By James Dow
Ahead of today’s JD Cymru Premier MD5 encounter at the Ogi Bridge Meadow, we’ve taken a closer look at Caernarfon Town with Meet the Opposition!
History
Caernarfon Town were formed in 1876, originally known as Caernavon Athletic. The club played at various grounds over the years, but found their home at The Oval in 1888. Athletic also participated in the English FA Cup in 1886, losing 10-1 away to Stoke City. There were a few name changes over the years, from Caernavon Ironopolis to Caernarvon Cults. Caernarfon Town were formed in 1937 through a group of local football enthusiasts, and entered the Welsh League (North) Division One. The Canaries won the league twice over a 39-year period, before withdrawing from the league in 1976 and returning 12 months later.
Caernarfon joined the Northern Premier League in 1985, while also reaching the Welsh Cup semi-final, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Cardiff City. The club joined the League of Wales in 1995-96 and spent five seasons there before finishing bottom of the league and being relegated to the Cymru Alliance. The Canaries returned to the top-flight at the first time of asking, finishing top of the league and rejoining the last season of the League of Wales, before it renamed as the Welsh Premier League. The side had a low spell around 2009 when the club’s future was in doubt, with very limited finances available to the Canaries, and a group of club officials and fans took over the club to ensure their safety. Caernarfon were, however, relegated to the Cymru Alliance in 2010-11.
Things started to improve for the northern Walians in the 2012-13 season when they were not only promoted to the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance after finishing top of the Welsh Alliance, but also won the FAW Trophy final, beating Kilvey Fords 6-0 in what was their first FAW Trophy since 1976. The Canaries were finally promoted to the top division of Welsh football in the 2017-18 season, and have remained there ever since. Caernarfon secured European football for the first time in 2023–24 after a 3–1 victory over Penybont. The Canaries won their first round qualifier against Northern Irish side Crusaders on penalties following a 3–3 aggregate draw, before falling 11–0 on aggregate to Polish giants Legia Warsaw in the second qualifying round.
Form
The Cofis have made a positive start to their league campaign, collecting three wins and a draw from their opening four matches. Richard Davies’ side have won their last three matches in succession, including emphatic victories – 6-1 against newly-promoted Llanelli Town, 5–2 away at Flint Town United and a 2–0 triumph over Bala Town on Bank Holiday Monday.
Caernarfon currently sit top of the JD Cymru Premier, one point ahead of second place Penybont. The Cofis will also play Holywell Town in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup in September, after a 3-0 victory over Colwyn Bay earlier in the month.
Manager
Richard Davies was appointed first team manager in April 2023 after six years as assistant manager under Iwan Williams, Sean Eardley and Huw Griffiths. The 40-year-old was appointed as interim head coach at the end of the 2022-23 season, successfully completing his task of keeping the club in the JD Cymru Premier.
Davies then delivered European football in his first season as manager, and also won Manager of the Month in March. So far, Davies has taken charge of 88 matches for the Canaries, winning 37 of them, with a points-per-game of 1.44.
Captain
Darren Thomas joined the club during the 2012-13 season, and has played a vital part in the Canaries moving up the leagues throughout the years. The forward is referred to as the ‘Cofi Messi’ by supporters. Thomas has also played for Llangefni and Porthmadog. Thomas won the Cymru Alliance League four times in his career, twice with the Canaries and twice with Llangefni.
The 38-year-old finished as the club’s top goalscorer during the 2013-14 season, scoring 22 times in 36 starts. He joined Aberystwyth Town in June 2015, but returned to Caernarfon six months later. Thomas has been ever-present for the Canaries since then, and has scored over 120 goals for the club, picking up multiple manager, player and fan player of the season awards over the last 12 years.
The veteran midfielder has scored once so far this season, a vital stoppage-time equaliser against Cardiff Metropolitan on the opening day of the league campaign. Thomas has also played internationally, making a substitute appearance for Cymru C in 2022 when they defeated England C 4-0 at his home ground, The Oval.
Key player
Connor Roberts is a name known throughout the Welsh domestic scene after his many successful years with The New Saints. The Wrexham-born goalkeeper began his professional career with Tranmere Rovers before joining Premier League side Everton. Roberts spent three years in the Toffees academy, playing a part in both their under-18s and under-21s sides before being released in 2012.
The goalkeeper then joined Cheltenham Town, making just one appearance, before a short spell at National League side Chester City. Roberts then moved back to Wales in 2015, joining Cymru Premier side Bangor City, making 99 appearances for the Citizens and helping them qualify for the UEFA Europa League through the play-offs. The 32-year-old then joined The New Saints, where he would enjoy the most successful period of his career. During his time with the Saints, he also had loan spells at Llandudno and Aberystwyth Town, but it was in 2022 that he truly established himself as first-choice goalkeeper following club legend Paul Harrison’s retirement.
Roberts made 160 appearances for the Saints in all competitions, but decided to announce his retirement last season, where he would end his time with the Oswestry-based side with the domestic treble, while also competing in the UEFA Conference League group-stage. Roberts then reversed his decision to retire and joined Richard Davies’ side for the 2025-26 season. The goalkeeper has also represented Cymru at youth level, made an appearance for Wales C, and was recently called up to Craig Bellamy’s summer training camp in Spain with the senior men’s national team.
