Merthyr Town players celebrate. Pic: Peter Harman.

Merthyr Town Sign Loan Goalkeeper For Away Trip

Merthyr Town have signed Swansea City goalkeeper Josh Gould on loan and he goes straight into their starting line-up at Hendon on Saturday (3pm).

Taunton-born Gould, who didn’t pick up a pair of goalkeeping gloves until he was 16, is on a professional contract with Championship Swansea.

The 21-year-old saved a penalty  hours after signing during his debut for the Swans under-21 team.

Gould was a keen rugby player at Heathfield School, Taunton, but two years after becoming a goalkeeper he was Somerset captain at age-group level, represented England Schoolboys South West and took his first steps into senior football at Bridgwater Town.

https://twitter.com/SwansOfficial/status/1031658641030561794

The former Bridgwater & Taunton College student and then attended Cardiff Metropolitan University before making the decision to leave the university football team in his final year in search of regular first-team action.

A season with Welsh League Taffs Well led to trials at Cardiff City and Swansea and he accepts a one-year deal with the latter.

The Martyrs are grateful that Swansea are helping them out by loaning Gould because their first choice goalkeeper Joe Perry is serving a one-match suspension.

Merthyr aim to extend their unbeaten EvoStik Southern League run to five matches when they visit Hendon in London.

Merthyr Town signing Josh Gould. Pic: Swansea City.

Manager Gavin Williams and his team have earned three wins and a draw in their last four Premier fixtures, scoring 10 goals and conceding one.

The teams are level on points in the play-off positions with Merthyr fourth and Hendon, who have played a game more, fifth.

Martyrs have earned seven away league and cup victories in 12 fixtures on the road this season.

That includes five wins and two draws in eight league games, a run which has seen them score 17 goals and concede six.

Merthyr Town: Jonathan Gould, Kyle Patten, Craig McDonnell, Joe Hunt, Ian Traylor, Adam Davies, Ashley Evans, Lee Lucas, Owain Jones, Kerry Morgan, Ryan Prosser, Tom Meechan, Kieran Lewis, Matthew Harris, Cavan Williams, Connor Young.

Merthyr Town centre-half Jarrad Wright. Pic: Peter Harman.

Former Barton Rovers and St Albans City manager James Gray is Hendon’s manager, having been appointed in June this year. The Yorkshireman played for Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Sheffield FC, Denaby United, Worksop and Lincoln United played. 

He moved south and played for Chesham United, Wealdstone and Dunstable Town.

Hendon’s top scorer is Harlesden-born teenager Ricardo German, who has netted 18 goals in all competitions. He is the younger brother of Grenada international Antonio German, a winger or striker who plays for I-League club Gokulan Kerala FC in India.

Ricardo came through the Chesterfield Academy and made 12 first team appearances for the Derbyshire club before having spells with Alfreton Town, Sheffield and Matlock Town on loan last season.

Merthyr Town’s Southern League rivals Basingstoke have appointed a new manager in Martin Kuhl.

Following the departure of Jason Bristow at the beginning of November, Terry Brown stepped in as caretaker-manager and a statement by the Hampshire club says: “We have secured our number one target in Martin Kuhl.

Merthyr Town manager Gavin Williams. Pic: MTFC.

“He is a highly decorated ProLicence coach who won promotions with both Aldershot and Wycombe Wanderers.

“Martin also played a major role at Reading Football Club, working under Brian McDermott, Nigel Atkins and, most recently, Jaap Stam.”

Brown has reverted to his role as Director of Football.

Southern League Halesowen Town have appointed former Hednesford, Telford and Redditch manager Rob Smith as their new team boss.

Kempston Rovers, a Southern League Division One Central club, have announced that Tony Joyce is their new manager following the resignations of Jimmy Stoyles and Gary Flinn.

Joyce has been part of the Kempston coaching staff since 2016, joining after the club’s promotion to the Southern League.

His playing career took him to Queens Park Rangers, Aldershot and Woking, while he began his managerial career at Thame United before a spell at Buckingham Town and then Aylesbury United.

Merthyr Town’s remaining fixtures in 2018 

November

December

Saturday 1 v Hendon (away)

Saturday 8 v Kings Langley (home)

Tuesday 11 v Poole Town (home)

Saturday 15 v Harrow Borough (away)

Tuesday 18 v Weymouth (home)

Saturday 22 v Chesham United (home)

Wednesday 26 v Frome Town (away)

Saturday 29 v Swindon Supermarine (away)

PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH LEAGUE TABLE

P PTS GD
Taunton Town 17 38 22
Weymouth 15 33 18
Salisbury 16 30 16
Merthyr Town 15 28 16
Hendon 16 28 7
Metropolitan Police 13 25 7
Harrow Borough 14 24 10
Beaconsfield Town 15 24 5
Tiverton Town 16 24 4
Poole Town 12 22 14
Hartley Wintney 17 22 0
Kings Langley 15 21 -5
Walton Casuals 16 21 -10
Farnborough 17 20 -7
Gosport Borough 16 19 -5
Basingstoke Town 15 18 -3
Wimborne Town 16 16 -7
Dorchester Town 15 16 -16
Swindon Supermarine 15 15 -3
Frome Town 17 14 -9
Chesham United 16 12 -25
Staines Town 18 9 -29

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