Harrison ‘extremely proud’ of Saints’ latest championship achievement

The New Saints Triumphs in the Cymru Premier

The manager of The New Saints, Craig Harrison, expressed his immense pride after his team secured the Cymru Premier title for the fifth consecutive time. This remarkable victory came when TNS edged past Connah’s Quay Nomads with a score of 2-1, thanks to a last-minute goal from Danny Davies.

Historic Achievement

With this latest title, TNS has achieved an unprecedented total of 18 Cymru Premier championships, establishing themselves as the most successful team in the league’s history. For Harrison, this marks his 11th title with the club across two separate tenures.

“My experience at TNS has been fantastic. I clinched six titles during my initial spell, and now it’s my fifth during this second stint. I never imagined achieving this when I first arrived. Thus, I feel incredibly proud, satisfied, and thrilled,” Harrison remarked.

Challenges Faced

Despite this achievement, the past 18 months have posed difficulties for Harrison’s squad, including being eliminated from European tournaments and losing experienced players, necessitating significant changes with younger team members.

“The prompt league victory by March was a tremendous relief. It feels great to have accomplished this quickly, especially in such a thrilling manner,” he explained.

This season has not met the usual high standards expected from TNS, who are traditionally accustomed to dominating competitions and winning multiple titles.

Unyielding Drive

There has been concern that their consistent success could lead to complacency. However, midfielder Leo Smith, who has been with TNS since 2020, insists that the team’s hunger for success remains strong.

“No player tires of winning. I aim to stay here and continue winning games so I can reflect on my career with pride,” Smith stated. He emphasized that there is no footballer who would claim they don’t aspire to win trophies, regardless of past successes.

Despite a third-round exit in the Welsh Cup to Cardiff Met, and a 2-0 defeat in the Nathaniel MG Cup final against Barry Town, the team is eager to reclaim their status.

Harrison acknowledged the disappointment in not adding more cup honors this season. “With each competition we enter, we aim for victory. Unless you’ve achieved it, it’s hard to comprehend the demands of winning a treble,” he admitted. “It’s not always feasible. Sometimes a reality check is necessary.”

Next Steps: European Aspirations

While TNS aims to maintain their domestic dominance, they also look to build on last year’s European achievements, where they made history as the first club from the Welsh league system to secure a win in a major European competition’s league or group stage.

Preparation is already underway for the next season’s qualifiers, where TNS hopes to replicate last year’s success in significant UEFA competitions.

“I believe reaching the Champions League is improbable under the current setup, which is why the Conference League was introduced,” Harrison explained. “Our ambition is to progress further, ideally aspiring for the Europa League, but realistically, we need to target the same accomplishments as last year and possibly advance to the next stage.”

Smith echoed these ambitions, confident about TNS’s prospects in European competitions. “We’ve tasted success now. Winning the league doesn’t stop us from striving to win every match going forward. It’s crucial that the team takes a break and returns ready to secure European football once more.”