Marc Lloyd Williams’ Welsh Premier highest goals record will stand for years to come

Will Marc Lloyd Williams’ all-time record of 319 Welsh Premier League goals ever be passed?

In our lifetimes, it is highly improbable.

The nearest to ‘Jiws’ in the chart on 269 is Rhys Griffiths, current manager of Penybont, who still occasionally appears on the team-sheet.

But with all due respect it is somewhat unlikely the South Wales ace will score another 51 top-flight goals and set a new mark.

Of those still playing regularly, fourth-placed Michael Wilde (186 goals) is aged 36, Chris Venables (177) in joint-fifth is 35 in July and Greg Draper, ninth on 151, will be 31 in August.

The next player in the standings still active in the WPL is 25th placed Luke Bowen on 105 goals.

No-one gets 30 WPL goals in a season these days. The last player to do so was Rhys Griffiths back in 2009-10.

Since the league became a 12-club affair in 2010-11, the biggest haul in a season was Venables’ 28 in 2014-15.

This season, three-time Golden Boot winner Venables tops the chart again on 22, so perhaps that 30-goal mark might just be reached, provided the campaign does finally end post-coronavirus.

It seems a decent bet that Wilde and Venables can pass the 200-goals mark and move beyond Lee Hunt into third and fourth spot, although that will depend on how long the aforementioned pair remain in the WPL.

As for the chasing pack….well there isn’t one. Players do not stay around in the league that long any more. If an 18-year-old goal machine does pop up, it is probable he will be snapped up by a higher-level club.

So Jiws will remain king for a good while yet and he deserves to. Long may he reign.

Welsh Premier League all-time goalscorers list (up to April 9, 2020 – season currently suspended. Some of these stats are subject to confirmation)

1 Marc Lloyd Williams 319
2 Rhys Griffiths 269
3 Lee Hunt 209
4 Michael Wilde 186 *
5 = Chris Summers 177
5 = Chris Venables 177 *
7 John Toner 161
8 Graham Evans 157
9 Greg Draper 151 *
10 Stuart Rain 150
11 Paul Roberts 147
12 Martin Rose 141
13 Kevin Morrison 140
14 Steve Rogers 132
15 Eifion Williams 131
16 = Ken McKenna 127
16 = Danny Barton 127
16 = Les Davies 127
19 = Mattie Davies 124
19 = Andy Moran 124
21 Paul Evans 122
22 Dave Taylor 118
23 Tommy Mutton 114
24 Gavin Allen 113
25 Luke Bowen 105 *
26 Frank Mottram 104
27 Glyndwr Hughes 102
28 = Tim Hicks 100
28 = Mark Connolly 100
30 Alex Darlington 98 *

• = Still playing in the league

Top scorers season-by-season

2018/19

Greg Draper (The New Saints) 27

2017/18

Greg Draper (The New Saints) 22

2016/17

Jason Oswell (Newtown) 22

2015/16

Chris Venables (Aberystwyth Town) 20

2014/15

Chris Venables (Aberystwyth Town) 28

2013/14

Chris Venables (Aberystwyth Town) 24

2012/13

Mike Wilde (The New Saints) 25

2011/12

Rhys Griffiths (Llanelli) 24

2010/11

Rhys Griffiths (Llanelli) 25

2009/10

Rhys Griffiths (Llanelli) 30

2008/09

Rhys Griffiths (Llanelli) 31

2007/08

Rhys Griffiths (Llanelli) 40

2006/07

Rhys Griffiths (Llanelli) 30

2005/06

Rhys Griffiths (Port Talbot Town) 28

2004/05

Marc Lloyd Williams (TNS) 34

2003/04

Andy Moran (Rhyl) 27

2002/03

Graham Evans (Caersws) 24

2001/02

Marc Lloyd Williams (Bangor City) 47

2000/01

Graham Evans (Caersws) 25

1999/2000

Chris Summers (Cwmbran Town) 28

1998/99

Eifion Williams (Barry Town) 28

1997/98

Eifion Williams (Barry Town) 40

1996/97

Tony Bird (Barry Town) 42

1995/96

Ken McKenna (Conwy United) 38

1994/95

Frank Mottram (Bangor City) 31

1993/94

David Taylor (Porthmadog) 43

1992/93

Steve Woods (Ebbw Vale) 29

Leading scorers 2019-20

22 – Chris Venables (Bala Town)

18 – Greg Draper (The New Saints)

14 – Jamie Insall (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

13 – Kayne McLaggon (Barry Town United)

12 – Luke Bowen (Carmarthen Town)