Kevin Hudson moved to Abergavenny with his wife in July 2012, and has recently become heavily involved in our local sporting community.
“When I moved to Abergavenny, I wanted to get involved in the community, mainly to get to know people. I spent 30 years in London involved with football, coaching kids and then adults, being a Chairman of a football club and in doing so, got to know loads of people.
In June 2014, I was invited to join Abergavenny Town FC as the club coach. I walked into a club meeting not knowing a soul, into a ground and club house that needed some love and attention and a fair bit of money to improve Pen y Pound Stadium. The club intended to start a new team with the majority of existing players and management from Govilon FC. The intention was to improve the stadium, get the football team into the Welsh National league within a few years and bring spectators into the ground on a Saturday afternoon.
In a very short space of time, the club has started a flourishing ‘girls football section’, coaching girls from 8-15 years old, started an Under 16 boys team, and produced two excellent men’s teams, one in the Gwent County League Division 1 and the development team, all Under 21, playing in the Gwent Central League.
What a success story in our first season as Abergavenny Town FC. The U16 boys are going to finish the season with honours as league runners up. The U21 development team are going to finish with honours as league runners up. The 1st team has currently played 22 league games, winning 21 and drawing 1, with NO defeats and is very close to winning the league title and reaching their aim of promotion to the Welsh national league in the 1st season, way ahead of schedule. The 1st team is also in the last 16 of the league cup, and was unluckily knocked out of the semi final of the national FA Trophy at the weekend.
An average gate of 80/100 people are coming through the turnstile once more on match days, with one gate topping 200 this season. Some adults have told us they have given up on their season tickets at Cardiff City to watch local football and join in the community spirit, which is an achievement on its own.
The club is looking to progress further and are always seeking new members to join our committee or club. If you can assist us in helping on a turnstile or in the match day snack bar or providing match day sponsorship or just getting a paint brush out now and then, Abergavenny Town FC would appreciate it.
On a personal note, I have met some truly wonderful people and whereas my family are still in south London, I have found some great friends within this club and the wonderful community of Abergavenny.”
If anyone can offer some help and support, please contact Kevin Hudson (Club Coach) on 07845 574638 or via email:
hudson.kevin3@sky.com