Aber Stalwart Leaves Welsh Premier for Bont
Aberystwyth Town stalwart Glyndwr Hughes has moved on after seventeen successful seasons in the Welsh Premier League.
Spar Mid Wales Divison 2 outfit Bont have announced the signing of the much-loved Aber legend and the move brings down the curtain on the Welsh Premier League career of one of the few one-club men around.
Hughes is a resident of Ffair Rhos, a neighbouring village of Bont and he started his playing career with his local side in the early 1990's. His talent was soon spoted by local giants, Aberystwyth, and he went on to make 352 appearances for in the Welsh Premier, scoring 102 goals.
Glyndwr, know locally as 'Paddy', has played two friendlies for Bont in pre-season and scored in their 7-0 demolition of Crannog last Monday evening. He signed the dotted line the following morning.
Bont Manager, Andre Marsh said; "We are delighted to have Glyndwr signed up. We already have a strong squad but a player of Hughes' quality would be a boost for any team."
A statement from Aberystwyth Town said;
"Aberystwyth Town would like to thank Glyndwr (Paddy) Hughes once again for his outstanding commitment to Aber over the past 17 years. Paddy has been a one club man throughout his career and is most certainly a Black and Green legend.
The club can confirm that Glyndwr has been offered a testimonial which will hopefully be arranged in due course. All at Aberystwyth Town football club would like to thank Glyndwr for his commitment to the club over the years."
An Interview with Paddy from Memory Lane
Club Stalwart Glyndwr Hughes reached a significant milestone two weeks ago, coming off the bench to score his 100th (and 101st) Welsh Premier League goals against Elements Cefn Druids. In recognition of his achievement we ask Paddy to talk us through some of the significant goals of his career.
First goal: 26th October 1996: Aberystwyth Town 4 Caernarfon Town 5 - "Yes a start, a few years ago mind and unfortunately I don't have any recollection of the goal, to many hits to the old 'noggin' has affected the memory. Probably a 30yard screamer!"
100th goal: 21st November 2009: Aberystwyth Town 4 Elements Cefn Druids - "At last, it's only taken me 15 years to score a 100, a typical first class finish, a pinpoint cross by Geoff (Kellaway) and it came off the knee, thigh and belly from two yards. Its taken a while but am happy I got there eventually."
Quickest goal (40 seconds): 30th October 1999: Aberystwyth Town 4 Haverfordwest County 0 - "Again we're delving into the past now and I'm not sure about this goal, something tells me I scored a brace or maybe more, but now with words such as 'stalwart, veteran' in the same sentence as me, maybe I shouldn't remember these things?"
Latest goal (92nd minute): 24th April 2000: Aberystwyth Town 2 Carmarthen Town 1 - "This is one goal I do remember well, last game of the season and a draw would have seen Carmarthen into Europe. From a Gavin O'Toole corner at Narks End, I remember visualising, this ball is mine, and telling the marker 'I'm going to score here.' As the ball came in I nailed it into the top corner off the head and the rest is history."
Hat tricks: 25th April 1998: Aberystwyth Town 5 Welshpool Town 0 / 16th March 2001: Aberystwyth Town 6 Llanelli 0
"To be honest I thought I had scored a few more hat tricks, the Welshpool one I don't remember. With the Llanelli one, it was just one of those days that not much went wrong, I had three chances and scored them all. If only those days would come every week, I'D be on 200+ by now!
Most important goal: 16th May 2000: Wales Semi Pros 1 England 1 (at Llanelli) "This, it has to be said, was my proudest moment, even though it was only for the last 20 minutes. I came on and probably only touched the ball around five times in all. We were trailing by a goal and it was a back post header off a corner that I scored from. Freddy says that he was behind me calling for the ball, I know one thing, he wasn't first to the ball, but he sure was the first to rugby tackle me in the celebration!"
The goal against Carmarthen was the most spectacular, it was the kind of goal that Hugo Sanchez use to score every week for Real Madrid
Most spectacular goal: 23rd March 2001: Carmarthen Town 1 Aberystwyth Town 1 "Yes, the goal against Carmarthen was the most spectacular, it was the kind of goal that Hugo Sanchez use to score every week for Real Madrid, or so it seemed when I was a kid. Chris Hammond crossed the ball and I had my back to the goal around the penalty spot. I overhead kicked the ball, it was pure instinct and it flew in.
My best goal: For me my best goal was any winning goal, be it off my head, thigh, shin, feet, nothing beats the feeling of winning football, even if it's in training.
My jammiest goal: There have been a few, but you don't remember them, so it has to be the attempted cross against Bala - goal 99.
My favourite goal: Has to be the over head kick. It was very 'Hugo-esque', it's what I loved seeing on TV and trying in the park when I was young, good times. The only down side to the goal was that they had a YTS cameraman on Sgorio and he missed it, typical, I guess we all got to start somewhere, look at me!
This was taken before the Aberystwyth vs Rhyl game on Saturday 5th December 2009
Glyndwr's Welsh Premier League record
