Llandudno Ladies’ request to join the North Wales Women’s League is rejected

Llandudno Ladies FC’s season is over….but the club hopes to return to action in 2020-21.

Having recently resigned from the Welsh Premier, the club asked to belatedly join the North Wales Women’s League, confident they could cope with a fixtures backlog, but their request has been declined.

The NWWFL told Llandudno their plea to become members, three months into the 2019-20 campaign, had come simply too late.

Tudno had considered applying to play in the North Wales League at the start of the season, but decided to soldier on in the WPWL until November.

The Seasiders stepped down from the national league at the start of this month after the strain of making several trips to South Wales every season finally took its toll.

The current campaign had caused particular problems for the Maesdu Park side in getting enough players together for the long journeys south.

Heavy defeats at Cardiff Met (17-0) and Cardiff City FC Women (10-0) highlighted their difficulties, although the club had won at Briton Ferry and reached the Welsh Cup quarter-finals.

Llandudno’s departure now means there are no North Wales representatives left in the national league. Northop Hall, Caernarfon Town, Wrexham and Rhyl have all pulled out in recent years.

Tudno’s decision to resign in their eighth season since the WPWL went fully national in 2012/13 alerted a lot of interest from other clubs in their players.

Striker Catrin Thomas left before the club’s top flight departure, while defender Sioned Bohana has joined Mountain Rangers, top-scorer Jordanne Greenough has switched to Abergavenny and goalkeeper Rebecca Elliott is now with Caernarfon Town.

At the weekend it emerged Mari Gibbard, leading markswoman for Llandudno last season but who is now studying in America, has rejoined North Wales League side Bethel, who she will play for during holiday times.

Llandudno will now also be unable to take up their Welsh Cup quarter-final commitment against Abergavenny on February 9, leaving Bethel and Connah’s Quay Nomads as the only remaining North Wales representatives in the competition.

Tudno’s long-serving manager Sarah Colville told Grassroots North Wales the team intends to start up again next season, presumably applying to join the North Wales League. Some players have already pledged their loyalty for 2020-21.