CPD Y Rhyl 1879 appoint Gareth “Perry” Thomas as its first manager

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 have appointed Gareth “Perry” Thomas as its new first team manager

Thomas, 47, has a wealth of experience in football management across the North Wales pyramid.

As a player, he spent most of his career with Halkyn United, but also had short spells with both Flint Town United and Connah’s Quay Nomads in the League of Wales.

He helped Halkyn move through the leagues right up to the Cymru Alliance under the management of George Thelwell, to whom he eventually became assistant.

When Thelwell left the club, Thomas took over.

Known popularly as “Perry”, Thomas then had stints as manager with Mynydd Isa, Buckley Town, FC Nomads and Denbigh Town, whom he guided to the Word Cup Final in 2016, beating three Welsh Premier clubs en route to losing to mighty TNS in the showpiece game.

In 2017-18, Thomas took charge at Conwy Borough and led the club to a magnificent treble in his first season of Welsh Alliance League title, FAW Trophy and Cookson Cup.

He left Conwy the following season and has focused largely on junior football since.

Now he is back as manager of CPD Y Rhyl 1879, a phoenix club formed this summer following the demise of Rhyl FC.

A CPD Y Rhyl 1879 statement said: “The club and management committee are delighted to welcome Gareth to the club as part of an exciting journey in building a successful and ambitious club for Rhyl, its supporters, community and North Wales.

“Ahead of our first season, the importance of setting off on the correct path with positive people to get supporters excited is key as we aim to start the journey to establish CPD Y Rhyl 1879 as one of the biggest clubs in North Wales.”

Thomas said: “I am really excited about joining CPD Y Rhyl 1879 on the journey to rise through the Welsh leagues. We will be looking to recruit the best North Wales based players we can, to join us in our first season.”

Chairman Tom Jamieson added: “Gareth is really well-known in local footballing circles and has been appointed not only due to his coaching capabilities and local know how, but he is passionate about our journey along with having a proven reputation for developing local talent which really appealed to us.”

1879 have applied to play in tier 4 of the new Welsh football pyramid which comes into operation next season.

The club will be able to continue playing at Rhyl FC’s former home Belle Vue after agreeing a deal with stadium owner David Butters.