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Exciting future could be on cards for Flintshire village club Penyffordd Lions

Joel Buchanan scores for Penyffordd as part of a hat-trick in a 4-2 win at Borras Park Albion earlier this season. Picture: JAMIE MATTHIAS @borrasparkjamie

Exciting plans are in the pipeline for a football club which is flying on the field this season.

Penyffordd Lions are unbeaten and nine points clear at the North East Wales Football League Championship Division summit.

The Flintshire village has produced some talented footballers over the years, including Wales internationals Tom Lawrence (Manchester United and Derby County) and Hannah Keryakoplis (Liverpool and Stoke City).

Now the Lions are also putting Penyffordd on the map.

Managed by Gareth Tunnicliffe, with Martin Jones and Stu Tunnicliffe as assistants, they are undefeated in 13 games in their division this term, with an awesome record of 12 wins and a draw.

From left to right: Penyffordd chairman Roy Tunnicliffe, manager Gareth Tunnicliffe and head coach Stuart Tunnicliffe

Penyffordd Lions joined the former tier 5 North East Wales League in 2017-18 and finished runners-up in their first season, scoring 120 goals in 26 matches, as well as landing a cup double.

They won the Horace Wynne Cup, beating league champions Plas Madoc 4-1 in the final at Airbus.

Lions also lifted the Presidents Cup, defeating Madoc on penalties in the final after a 1-1 draw at The Rock, Cefn Mawr.

Penyffordd remained in the same league for the next two seasons, then after the scrapped 2020-21 campaign due to Covid became part of the new tier 5 North East Wales Championship Division this term.

The club has had to play its home matches at nearby Leeswood in recent years due to a lack of facilities, but is working with the community council and trying to get new changing rooms up and running at the Ysgol Penyffordd field.

The Lions have also agreed to merge with Penyffordd Junior FC and run as one club in the future. The junior club was one of the largest around, but currently has no teams.

The plan is to start an under-6 team and then build year on year.

The club has also been in discussions with the village school, which has agreed crowd barriers can be put up to allow the Lions to seek promotion.

Due to the Covid pandemic, the last couple of years have proved difficult when it comes to raising funds, but Penyffordd are hoping their successes on the field will boost their profile and attract sponsors.