We have some fantastic young female defenders in North Wales football at present.
There’s Anest Haf Roberts and Llio Henshaw of Bethel, Corwen’s Rachel Roberts and Shona Roberts of Connah’s Quay Nomads to name just a few.
And then we have Llinos Hughes, one of the best players to emerge at the still relatively new Rhyl side NFA.
Today sees Llinos celebrate her 19th birthday. Despite her tender years, this talented centre-back plays with considerable maturity.
As well as possessing the traditional attributes all defenders have, Llinos is also very smart with the ball at her feet.
Born on November 30, 2001, Llinos’ football background is similar to so many girls in North Wales in that she spent her early years playing alongside and against the boys.
She actually did not play girls-only football until high school.
A former pupil of Ysgol Maes Garmon, Mold, Welsh-speaker Llinos is affectionately known to her friends as Lily.
In more recent years, she has played for Rhyl Under-16’s and then joined the Rhyl Women’s set-up before deciding to become part of the new NFA side for the 2019-20 season.
It proved a tough baptism. Despite having a decent debut herself, the team were whipped 9-0 at home by mighty Amlwch in their first-ever North Wales Women’s League Division Two match.
With the talents in their ranks, however, it was obvious NFA just needed time to develop as a unit.
And within just a few weeks of that Amlwch walloping, they turned over previously undefeated Mountain Rangers 2-1 on the Rhyl Leisure Centre pitch where they play home games.
By the end of a curtailed season due to Covid, NFA had won six out of nine games and lay second in the table, although they dropped to third after the final placings were decided on the unweighted Points-Per-Game method.
A big fan of the band Mumford and Sons, Llinos’ female football idol is Megan Rapinoe.
NFA are delighted Llinos is staying on as a player this season following a change of career plan.
This outstanding young talent is certainly one to watch.
Penblwydd hapus Llinos. 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂
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