Katie Midwinter of Bethesda is the 2018-19 Grassroots North Wales Women’s Footballer of the Season

Bethesda Athletic captain Katie Midwinter is the 2018/19 Grassroots North Wales Women’s Player of the Season.

After playing a starring role in the rise to prominence of Bethel Ladies in recent years, Katie made the bold move to switch clubs at the beginning of this season and help develop newly-formed Bethesda Athletic Ladies.

The results were phenomenal. An unknown team at the start of this campaign, Pesda went on to dominate the North Wales Women’s League Division Two table, despite the presence of quality sides such as Amlwch Town, Corwen, Rhyl Development and Wrexham.

After 10 straight league wins Athletic were crowned champions – no-one else had got even near.

While Bethesda’s success was very much a team effort, no-one stood out more than the mercurial Midwinter.

She finished top scorer in Division Two with 22 goals and second overall in North Wales on 27 (3 more in cups for Bethesda and two in the league for Bethel in September).

Only Gemma Jones of Llanfair United finished ahead of her on 32 goals, but Midwinter still ends up the leading markswoman for 2018-19 among North Wales based players.

Anyone who may question the choice of Midwinter as North Wales Player of the Season in regard to the standard of football she plays at would be disrespecting NWWFL Division Two.

The games I have seen in that division this season have been of a very good standard – some if its players belong at a much higher level.

Midwinter’s effect on games has been uncanny. She can score goals from absolutely anywhere and her power and placement from free kicks is second to none.

In Bethesda’s first game, a 5-1 victory at Rhyl, Katie scored a stunning hat-trick with three clinical right-foot strikes.

Three weeks later at Corwen she grabbed another treble, again displaying the most lethal of long-range shooting.

She showed the ability to swing close-fought games in her team’s favour too, such as when she scored in tight contests against Wrexham and Amlwch, plus the NEWFA Cup tie against Rhyl.

After 10 years at Bethel, Katie took a big gamble this season and won.

She inspired Bethesda to a tremendous success and if the current squad can stay together they can surely win more trophies in years to come.

If it is not to be, then what happened this season will never be forgotten.

Katie Midwinter can look back on a successful 2018/19 season with immense pride.

At just 21, there are hopefully many more great achievements to come.

Grassroots North Wales Women’s Player of the Season – Roll of Honour

2018/19: Katie Midwinter (Bethesda Athletic)

2017/18: Alaw Davies-Smith (Rhyl)

2016/17: Catrin Thomas (Caernarfon Town)

2015/16: Katie Bowe (Llandudno)

Grassroots North Wales Women’s Young Player of the Season – Roll of Honour

2018/19: Catrin Evans (Bethel)

2017/18: Ceri Lois Thomas (Bangor City)

2016/17: Paige Williams (Rhyl)