Penyffordd Lions appoint new manager

Gareth Tunnicliffe has been appointed new first team manager of tier 5 North East Wales League Championship side Penyffordd Lions.

He replaces Craig Mossman, who stepped down at the club’s AGM this week.

Mossman has been a pivotal figure since the club was founded in 2017/18 following the switch from Sunday to Saturday football.

The fiercely committed boss brought silverware to the club in the form of the Horace Wynne Cup and Presidents Cup in the successful 2017/2018 season where Peny also finished runners up in the North East Wales League.

A club statement said: “We would like to thank Craig for all his support, drive and we wish him all the best for the future. Craig has agreed to stay on the Penyffordd Lions committee as a board member.”

New manager Tunnicliffe comes with a wealth of experience through different clubs and various roles including manager and assistant-manager.

He is well known within the village and has previously held the secretary role for the Lions.

Tunnicliffe retains Martin Jones as assistant-manager and brings Stuart Tunnicliffe in as head coach.

As a result of Gareth Tunnicliffe being promoted to Lions manager, this vacated the secretary role.

The club will now split that position into two – a fixtures secretary and a business secretary.

Hannah Taft will be fixtures secretary and Lyndsey Ogden is business secretary.

Confirmation of Penyffordd Lions roles for the 2021/2022:
Chairman – Roy Tunnicliffe
Vice Chairman – Garry Davies
Treasurer – Gareth Davies
Fixtures Secretary- Hannah Taft
Business Secretary- Lyndsey Ogden
Manager – Gareth Tunnicliffe
Assistant Manager – Martin Jones
Head Coach – Stuart Tunnicliffe
Communications – Nick Owen
Committee members – Craig Mossman, Lianna Citrine

The Welfare Officer role has yet to be filled by the Lions, if you are interested please message the club at @penyfforddfc

On the back of the AGM, the Lions are having a follow on fundraising meeting on Tuesday, June 1.

The aim is to generate finance for the club and more importantly finish the new community changing rooms.

Post this meeting the club will be posting thoughts and ideas of different fundraising activities on its Twitter account.

They are also looking at different funding streams, including grants.

Penyffordd Lions originate from the ashes of the old Penyffordd FC team, who competed in Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier Division, and had won numerous cups during their time, but sadly had to fold at the end of the 2015-16 season.

The backbone of the new side came from local Sunday League team, the Red Lion Strollers, as they made the transition back to senior football to ensure the village had a senior team once again.

Their suffix of “Lions” is a reference to their Red Lion heritage.

The Lions’ debut season of 2017-18 saw them finish runners-up in the North East Wales League and lift two cups.

In the last completed season of 2019-20, they were third in the old tier 5 North East Wales League.