There will be a gentle nod to the past this month when JD Cymru Premier champions The New Saints change colours to honour the rich footballing heritage of Oswestry.
For their three home games in September, TNS will ditch the green and wear a blue kit that was the first colours of Oswestry FC back in 1875.
It all begins this weekend when they host Haverfordwest County at Park Hall on Saturday and will continue for the matches against Llanelli on 13 September and Flint Town United 10 days later.
The game against Llanelli will also double as the 150th anniversary of football in Oswestry, a milestone that highlights the town’s proud role in shaping the sport in Wales.
Oswestry Football Club was founded in 1875 and remained active until the end of the 1891–92 season, when it was disbanded.
They were founding members of the Football Association of Wales in 1876, won the Welsh Cp in 1884 and were beaten finalists in the next two seasons.
The footballing tradition in the town was rekindled in 1893 with the formation of Oswestry United, who played through until the outbreak of WW1.
Post-war, Oswestry Town FC was created in 1920 and merged with Llansantffraid based Total Network Solutions in 2003.
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The merger ensured Oswestry’s place in top-flight Welsh football and gave The New Saints a permanent home at Park Hall.
Since then, the club has gone on to dominate Welsh football, while keeping the legacy of Oswestry Town and its supporters close to heart.
What the locals will be hoping to see this weekend is the blue kit inspiring TNS to get back to winning ways after a loss at home in their first game of the season and two further draws.
They currently sit in fifth place, three points behind unbeaten leaders Caernarfon Town.
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The Cofis host Barry Town United tomorrow on Sunday, who held TNS to a goalless draw at Jenner Park last weekend, while Bala Town welcome Penybont for what will be their third game in eight days on Saturday.
The Lakesiders are also seeking their third win in that period having won 1-0 at Llanelli Town last weekend, and then going on to beat Connah’s Quay Nomads 3-1 on Tuesday night.
All three goals came in the second half with Hussein Mehasseb scoring twice, making it five goals for the season, and Jacob Tarasenko getting the other.
Cardiff Met boss Ryan Jenkins told his players they “needed to take a hard look at themselves” after their 4-2 defeat against Flint Town United.
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He branded his team as “very soft” after they gave up a 1-0 lead and then slumped after getting back on level terms at 2-2, ruining a solid start of for successive draws.
They will at least have home advantage at Cyncoed Campus on Saturday for a game in which both they and Colwyn Bay will be seeking their first win of the campaign.
That’s also the case for new boys Llanelli, who host Flint.
