Originally from Abergele, Llion Jones is the director of Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University’s Welsh language unit. Well-known as a poet, he won the barddic chair at the 2000 National Eisteddfod in Llanelli a wrote a collection of poetry about Wales’s journey to Euro 2016 entitled Bardd ar y Bêl . He supports Bangor 1876 and has had a chat with us about this season, football in general, and links between football and poetry...

How would you describe the experience of watching Bangor 1876 this season?
It’s been a very beneficial experience on my Groundhopper app certainly. I have been able to add several new grounds I had never been to at all before - from Llangoed and Trearddur Bay on Anglesey to the grounds of FC United of Manchester and Chester FC across the border. But the best feeling about following Bangor 1876 concerns being part of something bigger. There’s a sense of community that unites the players, supporters and the local area in a way I’ve not seen for many years. The way in which the experienced players encourage and guide the the younger players is a big part of this too, with the partnership between Jonno and Cian in the centre of defence being a perfect example.

What are your highlights of the season so far?
The most memorable match was definitely the game in the first round of the Welsh Cup against Penycae. There was a big crowd in Treborth that afternoon, but I’m sure more than half of them must have turned for home and missed Matthew Lock’s last minute goal and all the drama of the extra time and penalty kicks. Standing behind the goal when Benn Lundstram scored in Manchester was a special experience too. I hadn’t taken part in a pile-on like that since my school days! In terms of the standard of games, I would say that the home match against Nefyn was a great advert for local football.

You are well-known as a poet. Is it true that John Toshack was a bit of an inspiration to you as a poet?
To be fair, I was only 12 when John Toshack published his one and only collection of poetry Gosh it’s Tosh. But Toshack was a hero to me in a Wales shirt and he tried to combine the two things that I really enjoyed playing with - words and football. Looking back, Toshack’s ability with his pen and paper wasn’t at the same level as his heading ability. He wrote in the same sort of nonsense verse as Muhammad Ali did during the same period, and an uncomplementary reviewer (the Irish poet Tony Curtis) suggested that Tosh should stick to football. As the title chose for his book suggests, Tosh was sensible enough to realise this. But influenced by Tosh, a 12 year old boy put a little book entitled Gee it’s Lli together and many years later, I still get a better response to poems about football than anything else.

What poets would you like to see playing football and which footballers would you like to see writing poetry?
The things I admire about poetry are the things I admire about football too - talent, vision, creativity, imagination and technique. To me, what players such as Messi, Ronaldo and Bale can do on the pitch, and what Maradona, Cantona and Cruyff did in years gone by, is very much like poetry without words. Football and poetry at their best can take your breath away. As it happens, two of my favourite Welsh language poets were decent footballers. T.H. Parry Williams described himself as a ‘quick forward’ in the Jesus College Oxford team and Gerallt Lloyd Owen was a nimble right winger for Bala Boys’ Junior XI.

On Twitter, we have seen that you tweet in ‘cynghanedd’ (‘chiming’ - a combination of rhyming and alliteration). When watching football, have you ever used an ‘englyn’ (a stanza in ‘cynghanedd’) to insult a referee from the terrace?
After my experience of refereeing the Penrhosgarnedd under-9 and under-11 teams, I try my best not to insult referees. I play 5-a-side with one of the Gwynedd League referees every week and am very aware that the future of grassroots football depends on having enough people like them who are prepared to spend their afternoons keeping order. Having said that, the phrase ‘Uffar hyll yw’r reffarî’ is a great line of not particularly complimentary cynghanedd, and my respect for officials doesn’t stop me from shouting at the Scottish guy who runs the line for Bangor 1876!

Is there one thing that you would like to change about football?
I worry that football is following cricket behind the paywall. This trend has had a very damaging impact on grassroots cricket and children's interest in the sport. Children should be able to see their heroes play and be inspired by them without their families having to subscribe to several different providers. Thank goodness for programmes such as ‘Sgorio’ and ‘Match of the Day’. Thank goodness also for local football.