Guilsfield boss Mike Barton believes he has overcome his Caersws nightmare as he looks to build on his repaired reputation as one of Mid Wales’s leading football managers.
Last season’s Huws Gray Alliance manager-of-the-year endured a torrid tenure at the Bluebirds, having been handed the unenviable task of filling the boots vacated by legendary manager Mickey Evans. That reign ended with Barton returning on the eve of the 2008 season to Guilsfield, the place he had originally made a name for himself as a fledgling manager.
“In hindsight it was not a wise move for me going to Caersws,” he admitted. “It is a big club and Mickey had been there for a long, long time so it would have been tough for any manager to take it up. I was simply too inexperienced and it was a step up I shouldn’t really have made. The opportunity came too soon for me as a manager. “
After two seasons of re-establishing his credentials, Barton will enter the new Alliance season with his strongest Guilsfield squad to date and despite the number of clubs coming down this season from the newly-formed Super 12, he believes they can look to match their impressive sixth placed finish last term.
“We have lost Emyr Roberts (Llanrhaeadr) and Jake Parr (Montgomery) but have so far signed Joe Coulson (Berriew), Graham Dyke (Ellesmere), Adam Jenkins (Technogroup Welshpool), Callam Bromley (Waterloo Rovers) and Dave Gleave (Mold) so I am happy with the squad of players we have. We have a lot of options and good strength in depth so I am confident we can push a lot of the good sides this season.”
Guilsfield will begin their Huws Gray Alliance season with a trip to Rhydymwyn.