One of North Wales football’s most loyal managers calls it a day
Long-serving Llysfaen Football Club manager Emlyn Robert Jones has stepped down.
Jones, 34, founded the Colwyn Bay area club 10 years ago.
He has now decided to call it a day, with Sean Sheridan stepping into the role of interim-manager.
Emlyn has worked endlessly over the years to ensure Llysfaen have continued to compete in local football.
They joined the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League in 2013-14 and remained a Division One club before joining the new North Wales Coast East League in 2020.
The league’s first season was void due to Covid, but Llysfaen have been part of Division One for the past two campaigns, finishing fifth in 2021-22 and 10th last season.
Emlyn’s finest season as Llysfaen manager was 2019-20. In a campaign cut short in March 2020 due to Covid, the team was cruelly pipped to the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One title on the average points-per-game method.
They went undefeated in Division One and progressed unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions before losing what turned out to be their final game against Bangor 1876 in the NWCFA Junior Cup.
Llysfaen were the last team in senior North Wales football to lose an undefeated record in 2019-20.
Things have been tougher since then, with last season quite a struggle, but some good summer signings have given the club a new lease of life this term.
They knocked Premier Division Llansannan out of the Welsh Cup at the start of 2023-24, coming back from two-down to win 3-2.
Emlyn’s final game in charge was a 2-1 league win over Henllan last weekend.
Llysfaen FC put out the following message on social media this evening: “We would like to announce that our current manager Emlyn Robert Jones has stepped down from his role at the club with immediate effect.
“Words cannot express the gratitude that we as a club have for the man who founded Llysfaen FC back in 2013. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that Llysfaen still partake in men’s football and has been the heartbeat of Llysfaen FC for 10 years. Thank you Emlyn.
“Stepping into the role as interim manager is Sean Sheridan who is a big character and very well respected at the club.
“Work in the background is massively underway with many lads stepping into new roles so please bear with us whilst we get ourselves organised.”
New interim manager Sheridan banged in 31 goals in just 18 outings for Robert Emlyn Jones’ side in the 2019-20 campaign,
Llysfaen lost out on the Division One title by 0.03 of a point having played a game less than champions NFA. Their goal difference was +11 better than the first-placed team.
Sheridan notched five hat-tricks in total over the season, including three four-goal hauls.
He signed for Llanfairfechan Town the following term, but returned to Llysfaen for 2021-22. Sheridan later moved to Llandudno Amateurs, but rejoined Llysfaen in February 2023.
Warm tributes have been paid to departing manager Jones.
NWCFA president Bryan Roberts said: “This is very sad news that Emlyn has stepped down. A true gentleman and a person that’s going to be hard to replace.”
Experienced and widely-respected match official Caerwyn Davies added: “We the Referees Association of North Wales applauds Emlyn for his hard work and his dedication and the exemplary way he treated referees. Good luck in whatever you do next.”
Kinmel Bay joint-manager Leon Field commented: “Gutted to hear this. Emlyn Robert Jones is one of the genuinely nicest guys in football; helped me when I was at my lowest and always happy to offer advice.”
From a Grassroots North Wales point of view, Emlyn has supported us from the start and always been a joy to work with. All the best and hope we can work together again in the future.