It’s a big happy football birthday to Llio Henshaw of CPD Bethel!

Football certainly runs in the family when it comes to the Henshaws of Minffordd, near Penrhyndeudraeth.

Cai, 21, is a well-known goalscorer for the likes of Penrhyn, Porthmadog, Blaenau Amateurs and Nantlle Vale.

Youngest daughter Mali, 16, is set to be among the latest talented youngsters to break into the CPD Merched Bethel senior side.

And current Bethel first-teamer Llio is 18 today. Penblwydd hapus.

Born on February 10, 2003, Llio Non Henshaw can play on the wing, where her speed will always be an asset, but she is more renowned as a defender.

She began her football career playing for Penrhyndeudraeth Juniors under-11 alongside team-mate Beca Williams.

Llio (left) and Beca

The lifelong friends have progressed through all age levels together and are now both key members of the Bethel senior squad which competes in the North Wales League.

In 2018-19, Llio was in the Bethel side which won the joint Division One league title. To make it an even more special season, she was named Player of the Year.

Last season, which was shortened considerably by coronavirus, Llio did get to enjoy the most memorable game of her career to date – travelling to South Wales to take on mighty Swansea City in the Welsh Cup.

Despite losing 4-0, the North Wales girls performed brilliantly and emerged from their big test with great credit.

Llio regards brother Cai as her biggest influence in football, and rates Beca Williams and Kelly Jones at Bethel as her most talented team-mates.

Her other football achievements include winning the North Wales Girls League Under-16 Cup Final in 2018, playing for Bethel in a 2-0 victory over RCF Wrexham that sunny day.

The Bethel squad was: Beca Williams, Erin Allen Jones, Jessica Lane, Natalie Meek, Llio Henshaw, Anest Roberts, Lowri Collins, Cara Jones, Jordan Roberts, Yasmin Williams, Jody Cain, Katie Houghton, Catrin Evans, Sophie Evans, Nel Jones & Erin Maloney.

In recent years, Llio has also represented Caernarfon Town Under-14’s and ran for Wales in the Indoor UK Athletics Championships.

She is a truly talented athlete with potential to be a major success in whatever she pursues.

Penblwydd hapus Llio.