| Aled calls time on Welsh Premier career |
| Wednesday 24 March 2010 |
 ALED Rowlands has brought down the curtain on a long and distinguished Welsh Premier career by returning to his home club Rhos Aelwyd. Troubled for most of this season by a knee injury, Rowlands made his final appearance in black and white on Friday as Elements Cefn Druids held Welsh Premier league leaders The New Saints to a goal-less draw at Plas Kynaston. The 38-year-old stalwart had ended a four-month wait to make his 300th league appearance the previous week against Airbus UK Broughton, becoming the 23rd player to have achieved the feat since the League of Wales was founded in 1992. Rowlands was the longest serving player at Plas Kynaston after joining the Ancients from Rhos Aelwyd in 1993. He had previously appeared a couple of times in the top flight for Holywell Town in season 1996/7, but has since made 300 full appearances for the Druids. Selected for the Wales Under-18s against Scotland, Switzerland, Northern Ireland and Austria, Rowlands has been a superb clubman and has captained the side on numerous occasions. "Aled says he has not really enjoyed this season because of injury, the off-field problems at the club and travelling and leaves with our best wishes," says Druids' chairman Brian Mackie. |