Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Guest(s)
Release Date
7 March 2024
Duration
64 min
In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney turn their attention to one of football’s most unusual yet quietly successful stories — Total Network Solutions (TNS), the Welsh club that redefined the boundaries between sport, commerce, and identity.
Once a modest side from the village of Llansantffraid, the club’s fortunes changed dramatically in 1997 when they entered into a sponsorship agreement with the Oswestry-based telecommunications company, Total Network Solutions. This partnership was so significant that the team adopted the company’s name — an unprecedented move in British football.
Between 2003 and 2006, TNS became a dominant force in the Welsh Premier League, lifting league titles, winning domestic cups, and securing European qualification. Under manager Ken McKenna, the club combined professional structure with tactical discipline, becoming the face of modernisation in Welsh football. Their European ties — including glamour fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City — brought rare international attention to the domestic league.
But behind the achievements lay a deeper question: what happens when a football club’s identity is corporate? Fan engagement remained modest, attendances small, and traditionalists uneasy. Yet, when the sponsorship ended in 2006 and the club rebranded as The New Saints (TNS), they carried their success forward — bridging two footballing cultures by playing in both Wales and England.
This episode explores how TNS became a symbol of modern football’s contradictions: a club that won everything, yet never quite captured the hearts of the many.
Takeaways
Total Network Solutions is known for its unusual name and sponsorship dynamics.
The club's origins trace back to a small village in Wales.
The name change to Total Network Solutions was unprecedented in football history.
The club has had significant success in the Welsh Premier League.
Total Network Solutions has participated in European competitions, facing tough opponents.
The transition to The New Saints marked a new chapter for the club.
Total Network Solutions 2003–2006: The Club That Sold Its Name
Between 2003 and 2006, Total Network Solutions became one of the most dominant — and most talked-about — teams in Welsh football history. A club from the tiny village of Llansantffraid, they rose from obscurity to national titles under the guidance of manager Ken McKenna.
What made them remarkable wasn’t just their success, but their identity. The club’s decision to rename itself after a telecommunications company — Total Network Solutions — was a first in British football, sparking debate over commercialisation and tradition. Yet, for all the controversy, the results were undeniable.
TNS captured two Welsh Premier League titles, numerous domestic trophies, and earned European adventures against Liverpool and Manchester City, shining a light on Welsh football at continental level. Their professionalism, tactical organisation, and ambition set a new benchmark for clubs outside England’s top leagues.
But beneath the silverware, questions lingered. Could a club named after a brand ever capture true local loyalty? Attendance remained low, and their cross-border existence — later moving to Oswestry and rebranding as The New Saints — reflected both their ambition and identity crisis.
Still, their legacy endures. TNS transformed the way small clubs thought about structure, sponsorship, and self-sustainability. They proved that modern football’s success stories can come from the unlikeliest of places — and sometimes, from a name that sounded more like a tech firm than a football club.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
The origins of Llansantffraid FC and the sponsorship transformation
Ken McKenna’s managerial impact and tactical setup
Dominance in the Welsh Premier League
European adventures vs Liverpool and Manchester City
The rebrand to The New Saints and identity challenges
Name change to Total Network Solutions in 1997
Welsh Premier League titles in 2004–05 and 2005–06
European ties against Liverpool and Manchester City
Transition to The New Saints in 2006
Setting a record-breaking domestic winning streak
Notable Manager
Ken McKenna
Notable Players
John Toner, Michael Wilde, Scott Ruscoe, Barry Hogan, Steve Evans, Tommy Holmes, Nicky Ward, Martyn Naylor, Dean Williams, Alfie Carter
Style of Play
4-4-2 Formation, Structured Pressing, Possession Play, Quick Transitions, Wide Attacking, Tactical Discipline
Under Ken McKenna, Total Network Solutions developed a disciplined, possession-oriented style that stood out in the semi-professional landscape of Welsh football. Utilising a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, the team combined structure with flexibility — pressing high when necessary but capable of sitting deep against technically superior European opposition.
TNS focused on quick transitions and wide play, exploiting the pace of wingers like Nicky Ward and Barry Hogan. The central pairing of Scott Ruscoe and Steve Evans offered both stability and leadership, while striker John Toner provided a reliable goal-scoring outlet, often finishing off flowing passing moves from deep.
McKenna’s system was notably methodical. Training mirrored full-time professional setups, with detailed analysis and an emphasis on maintaining shape out of possession. This commitment to structure allowed TNS to dominate domestically while remaining competitive against much wealthier clubs in Europe.
In an era before data-driven management was common in Welsh football, TNS operated like a professional enterprise — reflective of their commercial origins. Their play combined ambition with pragmatism: measured build-up, clean technical play, and defensive resilience.
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