Garden Village A.F.C.

History

Garden Village A.F.C. was founded in 1922 and started playing football at Swansea League level before joining the Carmarthenshire Football League midway through the 20th century. After numerous league and cup successes over the years, Garden Village gained promotion into the Welsh Football League at the end of the 1998/99 season after finishing second in the Premier Division of the Carmarthenshire League, and successfully beating Neath League team Cwmamman United in the Welsh League promotion play-off to become the West Wales representative in the Pyramid system.

In only our first season of Welsh League football, the club secured promotion by finishing third in Division 3 behind Garw and Ely Rangers - one point ahead of fourth-placed AFC Llwydcoed - and also fared well in the Welsh Cup; a run that saw them dispose of Pontyclun and Ely Rangers before being knocked out by the then Welsh Cup holder &League of Wales side Inter Cardiff.

The Second Division proved to be a much tougher test for Village but managed to finish a respectable eighth in our first season. We did, however, manage to secure promotion in our second season winning the final game of the season at Chepstow Town and become Division Two Champions.Village had just one short spell in the top flight of Welsh League football before they were relegated at the first attempt. An excellent run of form towards the end of the season, which almost kept them up, but unfortunately this co-in sided with other teams hit similar form and Village narrowly missed out on survival, finishing two points adrift of Ely Rangers.

After a number of seasons in Division Two, where the club never finished outside of the top 8 positions, the club regained Division One status when they finished third in season 2008/09. We remained in top division for two seasons but, unfortunately, a poor season in 2010/11 saw us relegated back into Division Two.

In the summer of 2013 the club made a decision to appoint a management team from outside of the club, something that had not been done since the early 90’s. Steve Price was appointed manager and with his newly formed team gained promotion at their first attempt finishing a creditable third. The outcome of our season going into the last game away to Briton Ferry Llansawel where victory would get us being named as Division Two Champions, unfortunately, we lost 2-1 to a last minute penalty moving us down to third and victory for Briton Ferry gained them runners-up and promotion.

Recently the club has shown its commitment into developing our own young players by introducing an Under 18 team in the West Wales Youth League as well as an Under 19 team in the Welsh National Youth League. Working together with our junior section this will now give our younger players a ladder to work their way into senior football from junior levels.

Club honours

West Wales Senior Cup : Runners-Up (2006/07)

Welsh League Cup : Semi-Final (2005/06), Semi-Final (2013/14)

Welsh League Division 2 : Champions (2001/02), Third Place (2013/14)

Welsh League Division 3 : Third Place (1999/00)

Welsh League Reserve Cup : Runners-Up (2001/02)

Welsh League Reserve Division West : Winners (2007/08)

Welsh League Reserve Division West : Runners-Up (2005/06)

Carmarthenshire League Premier : Runners-Up (1989/90), (1997/98), (1998/99)

Carmarthenshire League Division 1 : Champions (1988/89) / Runners-Up (1977/78)

Carmarthenshire League Division 2 : Champions (2001/02), (2004/05)

Carmarthenshire League Division 3 : Runners-Up (1999/00)

Carmarthenshire League Reserve Division 1 : Champions (2005/06)

Carmarthenshire League Reserve Division 2 : Champions (1990/91), (1998/99)

Carmarthenshire League Reserve Division 3 : Champions (1989/90), (1996/97)

Carmarthenshire League Senior Cup : Winners (1989/90), (1994/95), (1996/96), (1996/97) / Runners-Up (1990/91), (1992/93)

Carmarthenshire League TG Davies Premier Cup : Runners-Up (1998/99)

Carmarthenshire League Challenge Cup : Winners (1988/89)

Carmarthenshire League Darch Reserve Cup : Winners (1993/94), (1999/00), (2000/01) / Runners-Up (1981/82), (1990/91), (1991/92), (1996/97), (1997/98)

Krisyln Summer Cup : Winners (1978/79), (1990/91), (1992/93), (1994/95), (1997/98), (1998/99), (1999/00) / Runners-Up (1979/80), (1989/90), (1991/92), (2010/11), (2013/14), (2014/15)

Swansea League Investiture Cup : Runners-Up (1968/69)

Swansea League Gwalia Cup : Runners-Up (1938/39)

West Wales Youth Cup : Winners (2003/04)

West Wales Youth League Cup : Winners (2014/15)

West Wales Youth League Division B : Winners (2014/15)

West Wales Youth League Championship Playoffs : Winners (2014/15)

Welsh League Second Division (1st Team)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Welsh League Reserve Division West (2nd Team)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Carmarthenshire League First Division (3rd Team)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Youth Team (U18's)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Transfers In/Out (2016/17)

IN

Rhys Owen (GK) - Signed from Pontlliw,

Ben Hopkins (GK) - Signed from Kilvey Fords,

Peter Hyndman (DF) - Signed from Team Swansea,

Luke Dalling (MF) - Signed from Kilvey Fords,

Rhys Coffey (DF) - Signed from Kilvey Fords,

Samuel Matthews (DF) - Signed from Cardiff Met University,

Mark Tancock (FW) - Signed from Briton Ferry Llansawel

OUT

Jack Underwood (FW) - Transferred to Afan Lido

Ricky Tomkins (FW) - Transferred to Penlan

Phil Russell (DF) - Transferred to West End

Daniel Burgess (MF) - Transferred to West End

Ryan Morgan (DF) - Transferred to Rockspur

Dale Hulland (GK) - Transferred to CRC Rangers

Club Officials

Chairman: Robert Lloyd

Football Vice-Chairman: Alan Rushby

Football Secretary: Nick Elias

Asst Football Secretary: Clive Greenfield

Vice-Chairman: Phil James

General Secretary: Clive Williams

Treasurer: Brian Matthews

Head Groundsman: Elwyn 'Pikey' Gibbon

Club Management

1st Team Manager: David Rimmer

1st Team Assistant Manager: Kevin Murphy

1st Team Coach: Robert Thomas

1st Team Coach: David D'Auria

1st Team Coach: Scott Odam

2nd Team Manager: Kevin Lewis

2nd Team Assistant Manager: Nicky Romanello

3rd Team Manager: David Jelf

3rd Team Asstistant Manager: Owen Williams

Under 18's Manager: Nick Elias

Under 18's Assistant Manager: Shaun Cartwright

Under 18's Coach: Huw Phillips

Teams

The club run four senior teams in:

Welsh League First Division (First Team)

Welsh League Reserve Division West (Second Team)

Carmarthenshire League First Division (Third Team)

Welsh League Youth Division West (U19's)

The club also run a number of Junior sides, including:

Under-6s & Under-7s (Friendly Mini Football)

Under-8s to Under-11s (Swansea Junior League Mini Football)

Under-12s to Under-14s (Swansea Junior League)

Under-15s & Under-16s (Swansea Junior League)

Under-12 Girls (West Wales Women & Girls League)

Under-14 Girls (West Wales Women & Girls League)

Notable former players

Players to have played for Garden Village and in the Football League include

Alex Davies (Swansea City)

Jamie Davies (Swansea City)

Craig Draper (Swansea City)

Robert Duffy (Rushden & Diamonds)

Richard Evans (Plymouth Argyle, Yeovil Town & Newport County)

Andy Mumford (Swansea City)

Anthony Wright (Oxford United).

Adam Matthews (Bristol City)

Stephen Healey (Swansea City)