Llanfair United are looking to make an immediate impact this season as they embark on their first Mid Wales League adventure for 25 years.
An exciting young management team of centre half Steve Andrew and Daryl Griffiths has taken the reins this season and the pair has had to learn fast on the job with the club deciding to join the newly-created Spar Mid Wales Division Two.
“We took over as the club was struggling to attract a new manager because, as with any club that do not pay staff or players, it is more appealing to go elsewhere,” said Andrew. “And we didn’t want Llanfair to be stuck without a manager weeks before the start of the season with no players signed on.”
At 21, Andrew was born four years after his club last ventured into Mid Wales territory and he is one of Wales’s youngest Saturday managers, but so far he said the pair is relishing the challenge.
“We are going to be taking it year by year. If we are enjoying it, then we will carry on even though it is a lot more hard work than we first expected. But we are still learning.”
Llanfair have prepared well for their season into the unknown. While six other Montgomeryshire League sides have also stepped up, they will need to travel for league games against clubs as far afield as Talgarth and Aberaeron.
“We have improved both the reserves and firsts for next season, even attracting three players from local rivals Dyffryn Banw. And signing Lee (his brother) from Berriew and James Vaughan from Waterloo.”
“We hope to shock a few clubs this season. With all the players fit we will have a very strong team, so we are hoping to at least finish mid-table.”