2016 Preview
As we count down to kick off at 6pm today, we take a quick look at the 8 teams involved in this year’s competition.
Crowninthians FC
Champions for two years running, the Maesteg Samba boys return with maybe their strongest squad yet and look well capable of keeping the shield for another year. Keeping the majority of their team intact, they’ve added some more quality in last season’s player of the year Kieran Miller and St Pats favourite Ioan Emmanuel. They will take some stopping.
Borussia Teeth
A new team to the league, made up largely of players from the old Sports Centre Utd team of 2014, they could be a surprise package this year. After a rocky start in 2014, they started picking up some points towards the end of that season and will be better for the experience. Look out for Scott Davies, who impressed two years ago.
FC Maesteg
The second of the new teams this year, although also sporting some names from previous seasons, FC should be looking to challenge at the top end of the table with a decent looking squad. They also have the benefit of playing together regularly so shouldn’t take any time to settle. They’ll need to, they face Crowninthians in their opening fixture.
FC Snorkel
The Snorks were the Sports Centre United of 2015 – starting slowly and building towards the end with some impressive wins once they got to grips with the league. They’ll look to start fast this season and should put up a good challenge throughout.
Honey Badger FC
Got off to a great start last season with a win over the champions but didn’t sustain those heights afterwards. Struggled for goals throughout the season despite having some top strikers available in their squad. Pretty much unchanged save for a very good addition in Lee O’Brien, the Badgers will need to be more clinical to improve on last year.
Park Arabs
The Arabs have trimmed their squad down a little this year but they have quality from top to bottom. Having finished second and third in previous seasons, can they go one better and finally finish top? They’ll need star man Lewis Kingdon firing on all cylinders again to have the best chance. Look like serious contenders.
Scouting for Goals
The Scouting boys have been the surprise package in both seasons, taking some big scalps and being one of the hardest teams to play against. Strong, fit and determined, they do not give in easily and have last season’s top scorer Geraint Mizen Dyment ready to fire them up the table again. Will hope not to fade towards the end of the season as with previous years.
The Vaders
Perennial underachievers, The Vaders, will hope to do better this season having swapped their ’superstar’ individuals with a more balanced-looking team approach. They’ll need to be stronger in defence than previous years if they want to put up any type of a challenge. Some old players return to play alongside the usual mainstays.