Former Saddlers’ favourite Wayne Evans has been moving up in the World!

He has been released by Kidderminster, following a long and successful period at Rochdale since leaving Bescot, but now our popular and consistent former defender has got an important job with one of the top team in the League of Wales.

He has been appointed junior development director of the top Welsh Premier club Total Network Solutions’ Academy.

One of the best footballers ever produced by the region, Abermule-born Evans (pictured) will be involved in the development of young players up to the age of 16 at the club, building on the work established by the TNS Football Academy and Football in the Community Schemes.

Currently working towards his UEFA `A’ Licence, 34-year old Evans will work alongside the club’s Football in the Community manager, Mike Davies.

The right back has recently retired from playing with Nationwide Conference National outfit Kidderminster Harriers after a Football League career that has seen him make 432 appearances and 34 in the FA Cup for Walsall and Rochdale since leaving Welshpool in 1993.

“Wanners is an excellent coach and has a great personality, which is vital when working with children and schools,” says Davies, who is delighted to have captured the services of Evans.

“Our main objective is to raise the profile of the football club by providing a quality coaching product for boys and girls in the locality and to build on the good work that has been established over the past few years.”

Wayne will make yet another ex Saddler taking up a coaching or Managerial role.

Well, where do you start with this one?

I suppose it’d better be with Merthyr itself!

Merthyr Tydfil is located in the heart of South East Wales at the head of the Taff Vale - the natural gateway to the Brecon Beacons.
In the early part of the 19th century, Merthyr Tydfil was the largest town in Wales. People moved into it from far and wide to work in the iron works that were the reason for it’s existence. The iron and steel industry has long since died, along with the South Wales coal fields and the town has never really recovered.

So what of the football team?

They were formed in 1909 and were even in the Football League between 1920 and 1930, but the decline in the local industries led to a decline in the fortunes of the club. They languished around in the lower reaches of non league football until a late flowering in the late eighties saw them on the brink of the Football League again and Welsh Cup victories. By 1997 however, they had slumped again and were in receivership. They were then brought by current owner Wyn Holloway and began a slow climb back, with a great deal of co operation from the Supporter’s Trust to the point where they are now planning a 12,000 seat stadium.

This season, they are lying seventh in the Southern Premier, with games in hand on the teams above them, thanks to the Cup run. Of their 9 home games, they’ve won 7, lost 1, drawn 1. Top scorer is Steins, with 10 goals in 17 appearances. He was signed from Leeds, got 22 goals last season and was the player of the season.

What about the Saddlers?

One word. Slough. Last season’s first round defeat at the hands of a team in an even lower Division than Merthyr still hurts. This time, the club cannot afford any repetition, especially with the game being live on Sky and Radio 5 Live. Certainly it is difficult to see how the Manager could survive any defeat this time around.

The camp have been putting forward strange vibes all week, with the desperate (and futile) attempts to sign a goalkeeper and with comments about only having 10 fit outfield players and five “youth teamers” on the bench. The Saddlers ought to be lining up something like:

Gillmartin, Gerrard, Bennett, Roper, Fox, Standing, Kinsella, Taylor, Demontagnac, Leitao and Fryatt, with Staunton, Broad, Tilt and Stzybel on the bench, with one other and, quite frankly, that ought to be a good enough side to win at Merthyr. Merson has, however, said that he wants as much experience on the pitch as possible, so the line up may look very strange! Danny Fox will captain the side.

Predictions? Gave that up long ago, but anything other than a win is unacceptable.

Normally, of course, we depend on Geordiesaddler’s invaluable guide to the pubs of England and Wales on our away trips, but knowledge of the valleys is a little harder to come by! We thank our good friends at the Merthyr Supporter’s Trust (www.themartyrs.com), Mark Evans and Mike Donovan for the following precious information!

Pubs

The best option from 5.30pm onwards is RMs which is on Bethesda Street, easily accessible from the Castle Car Park and also from Brecon Road where it would seem the coaches will be dropping your supporters prior to the game. The landlord is happy to welcome Walsall fans.

(In fact, Mike Donovan has sent this further email about RMs: “I have spoken to the landlord Chris and he is expecting you. There is room for 300 downstairs and it’s likely that you’ll be the only people in there - he’s openingup an hour or so early hoping that you’ll all be there”).

The other option in Georgetown which just around the corner from RMs is The Lantern which is a good pub, open all day, but is a lot smaller than RMs.
The Park View pub on the Brecon Road, the nearest one to our ground, is not recommended.
As for the Town Centre, the best option would be Y Dic Penderyn which is a Wetherspoons pub however it is quite a trek up the hill to the ground.

Car Parking

Car parking is limited around the Brecon Road area, it’s all street parking which could be problematic. Any Walsall fans driving down to the game are advised to use either Castle Car Park directly opposite the Castle Hotel in the town centre (next to the Bus Station), it’s quite convenient then for fans to walk up the British Tip which a path opposite the Salvation Army HQ to the end of Brecon Road, you will come out directly opposite RMs.
The other option is the use the College Car Park which is over the river Bus Station, fans could then walk over the river bridge, past the Fire Station, and turn left heading for both Lantern and RMs.

Food

There is a Chinese take-away on Brecon Road called Chun Fay which is OK. There’s another one at the top of the High Street called the China Chef.
If any fans are staying over on Friday night and fancy a late night feed then head for the High Street and try Hing Hongs (Chinese) or Balti Wallah (Indian) restaurants, both are worth experiencing.
In fact there are plenty of chip shops etc in Merthyr, you shouldn’t go hungry.

I hope you enjoy your visit to Penydarren Park, no matter what the result.

Following last week’s news about Walsall giving a trial to Willenhall Town striker Dean Perrow, it appears that Paul Merson’s search for further strike power has sent him even further around the lower leagues.

Reports suggest that the Saddlers are interested in Chippenham Town striker James Constable. He has been training with Bristol City after the Wiltshire side’s boss Darren Perrin asked City to give him a trial.
The 21-year-old has already scored 11 goals for the Southern Premier Division outfit this season.

“He trained with us on Monday and did well - we’ll have another look at him on Thursday,” City manager Gary Johnson told his club’s website.

Darren Perrin also said, however, that Walsall, Swansea and Swindon have also enquired about Constable.

Paul Merson has decided against appealing against Craig Pead’s sending off on Saturday.

After reviewing the video of the incident, Merson has admitted that it doesn’t “show him in a very good light” and that an appeal would be unlikely to succeed. He also said he will be fining the player.

With Pead now missing on Friday and the injuries growing, it looks like Steve Staunton will be recalled for the Merthyr cup tie and that may well turn out to be his last game for the club, as he has emerged as the Bookies’ favourite to take over the Ireland job, having been backed down to 2 - 1.

According to the Express and Star, Merson says we only have ten fit outfield players for Friday.