Holywell Town manager Johnny Haseldin is set for a special weekend in more ways than one.
Today (Friday) the Wellmen boss celebrates his 42nd birthday, then tomorrow The Packet House pub in Greenfield, which his late father John snr used to run, will re-open and become the new after-match venue for Greenfield FC.
John jnr will hope to have more cause for celebration when his unbeaten side take on Cymru North leaders Airbus UK Broughton on Saturday at Deeside Stadium in Connah’s Quay.
The match has had to be switched as Holywell’s home pitch at the Achieve More Stadium in Halkyn Road is unusable due to a broken drain.
Johnny, a former Greenfield player himself, will be as delighted as anyone that the Packet House will become the new “HQ” for the Tier 4 North East Wales Premier Division club.
Greenfield put out this statement on social media today: “Greenfield FC are pleased to announce following the news of The Packet House reopening this Saturday (16th of December) that the club will be moving back to where it all began,
“The Packet House was not only the heart of the community but was also the place where Greenfield FC was founded (in 2005).
“We as a club look forward to a long and successful future together with The Packet House as it once again becomes the home of the club and the heart of the community.”
Greenfield secretary Denny Hogan added: “On Saturday we return to where the club was founded back in 2005 – The Packet House.
“Hopefully this will give us impetus to improve on all aspects within the club. I wish to thank Craig from Cyrilsons Renewables for making it possible.”
As a player, Johnny Haseldin was an uncompromising midfielder or central defender who served a number of clubs, including Greenfield, Flint Town United, Rhydymwyn, Caerwys and Holywell Town.
Perhaps his greatest moment wearing the boots was winning the 2010-11 FAW Trophy with Holywell, where the Wellmen fought back from 2-0 down in the final at Rhyl to beat Conwy United with three late goals.
It was a very popular appointment when Johnny took over as boss at Halkyn Road in 2012, replacing the much-respected Mike Thomas.
Johnny’s most rewarding season was 2014/15, when Town landed the treble of Welsh Alliance title, FAW Trophy and Mawddach Cup, only just missing out on a quadruple after losing in the Cookson Cup final.
However, perhaps the manager’s greatest achievement came the season before when he led the Wellmen to the Welsh Cup semi-finals, Town becoming the first-ever (and still only) third-tier club to reach the last four of the 143-year-old national competition.
Holywell knocked out three Cymru Alliance clubs and one from the Welsh Premier to make the semis where they led against Aberystwyth Town, but ended up 3-1 losers.
The 2015/16 season saw the Wellmen back in the tier 2 Cymru Alliance for the first time since 2005/06.
Town finished fifth three times on the bounce in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 before Johnny stepped down at the end of the latter season.
He returned to Holywell as manager in September 2018, but was unable to save the club from relegation to tier 3.
However, more glory was around the corner as the Wellmen were crowned Welsh National League Premier Division champions in the shortened 2019-20 campaign.
With the entire 2020-21 season cancelled below tier 1 due to Covid, Johnny resumed his second stint as Holywell boss in the Cymru North in 2021-22.
Last season they finished runners-up behind Colwyn Bay, having set a T2 joint-record 25 league match winning run during the campaign.
Johnny was also in charge of Holywell side which won the North East Wales Challenge Cup for the first time in 2022-23
This term sees the Wellmen still unbeaten in the league.
Played 387
Won 248
Drawn 52
Lost 87
Goals For 1084
Goals Against 472
Win percentage 64%
Overall league record: Played 278 Won 173 Drawn 52 Lost 53 Goals For 754 Goals Against 313 – win percentage 62%
Overall cup record: Played 109 Won 75 Lost 34 Goals For 306 Goals Against 143 – win percentage 69%
NEWFA Challenge Cup winners 2022-23
Welsh National League Premier Division champions 2019-20
Welsh Alliance Division One champions 2014-15
FAW Trophy winners 2014-15
Mawddach Cup winners 2014-15
Cookson Cup winners 2013-14
Cymru North runners-up 2022-23
Cookson Cup runners-up 2012-13; 2014-15
Welsh Alliance Division One runners-up 2013-14
NEWFA Challenge Cup runners-up 2015-16; 2017-18
Welsh Cup semi-finalists 2013-14
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