Latest news with #TheNewSaints
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Williams succeeds Duffy as TNS head coach
The New Saints have appointed Jodie Williams as the club's new Women's head coach following the departure of Shauna joins from Women's Super League side Everton, where she was Under-16s head coach and Under-21s assistant at the club's Pro Game Academy."I have only ever heard good things about The New Saints, so I look forward to starting the new season with the staff and players," Williams said."The launch of our new Girls' Academi programme, supporting the growing pathway for players at the club, means there's lots of hard work ahead, but these are really exciting times to look forward to."Duffy left at the end of the 2024-25 season to join the English Football Association having guided Saints to the Genero Adran Trophy.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Williams succeeds Duffy as TNS head coach
The New Saints have appointed Jodie Williams as the club's new Women's head coach following the departure of Shauna Duffy. Williams joins from Women's Super League side Everton, where she was Under-16s head coach and Under-21s assistant at the club's Pro Game Academy. "I have only ever heard good things about The New Saints, so I look forward to starting the new season with the staff and players," Williams said. "The launch of our new Girls' Academi programme, supporting the growing pathway for players at the club, means there's lots of hard work ahead, but these are really exciting times to look forward to." Duffy left at the end of the 2024-25 season to join the English Football Association having guided Saints to the Genero Adran Trophy.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Nomads boss Disney dreams of European return
Connah's Quay Nomads have appointed long-serving player and captain John Disney as their new manager. The defender announced his retirement from playing following Nomads' 2-1 defeat by The New Saints in the Welsh Cup final earlier this month. But the 33-year-old, who re-joined Nomads for his second spell in 2018, hinted he would be staying on with the club in some capacity. Disney succeeds Billy Paynter who was sacked in April with two games of the Cymru Premier season remaining. "We fell short and our remit for this season is to make sure we get back into Europe and get the club back where it belongs," Disney said. "I'm the person the club has chosen to take that forward and I'm really appreciative of that and really looking forward to it."
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales add ex-TNS keeper Roberts to training squad
Wales have added The New Saints' newly retired former goalkeeper Connor Roberts to their squad for a training camp in 32-year-old revealed last week he had called time on his professional career because of mental health issues after his father took his own Wales head coach Craig Bellamy has added Roberts to a 29-strong travelling party featuring a mixture of senior players and those from the under-21 and under-19 squads."Connor is someone I have been aware of for a while and he has been on the cusp of being involved over the last year. He is a resilient and hard-working person both on and off the pitch," said Bellamy. "What he has achieved in Welsh football is admirable and his retirement will be a big loss to the game in Wales."His call-up is well deserved and he will have a positive impact on camp this week with the rest of the squad. I look forward to working with him and I hope the experience is one that Connor will treasure as he transitions to life outside of playing."Wales have not stipulated exactly what role Roberts will play during the training camp in Alicante, but it could be that he combines playing with former Wales Under-21 international plans to pursue a coaching career, and other players – such as senior Wales captain Aaron Ramsey – have helped the backroom staff on an unofficial basis during periods of who was born in Wrexham, started his career at Everton and, following spells at clubs including Fulham, Cheltenham Town and Bangor City, he joined The New Saints in 2018 and won several trophies there, including the Welsh domestic treble this season."I would like to thank the manager and the FAW [Football Association of Wales] for giving me this incredible opportunity," said Roberts."Thank you to my club, TNS, as without them and our achievements this season, this certainly wouldn't have been possible. I shall cherish every minute and, again, I'm so grateful for this opportunity."Cardiff City forward Tanatswa Nyakuhwa, 19, is another addition to the original group, but David Harrington, Elliot Myles and Joel Cotterill have not are without their Premier League players in Spain because the final round of games will take place on involved in English Football League play-offs are also unavailable for the four-day trip to Alicante.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Roberts retired due to mental health after father's death
The New Saints' former goalkeeper Connor Roberts has revealed he retired from professional football because of mental health issues after his father took his own Roberts, an ex-Stoke City goalkeeper, was found at his home on 2 June, 2023, following difficulties with his mental health. He was 56 years 32, announced in February that he would retire at the end of this season, and went on to help The New Saints win the Welsh domestic an interview with the Football Association of Wales, external to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the Wales C international spoke about his own struggles with mental health while dealing with grief."My father was an inspiration to a lot of people. He managed to play professionally in the game and then to me there's that cliche of being a hero but he was exactly that," said Roberts."Unfortunately he hit depression, he hit low mood where he did struggle with lack of confidence. His anxiety was heightened. His guilt was heightened. That's all natural when you're in depression and people, I think, relate to 'what the hell is happening to me' but that's all normal."Football at the beginning [after he died] was that release but now it's not quite releasing the stress that I feel towards life itself."I wanted to make my father proud every single time I stepped on the pitch. When you lose that impact I just feel like, not 'what's the point?' but that I'm not doing it for the reasons that I want to."I want that chapter to finish and begin my own chapter in terms of coaching." Roberts was born in Wrexham and started his career at Everton, graduating from the academy alongside the likes of Ross spells at clubs such as Fulham, Cheltenham Town and Bangor City, he joined The New Saints in 2018 and won several trophies season, TNS became the first team from the Cymru Premier to qualify for the group stage of a major European played against the likes of Fiorentina and Panathinaikos in the Uefa Conference League and finished the league phase with more saves than any other goalkeeper."I am a huge believer that he [Roberts' father] would've been watching the European games, but they were extremely tough I must say," Roberts said."Craig [Harrison, TNS manager] will vouch for this, I probably broke down after every single European game unfortunately, just because you wish he could be there live in the flesh to witness it and go through that experience with me."I want him to stay with me, of course, but I've told my counsellor and professional people around me that once I do finish and retire I will feel like something releases. "So I'm hoping that does happen and that I do find peace within myself and that can help me get over this journey."Unfortunately I lost my father but I'm so grateful that I've also experienced mental health, if that makes sense, because I can relate that back to the kids that I end up coaching."Roberts made the decision to retire before the end of the campaign, playing his final game earlier this month as TNS won the Welsh Cup to complete a domestic added: "I've probably had two or three tough, tough episodes, scary episodes in fact, and you're just not yourself, you're not thinking clearly. You do feel like something's took over your body but it's important to just drive and be around people that will support you."You would never guess that I was going through what I've been going through, but that means anybody can be having a bit of a rough time."I'm not over that yet, I'm nowhere near over that yet. This is a journey, this is a rollercoaster and it simply hasn't finished."Whoever listens to this interview, you don't need to worry about me because I've got a brilliant support network, but I'm just saying I'm nowhere near out of the journey and I understand there's ups and downs throughout this."If you, or someone you know, have been affected by mental health issues or self-harm, these organisations may be able to help.
