By James Dow

Ahead of today’s JD Cymru Premier MD6 encounter at Park Hall, we’ve taken a closer look at The New Saints with Meet the Opposition!

History

The club were formed in 1959 under the name of Llansantffraid FC, playing their matches at the Recreation Ground. They joined the Montgomeryshire Amateur Football League which they won seven times. In 1990, TNS were elected to the Central Wales League where they spent one season after gaining promotion to the Cymru Alliance after finishing runners-up on their first attempt.

TNS kept rising through the leagues and in 1992-93 they gained promotion to the League of Wales, which was the top division of Welsh football at the time, while also winning the Welsh Intermediate Cup. In 1996, a local computer company, Total Network Solutions of Oswestry agreed a sponsorship deal with the club, being renamed to Total Network Solutions Llansantffraid, which was also their first experience of European football after qualifying for the European Cup Winners’ Cup. A year later, TNS rebranded once again to Total Network Solutions, which was the first instance in the United Kingdom where the club would be named after its sponsor’s name only. A merger was then formed in 2003 between TNS and Oswestry Town, who were close neighbours with both sides playing in the League of Wales. TNS were still performing well, with the 2005-06 season seeing the side face UEFA Champions League winners Liverpool in the first qualifying round, with the Saints losing 3-0 in both legs as Steven Gerrard scored five of the six goals. TNS had to change their name for the final time in 2006, after Total Network Solutions were taken over by British Telecom which meant the club had to find a new name, deciding on The New Saints of Oswestry Town. The next 16 years saw TNS dominate the Welsh League, winning the league title 12 times with their last being their 16^th title, meaning they are the most decorated side in Welsh league history.

TNS also made history last season, becoming the first JD Cymru Premier side to qualify for a European group stage after beating Lithuanian side Panevezys to qualify for the UEFA Conference League. The Saints finished 32nd in the league phase, with their sole victory in six matches coming in a 2-0 win at home to FC Astana of Kazakhstan.

Form

The Saints have won two of their first five league matches of the campaign, but they are currently on a four match unbeaten run with the only loss coming at home to Briton Ferry Llansawel on the opening day of the season. TNS also find themselves in round three of the Nathaniel MG Cup where they will travel Connah’s Quay Nomads on Wednesday night, after an emphatic 7-1 victory over Airbus UK Broughton in the previous round.

Manager

Craig Harrison was appointed in August 2022, replacing Anthony Limbrick for his second spell in charge with the Saints. Harrison was previously at the Saints between 2011 and 2017, where he became the club’s most successful ever manager, winning six successive titles and breaking a record of 27 straight wins, while also winning four JD Welsh Cups and three league cups during his first spell.

The 46-year-old had a short but successful playing career, with the Middlesbrough academy graduate having spells at Preston North End and Crystal Palace before suffering a double compound fracture in his leg while playing for Crystal Palace reserves, with Harrison making the decision to retire a year later. Harrison started his managerial career at Airbus UK Broughton in 2008 before moving to TNS three years later. He left TNS in 2017, joining National League side Hartlepool United where he spent nine months before leaving his position in February 2018.

Harrison then returned to Wales to join Bangor City, but left the club to become assistant manager at Connah’s Quay Nomads before being appointed head coach during the 2021-22 season. Harrison has managed 159 games for TNS so far, winning 119 of them and having a points-per-match of 2.33.

Captain

Danny Redmond joined the Saints in 2018 from Scottish side Hamilton Academical. The midfielder started his career in Everton’s academy before moving to Wigan Athletic two years later where he made his debut for the Latics in a 3-2 win against Hull City in the FA Cup. Redmond made four appearances during his time at Wigan while also having loan spells at Hamilton and Carlisle United.

The 33-year-old joined the Scottish side for a second time in 2014, making 104 appearances over three years, scoring six goals and registering 17 assists before moving to TNS in 2018. Redmond has since made 274 appearances for the Saints, with 29 goals and 79 assists so far. He has made nine appearances in all competitions for TNS this season, including four European games with Redmond playing in a number of different positions this season such as central midfield and left-back.

Key player

Winger Jordan Williams has enjoyed an excellent start to the season, scoring four goals in nine appearances, including the Saints’ only strike in their UEFA Champions League qualifying tie against Shkendija. Williams began his career in local football before signing for National League side Barrow, where he made 65 appearances and netted 17 goals in all competitions. A move to League One side Rochdale followed in January 2017, with Williams contributing three goals and an assist in 43 games.

He later had spells with Lincoln City where he was part of the squad that lifted the EFL Trophy in 2018, though he missed the final due to being cup-tied, as well as AFC Fylde and Stockport County before joining the Saints in 2021. Since his arrival, Williams has made 161 appearances, scoring 51 goals and providing 28 assists. One of his standout moments came in the 2022 JD Welsh Cup final at Cardiff City Stadium, where he scored twice in a 3-2 victory over Penybont to secure the trophy for the Saints. On the international stage, he has also represented England C, earning a cap in 2016 during his time at Barrow.