The Causeway (Undy Athletic)

Welcome to the latest installment of the Gloucester Groundhopper.

For this chapter, we headed back across the border to Wales for some Ardal South East action as Undy Athletic took Brecon Corries at The Causeway.

It's All In The Name

The village name is of uncertain origin. Previous spellings include Wondy, as noted by William Camden in 1610. The nickname of the club is The Tiger.

Some Notable Former Players

Michael Flynn

Jamie Coombes

A History Lesson With The Gloucester Groundhopper

Undy A.F.C. was created in 1947 by Mr. Joe Champion, Mr. Lambert Bird, Mr. Harry Hodges, and others. Undy Church Hall contained changing rooms and a tin bath for washing. The club's colours were black and white back then.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of support, the club was dissolved in 1962. Between 1947 and 1962, the Argus Shield was awarded three times.

Mr. John King, Mr. Percy Pope, Mr. Malcolm Pope, our president, Mr. J. Smith, and tote organiser Mr. Bob Scrivens were among the driving forces behind the club's reformation in 1970, with the tote keeping the club afloat for more than 10 years.

From 1970 to 1981, the Undy Football Club did not have team managers; instead, a selection committee decided the sides each week. Mr. Dave Segal was hired as the club's first manager in 1981. The tin bath in the church hall became obsolete when modern changing facilities were erected on the playing grounds in 1974.

In the mid-1980s, Undy United F.C. took over control of the Playing Fields from the Undy Playing Fields Association, changing their name from Undy United to Undy A.F.C. The football club poured its first pint of beer in its new clubhouse after obtaining its liquor licence in 1992. The project to expand the clubhouse and provide modern changing facilities began in 1996, and Undy's new pitch was completed in 2005. During this period, their colours evolved into the Red that is today worn by the entire team.

Since its restoration, the club has won a number of East Gwent trophies, including the Argus shield for the second time. Undy won the Gwent County Motors Cup in 2004, after being admission to the Gwent County League, and with ongoing growth of the first team, they became a well-established Gwent County Division One side, with their sights set on a position in the Welsh League. Our managers at the time included Alan Lancaster, Wayne Jones, and John Watkins. Simultaneously, the club established itself as a major force in youth football, with one of the largest junior sections in South Wales and a reputation for hosting prestigious tournaments.

Finally, owing to the managerial team of Mark Crook and Jason Davies, Undy were awarded Division One Champions and promoted to the Welsh Football League in the 2010/2011 season. Their time in The Welsh League was productive, as they won the Third Division and advanced to Division Two in their first season. Over the next three seasons, still led by Mark Crook, the team came agonisingly close to another promotion, missing out by a single point each time.

However, under Laurence Owen's management and with Mark Crook as Director of Football, Undy achieved their ambition and were promoted to the Welsh Football League Division One in 2015/16. This season also featured the debut of the club's first international player, Gibraltar international Jamie Coombes, who joined in February 2017. Laurence Owen announced his resignation at the end of the 2017-18 season after 32 years in club management; he was replaced by Reserve team manager Jason Pritchard.

Honours

🏆 Gwent County League Division One (Winners: 2010–11)

🏆 Welsh Football League Division Three (Winners: 2011–12)

Matchday: Undy Athletic 5-5 Brecon Corinthians

The first point I'd want to address is the club's social media communication (or lack thereof). The club's Twitter (or X) account is virtually non-existent, and I've attempted to contact the club to learn more about it (for example, why the team's nickname is The Tiger), but I've received no response. There has also been no information on the game. I understand that the club may believe that a big social media presence is unnecessary, but it has been pretty irritating (especially as there have been some discrepancies between the real kick off time for their game versus Brecon Corries- with the Futbology app saying it kicked off at 2:30pm, but the Cymru Football app saying it kicks off at 2pm). The fi

That being said, when we got in contact on Facebook, the club have been very informative ever since, including informing us of a planned pitch inspection and that the game had passed said inspection. Above all, when we arrived at the ground, we were given a warm reception. Those on the gates were chatty and engaging, asking where we had travelled from and thanked us for visiting. We were then thanked again over the tannoy system and wished another warm welcome.

Arriving at the ground, there is free parking available, although it is limited so an early arrival is recommended if nobody wants to be disappointed. There is a clubhouse at the ground, which was showing the early kickoff... this time Luton Town vs Chelsea. One thing I would say, is the bar smelled unbelievably like chlorine, to the point where it was almost intolerable, although not to the point where I would discourage people from going there. It was a lovely clubhouse run by welcoming people.

After this, we paid the £5 entry fee... and the £4 for the pin badge, and entered the ground. As mentioned before, the people at the club could not do enough for us, and were really interested in our travels, most notably to our ones in Wales. As I always say, it's great to feel appreciated and wanted at a game.

The ground is a decent one for the level it is at, albeit not the most spectacular we have visited. There are a couple of stands that can house a fair few fans, and there is a cafe that serves food. The food ranges from burgers and hotdogs, and a few cans of pop. All for a decent price (even more decent if you wait until the second half because they half the price). Again, at the level the club is at, the range is okay, but it's not the most amazing range I have ever seen.

Overall, the ground is a decent one to visit, with a warm welcome and a decent day out guaranteed. We were also treated to ten goals, which was an added bonus. This is one to recommend to any groundhoppers who are looking a ground in Wales.

Teamsheet

Undy Athletic

Manager: Mark Crook

Jack Harris

Henry Mollard

Oliver Smith

James Gidney (c)

Jack Morgan

Daniel Tozer

Thomas Wright

Harris Thomas

Sam Broadribb ⚽️

Gareth Cullimore ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️

Bradley Hanbury ⚽️

Substitutes

Frank Barnard

Elliott George

Sam Burden

Scott Rodway

Brecon Corries

Manager: Damien Daniels

Declan Gaydon

Corey Evans ⚽️

Jordan Baker (c)

Jack Bain

Nyle Slade ⚽️

Joel Evans ⚽️ ⚽️

Craig Evans

Joe Cooper ⚽️

Mitchell Davies

Jordan Cooper

Luke Roughley

Substitutes

Austin Mellor

James Jeffreys

Andrew Hammett

Damien Daniels

The game started massively in favour of Undy who dominated on the ball and were playing some slick passing football.

The deadlock was broken three minutes in, when a cross from the left by Daniel Tozer was headed into the bottom right corner by Gareth Cullimore.

The lead was doubled in the 19th minute when Ollie Smith played Gareth Cullimore through on goal, who then rounded the goalkeeper and tapped into an empty net to make it 2-0.

11 minutes later it was 2-1, when some poor defending allowed the ball to land at the feet of Brecon player Joe Cooper who finished past Undy goalkeeper, Jack Harris.

After that it was 3-1. Some poor more defending, but this time from Brecon allowed the ball to loop up, and Sam Broadribb managed to chip the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net.

It was 3-2 soon after, this time scored by Joel Evans, who raced through on goal, and finished low past Jack Harris.

There was time for one more goal (are you keeping up?) before half time, this time for Undy, who made it 4-2. Some lovely play in the middle of the park, allowed Brad Hanbury to receive the ball on the edge of the box, and he curled the ball into the top right corner to give Undy a two goal lead at half time.

Brecon were back in it soon after half time, when Nyle Slade pretty much replicated Brad Hanbury’s goal in the first half,  curling into the top right corner.

Soon after, Cullimore was played through on goal again by Ollie Smith, and the striker finished low past the goalkeeper to make it 5-3.

Joel Evans got another goal to make it 5-4 soon after, but it wasn’t until the 86th minute when the equaliser came. Corey Evans was fouled  in the box and a penalty was awarded, and Evans stepped up and fired high into the top corner to make it 5-5.

That was how it finished in a dramatic and entertaining game in Wales.

Scores On The Doors

Atmosphere: 3.5/10

Food and Drink: 5/10

Stadium: 5/10

Welcome: 8/10

Overall Experience: 7/10

GG

A full album is available at the Gloucester Groundhopper Facebook Page, available here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078510199252