Huw Griffiths’ reign as Caernarfon Town manager produced many high points in testing times

Huw Griffiths will be remembered for some notable achievements in his three years and two months as Caernarfon Town manager.

Appointed in January 2020, in the two full seasons he was in charge at The Oval, the team finished sixth and a joint all-time club best fourth in the Cymru Premier League.

After his first complete campaign, 2020-21, Griffiths led the Canaries into the European Conference League play-offs, where they beat Barry Town United 3-1, but went down 5-3 to Newtown in a thrilling final.

The following season, Town won the play-offs, defeating Cardiff Met 1-0 and Flint Town United 2-1, but this time were denied a European spot due to the rules on co-efficiency points.

Instead, Caernarfon were invited into the Scottish Challenge Cup where in September 2022 they lost 1-0 at Clyde of Scottish League One, the hosts scoring a 91st minute decider.

Nonetheless, hopes were high of a third successive top-half first phase finish under Griffiths entering this season.

Things started fairly well, the Cofis winning seven of their first 12 league games, but then came eight matches without a victory – seven defeats – before a double over bottom side Airbus, a 2-0 triumph versus Haverfordwest and a draw with Flint lifted the mood.

However, Caernarfon were consigned to the bottom half Play-Off Conference for their last 10 games and back-to-back 1-0 losses to Pontypridd United and, on Friday, Aberystwyth Town, darkened the mood.

The next day Huw Griffiths and Caernarfon Town parted company.

In the end, a disappointing third full season in charge cost him, although it must be said the yellow and greens had a decent chance of avoiding relegation.

But Huw will be remembered overall in a positive light at The Oval.

He led the club to its joint-highest Cymru Premier League position ever, achieved two top-six finishes, qualified for Europe only to find the path blocked by the rule book, and was at the helm for Town’s only Scottish Challenge Cup venture.

In Huw’s defence, his reign was disrupted very early on by the pandemic, and due to that the league programme and some cup competitions were either hampered or cancelled, buffering routes to potential success.

Covid had a severe effect on football. Spectators were not allowed to attend games for some months and this hit Caernarfon, who depend more than most on money through the turnstiles, very badly. The club regularly attracts the highest attendances in the Cymru Premier, so a much-needed income stream was cut off.

Huw was popular with the fans, entertaining in interviews, brought some good signings to the club, but perhaps he had taken Caernarfon Town as far as he could.

On behalf of Grassroots North Wales, big thanks to Huw and best wishes to his successor for the rest of this season, Richard Owain Davies.

HUW GRIFFITHS RECORD AS CAERNARFON TOWN MANAGER (JANUARY 30, 2020 – MARCH 17, 2023)

PLAYED 110
WINS 43
DRAWS 14
LOSSES 53

BREAKDOWN

League
P 95 W 34 D 14 L 47
Welsh Cup
P 6 W 4 L 2
Europa Conference League Play-Offs
P 2 W 1 L 1
Scottish Challenge Cup Play-Offs
P 2 W 2
Nathaniel MG Cup
P 4 W 2 L 2
Scottish Challenge Cup
P 1 L 1