Happy 25th birthday to Llanfairfechan ace Maddie Williams !

Last season saw the birth of the North Wales Ladies Recreational Football League.

It was a fantastic concept.

Teams could arrange fixtures between themselves, rather than be confined to a strict list. They could also field teams of between 7 and 11 players, depending how many they had available.

They were split into two area groups and there were some brilliant matches involving players of all ages and abilities.

One of the most prominent teams were Llanfairfechan Town led by their charismatic captain Maddie Williams.

Today Maddie celebrates her 25th birthday.

Maddie Roseanna Williams was born on January 11, 1996.

Like most female footballers, she began playing in boys teams – hers was an under-7 junior side in Llanfairfechan.

A central attacking midfielder who wears the famous number 7 shirt, her earliest memories were tough matches against Bethel.

Undoubtedly the highlight of Maddie’s career was being selected for Wales Under-16s.

A true Llanfairfechan-ite, she has represented the town’s boys, girls and now ladies team!

She took a five-year break from the game at the age of 18, but made a comeback at 23 and scored a hat-trick in her first outing, resulting in her dad buying her new boots after losing a bet.

Those boots have gone on to bang in a few goals since. She restarted women’s football in Llanfairfechan with long-time friends Rachel Evans and Kelsey Robinson and has never looked back.

In the Recreational League, she netted six times, making her top-scorer in Group West and joint second highest overall.

Maddie notched a hat-trick in her very first game, a 4-4 draw with Queen Bees Eglwysbach.

As well as having the support of a great family, Maddie’s boyfriend Dewi also takes a very keen interest in her football. The pair truly are a team.

Sadly, the Recreational League came to a sudden end due largely to the lack of a bonafide rule book.

No-one should be criticised for this. It was an experiment which largely worked and many people would like to see it back.

Hopefully, Maddie and her Llanfairfechan ladies will return to action in the not too distant future as they are a big asset to the sport.

Happy birthday Maddie.