to be re-branded to “Sporting Dinner” in order to attract more females to the event.

The meeting was a good kick off and hopefully something we can build on. A date is still to be set for the next meeting and this will be organized and made public when key players are available.

John would like to thank all who attended. We have 2 cracking nights confirmed with Jan Molby and Bruce Grobelaar and it is expected that these will be a sellout.

Anyone who wishes to help should please make themselves known. It can’t be stressed enough the help that is needed to generate the funds required to help cover running costs, ground improvements & a competitive team budget for a season. 

YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU!

If you wish to help out in any way please contact a club official or email: contact@colwynbayfc.co.uk

Many thanks for your support.

22-01-08: BAY REGISTER INTEREST IN RESERVE LEAGUE
COLWYN BAY FC are among 33 clubs to have expressed interest in a proposed North Wales Reserve Football League for next season.

In initial plans, teams would be split into three regional divisions, with Colwyn Bay playing in the Eastern Division with the likes of Airbus, Connah’s Quay Nomads, Flint and Prestatyn. Colwyn Bay vice- chairman Andy Owens said: "A reserve team is something we would like to have as part of our development plan, and we have expressed interest in the league assuming it is right for the club in the form proposed."

A meeting is planned in February by the FAW to discuss the idea further. Proposals for the make up of three area divisions are:

Eastern: Airbus UK Broughton, Buckley Tn, Colwyn Bay, Connah’s Quay Nds, Denbigh Tn, Flint Tn Utd, Halkyn Utd, Llandyrnog Utd, Mold Alexandra, Mynydd Isa, Prestatyn Tn.

Central area: Bala Tn, Brymbo, Corwen, Gap Queens Park, Gresford Ath, Lex XI, Newtown, Penycae, The New Saints, Welshpool.

Western: Bangor City, Caernarfon Tn, Glan Conwy, Holyhead Hotspurs, Llandudno, Llandudno Junction, Llanfairpwll, Llangefni Tn, Llanrwst Utd, Porthmadog, Pwllheli.

21-01-08: MURT LEAVES THE BAY FOR SKELMERSDALE
The club announce that this evening we have sold striker Anthony Murt to UniBond side Skelmersdale.  In recent weeks we had received several approaches from clubs for Anthony and turned them all down.  However Skelmersdale came in with an improved offer for Anthony, who lives ten minutes from Skelmersdale’s ground and doesn't drive.  It was agreed to allow him to speak to Skelmersdale over the weekend when terms were agreed.   Whilst he has enjoyed his time with the Bay; it was felt to be in everybody's best interests to allow the deal to go through at this time.  We would like to thank Skelmersdale's Chairman Frank Hughes and manager Tommy Lawson, who have conducted themselves correctly in their approach to our club for Anthony and we wish Anthony all the best and thank him for this time with us. 

16-01-08: TWO MORE SIGNINGS FOR THE BAY
Gary Finley has moved to further strengthen his squad by recruiting Joe Fowler from Barrow.  Joe is a versatile twenty one year old that helped Droylsden to promotion to the Conference National last season, after previous experience with Southport and Tranmere Rovers.

In addition Anthony "Bagger" Wright has signed from Vauxhall Motors.  The experienced striker helped Hyde United win the UniBond First Division title in 2003/04 and also had success in the LoW helping TNS win that title. His previous clubs also include Wrexham, Barrow and Droylsden. 

It is hoped the paperwork will be completed in time for them to be involved at Alsager on Saturday.

14-01-08: ANOTHER LEGEND SIGNS UP
Liverpool FC legend Bruce Grobelaar has now been confirmed as the next guest for a Sportsman’s Evening at Colwyn Bay Football Club on Monday 28^th April.

Grobbelaar was signed to play for Liverpool in 1981 by Bob Paisley & was plunged into the daunting role of succeeding Ray Clemence but the eccentric South African-born Zimbabwe international rose to the challenge and was Liverpool's last line of defence in a stream of triumphs at home and abroad. Occasionally his self-confidence on the pitch backfired but his showmanship and exhibitionism could not detract from Grobbelaar's undoubted talent and remarkable agility.

He made more than 600 appearances in 13 years at Anfield, which brought him 13 major medals comprising six League titles, a European Cup, three FA Cup and three League Cup, ironically a total matched by Clemence over his two-club career. Grobbelaar's goal-line "wobble" against Roma in the dramatic 1984 European Cup Final penalty shoot-out, which prompted Graziani to miss, is an enduring memory. He joined Southampton in 1994, later playing for Plymouth, Bury, Lincoln, Motherwell, Chesham United and Northwich Victoria, coaching Zimbabwe

Places for this evening are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. A table of 10 is £200 or £20 per person

To book a place or table please contact:

Grant McIndoe

Tel: 07769 538012

Email: egmcindoe@yahoo.co.uk

14-01-08: CBFC JOINS THE BEST OF COLWYN BAY
Colwyn Bay Football Club is looking to increase links with local businesses by taking up membership of the local business networking & directory website “Best of Colwyn Bay”.

The membership involves regular meetings with local businesses as well as the club providing the venue for meetings where over 100 local businesses regularly attend. The club also plans to give a presentation to the group on its future plans.

To view the Colwyn Bay Football Club link please click here

REVIEW COLWYN BAY FOOTBALL CLUB & WIN £500
The club invites supporters and users of our facilities to leave a review on the website for a chance to win £500!

To enter the draw simply post a review of Colwyn Bay Football Club. For each review or recommendation you make by 25th January 2008 your name will be entered into a draw to win £500* to spend with a featured business on thebestofcolwynbay. The more times you enter, the greater the chances of winning!

14-01-08: FUNDRAISING MEETING
Club Patron comedian John Martin is looking to pull together some ideas and a team of volunteers to help with fundraising activities in order to help contribute towards general club running costs, equipment, ground improvements and to also help support a competitive team budget for the manager

John is asking for any interested people to meet with him in the Club Lounge on Monday 21st Jan @ 7pm.

John says: “Its just to see if we can start getting organized on a few things for the summer to give us a bit of a financial kick-start to next seasons playing budget & help towards general running costs of the club. So, if anyone can spare an hour lets see if we can knock a couple of ideas together and get something started for this coming close season. All are welcome!”

The Club Lounge bar will also be open.
This is a great opportunity for anyone willing to get involved to step forward and help support the club.

04-01-08: DEFENDER SIGNS
Colwyn Bay FC have signed defender Lee Hoolickin from Barrow in time for him to make his debut in tomorrow's (January 5) Unibond President's Cup game at Ossett Albion. Manager Gary Finley comments: "Lee has played in the Conference north and was with me at Southport, and at 26 I see him as a very good signing for us." Hoolickin started his career as a trainee with Carlisle United and after being released in 2002 he played for Workington and Leigh RMI and then Southport, before joining Barrow in July last year.

04-01-08: DIRECTOR RESIGNS
Colwyn Bay Football Club announce the resignation from the Board of Directors of Mr. Mike Roberts. The club would like to place on record its appreciation of Mike's dedication & efforts to the club over a number of years.

 
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