Happy 40th birthday to the legendary Ceryl Jones!

Ceryl in action at her peak. All photos by kind courtesy of ALEX PHILP

Today marks the 40th birthday of arguably the greatest female footballer North Wales has ever produced.

Ceryl Jones reached the highest levels of the game during the 1990s and 2000s, representing Wales and playing for both Merseyside giants, Everton and Liverpool.

Hailing from the Caernarfon area, Ceryl began her career with Segontium Rovers before enjoying much success in the 1990’s with Bangor City Girls.

In 1996/97, she won the Welsh Cup as a 17-year-old after City beat Newcastle Emlyn 3-0 in the showpiece.

Nicknamed “Giggsy”, Ceryl left to join Everton Ladies for the 1997/98 campaign where she won a Premier League National Division title, the Toffees only losing one game all season.

During her second season she earned a Premier League Cup runners-up medal after a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal Ladies.

This was quite a Bangor City squad. Ceryl is front row, fourth from left

Ceryl returned to Bangor City in 2000/01 and enjoyed two great seasons with the club in the Axa National Northern Division, scoring 19 and 16 goals respectively.

She was also part of the Citizens team which lifted the Welsh Cup for a second time in 2001/02, defeating Newport County 3-0 in the final.

Ceryl turned the match with a screamer midway through the second half before scoring another near the end.

She then joined Liverpool FC Ladies where she lifted Liverpool Counties Senior Cup before in 2003/04 being part of the squad which won the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division and FA County Women’s Cup.

Ceryl lines up with Wales (back row – furthest right)

In 2005 Ceryl returned to Caernarfon Town (who had replaced the former Bangor City) where she was a regular in the side until her retirement, helping them to the 2011 Welsh Cup Final and several league and cup triumphs.

Having scored goals at Wembley, Cardiff Arms Park, Goodison Park and Anfield and with over 50 caps and 10 goals at under 16, 18, 21, and full level she is undoubtedly a true North Wales legend.

Penblwydd hapus Ceryl! Tin un o fil!

Ceryl (second right) with (from left) Wales stars Barry Horne, Gary Speed, Ryan Giggs and goalkeeper Tony Roberts at the 1996 FAW Women’s Football Awards.

Flashback

Bangor City Girls 3 Newport County 0 – Welsh Cup Final (May 6, 2002)

Bangor lifted the Welsh Cup for the second time in the club’s history after a comprehensive victory over a youthful Newport County team.

City couldn’t repeat the sparkling form of their 4-0 semi-final victory over Barry Town, but they were always the better side and deserved their win.

The North Walians started well and put early pressure on the Newport goal but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Newport were content to slow the game down and stifle their opponents whilst looking to threaten on the break.

The referee should have calmed Bangor nerves after a clear and deliberate handball in the box but no penalty was given, much to the disgust of the travelling City fans.

The second half followed the pattern of the first with City doing all the pressing but again not able to turn possession into goals.

With less than 25 minutes left Bangor nerves were becoming frayed as Newport thwarted their best efforts.

It needed something special to break the deadlock and Ceryl Jones produced it with a 25-yard shot into the top corner.

Two goals in five minutes made the game safe for Bangor as Cheryl Foster and Ceryl Jones made it 3-0.

Victory was especially sweet for captain Bev Bourner, who was injured when City first won the cup in 1997, and for Siwan Elenid, who broke her leg in that final and missed out on the post-match celebrations.

Bangor Team: 3-5-2: Nicki Davies, Karen Williams, Bev Bourner, Gill Smith, Siwan Elenid (Eleri Earnshaw), Tania Jones, Manon Lloyd Williams, Alwen Williams, Iona Williams (Kelly Davies), Cheryl Foster, Ceryl Jones.