Meet the Manager: Richard Owen (Trearddur Bay Bulls FC)

Richard Owen (left) receives the Anglesey League Manager of the Season award for 2018-19 for his successes with champions Bryngwran Bulls. Presenting the prize is league chairman Dennis Bryant

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your football background

I have no real football background (playing wise) apart from short spells at Valley and Bryngwran Bulls in my early teens.

I was more of a watcher than a player growing up watching the old Bryngwran Bulls FC under John Rowlands of Holyhead with some fantastic players on show.

You were involved in a bold summer move in disbanding Bryngwran Bulls and amalgamating with Trearddur Bay United to form Trearddur Bay Bulls. How has the project has progressed so far?

The project came along quickly.

After our (Bryngwran Bulls) failure to meet the Gwynedd League criteria on certain aspects, it was a make or break for me and a few others as another season in the Anglesey wasn’t a option. The first meeting went well and the merger was perfect for both parties.

The first few months have flown by and we have a fantastic committee working well together. Before it was only 2 or 3 of us doing everything.

What has been Bulls’ best and least impressive performance of the season up to now?

Best performance for me has to be the Menai Bridge game at home – our first home game facing last year’s champions. We went one-up and held on in windy conditions to raise a few eyebrows in this league.

Poorest has to be the Bontnewydd game away, our only defeat to date. It was clear from the off we weren’t at the races with a well-below par performance, but we have bounced back well since.

Are you happy with the squad you’ve put together, or do you feel the need for any additions?

The squad is a fantastic bunch with options in all positions, but January is close and like every other team in the Gwynedd League we are looking forward to this transfer window to re-open and I have sent my wanted list to Santa 😊📃

Who have been your toughest opponents to date?

Nefyn last week were very strong. They played good football and are bound to be up there fighting this season, but we gave as good as we got and look forward to the return at theirs. These away days I like more than most haaa 🍺

How have you settled into Lon Isallt? Are the facilities to your liking?

The new ground suits our current style. The big pitch helps as we have pace to burn up top and on the flanks. As for the facilities I’m still getting used to the small things like the changing rooms are only a few steps away haha

Do you have any managerial role models? Or managers you admire?

I have the utmost respect for most managers out there and love a good chat with most as I know how hard the job really is.

I wouldn’t say I had a role model but football management runs in the family with Will Williams (Will Daddy) being my uncle. I always listen to stories of how good of a man-manager he was for Gwalchmai.

How would you describe your style of management? Are you a shouter or do you get your message across quietly but efficiently?

I’m not much of a shouter – probably because the hangover has possibly kicked in by kick-off.

I’m more of a little chat kind of man where I go around individuals and pinpoint what I expect of them. My assistant Carwyn Jones shouts enough for both of us 😉

What were your feelings on Ynys Mon men’s team winning gold at the Inter-Island Games this summer? Do you feel the success of the tournament should guarantee Anglesey hosting the full Island Games?

The football Island Games were amazing. I was strangely hit with a virus where I had to take a few days off work and got to watch many matches, including all the Anglesey men’s games.

The ladies and men’s teams were fantastic and bought a real buzz to the island and the full island games would be unreal for Ynys Mon (probably the virus would return at that point).

What are your ambitions for Trearddur Bay Bulls this season? What would you be happy with achieving?

We set ourselves a target before the season started but I will keep that to myself.

There are some big teams in this league this season so one game at a time is the way we are going about it starting with Bethesda this Saturday.