Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Glen Williams

Welsh football team lose match 53-1 but refuse to give up

You might have noticed the result of one particular match in the Cardiff Combination Football League last weekend.

That was Ely Athletic's 53-1 defeat by Cardiff Central FC on Saturday, a pretty striking scoreline. Unfortunately for Ely, thumping defeats have been something of the norm this season.

While Saturday's defeat was by far their heaviest of the campaign, their results have made for pretty grim reading this season. They sit rock bottom of the Stage 2, Group F table, having failed to pick up a single point in their six games this season. In those six games, they have conceded an incredible 160 goals and scored just three.

Read next: Cardiff City headlines as Gareth Bale transfer update issued

The team, whose home fixtures are played at Trelai Park, was set up only last year and they were looking forward to the season. They began a big recruitment drive ahead of the campaign, appealing for players with regular social media posts. It was a success, too, as they started the season with around 30 players. But that has been cut by two-thirds in just a few months and they headed into the clash with Cardiff Central FC with only 10 players, not enough to field a full team.

It's a sad state of affairs, Ely Athletic secretary Marie Carter said: "There was 10 of them all together [playing against Cardiff Central FC].

"That's been a common occurrence this season. Players turn up and then players leave. The players don't like it that they lose, that's the biggest thing. The players that are coming in don't like losing."

She also cited that many players grew frustrated with the number of games which were getting called off. Ely have played the fewest games (6) in the league compared to the rivals, some of which have played 10.

Speaking of the recruitment and subsequent player decline, Mrs Carter added: "The training is a big thing with some of them. Because some of them can't train they just turn up to the games. I know some of them work, but give us a bit more warning.

"But we are hopeful of getting it better now that we are getting better players in, because the players we have got now are all of a more positive mindset."

They train once a week, on a Wednesday evening, at Trelai Park but are looking to be more flexible in changing their schedule next season to fit with the players' needs and be more accommodating, if possible. Despite the upheaval on and off the pitch, though, Mrs Carter insists the club is in no danger of disbanding.

Marie started the team with her partner, Ryan Carter, who plays for the team, and they both want to expand the playing and coaching staff over the coming months to ensure they make a better fist of things next term.

"Next season, Ryan would like to have people who he could leave and trust," she added. "We'd like to get a coach, an assistant manager in and all that.

"Because at the minute, we are having to do a lot of the work. In the next few months, because we are trying for a little one, we are going to try and find somebody who can take some of it on, so we don't then have all the stress of the team as well."

Ely Athletic are appealing for players of any ability, over the age of 16, who want to play and urge them to get in contact through their Facebook page here or by contacting Marie Carter on 07708423914.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.