A Town Called Barry's Football Team

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have mentioned before that I have seen Barry Town play through the years in its various guises. But yesterday (Thursday) was the first time this season I could go. In fact had not realised that the match was on until late in the afternoon and as we live near there I thought, why not? For the first time in decades I was going to watch a game at Jenner Park

This was the stand I watched The Game In

And The Other Side

Jenner Park has, as you might notice, a running track around it. Essentially for Welsh League football it has two impressive (and well filled) stands on two sides and essentially nothing by the goals (unless you include the burger bar and the newly refurbished clubhouse).

The other thing you will notice, now I presume that Barry Town had reached the Welsh Premier League, that there was a space for journalists with their laptops to report on the game

Realised as I got there that rather like the first time I saw Sully Sports FC I was underdressed. Though wearing a jumper I should have worn a jacket as well. It was that cold. There was though a fat guy in glasses wearing a red t-shirt, whilst thankfully he did not decide to go the full Newcastle I could nonetheless use him as a distraction if pulled up on my pneumonia enticing effort.

Barry Town's opponents were Carmarthen Town. Now Carmarthen is, for those who don't know a very strong Welsh speaking area, and yet when both teams entered the pitch the Barry Town song turned out to be "Yma O Hyd" a Welsh Language ballad which is very popular amongst Welsh speakers but I've never heard it before out of any context "Cymru". The fact that Barry Town, of South Wales uses it as "their tune" was both surprising as it was impressive.

And so the match begins

I then heard the sound of the Barry Town horn blasting from the other stand. So irritating when watching a game in Bridgend when they were playing but somehow comforting here. Traditional.

Then disaster. A fan dropped his Thermos. He wouldn't open the flask afterwards so that we would all know whether his drink was mixed with glass but he covered himself with a headscarf for the rest of the game.

Barry Town made most of the pressure early on. There was a cross which missed a Barry Boot by a hairs length in front of the goal. The coaching staff seemed to have done their homework realising like atheists Carmarthen didn't like crosses. So after fifteen minutes they scored. It was Barry's number seven. More about him later.



After Barry scored Carmarthen in their Argentinian style strip, became less messy and closer to Messi a few minutes after going down they equalised. The goal was scored by Jordan Wood, but it was the Barry defence who parted like the red sea as his shot went along the ground.

Soon after that a Carmarthen Town player raced down from their side of the pitch to another passing Barry's players along the way. Were the West Walians so inspired by their Argentinian strip that they were going to score a goal Maradona style? Well no. Still it was an impressive effort and deserved a score.

Floodlights worked

As a quick aside can I say again that there are few things that make me feel old than match officials who are younger than you. And in this case, not only are they younger but mock you further with trendy hairstyles.

On the half hour number seven of Barry Town scores again. That man's luck was so in he must have played for Shamrock Rovers.

This second goal seemed to have flustered the West Walians. After an overhit pass a Carmathen Town fan shouted "Calm Your Wellie". A phrase I shall use from now on pretending it's my own.

The first half then ended 2-1 to the home team. To be honest the first half hour of the second half didn't match to the previous forty five minutes. Then Barry Town scored a third goal. The number ten after two attempts putting the ball into the net.

And lucky number seven? He provided the cross.

The third goal seemed to have changed the Carmathen Town players. All of a sudden they seemed to have thought that they were not playing on a football pitch but an MMA cage judging by the tackles they threw in. In one particular case three west Walians bundled a Barry man to the floor. No foul according to the referee.

"You're a blind idiot" screamed one fan to the official. He of course should apologise for the remark. The referee was not a blind idiot......just an idiot.

Still it didn't stop Barry being the winners over the West Walians. It was an enjoyable evening and next time I come along (probably Tuesday week) I'll try to be better dressed.

Thank you Barry Town United AFC.....

....it was fun

Until the next time.