Striker Mike Chapman switches camps in what could prove a title twist

Mike Chapman has joined Llanelwy Athletic

One of the finest strikers at tier 5 standard in North Wales has featured in a high profile transfer.

Mike Chapman, top scorer for Llandudno Amateurs this season, has joined North Wales Coast East Division One title rivals Llanelwy Athletic.

The move reunites Chapman with Sandy Malone, his former manager at Llanfairfechan Town and Llandudno Amateurs.

Chapman, who has netted 23 goals this season for the Amateurs, goes straight into Athletic’s squad for today’s league encounter at Penrhyn Bay Dragons.

Malone said: “Excellent to get Mike signed. He’s one player who scored near 100 goals for me in previous seasons where I had signed him to Llanfairfechan and where he followed me to the Amateurs.

“Signing Mike is about pushing to challenge for the league. He’s going to be a big part of that while we know we have a lot of difficult games coming up.

“I’m hoping to sign one more player in the winter break and we can focus on the second half of our season.”

Llanelwy are currently third in Division One on 36 points from 13 games. Llandudno Amateurs lie second with 39 points from 19 outings, while leaders Cerrigydrudion have 43 from 18.

Therefore, the present situation suggests Llanelwy are strong favourites to be crowned champions, but there is still plenty of football to be played.

Chapman has scored goals wherever he has played. In Llandudno Albion’s first-ever season, 2014-15, he netted 37 goals, bagging seven hat-tricks and scoring eight times in one game.

He also had a productive spell with Llanfairfechan Town under Malone, who then took over the Amateurs and brought Chapman with him.

Chapman was a big success with the Amateurs in their first three seasons, but decided to move to Llandudno Athletic midway through 2019-20, due to travelling issues in the then Welsh Alliance.

In September 2020, Chapman returned to Llandudno Amateurs, but with the entire 2020-21 season cancelled below tier 1 never got to play a game.

He remained with the Amateurs this term and has been in scintillating form. Now he has switched ranks and is expected to revitalise a Llanelwy side in need of a boost after a recent shortage of games and a couple of disappointing results.