Caernarfon Town and Llanelli Town are back in the top flight. They have earned promotion to the JD Welsh Premier League for 2018-19 – and Terry Phillips takes a look at the two clubs. The Canaries today, Reds tomorrow

Sean Eardley and his Caernarfon Town team have firmly shoved personal and football misery behind them.

Llandudno-born Eardley was devastated when his playing career was ended by a medical condition, while the Cofis have spent a decade in the doldrums.

Today, though, Caernarfon are back in the top flight and rookie coach Eardley is a man who delivered the dream.

His team won the Huws Gray Alliance title and earned promotion back to the JD Welsh Premier League.

“I’m over the moon,” says Eardley. “For me personally it’s an unbelievable start to my managerial career.

“A massive learning curve at every stage of the season. I am thrilled, buzzing for the challenge.”

Eardley was tipped to be the next Welsh wonder at the age of 19, but his dream of becoming a successful professional footballer ended at the age of 19.

A rare heart complaint forced him to hang up his boots at a time when he was playing for Oldham Athletic.

“It was a real hammer blow when doctors told me what was wrong,” says Eardley. “It was like being hit by a freight train.

Here's the second of our special series of videos over the Summer months. Featuring the Open Top Bus Parade, Presentation night, The Insiders, Keith Fearns, Eards and Fish…. https://t.co/B5b6Jrl7Ux

— Caernarfon Town FC (@CaernarfonTown) May 16, 2018

“Doctors said my heart would not stand up to the rigour of being a professional.

“It just devastated me. I loved football as soon as I could kick a ball. It’s every young lad’s dream to become a footballer, isn’t it? It’s all I ever wanted.

“My ultimate dream was to lead my beloved team Liverpool out at Anfield and Wales out one day.”

Tragedy struck when Sean collapsed at home while enjoying a kick-about in his back garden with his 17-year-old brother Neal.

Eardley has turned to coaching and management and Caernarfon have benefitted from his bubbling enthusiasm, football knowledge and ability to bring out the best in his players.

s nine years since Caernarfon Town were last in the Welsh Premier League, having been relegated from the top flight in 2008-09.

They finished bottom of the Welsh Premier at a time when the future for Caernarfon Town looked bleak and they were relegated to the third tier of Welsh football a year later.

The Canaries almost went out of business, won the FAW Trophy and Welsh Alliance double, lifted the Huws Gray Alliance title in 2016-17, but failed to gain the domestic licence needed for promotion and reached the Welsh Cup semi-finals.

Now Eardley has steered the club back to Premier level and he loves being a successful manager.

The Cofi Army have a song dedicated to their manager, while he has introduced the ‘Eards Dive’.

“I started it with a friend in Australia and took it everywhere to be honest, including nights out,” he says. “Sometimes you can’t hide your emotion so that’s how I show it on occasion.”

Eardley took charge of Caernarfon midway through last season when manager Iwan Williams moved to Welsh Premier League Llandudno.

The Cofis needed a steady hand to help them achieve their promotion dream by winning the Cymru Alliance title.

Eardley’s big personality and enthusiasm means players are instinctively drawn closer to him. He has earned respect in the dressing room and managed to harness a determined team spirit which proved invaluable.

Five players have already committed to the Caernarfon cause for 2018-19.

Eardley has secured the signatures of Gareth Evans, Jamie Breese, goalkeeper Alex Ramsay, full-back Joe Williams and forward Danny Brookwell.

“I’m made up that Gaz and Jamie have committed,” said Eardley. “It was clearly evident the effect Gaz had on games.

“He brings bags and bags of experience, can stretch defences and has that little bit of Welsh Premier experience.

“Gaz and I grew up together and we are good friends. This is one I take greatest satisfaction from.

“Breesey, again, is a crowd favourite. He is a player who deserves a top level opportunity, to test himself against Premier League defenders. He will thrive on it.”

Caernarfon’s rivals Llandudno were keen on goalkeeper Ramsey, but he is staying at the Oval and Eardley said: “Alex is one of the best keepers in the Welsh system. His aura and professionalism are great to have around the place.

“Joe is a fans’ favourite who has made the right-back position his own and I am looking forward to seeing him compete at top level.

“Certain other clubs were interested in Danny after the season he had. He came to me and wanted to pursue this challenge. He has electrifying pace and can win a game on his own.”

Eardley says all of Caernarfon’s players from 2017-18 are keen to attend pre-season training – and he revealed there are more signing announcements to come.

The Canaries have also been linked with moves for Porthmadog Sion Bradley and Holywell Town defender Steven Thomas.

The progress made by Caernarfon before the end of May has been outstanding and Eardley also has his management team in place.

Richard Davies, Mike Innes, Rhys Jones and Alex Philp are all committed to the Caernarfon cause.

HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE 2017-18 final table

Rank	Teams	Pd	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	GD	Pts
1	Caernarfon Town	28	19	8	1	98	31	67	65
2	Denbigh Town	28	19	3	6	69	43	26	60
3	Airbus Broughton	28	17	3	8	67	42	25	54
4	Guilsfield	28	15	8	5	54	38	16	53
5	Holywell Town	28	14	8	6	75	37	38	50
6	Rhyl	28	13	8	7	62	45	17	47
7	Porthmadog	28	13	5	10	70	46	24	44
8	Gresford Athletic	28	12	6	10	57	57	0	39
9	Penrhyncoch	28	10	9	9	45	46	-1	39
10	Ruthin Town	28	10	5	13	51	49	2	35
11	Flint Town United	28	10	6	12	49	42	7	30
12	Holyhead Hotspur	28	9	3	16	40	57	-17	30
13	Caersws	28	5	3	20	39	72	-33	18
14	FC Queens Park	28	2	3	23	26	110	-84	9
15	Llandudno Junction	28	1	4	23	28	115	-87	7