Every relationship has a start, apparently, so...here's ours: Hi. We're Afan FM, Neath Port Talbot's New Generation Music Station. We take sport very seriously. So seriously in fact, we're going to give it it's own email address. But more on that later.

We've asked to be part of Port Talbot Town's season this year and we're going to go with you every step of the way. In relationship terms, we're the crazy but attractive younger sibling of your current significant other and however much you try, you just can't avoid us. Those that have tuned in already know this for a fact. We are going to be the first and final word on the Steelmen and the other teams in the area.

If you can't get to the away games (for 10 points: just where is Llangefni?) We're the first port of call, keeping you informed, updated and occasionally entertained. Midweek game? We've got you covered, with the best music sound tracking every goal, highlight and interview. During the week, you'll see us around town armed with a microphone asking you what you think about things going on at your club. As for Saturday home games...well, we know where you'll be.

What else have we got? We've got news of every other team in the area. You name them, we've got them. We've got the quickest, most concise round up of American sport, roundups and updates of every major British league, plus informed debate about the Welsh Premier and the world and as if that lot wasn't enough, we give you a soapbox – if it bothers you and it's sporting, we want to know.

So where are we? 107.9FM on a Saturday, 2-6, and we don't want you to be cool about it – getting our number and waiting three days to get in contact – That is no longer cool. Apparently. Diving straight in and retuning every radio you have is the new black. In fact, try it now. Tune in for 5 minutes, and you'll more than likely hear the best music in the South Wales area (i.e. No Abba).

You could also be reading this on www.porttalbottown.co.uk or the match programme. We'll be giving a media view on things at ReMax and the wider football world, which, going back to that relationship thing, is like us flirting at you BUT we want you to talk back. This time round, we want your views on the season ahead. Is the squad deep enough? Which midfielder will be the main attacking threat? Should Pennock grow a beard? Deep issues like that. We'll publish the best and worst in the next column. Write us at sport@afanfm.co.uk

Until Next Time

Hash
Red Card - Saturday 3-6
107.9 AfanFM

30th January 2008
Pendulum
When was the last time you saw a streaker at a football/rugby game? For me, it was the university Varisty game between Swansea and Cardiff last April...good times...although you never ever see attractive streakers. Maybe it's an odd coincidence.

The reason I bring it up is because streaking is good for you. Or the side you support anyhow. Since Mr Tucker has taken over, he's guided the team to four wins, four draws and two losses. This is not the most impressive thing that has happened. The losses have been sandwiched by five games where at least one point was picked up, including the fixture traffic jam that accumulates over Christmas/New Year. Momentum is important in football, look at Bangor at the moment, they've sneaked into fourth very quietly. No-one has mentioned them for ages, but with the players they have, they could happily stay there for the rest of the season,

Or could they? What's to stop Port Talbot finishing in the top four this year? Nothing. The crucial game will be 23/02, away at Bangor. I expect both sides to be fairly equal by that date - Bangor are at Caersws (surely a win) and could do the double against Llanelli at home (but probably won't). Port Talbot have a road trip to Aberystwyth (draw?) and then host Caersws (home win) before going to Farrar Road. Why am I telling you all this? Because, it's at this growing time that the club could do with your support. Bring friends, relatives, semi-senile family members who'll shout things, anyone at all. If not for the away game at Aber, but the home game against 16th place Caersws. I said before, momentum is important and the recent wins over TNS and Newi Cefn Druids have given the side a second wind. I first noticed this against the Nomads. The side looks happier. Discipline is still an issue, and can be much improved, but is no longer a glaring point (average of 1.8 yellows a game since Tucker’s reign), there’s a decent amount of depth (McGibbon, Sheppard, Payne) and whisper it quietly, but Mr Tucker and his team could be due manager of the year stuff if the Steelmen can nick fourth.

Believe it or not, there are only five more home games to come for the firsts this year. Five! Makes you wonder where you can get your football fix from. The answer lies at the Remax. The Under 19 side are excellent, I don’t want to say we told you so, but we noticed Sam Baker right at the start of the season, when he hit an overhead kick against Merthyr. To prove that wasn’t a fluke, we’ll do it again. Rory Healey and Luke James have graduated already to first team so I won’t pick them. I’m going to go for Josh Wannacott. He’s a good, strong centre half that can play at full back equally comfortably and as my mate Adam would say has “great feet for a bald fella”. The other guy who’s going to break through next season will be Stephen Williams. I saw him against Carmarthen Under 19’s as a sub, and when he came on, ran the game.

I also said at the start of this that Mr Tucker’s 4 win, 4 draw, 2 loss record isn’t the most impressive thing that has happened. Despite coming into a club who’s season was circling the drain, Saturday’s victory over the Druids lets him overtake Tony Pennock (remember him!?) on 16 points won this season. Perhaps the most impressive thing is that he’s done it in 10 games. Pennock took 15, from 11. There’s going to be a lot of fun in the remaining home games, it would be a shame if you missed it.

Tune into 107.9FM on Saturdays for updates from England v Ospre- sorry, Wales, Swans v Oldham and the Welsh Cup Fourth round, as well as me laughing my head off at all the transfer deadline panic buys. You can even suggest a few yourself by phoning 0845 474 1079. Or you can listen by Clicking here.

Can Port Talbot steal fourth? Is Nicky Tucker worthy of manager of the year? Who’s the next breakthrough star in the Under 19’s team? Sound off like you’ve got a pair at sport@afanfm.co.uk.

Hash
Red Card – Saturday 2-6PM
107.9 AfanFM

7th January 2008
Killer Instinct
Swansea 1, Havant and Waterlooville 1. Carmarthen 1, Neath 1. Neath Rugby 18, Llanelli 18. Port Talbot 2, Haverfordwest 2. Failure to convert appeared to be the theme across the region last week, at least the Ospreys had an uneven scoreline (they got trashed by Leinster), but looking deeper, is a failure to convert a systematic habit at Remax?

Let me explain. With seven draws this year, Port Talbot are joint league leaders at the draw (with Carmarthen). This is good in a Spagetti Western, but not the WPL. Of these draws, four have been goalless. In a perfect world, they would be worth no points, but that’s a different article for a different day. These four games were against Airbus (frustrating), Bangor (lacked precision), away at Carmarthen (chances spurned) and the trip to Newtown (a stalemate). Looking at those teams, surely Airbus and Newtown are winnable? The three scoring draws were two points dropped against nine-man Welshpool, two points dropped against gutsy Neath and… two points dropped against 90-minute Haverfordwest. 5 draws at home! Is this lack of killer instinct part of the reason for the drop in attendance? 40% more draws at home already when compared with a 20% drop in spectators, do the two figures have something to do with each other?

A positive result (either way) is essential to the matchday experience in my view. Why would the average person on a Saturday go watch sport if almost half (5 of 11) games end with no discernable result? Did you know, Port Talbot are on a five-game unbeaten run, but three of those are draws, and to be honest, Neath and Haverfordwest really should have been put away. Nicky Tucker has talked about getting his side to play for all 90 minutes, but late goals and comeback goals seem to be a killer.

However, going to watch football at the ReMax is fantastic entertainment most of the time. In total 36 WPL goals have been scored at the Remax, 23 of which scored by the home side (the same number already as were scored in 16 games last season!), more than the top 3 (10 games, 24 goals at Rhyl). No losses in the league came at Victoria Road until December, so it does seem difficult to me why there aren’t around 5-600 bluenoses there on matchday. We discussed the idea in the studio and we came up with…

BRING A FRIEND. This may sound like something I’ve been trying to get Mrs. Hash to do for the past 6 months, but bringing a friend is probably the best way to increase attendance.

If 200 people go to Remax and half of those bring a mate, that’s 300. If half of those friends bring another friend to the next game, that’s 350, and so on (375, 390 etc), then in 4 home games, the attendance has been doubled! Build on it from there. Four hundred people can make a lot of noise.

Another way to increase people going starts with you. There’s no better way for people to care about the game than a good story and who better to tell it than you. After the TNS game, phone in, have a chat with me about the game, vent – advertise your club and convince people to go to the next one. Although, the next home game is TNS, if that game can’t be sold to the people of Port Talbot, there’s a much more serious problem that hasn’t yet been found. Roll on the visit of the champions on the 19th!

If you’re not going to Airbus, tune into 107.9FM on the 12th for all the updates, as well as Swans, Neath, Ospreys and the Lido. Or if you have one of those new fangled internet deelys. Click here.

Is there a worse game than a 0-0 draw? Are the draws the main reason why people aren’t turning up? Can you tell I’m a bit of a geek from the stats in the article? I look forward to hearing from you on the 19th, but before then, sound off like you’ve got a pair at sport@afanfm.co.uk

Hash
Red Card – Saturday 2-6PM
107.9 AfanFM