Good news for CPD Mynydd Llandegai – Kev is back!

One of Gwynedd football’s most passionate characters is taking on an exciting new role next season.

Former Arriva Bangor manager Kevin Jones will lead the new Mynydd Llandegai Development side being formed for 2025-26.

Kev was the driving force (no pun intended) behind Arriva, who made the step up from Sunday league football in 2017 to enter the former Anglesey League.

The Busmen went on to win three trophies in their first two seasons – the Benllech Car Boot Trophy twice and the Elias Cup.

However, in 2021 they were forced to call it a day due largely to the effect of the pandemic wiping out the 2020-21 season leaving the club desperately short of players.

The demands of the new COMET system imposed by the FAW also made it near impossible for a club with so few volunteers to continue.

Kev, who held just about every other position at the club in his determination to keep the Busmen going, said he hoped to reform Arriva Bangor at some stage, but it has not yet been possible, although the team has made the occasional reappearance for charity matches.

Since Arriva disbanded, Kev has kept ticking over as a referee and devoted football dad/coach, but now is is relishing the chance to tackle a new challenge.

Mynydd Llandegai said in a club statement: “The club is excited to announce that we’ll be entering a Development Team in to the North Wales Coast Development League for the 2025-26 season.

“We’re equally excited to announce that Kevin Jones joins the club and will become our new Development Team Manager. Kev is well known in local football and brings with him years of experience of managing and running Arriva Bangor FC.”

Club chairman Huw Davies added: “I am delighted to bring Kev into the fold at Mynydd.

“He’s someone we’ve wanted to bring in for a number of years. He holds so much passion for the game and I know how eager he is to getting started and is looking forward to this new challenge.

“The idea behind this is that we want to help the younger players adapt to the men’s game by giving them the environment and opportunity to do so.

“Locally there’s a gap where young players fall away from the game after leaving their junior sides at 16 or 17 and struggle to break through into local men’s teams to continue their development.

“We’ve had a few players join us who fall into that category this year but it’s been really difficult to provide them with the playing time they need.

“I believe that having a development team next year will be of huge benefit to them and others.”

Kev Jones said: “I’m delighted to join Mynydd as it’s a club I’ve had a soft spot for for a number of years.
“As I live down the road in Tregarth, Mynydd are my local team and I can’t wait to get started.

“Having been offered to join the club in different capacities over the years, now feels the right time and the right role for me.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back into management after taking a break from that side of the game.

“I’m really passionate about helping the younger lads develop too. I’ve coached junior sides for a number of years so I have plenty of experience on that front too.

“My son Owen is now part of the team at Mynydd, and having coached him through junior football, it’s really nice to be able to coach and help him once again.”