Canton F.C.

Canton FC
Full nameCanton FC
Founded2006
GroundCardiff International Sport Stadium SSI Pitch, part of the Cardiff International Sports Campus
ChairmanDean Bowden
ManagerDaniel Tanhai
LeagueArdal SE League
2024–25Ardal SE League, 5th of 16

Canton Football Club is a Welsh football team based in Canton, Cardiff, Wales. The club plays in the Ardal SE League.

History

The club was established as Canton Liberal FC in 2006, named after a local social club, and initially played in the Cardiff & District League. In their first four seasons they won each divisional title.[1] They were champions of the Premier Division in the 2012–13 season,[2] joining the South Wales Amateur League Division Two, where they were champions in 2014–15. They joined the newly formed South Wales Alliance League for the 2015–16 season, and were again league champions, gaining promotion to the Premier Division for the 2016–17 season.

Canton finished third in the South Wales Alliance League Premier Division in the 2021–22 season missing out on promotion by one point.

Christopher Dye became the first player to make 500 appearances for the club, spanning 13 seasons.

Promotion to the third tier

The club finished second in the South Wales Alliance Premier Division at the end of 2022–23 season, and earned promotion to the Ardal South-West, the third tier in the Welsh pyramid. During that season Canton had the strongest defence in the league, conceding 31 goals in 28 games, which was better than the league winners Cardiff Corinthians. Canton scored a total of 87 goals, which was second best in the league. They also reached the final of the J.Owen Cup but were well beaten 1–0 by Cardiff Cosmopolitan.

During the club's 2022—23 awards ceremony, vice captain Brian Camilleri won the Manager's Player award for the season, featuring for the first team 33 times throughout the season, contributing to three goals and one assist accompanied by seven clean sheets. Kofi Rowe won the Player's Player award, finishing top scorer for the club and also winning the South Wales Alliance League Golden boot in the lague campaign with 29 goals overall and 9 assists. Captain Bo Cordle finished with the highest amount of assists for the club for the second season in a row with 21 in all competitions, 17 of those in the league, along with 17 goals in all competitions. Cohen Riella won the Golden Glove award for the season with 10 clean sheets altogether. He also scored a goal and provided three assists while playing in goal.

In July 2023, the club changed its name to Canton, dropping Liberal from the title.[3]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  WAL Cohen Riella
25 GK  POR Namir Queni
30 GK  WAL Aaron Fettah
32 GK  WAL James Wood
2 DF  WAL Christopher Dye
3 DF  WAL Luke Davies
4 DF  WAL Arron Garrett
5 DF  WAL Sam O'Sullivan
12 DF  ENG David Trace
15 DF  WAL Harvey Powell
16 DF  WAL Brian Camilleri (VC)
17 DF  WAL Nile White
18 DF  AUS David Allen
20 DF  WAL Stephen Ward
23 DF  WAL Kyle Campbell
No. Pos. Nation Player
6 MF  WAL Ashley Park
7 MF  WAL Andre Phillips
8 MF  WAL Harri Collins
13 MF  WAL Louie Crowe
14 MF  WAL Cian Hales
19 MF  IRN Saul Tanhai
26 MF  GAM Abdoulie Tunkara
27 MF  ESP Dani Rodriguez
9 FW  WAL Kofi Rowe
10 FW  WAL Jordan Carey
11 FW  WAL Tyrrell Webbe
21 FW  POR Mario Amona
22 FW  WAL Bo Cordle (C)
24 FW  WAL Adam Jones
29 FW  WAL Fin Richards

Technical staff

Position Name
Club Chairman Dean Bowden
Manager Daniel Tanhai
Assistant manager Sam O'Sullivan
Coach James Wood
Coach Neil Thomas
Reserve Manager Mark Tucker
Youth Team Manager Craig Robinson
Youth Coach Christopher Dye
Coach Nathan Murphy
Kitman Ezra Harper
Kit Ladie Freya Tanhai

Honours

References

  1. ^ "Canton Liberal are backed to make step up to Senior League". Wales Online. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Canton Liberals". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  3. ^ Club Statement on name change Twitter, 30 July 2023
  4. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20130520082543/http://cantonlibsfc.co.uk/
  5. ^ "Leaguewebsite.co.uk has now closed".

51°28′23.4″N 3°12′47.4″W / 51.473167°N 3.213167°W / 51.473167; -3.213167