New Brighton Villa Football Club are sad to announce that manager Dave Roberts has left the club to become first team manager of Brymbo Football Club.

We would like to thank Dave for the hard work, dedication and commitment that he has shown the football club in the 16 and a half years he has been here as both player and manager. Since taking over in 2015, we have made massive strides forward under Dave’s management and with the help of the hard working committee have improved the football club massively. During this time we have improved our league finishes year on year, reached a cup final and had some memorable moments. Dave leaves a talented young squad and more importantly a great set of lads behind. Under his management we have seen three first team players pursue new opportunities at Cymru North sides, which shows the type of character that Dave has recruited and the opportunities we can provide as a football club for young players.

Brymbo represents a fantastic opportunity for Dave and we fully support his decision to seek out this new challenge at the FAW Tier 3 North West league side. We would like to thank Chris Parry from Brymbo for his professionalism and support with handling Dave’s departure.

On leaving the club, Dave said, “I’ve been at New Brighton Villa for a very long time and it would have taken something extremely special for me to leave the club. I am excited by the opportunity at Brymbo FC and look forward to a new challenge. New Brighton has been my life for so long and I have enjoyed every moment both playing and managing at this club. I am very excited by this new challenge but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous but that’s what keeps me hungry for this next step. I’d like to thank everybody I’ve worked with at New Brighton over these years. I’d like to thank former club chairman Chris Edwards for giving me the opportunity to manage a club that is very close to my heart and to club secretary Zoe Edwards for always supporting me and allowing me the opportunity to take the club forward. Thank you to club chairman Leigh Griffiths for his blessing and support in allowing me to pursue the next step of my managerial career. I would also like to thank Andy Morris (RLA Capital) and Sam Hird (Hair By Samantha) for their sponsorship and continued support over the past couple of seasons. Last but not least I’d like to thank my coaches Liam Evans and Pete Morris and every player that has worn the NBV crest on their chest! Without all of their support I don’t think I would have been able to take the club as far as I did and I certainly wouldn’t be here ready to take on this huge challenge. I wish the club all the best for the future and I’m sure they will continue the hard work that they have been putting in until now! UTFY!”

We wish Dave all the very best with his new challenge and the best of luck for next season. New Brighton Villa Football Club are in the process of drawing up a shortlist of candidates for the first team manager position and will make an announcement in due course.