Pre-season chat: Dale Moffat (manager – CPD Caergybi)

Dale Moffat is manager of CPD Caergybi, a Holyhead-based team which formed in 2017.

In their first Anglesey League season, they lifted the Megan Cup and finished fourth in the table.

The 2018-19 campaign brought further success as Caergybi landed the Dargie Cup and Lucas Oil Cup.

As a reward for finishing runners-up in the Anglesey, the Holyhead side were promoted to the Gwynedd League for the curtailed 2019-20 season.

They ended up 11th out of 13 teams.

When the 2020-21 season finally gets underway, Caergybi will be in tier 5 North Wales Coast West Division One.

Manager Moffat chatted with Grassroots North Wales about pre-season happenings.

Grassroots North Wales

Overall, what shape are you in as a first team and club ahead of the 2020-21 season?

Dale Moffat

As a club we are looking very strong for the season ahead.

We have made a lot of quality signings this year and the squad looks strong.

Last season was very difficult for us as we lost a lot of players to other teams, so we were a very small squad and didn’t have subs some weeks, so this year we are delighted to get back to full strength.

Grassroots North Wales

You’ve made a few signings, please tell us about one or two of your players to look out for this season

Dale Moffat

Getting George Hibbert back was a massive boost for us. He was quality in his first season here and was ever-present in helping us win the Dargie Cup and Lucas Oil Cup and secure runners-up in the league.

We have also added some youngsters. Louis Chapman looks like he will be a very good player. The young striker has really impressed during training and we can’t wait to see him in a game when we can.

We have many more who have come in and all could have a write up and deserve a mention; lots of young players who look very good.

Grassroots North Wales

Who do you see as the strongest teams in your division?

Dale Moffat

Obviously lots of very good teams in the division so it will be a tough league.

Cemaes Bay and Llannerchymedd are looking very strong. Lots of teams will challenge for the top spots I feel.

Grassroots North Wales

How difficult has it been to keep your squad motivated during the Covid-19 crisis? What challenges have you had to overcome?

Dale Moffat

It has been very hard to keep the lads motivated.

They have loved training but as always they just want to play games and we keep getting different dates to start, but hopefully we can soon as they are itching to play.

Other obstacles include finance. It’s been hard during lockdown to raise funds for the team and hard to ask businesses to help when they have already lost so much, so that’s been difficult.

Grassroots North Wales

What are your ambitions for the season ahead?

Dale Moffat

Our ambitions are the same as every year – to try and win as many games as possible and get ourselves challenging for the league hopefully. And also to try to win a cup or two.