Airbus keen to go one step better in big Cymru North season
While a clutch of players have agreed to remain with the club, Airbus have announced the acquisition of Mason Blackwell-Jones.
The 23-year-old joins from Bangor 1876, who were dramatically relegated by Ruthin Town in the closing minutes of last season.
Blackwell-Jones had spells at Manchester City, Wrexham and Stoke City Academies, before joining Rhyl, where he made his debut in senior football at the age of 17.
Since then, he has had spells at Prestatyn Town, Llandudno and Bangor.
He told the club's website: 'The attraction comes from the way they play, how professional they are on and off the field.
'At the end of the day, they want to win trophies and be successful and that's the main reason that has brought me here today.'
Team boss Allen, who led Airbus to three cups during a successful end to last season, added: 'Mason has been someone we have been tracking for a while, and he will bring attacking flair to us and high energy.'
Centre back Sam Ricketts will remain with the Wingmakers for a third season and he said: 'Buzzing to be staying on at Airbus FC next season. Had a great year with the boys and can't wait to kick on again."
Also committing themselves for what is sure to be a big season are Oli Lanceley, Tyler McManus, James Davies and Kieran Evans.
Lanceley, one of the club's Academy products, said: 'I'm really happy to have signed on again next season. It's a great club that I'm proud to be a part of.
'Our main objective will be to secure promotion to the Welsh Prem and I believe we can make it happen.'
McManus is another player to come through the club's hugely successful Academy and he said: 'Extremely happy to have agreed another contract with Skip and the club. I think this will be my 11th season with Airbus now, and I'm just excited to get going.
'Being here for so long has meant Airbus is my second home, and the family I have around the club is too good to leave.
'I will be trying for a much better season on a personal note as I know last season was below my standards in terms of assists especially.
'However, for the team, it's about winning even more than last year, and it's something myself and the team know we can do.'
Davies had his best campaign in front of goal last season with 17 goals in all competitions and Evans, set for his third season at the club, said: 'Happy to get another year sorted with Airbus. I didn't have any thoughts of going anywhere else so I'm happy Skip and Chappers both wanted me to stay also.
'I'm looking forward to this season and I think we'll be up there challenging for the league and the cups again as we did last year, just hoping we can go one better and believe we can with the squad we have!'
Goalkeeper Keighan Jones will again be taking his place between the sticks when the new season gets underway.
Former Holywell number one Jones said: 'It was an easy decision to stay. Airbus is a great club, has great coaching staff and people behind the scenes.
'We had a great season last year, so hopefully we can repeat what we have done and go one better in the league.'
Joe Palmer, George Peers and vice-captain Jordan Evans are also remaining on board.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
The forgotten Wales and Lions star ready to spark back into life with new challenge
The forgotten Wales and Lions star ready to spark back into life with new challenge The Wales prop will be a key figure for the Dragons this season Wyn Jones (C) is at the Dragons this season (Image: © Huw Evans Picture Agency) The 2024/25 season was one to forget for the Dragons, but there are credible reasons to believe the Welsh club will be significantly more competitive this time around. There were a significant number of areas in need of fixing but none more important than the front five. Head coach Filo Tiatia and his support staff took great care to identify the right players not only to improve the club's on-field performance but to strengthen the culture. One of these players is former Wales prop Wyn Jones, who will be crucial to the club's chances of competing this season. The former Scarlets star returns to Welsh rugby after a season at English giants Harlequins. Jones will combine playing rugby with working at his farm back home in Llandovery while he and his wife have recently welcomed their first son, Lewis Wyn, into the world. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "As you get older and you know your transition out of the game is getting closer," Jones tells WalesOnline. "For me it was about coming home. Article continues below "We've just had our first baby, so it was nice to be able to live at home and play rugby while having family and home comforts around us. "That was best for me and the family. I help out a lot with my parents and keep an eye on the farm back home. "With the little one being born it's nice to be closer to the family. "When you are younger you never think about life after retirement, but when you cross 30 you think okay I'm probably getting closer to the end. "You have a different outlook once you get over the 30 mark and you have to look at the future as well." Back on Jones' farm in Llandovery his family has around 400 acres of land which comprises 100 cattle. "I'll probably go back to the farm and take that over," Jones tells WalesOnline when asked what he'll do when he eventually retires. "I'll be trying to keep my hand in there while still playing rugby. "Rugby still comes first as it always does but when I was in London it was more difficult to keep my eyes on things and keep my hand in more than it is now. "I literally do anything on the farm. "If I'm tired and need a day off it will be lighter duties if anything at all and some days when I'm tired after training if there's jobs that need doing I'll help out. "It could be anything from cattle work to sheep work to tractor work. There's a range of different things all depending on the time of year really. I think it gives me a good balance. "If you have a bad day in training you can go out and do something on the farm and completely switch off. On days off it helps me switch off from rugby. "That's probably been the key for me having something else to focus on when you've had a good day in rugby or won a grand slam, there's always something that's gone wrong on the farm to bring you back down to earth - or vice versa. "It kind of brings you back down to earth. Rugby will come first whatever happens and that's always been the case or it never would have worked." But as Jones says rugby comes first and he will undoubtedly play a key role for the Dragons this season. The 48-cap Wales international who toured with the British & Irish Lions to South Africa in 2021 will bring a hard edge and scrummaging prowess to the Dragons front-row. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "I'll bring a bit of experience," Jones tells WalesOnline. "They've got a young squad here. "They've brought in the likes of myself, Dillon (Lewis), Thomas Young, Seb (Davies) and Levi (Douglas). "Last season they were winning games at 60 minutes and then it slipped away from them. "It's just adding that little bit of experience and trying to get those games over the line to get more wins under our belt. "A lot of recruitment has been done in the front five and the pack especially." Tiatia's side recorded only two wins last season but they should expect a better return this time around after an aggressive recruitment drive. The likes of Jones, Young and Lewis, among others, will be tasked with improving the competitiveness of the Dragons pack, while they will also complement some of the club's bright young talent in the shape of Jordan Morris, Brodie Coghlan, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths and Nick Thomas, among others. "A lot of recruitment has been done in the front five and the pack especially," he said. "I've been very impressed with the young boys coming through. "You've got Dylan and Jordan, two young looseheads who have been training really well. I've been really impressed with those two. "They've got plenty of questions to ask which is great and hopefully I can help them along as well. "I've also been impressed with Brodie, the hooker. "There's a lot of good young youngsters here but they need a few years to get some more game time under their belts and some more time in the environment. "It's looking very positive and I truly believe we can be competitive this year." Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Times are tough in Welsh rugby at the moment with the Welsh Rugby Union working behind the scenes to put a new structure in place for the professional game. A reduction of professional clubs is a possibility but Jones insists what goes on in the boardroom will not affect the team's performance this season. "It was refreshing going to England and not having to go to crisis meetings!," joked Jones. "It's above our pay grade. We turn up and do our professional job as best as we can. "We just leave people above us to sort it out. It's probably been going on for too long I'll be honest and it needs to get sorted out sooner rather than later. "It's above my pay grade so I'll just leave them to it. There has been a lot of change at the Dragons this year. "I've been very impressed with the training facilities, the staff and everything around the place having been at the Scarlets for years and knowing where the other regions train. "This is by far the best training facility and everything is here. We can't use that as an excuse. It's very positive here. "I think the coaches are really good and I really think we can take strides forward." Article continues below Jones played a straight bat when asked about the prospect of a Wales recall, but if he can help turn the Dragons pack around a phone call from Steve Tandy is not out of the question.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Reuters
Boeing's July aircraft deliveries tumble 20% from June, trailing Airbus
SEATTLE, Aug 12 (Reuters) - U.S. planemaker Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab said on Tuesday that it delivered 48 airplanes in July, down from 60 in June but five more than a year earlier. It was the most deliveries by the company in July since 2017, when it delivered 58 aircraft. Boeing continued to fall further behind European rival Airbus ( opens new tab in deliveries this year. Airbus handed over 67 jets in July despite having a growing number of aircraft unable to be delivered because it lacks enough engines. That was down from 77 in July 2024, but it lifted Airbus' year-to-date tally to 373, compared to Boeing's 328. Airbus is also leading the U.S. planemaker in single-aisle jet deliveries, with 286 A320neo family jets compared to Boeing's 243 737 MAX jets. About 66% of all commercial jets are single-aisle planes. Boeing delivered 37 of its best-selling 737 MAX jets in July, 20 of which were for aircraft lessors and 17 for airlines. Boeing also handed over eight 787s, two 777 freighters and one 767 freighter. Airbus delivered five regional A220 jets, 54 of its cash-cow A320neo family, two A330s and six A350s. Aircraft deliveries are closely tracked by Wall Street because planemakers collect much of their payment when they hand over jets to customers. Boeing booked 31 gross orders in July, which included 30 for 737 MAX jets and one for a 787. The Republic of Iraq canceled one 787 order, though it still has seven 787s on order. By the end of July, the aerospace giant had received 699 new orders this year, or 655 net orders after adjusting for cancellations and conversions. Its order backlog was 5,968 after adjusting for U.S. accounting standards. Airbus has struggled with delayed deliveries from its largest engine supplier, CFM International, co-owned by GE Aerospace (GE.N), opens new tab and Safran ( opens new tab, but delays have spread to its RTX-owned (RTX.N), opens new tab rival Pratt & Whitney in the wake of a recent strike, the European planemaker said. Airbus still projects that it will deliver 820 jets by the end of the year, a 7% rise from last year. Boeing has not given guidance for annual deliveries. The U.S. company is working to stabilize production after a mid-air panel blowout on a new 737 MAX in January 2024 exposed widespread production quality and safety problems.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Leader Live
We're all set for a busy midweek of Ardal League action
Rhos make the short trip to neighbours Penycae having drawn all three of their opening league games. 'Since joining Rhos, my continued aim with the squad is to be difficult to beat and over the first games that has certainly been the case,' said Jones. 'But our next move is to start converting them to victories - arguably, we should have won all based on chances created.' Hosts Penycae have had a brilliant start to the season and are joint leaders alongside Llanuwchllyn. 'Penycae away is just another game in a competitive division and as with all fixtures, we're looking forward to it.' Llanuwchllyn are top on goal difference and they host a Bow Street who will also be challenging for top spot as they have done in previous campaigns. The other derby clash is at Llangollen Town where Cefn Albion are the visitors. Lex XI will be confident of chalking up their first win of the season as they host bottom-of-the-table Llanrhaeadr. Other fixtures: Builth Wells v Knighton; Kerry v Radnor Valley; Llandrindod Wells v Llanfair Utd. In the North West League, Llay Welfare head to Mynydd Isa after caning Connah's Quay Town 5-0. 'We took the positives we needed to build on and implemented them to get our reward,' said Llay boss Neill Hughes. 'Ellis Hickey returns and Scotty Swords is available for the first time this season. It's a huge game for both sides as both are looking to stabilise after a mixed start to the season.' The only way is up for Connah's Quay Town who sit bottom of the table ahead of the home clash against St Asaph City, who are also pointless. Town manager Gary McConnell pulled no punches and said: 'It was a very poor performance on Saturday. Not taking anything away from Llay as I thought they were excellent. We started fairly well but it was one-way traffic once Llay broke the deadlock. 'I am looking for a big reaction from the lads against St Asaph. They know that Saturday's performance was not good enough and they are hurting from it. 'St Asaph have not had a bright start either and with their manager leaving last week.' With leaders Bangor City 1876 playing tomorrow night, a whole host of sides can grab top spot tonight. Llangefni Town are favourites to do that if they beat Penmaenmawr Phoenix at home. Third-placed NFA head to Trearddur Bay while Prestatyn Town, in fourth place, are at home to Llanrwst United. Porthmadog, who also boast a 100 per cent record, host Felinheli while Bethesda Athletic go to Pwllheli.
