Mountain Rangers boosted by return of the versatile Catrin Thomas

Mountain Rangers have strengthened their squad by signing the versatile Catrin Wyn Thomas from Welsh Premier League club Llandudno.

The experienced Catrin played for Rangers during the latter part of last season before rejoining Tudno in the summer.

She has now decided to return to Rhosgadfan to help the North Wales Women’s League Division Two team’s title quest.

When asked why she had moved clubs, Catrin said she was not enjoying playing in defence at Maesdu Park and hoped a switch to Rangers would allow her to revert to a more favoured attacking role.

Mountain Rangers chairman Martin Jones said: “The club has signed an experienced Welsh Premier League player and we are chuffed to see her return to Cae Gors. Everyone at the club is over the moon to see Catrin return.”

The sister of well-known Caernarfon Town attacker Darren, Catrin first began playing football with locally-based Cae Glyn under-sevens. She later progressed to play for her school before joining Caernarfon Town.

In 2015/16, Catrin was part of the formidable Llandudno squad which reached the FAW Women’s Cup Final. Although the Seasiders lost 5-2 to Cardiff City FC Women, Catrin scored one of her team’s goals at Latham Park.

The following season was probably the most successful of Catrin’s career. She rejoined Caernarfon Town and scored 38 goals in less than half that amount of games as the Canaries stormed to the North Wales Women’s League title and Betty Pickering Cup double.

Town won the championship by a 13-point margin, scoring 120 goals and conceding just 13. Catrin scored seven goals in one game against Prestatyn – and on her birthday.

At the end of the season Catrin was presented with the 2016-17 Grassroots North Wales Women’s Player of the Year award.

She returned to the Welsh Premier League with Caernarfon for the 2017-18 season, but the team struggled and finished next to bottom.

The following campaign saw the Canaries resign from the WPWL after just a handful of games. In March 2019, Catrin signed for Mountain Rangers and scored on her debut in a 3-2 cup win over Pwllheli.

After rejoining Llandudno this summer, she is now back at Rangers for a second spell where she is reunited with several former team-mates she has flourished alongside in her career, including Katie Bowe, Sara Williams and Elena Julio.