Clint Jones

Ruabon Rovers

In this blog, we have ventured beyond our home county’s borders of Flintshire once again to look at other clubs competing in the Welsh football pyramid and see how they are performing during their respective 2023-24 season. Therefore, our focus has switched to the neighbouring Wrexham County Borough for the first time in a while and we interviewed the fourth-tier club Ruabon Rovers.

We previously interviewed Ruabon Rovers back in 2020 when they were first establishing themselves as a new club and waiting to compete in the 2020-21 season (which sadly never happened due to COVID-19 restrictions), so we also wanted to discover how they are progressing four years after our initial discussion. The link to that 2020 interview can be found here:

https://the94thminute.wordpress.com/2020/09/26/new-kids-on-the-block-talking-to-new-clubs-in-the-north-east-of-wales/

Club Information

Introduction

Ruabon Rovers Football Club is a North East Welsh club situated in the ancient village of Ruabon / Rhiwabon, located roughly centrally in the Wrexham County Borough. Positioned on the Afon Eitha (a tributary of the River Dee / Afon Dyfrdwy), and with a population of approximately 4300 inhabitants, the village is five miles southwest of the city of Wrexham / Wrecsam and just over six miles east of the beautiful tourist town of Llangollen. The village has great infrastructural connections for the area with the important A483 trunk road bypassing the settlement just to the east whilst it also possesses a train station on the Shrewsbury-Chester railway line, linking it with the two major conurbations. The name of the village originates from “Rhiw Fabon“, meaning “(Saint) Mabon’s slope/hillside” with the local church being initially dedicated to the Celtic saint.

[MAIN IMAGE: Ruabon Rovers Facebook]

Evidence has been found of people living in the locality of Ruabon since the Bronze Age whilst the village is overlooked by an Iron Age hillfort. Due to its location in the Marches region, Ruabon was on the frontline between the boundaries of the Welsh and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, so much so, there are remains of Offa’s Dyke / Clawdd Offa on the western outskirts of Ruabon, whilst traces of the earlier Wat’s Dyke / Clawdd Wat are found on the eastern side of the village. However, the village grew in importance in the 18th and 19th centuries (in line with the rest of the Dee Valley region) with the discovery of large deposits of iron, coal, and clay that resulted in many iron works, coal mines, and brick and clay works being established in or around the village. Ironworks existed in nearby Acrefair until the late 1880s, whilst the coal collieries continued into the 20th century until the last one (Bersham) was closed in December 1986. The clay industry still continues to operate to this day with the Dennis Company becoming world-famous for its tiles and bricks. Certainly, the uniquely deeper red-coloured bricks are synonymous with the village with many important buildings in North East Wales (and beyond) being constructed from the identifiable bricks. These unique bricks are depicted on the football club’s badge.

Ruabon does have a special place in Welsh football as it can be regarded as the ‘birthplace of pêl-droed‘. The FAW’s founder and the “Father of Welsh Football” Llewelyn Kenrick was born, raised, and died in the village, and it was within the Wynnstay Arms Hotel in Ruabon where the originally named “Cambrian Football Association“, that had been formed a few months prior in Wrexham for formalising the arrangements for their debut match against Scotland, was formally called the “Football Association of Wales” with its constitution drawn up, as well as appointing Kenrick as its first chairman. In addition, six players of that inaugural Welsh international team (including Kenrick) that played against Scotland in March 1876 were either born, raised, and/or lived in Ruabon, meaning that the village was at the forefront of those pioneering days of Welsh football. Ruabon would provide many more players for the international team over the decades with its most famous son, the former Manchester United, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Welsh striker and later manager, Mark Hughes being born and raised in the village and is Ruabon Rovers’ current president.

The committee members of Ruabon Rovers with a flag commemorating Llewelyn Kenrick.
[IMAGE: Ruabon Rovers Facebook]

Because of Ruabon’s huge significance to the early days of Welsh football, it is no surprise that a club from the village played in the first edition of the Welsh Cup in the 1877-78 season, and it was a name that is famous within Welsh football. In October 1872, Ruabon Rovers were founded by brothers David and George Thomson (who would play in the inaugural match against Scotland) before it amalgamated with Plasmadoc and Ruabon Volunteers (with help from Kenrick) to form Druids Football Club in 1876. They would become one of the first ‘super clubs’ in Welsh football by winning five Welsh Cups between 1880 and 1886, and eight Welsh Cups in total, with their last coming in 1904. The club would later merge with nearby Acrefair United to form Druids United in 1927, before merging again with Cefn Albion to form Cefn Druids in 1992. Due to recent frustrating events involving their chairman, Cefn Druids are currently not playing in Welsh football this season.

Mark Hughes, a native of Ruabon.

For all of its historic lineage and the village’s extensive influence in Welsh football, the current Ruabon Rovers were founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to reintroduce senior football back to the village. They currently play at The Rec, sandwiched between the High Street and the A483 dual carriageway. Ruabon were scheduled to play in the fifth-tier North East Wales League Championship for the 2020-21 season before they had to delay their debut until the following season due to no football below the Cymru Premier being played in Wales that season as a result of pandemic restrictions set by the Senedd. Thankfully, they were able to compete in the 2021-22 campaign where they exceeded initial predictions and finished the season in third position, just missing out on the league title by six points. However, Rovers improved on their debut season by clinching the 2022-23 Championship title the following season. After having accumulated 52 points from their 20 league games, they won the title on goal difference ahead of the unbeaten runners-up Caerwys, although Ruabon’s goal difference of +107 (having scored 136 goals in 20 league games) was vastly superior to Wys’ equivalent of +52 to send the title to The Rec and add another chapter to the long legacy of Ruabon-based clubs.

The 2022-23 NEWFL Championship table. Ruabon Rovers won the title on goal difference.
[IMAGE: Non-League Matters]

Ruabon Rovers currently plays in the North East Wales Football League (NEWFL) Premier Division, a fourth-tier league in the Welsh football pyramid which covers the northeastern region of Wales: Flintshire, Wrexham Borough County, and eastern Denbighshire. They were promoted into the league after winning last season’s NEWFL Championship title (as mentioned previously) meaning that the 2023-24 campaign is the club’s first foray into fourth-tier football.

Location of Ruabon Rovers’ ground in Wrexham County Borough.

Recent Form

DateCompetitionOpposition (h/a)Result
24th FebNEWFL PremierCorwen (h)2-4
3rd FebNEWFL PremierCastell Alun Colts (h)0-4
27th JanNEWFL PremierCoedpoeth United (a)2-3
20th JanNEWFL Mike Beech TrophyCaerwys (a)1-2
13th JanNEWFL PremierCorwen (a)1-3
The last five matches of Ruabon Rovers (as of 2nd March 2024)

At the time of writing, Ruabon Rovers were sadly situated at the bottom position in the twelve-team NEWFL Premier Division. From their thirteen league games played, they had achieved two wins, one draw, and ten defeats to accumulate seven points in their league campaign and leave them four points behind Coedpoeth United in eleventh place.

The 2023-24 NEWFL Premier Division table (as of 2nd March 2024).
[IMAGE: Non-League Matters]

After earning promotion, it is perhaps no surprise that Ruabon Rovers has found their debut season in the NEWFL Premier Division a challenging experience, although it has been far tougher than they would have expected as they’re situated at the bottom of the table. The season started brightly for the newly promoted side as they earned four points from their opening two league fixtures – an action-packed 5-5 draw with fellow promoted side Caerwys and a surprise 2-0 home victory over the defending league champions FC Queens Park in August. Alas, their initial confidence was dented when they agonisingly lost another high-scoring match, this time against Greenfield at the start of September. Despite going 3-0 up within the first half an hour through goals from Leighton Kendrick (now at Cefn Albion), Josh Hughes, and Kyle Evans, they lost their goalkeeper Oliver Heard-Edwards to a red card in the 27th minute which changed the complexion of the game and resulted in them losing the tie 3-6 to the Abbeymen. That first defeat would be the start of a six-game losing streak in the league and saw the reality of Tier 4 football bite Ruabon.

Their poor league form was temporarily halted in the middle of December by inflicting another defeat over the defending champions to complete the league double over FC Queens Park – this time heading to The Dunks and achieving a superb 4-0 away victory with the goals coming from James Jones and a Ben Summers hat-trick. Unfortunately for Rovers, their poor form has continued since that victory as they have yet to win a game in 2024 and are currently on another six-game losing streak in all competitions despite recent encouraging performances. In their previous league fixture against league leaders Corwen, they initially found themselves 0-3 down in the match. However, a three-minute brace from Andrew Swarbrick in the last ten minutes of the game gave them confidence that they could potentially snatch an unlikely yet needed point. Sadly, their hopes were dashed in injury time when Corwen scored a decisive fourth goal to seal the 4-2 victory and ensure Ruabon stayed rooted to the bottom of the table at the time of the interview.

Ruabon Rovers have had some positives in the cup competitions, especially in the NEWFL Mike Beech Memorial Trophy and the FAW Amateur Trophy. They managed to progress out of the group stage of the former competition after finishing second in a group alongside Flintshire-based sides Castell Alun Colts and CPD Sychdyn with four points. They were awarded a 3-0 victory over Sychdyn before achieving a battling 2-2 draw with the Colts that saw Chris Bennion and James Jones score late in the game to share the points in the tie. In the round of 16, they came up against Caerwys once again and were knocked out by their recent rivals to a 1-2 scoreline – Mark Williams getting the consolation goal.

In the FAW Trophy, they started their cup run with a 3-1 defeat of Penyffordd Lions, before knocking out Aston Park Rangers 2-1 in the second round. Coedpoeth United were comprehensively outplayed in their third-round tie, beating their relegation rivals 8-1, in a match that saw them 4-1 up after just 23 minutes, and enacting revenge for a league game in mid-September which saw the reverse scoreline! Heartbreakingly for Rovers’ fans, their exciting cup run ended in the fourth round of the secondary national cup competition at the hands of La Liga’s favourite Welsh club, Llanfairpwll. Connor Kendrick gave Ruabon the lead before they found themselves 1-3 down to the Môn side. However, an 83rd-minute strike from Kian Hughes and an injury-time equaliser from Chris Bennion sent the game to a penalty shootout. Even with their late heroics in leveling the match, Ruabon’s good fortune vanished during the lottery of the spotkicks, as they exited the competition 7-8 on penalties.

Despite the ever-brilliant social media graphics from Ruabon Rovers, they lost the tie on penalties despite a gusty comeback!
[IMAGE: @RuabonRovers]

Questions to Ruabon Rovers

Q. Firstly, how do you think this season has gone for Ruabon Rovers in the North East Wales Football League Premier Division so far?

It’s been a tough season for us! We are a newly promoted team, and with some very impressive established sides in the NEWFL Premier, it’s been a learning curve. We find ourselves at the wrong end of the table but recent performances have been encouraging and doesn’t everyone like a ‘great escape’!

The location of the 12 clubs in North East Wales competing in the 2023-24 North East Wales Football League Premier Division.

Q. What has been the best performance or result from the club so far this season?

The 4-0 win away at Queen’s Park was really satisfying, an impressive team performance on the back of some really tough results. It gave the whole club, squad, and fans a massive boost!

Q. Who do you think have been the standout players so far, and is there any individual player who you think the readers should keep an eye on this season?

There have been plenty of great performances this season. James Jones, Ben Summers, Josh Hughes, and Chris Bennion have all impressed throughout the season. One player to watch is Kian Hughes, only 17 years old and an exciting prospect.

[IMAGES: Ruabon Rovers Facebook]

Q. What are the club’s aims for this season, and likewise, what are the long-term aims for the club?

League survival. Our short-term aim has to be to remain in the league if we can. Our long-term ambition is to become an established outfit in Tier 4, and everything we do on and off the pitch is towards achieving this goal.

Q. During our previous interview in 2020, you stated the club was “starting to unite the community” – how have you further improved that relationship between the club and the local community during that time, and are there other plans to help the club firmly secure that partnership?

The local support has been unbelievably good! When we looked like we were getting promoted last season, we needed to erect a pitch barrier on The Rec to meet the Tier 4 ground criteria. Through fundraising locally, we were able to raise over £8,000 and get this project off the ground. Local businesses have also been amazing in supporting the team. Week in and week out, in all weather conditions, we get a good regular crowd supporting the team. It’s lovely to see people of all ages enjoying the game and it is this positive impact that football can bring to the area, which had been lacking in Ruabon for a number of years!

Q. Recently, a container unit was installed on The Rec as part of ongoing improvements on the ground – how did that come about, and what other ground improvements will you be aiming for in the future?

One of the logistical issues with The Rec is that the sports pavilion is a shared community building making space a premium. If we were to grow as a club, we needed a storage space of our own. With the help of the FAW Cymru Football Foundation, we were able to part-fund the container which has helped massively with the matchday setup. The committee keeps planning for the future and we are committed to improving the football facilities in Ruabon. This summer, we are planning a project to build two permanent dugouts on The Rec.

Q. Returning to our previous interview, one of your initial goals was to establish both reserve and youth teams – how has that process developed?

This has been a stop-and-start project. We had hopes for an U13s side to be established but due to a lack of support, this had to be paused. We are very positive about having an U15s side ready for next season, and anyone willing to help out is more than welcome to get in touch with the club.

There is a big potential for youth teams to be playing on The Rec in the near future.
[IMAGE: Ruabon Rovers Facebook]

Q. As this season is your fourth season as a club, what important things have you learned during that time to establish the club on firm foundations, and what would you say is the best piece of advice for anyone wanting to establish their own football club in Welsh football?

Learn COMET quickly! Also, get to grips with all NEWFA rules and cup rules as you can fall into traps and very rapidly be fined for it. Additionally, be prepared for a rollercoaster of a ride! There are many laughs, successes, and fun along the way but there are also downs and disappointments. It’s all part of the game we love!

If you get to grips with rules, you can be successful!
[IMAGE: Ruabon Rovers Facebook]

Q. Finally, if someone was considering coming to Ruabon to watch or follow the team for the first time, what do you think is the club’s greatest asset to encourage them to return?

Community. The club has a great vibe around it, and if you head over to the Cons Club, you’ll find there are club memorabilia and pictures from all the seasons and many locals willing to discuss the recent Rovers performances with you. We always encourage people to come and visit the village. It has a fascinating football history and has been at the heart of Welsh football for over 150 years!

Always a warm welcome at the ‘Birthplace of Welsh Football’!
[IMAGE: Ruabon Rovers Facebook]

A massive thank you to the North East Wales Football League Premier Division side Ruabon Rovers for answering our questions on their 2023-24 season so far and their future goals. We wish the club all the very best of luck for the rest of the season, the whole of 2024, and the seasons ahead! Remember you can find Ruabon’s social media accounts in the links towards the top of the blogpage.

If you have any comments, suggestions, reactions, or even your own answers to the above questions, please write them in the comments box below. Likewise, you can either email us at the94thmin@gmail.com or send a message at @The94thMin on Twitter/X.

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