February 18, 2021 - 724 views
Colwyn Bay FC's long serving head of media Tim Channon is retiring from the role.
Tim’s match reports, latest news and interviews have kept Seagulls fans up to date with events at Llanelian Road for 38 years as a newspaper journalist and later the club’s media officer.
His long association with the club began when he was appointed Sports Editor of the North Wales Weekly News in 1983.
It coincided with an exciting time for the club under fledgling manager Bryn Jones and Tim reported on the club’s successful early years in the English pyramid, with promotions seeing the club progress from the North West Counties League and into the Northern Premier League.
Before the advent of the internet, Tim’s Weekly News articles was the place where Bay supporters would get the latest information and inside track on the club.
There were notable cup runs and successes to report on too - in the FA Cup with memorable away ties against Blackpool and Notts County - as well as the FA Trophy and Welsh Cup, as Tim recalls.
“I think the Welsh Cup victory over Wrexham, who had just knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup with a Mickey Thomas screamer, was one of the highlights for me,” he said.
“There were tough times, of course, with the FAW ban forcing the club into years of exile, having to play home games at Northwich and then Ellesmere Port, before the High Court victory in London allowed a welcome and long overdue return to Llanelian Road.
“It took time for the club to recover from the huge financial burden of that legal action but successive promotions under Neil Young and Dave Challinor were big highlights during the last 10 years - with the play-off victory over FC United in front of 2,000 fans at the Bay, being a day always to be remembered.”
Tim had by then been invited to be the club’s press officer after taking voluntary redundancy from the Weekly News, He was made a Life Member of the club a few years later.
“I was lucky enough to report on the likes of Liverpool, Everton, Man Utd and City during many years working on evening newspapers in Wigan and Oldham,” Tim added.
“But I can honestly say I have found It a real privilege to have been involved with Colwyn Bay over the past 30 odd years.
“I have met some lovely people, particularly the late Glynne Owens, Margaret and John Jones, Elfed Morris, Bryan Kelly and many more, and enjoyed a really great working relationship with managers such as Neil Young, Dave Challinor, Frank Sinclair, Jon Newby and most recently Craig Hogg.
“Age catches up with all of us, especially travelling to night games from my home in Wirral, but I will still get to the odd game and continue to help out the club in any way I can.”
Colwyn Bay's director of football Neil Coverley said: “Tim has been such a vital part of this club for so long and reported on the good times as well as the not so good.
“He has done so much not only in keeping Bay fans informed of the latest developments but also raising the club’s profile to a wider audience.
“Tim is a quiet and unassuming person who just got on with his role without fuss - but his contribution to this club has been massive.
“We’ll certainly miss having Tim involved with the club but we all wish him well on his retirement and he is always welcome at Llanelian Road.”
Reproduced with thanks to Colwyn Bay FC.
