Meet Welsh Cup winner who also played football for Liverpool

Gail Paterson-Manning (right) with Amlwch Town joint-manager Mo Eynon

She is best known in North Wales football circles as Gail Manning, but at the start of this year another name was added to her profile.

In January, the popular footballer became Gail Paterson-Manning when she married her sweetheart Keira Paterson.

And today brings another special occasion for Gail – her birthday.

Although Gail’s most recent club is Amlwch Town, in the past she has turned out for Liverpool and the mighty Bangor City sides of the 1990’s.

In 1996-97 Gail was in the Bangor team which lifted the Women’s Welsh Cup for the first time, beating Newcastle Emlyn in the final.

Gail (front row – third from left in captain’s armband) lines up with Liverpool Ladies in about 2004

The talented forward went on, like many of Bangor’s top players, to represent Liverpool in the 2000’s.

A striker at the peak of her career, Gail now plays in midfield, but still contributed six goals to Amlwch’s successful 2019-20 campaign.

The season before, Gail came on as a substitute when Amlwch landed the first trophy in their history – the North Wales Women’s League Supplementary Cup.

In a tough final at Belle Vue, Rhyl, Town came from behind to defeat Wrexham 2-1 with goals from Cerys Gadd and Lexi Crawley.

Gail celebrates a goal for Amlwch in style and look who’s running to join her with the usual smile – fellow birthday girl Ashleigh Jones. Picture: Gethin Jones ATFC

Gail added fresh legs and impetus to Amlwch’s attack in the second half, helping ensure the ball stayed up at the right end of the field for her team.

Hailing from Holyhead, Gail has played at a high level and enjoyed a great career in women’s football, but she is far too modest to go into depth about it.

Wishing you all the best today Gail, and if you carry on playing football in the season ahead hope it’s a good one.