COLWYN BAY ANNOUNCE DAVE CHALLINOR AS THE NEW MANAGER
Colwyn Bay Football Club are delighted to announce that last seasons promotion winning club captain, Dave Challinor, has today accepted an offer from the board to take over as First Team Manager.

Joining Dave will be ex-Norwich & Aberdeen defender, Colin Woodthorpe, who will be the new assistant manager.

Colwyn Bay Managing Director Darren Cartwright said: “We had some excellent candidates for the job and would like to thank everyone who applied.”

“Dave has all of the qualities required to step up to the job and was the unanimous choice of the board. We felt that maintaining continuity for the forthcoming season was important. His leadership ability is unquestioned and he has a record of success throughout his career, most recently, captaining the side to promotion through the play-offs last season.”

“As soon as we knew we found the right man we decided to move quickly to make the appointment in order for “on the field” planning for the forthcoming season to commence as soon as possible.”

“As a club, we will do all we can to support Dave in what will no doubt be a challenging, but exciting, season ahead.”

Dave Challinor commented following his appointment:

“Both myself and Colin are delighted to be given the opportunity to gain our first steps on the managerial ladder. We see this as a great challenge and a fantastic opportunity to continue the progress made over the past 18 months. As a management team we are relatively inexperienced but do have over 35 years of professional football between us which we are sure will assist in our transition.” 

“Colin has played at the very highest level with both Norwich in the Premier league and Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier league, playing in the San Siro and Olympic Stadium in Munich during Norwich's European exploits. He is an ex-teammate from Stockport County and Bury and is a really good friend who I trust and will and have honest opinions and advise from the dugout as i continue to play. The contacts we have in the professional and non-league game will hopefully prove invaluable as we continue to move forward and progress.”

“For me, the past 18 months of playing non-league football has given me an insight and an understanding of what is required to be successful. We are under no illusions of what the task entails and it will take a lot of hard work and determination to be successful but we are highly motivated and very ambitious to make an impact in our first managerial roles.”
 
“I know the club very well and it is a very easy to integrate in the friendly atmosphere that encompasses it. I am sure you will make him (Colin Woodthorpe) very welcome along with any new players who join the squad for next season. I am hopeful of keeping as much of last season’s squad together as possible but I am also realistic in that players will have other offers and will move on. However, I see this as a great opportunity for the players to test themselves against better opposition and make strides towards playing at as high a level as possible. Our success over the last few years has relied hugely on team spirit and a team ethos and this will continue.”

“Players, officials and fans need to be pulling in the same direction. The impact of this is highlighted by last year’s promotion. The support we received was fantastic and culminated in a day that everyone will never forget. This support will be even more important next season as we attempt to compete in a higher division. There are some massive games to look forward to and both Colin and myself can't wait to get started on what is sure to be a very hectic pre-season as we attempt to assemble a squad of driven players that will compete, improve as individuals and as a team, and most importantly hit the ground running and carry last seasons emotion into this.”

“We would like to thank the chairman, the directors and the fans for their support through this process, into what is hopefully the beginning of a long journey into football management. Have a good summer and we look forward to seeing you all in pre-season”

The initial list of pre-season friendly games and season ticket prices will be announced shortly.

About Dave Challinor:
Dave has played over 220 league games for Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County, and previously held the world record for the longest throw in football at 46.34 metres. When at Tranmere, he played in the 2000 Football League Cup Final. Dave also had a spell at Bury making over 140 appearances before injury ended his full time career in 2008. He began his non-league career at Cammel Lairds for a short spell before joining Colwyn Bay during the 2008/09 season where he captained the side into the play-offs and then last season going one better and winning promotion by beating Lancaster 1-0 at the Giant Axe, Challinor played his part in the winning penalty by sweeping the flooded penalty spot clear of surface water to allow Ian Sheridan to slot home to the delight of the Colwyn Bay supporters.

About Colin Woodthorpe:
Colin Woodthorpe has enjoyed an extremely long professional playing career, having started his career at Chester City before he joined top-flight side Norwich City for a six-figure sum in 1990 where he went on to appear in a Uefa Cup game against Inter Milan and an FA Cup semi-final against Sunderland. A move to Aberdeen then followed in 1994 for £400,000 where he made 51 league appearances. before returning to the north-west with Stockport County in 1997. County had just won promotion to Division One, a level the club would remain at until 2002 when they were relegated and Woodthorpe left on a free transfer, despite captaining the side in his final season at Edgeley Park. Woodthorpe joined Bury at the start of the 2002-03 season and went on to make over 180 appearances where he was still playing at the age of 39. He was released from Bury in May 2008.

NEIL YOUNG DEPARTS FOR CHESTER FC
Colwyn Bay FC regret to announce that following talks with Chester FC last night that Neil Young and his Assistant Manager Gary Jones have decided to resign their positions to take up the vacant managerial post at the recently re-formed Chester FC. Both clubs reaching agreement on a settlement this afternoon. A pre-season friendly at Llanelian Road has been arranged for July 10th as part of the deal.

Neil Young commented following his decision: "Its with a heavy heart that today I will be leaving Colwyn Bay. I have had a fantastic 18 months at the club and the win and scenes at Lancaster in the play off final will live with me forever."

"Myself and Gary would like to thanks the directors and officials of Colwyn Bay for giving us the opportunity to manage such a great club and the fans who I can't speak highly enough of for the loyal support and kind words during my time as manager."

"I hope we have brought you enjoyable times and that the club under their new manager prospers both on and off the field. Again, Thank You."

Managing Director Darren Cartwright said "It is a huge blow to lose Neil & Gary's services especially following the euphoria that followed our recent promotion. However, situations change very quickly in football and there are always surprises around the corner. We obviously wanted to keep them onboard but Neil explained to me that he saw it as a excellent career opportunity that was on offer, which may never come around again, and you have to respect that."

"We have had a tremendous last 18 months with Neil & Gary in charge which culminated in promotion last season and on behalf of myself and the board, we wish them both well in the future."

"However, we now have to move on and the process begin's immediatley to recruit a new management team to take the club forward in the Evostick Premier League next season, where we will be looking to make an impact."

"Colwyn Bay Football Club is very highly regarded within non-league circles and, as such, we expect a number of quality applicants"

PRESENTATION DAY SUCCESS
Colwyn Bay FC celebrated in glorious sunshine to match the glorious season they have had in the UniBond Division One North.  Neil Young was joined by virtually every player as they were cheered into the Llanelian Road clubhouse by a good turnout of supporters.

Neil Young collected the first award as he was presented with the Play-Off winner’s vase from Mayor Hazel Meredith.

Chris Sanna was the star of the show, collecting three awards on the day as he collect the Community player of the year, Clubman of the year as well as the Supporters player of the year.

Ian Sheridan collected two as he won the Players player as well as the Managers player of the year.  Two hard earned awards as the winger-come-striker finished with over twenty goals for the season.

There was also an award for Luke Denson, who started his career at the Bay with starts from the subs bench, but as the season progressed, became one of the first names on the team sheet.  A popular player with the supporters as he collected his award for Presidents player of the season

But all players were awarded on the day with a bottle of Champagne and an individual medal from David Messom and Mark Owen from ‘The Co-Operative Food’.

Club captain Dave Challinor then surprised the supporters with a presentation of his own as he presented Directors Grant McIndoe and Roger Skinner with a signed shirt from this year’s campaign, which he had framed.

PERFECT PROM DAY
CBFC and CBFITC had a great and successful time at their stall during the yearly Prom Day event last Bank Holiday Monday. With leaflets and flyers we promoted all aspects of the club and its success on and off the pitch, with Football in the Community the main focus with the Prom Day Public. With various fun activities for children and adults alike, Rhos on Sea were smitten with the Seagulls!

With Chris Sanna and Dave Challinor in attendance, the "Beat the keeper" competition was a big hit with supporters and followers of our great club. A Raffle, Football Predictor and Spot the Ball entertained onlookers as people of all ages from all across the UK came to the stall to chat with staff and volunteers during the warm, sunny event. Together with our recent promotion to the UniBond Premier League, Prom Day has made this May a trophy laden and greatly successful campaign not to mention a sun tan to boot!

Easter Soccer Camp Hits The Back Of The Net!
Colwyn Bay Football In the Community recently held an Easter Soccer Camp, which, was a complete success!

Over a three-day period 65 young players (aged from 5 to 12 years old) learnt various football skills, took part in a coaching session with CBFC Director of Football Chris Whitley, and enjoyed an Easter Egg Hunt! At the end of each day the players were treated to a ‘fun’ tournament, which allowed them to show off the skills they had learnt earlier.

With CBFITC Coaches Joey Fontana, Gareth Edwards, Nick James and Wayne Williams the boys and girls were able to gain confidence and subsequently developed greatly.

Set in Bryn Elian High School (Colwyn Bay) the young people we’re able to play football in a fun and safe environment on both Astro turf and grass pitches. Under the constant guidance of CBFITC Management Staff (Christian Fontana, Aaron Evans and Dewi Thomas) the players also completed a fun football quiz and competed for awards such as the ‘best trainer’, ‘most improved’, and ‘top goal scorer’. Nobody, however, left empty handed!

All participants received a certificate of attendance and a complimentary ticket to a Colwyn Bay FC home fixture!!!

 All the children clearly ‘loved’ the Soccer Camp and all involved had fun:

CBFITC once again provided the children of the North Wales coast with a fun and safe activity over the school holidays!

Vi-Ability
Colwyn Bay Football in the Community’s (CBFITC) Vi-Ability project began on the 14th of April 2010. It will provide the participants with knowledge on subjects such as I.T. Marketing, P.R. as well as provide them with certain types of qualifications; coaching badges, First aid, Health and Hygiene.

They will also receive advice on pursuing careers in the football/sports industry. Delivering the course are Kelly Davies and Christian Fontana Directors of Vi-Ability.

Christian commented: ‘So far I’ve been very impressed with the enthusiasm and passion shown by the students and the work they have produced so far has been excellent!’ The students are currently working on organizing Colwyn Bay Football Club’s Sportsman Dinner due to be held in the near distant future. This will be part of their portfolio which will hopefully help them to find jobs at the end of the 20 week programme.

Sheridan's spot on to clinch promotion
By Tim Channon on May 2
COLWYN BAY are back in the NPL Premier Division after a seven year wait, following Ian Sheridan's late penalty winner in the play-off final at Lancaster City.

What a finish to the season; and what a finish to the game, as an avalanche of Bay fans, many of whom had stood in the pouring rain all afternoon to cheer the side on, poured onto the pitch at the end to engulf the players.

There must be some sympathy for a Lancaster side who on any other season would have won the league by a mile with their 96 points - but even their officials admitted afterwards that on the day Colwyn Bay were the better side.  In fact, the Seagulls were unlucky not be ahead at half-time with Lancaster keeper Martin Fearon making two tremendous saves to turn a Danny Grannon header onto the bar and then fingertip an angled shot from Neil Black round the post, while Grannon also hit the bar with another header.

"I really thought it was in and was starting to celebrate - I couldn't believe it when it hit the bar and stayed out," said Grannon, who had another impeccable game at the back.
He has been superb since he started playing in the centre of defence and says being alongside skipper Dave Challinor has helped him enormously.

"He talks to me all the time, telling me where to go and encouraging me and it has been a dream playing alongside him," said Danny.  "There was a time when I didn't think I was going to get back in the team after being dropped from left back and I was getting a little bit frustrated, but since I got the chance to play in the middle I've played every game and loved every minute of it."

Luke Denson, who has also played superbly in recent games, and Anthony Sheehan put shots narrowly wide as the Bay had the better of the first half, with Chris Sanna's only save coming from a Paul Jarvis free kick which was straight at him.

Lancaster had a brief spell in the second half where they started to come more into game and Jordan Connerton had their best chance with a close range header - but he put it straight at Chris Sanna, who also saved a Mike Rushton shot and Neil Marshall header.  The Seagulls were still a threat and Sheridan had a good chance with a header from a Greg Stones cross, but directed it straight at the keeper.

At that stage it was starting to look like extra time - with the fear, if that was the case, that the game might not finish as the continuous rain started to leave pools of standing water all over the surface. But the breakthrough came on 85 minutes when Ian Sheridan broke clear from a scramble on the edge of the area and was brought down from behind by Lancaster City skipper Mike Stringfellow for the penalty.

Stringfellow was red carded for the foul and Sheridan then had to wait while the referee called for a groundsman to come on a sweep standing water off the penalty spot. But the Bay's top scorer kept his nerve to fire the match winner past Fearon for his 22nd goal of the season.

"Having to wait to take the kick didn't worry me," said the Sheridan afterwards. "People were talking to me, but I just stayed focused on what I had to do - and it was great to see the ball hit the back of the net."

Although the referee added five minutes of additional time at the end, Lancaster never looked like saving the game.

I don't remember witnessing such scenes of celebration on and off the pitch with Colwyn Bay since they did the double of Division One title and League Cup under Bryn Jones in 1992 - 18 years ago!

Manager Neil Young agreed it was a fantastic day for the club and added: "Personally I am delighted that we've done this for the fans, who have been great to me since I've been at the club. The following we had today was unbelievable considering how far they had to travel and then had to stand in that dreadful weather.  I feel great delight that those people have gone home happy and proud to be Colwyn Bay supporters."

And he said all the players deserved great credit for what they had achieved. "Lancaster have had a phenomenal season, but we thoroughly deserved our win today. If we had been 3-0 up at half-time I don't think it would have been an injustice to the game.

"I asked the players to go out and give me everything they had - and they have done that.  They have had some criticism at times this season, but they are part-time non-league players and without the resources of a Halifax you are not going to get consistency week in and week out, and they are going to lose games of football sometimes. But I know what passion, belief, honesty, grit and determination I've got in the dressing room - and every player who has been a member of the squad this season has played their part in achieving this success, and deserve a lot of credit for it."

It is also a big success for Neil and assistant Gary Jones who are both fairly new to management. "Gary has come straight out of pro football and worked with some great managers, while I've worked with some of the best non-league managers, such as John Hulse, Ian Doran and Ken McKenna," said Neil.

"We don't pretend to know everything, but we are both only 35 and must be among the youngest managerial partnerships around, so what we have achieved in a short period of time (two play-offs and now promotion in the space of 19 months) at the cub is magnificent. People perhaps don't realise how hard we have worked, but we are learning all the time and we know we have a massive challenge ahead next season in the Premier Division.  We'll have to sit down and talk to the board and then go away and think about the way to go - but that's in the future. Right now we just want to enjoy this success for a few days.

"An old team-mate once said to me, make sure you enjoy the good times - and we certainly intend to do that!"