It is with deepest regret that Ammanford AFC have accepted the resignation of long serving boss Gruff Harrison.
Harrison, who has been at the helm for twelve years, has taken charge of over 400 games for Town, winning 198 of them in the process.
Harrison’s name is synonymous with Ammanford AFC having risen through the youth ranks as a player and a coach before becoming the club’s youngest ever boss, taking over from Craig Maloney aged just 23 in December 2012.
Prior to his first game in charge, an away win against Cardiff Corinthians on the 8th December of that year, the club was in 8th place in Welsh League Division 3.
Following his appointment, success followed in the form of promotion in 2014/15 to the third tier before earning the same prize to the second rung of the Welsh footballing ladder in 2017/18 where the club still remains as a consistent fixture today.
It’s not only in the league where Harrison has seen success with Town famously beating top flight outfit Carmarthen Town in front of the Sgorio cameras in December 2019 before a crowd of over 1000 at the Recreation Ground saw Town go toe to toe with this season’s Europa Conference League qualifiers Caernarfon Town in the next round.
Harrison has brought through a wealth of young talent such as football league player Kai Whitmore in addition to attracting former professional footballers to the club such as Lee Trundle, Andy Robinson and Leon Britton who has played in the English top flight.
In the 4,267 days since his first match to his departure, the club’s stature off the field has risen exponentially. From having attendances of less than 50 per game, the club now regularly attracts viewers in excess of two hundred on a match day.
Not only this, the club now features in the popular video game ‘Football Manager’ and has been regularly featured on TV programmes such as Sgorio, Heno and Soccer AM.
Chairman Rob Thomas paid tribute to his former manager stating, “There is little more I can add to all the wonderful tributes already paid to Gruff from around Ammanford and the Welsh footballing community.
“During my tenure as chairman, he has been a pleasure to work with, both from a footballing perspective and as a person. When it comes down to it, personal health is much more important than football and I personally, as well as the club as a whole, completely endorse Gruff’s reasons to step down. We sincerely hope that he benefits from his break away from the game
“I wish you nothing but the very best Gruff and look forward to seeing you at the Rec watching your beloved ‘Town’ as a supporter.”
The senior coaching team of Sean Cresser, Wyn Thomas and Jack Long will be taking over in the interim as we continue our 2024/25 campaign away at Baglan Dragons this weekend.
The club would like to place on record its enormous gratitude to the tireless efforts that Gruff has given this club for over a decade. We wish him well and hope he enjoys a well earned break from football.
