The president of the Welsh team, Rob Edwards, visited the Navarrese club to learn more about the work the Club is doing on and off the field
Pamplona (Wednesday, June 19, 2024) – Club Atlético Osasuna welcomed Haverfordwest County A.F.C. president Rob Edwards this morning. During his visit, the president of the Cymru Premier team, the top tier of Welsh football, met with Rojillo president Luis Sabalza to talk about the work Osasuna is doing on and off the field. Later, he visited the Tajonar Sports Complex to learn more about the job done at the academy level. Today's meeting was the Union of European Clubs Board members' first meeting.
For the president of the Navarrese club, this type of encounter is essential as it showcases the growth Osasuna is having at a global level. "I think it is crucial because, recently, it seemed as if Osasuna only had relevance in our region and our community. However, Osasuna has gained worldwide notoriety through the Spanish Supercup and the Conference League. It has brought us a ton of joy that many clubs and executives want to come to know Osasuna and the work we do on and off the field and with our academy because it shows that we are not only doing good; we are doing great. Our goal is to make Osasuna known worldwide," Sabalza said.
Haverfordwest County A.F.C. sees Osasuna as a model club for growth. "We are a small club, and we are looking to grow on and off the pitch, as well as our infrastructure, fan engagement, and community reach. It is always fascinating how bigger clubs can fix these problems... The objectives and solutions are very similar despite the size of the club compared to ours. Many clubs outside the elite European group will have the same challenges. It is great to understand how they overcome them and how they continue to grow and develop," Edwards mentioned.
It is not only Osasuna's front office work that caught the attention of the Haverfordwest County A.F.C. chairman but also the club's work at the academy level. Edwards visited the Tajonar Sports Complex to learn more about the academy. While in Tajonar, he met with Tajonar director Ángel Alcalde and Tajonar technical director Patxi Puñal, who presented him with 'Método Tajonar,' the academy's work method.
"[Osasuna and Haverfordwest County] share the same ethos of bringing through young players to the first team and giving young players a pathway into a career in football. I think the mindset of a club like Osasuna and what we are trying to achieve in Wales at our club is very similar. It's been really interesting to come and understand how you work with the local community and how you engage to fill up the stadium and create such an amazing atmosphere," Edwards highlighted.
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