Happy birthday to a North Wales football great – the versatile Sara Williams

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One of the unsung heroes of Llandudno’s goal-packed season celebrates her 34th birthday today.

While Tudno have been prolific at finding the net in both the Genero Adran North league and cup competitions, Sara Williams has kept things tight at the other end.

The Seasiders have the meanest defence in the tier 2 league with just 15 goals conceded in 10 games – and their keeper has to take a lot of credit for that.

Born on March 5, 1988, Sara is a highly experienced and well-travelled player who has performed much more as an outfielder than a shot-stopper in her career.

This season, Llandudno were in need of a goalkeeper for their first season back in regional football and Sara stepped in.

The mother-of-three has been doing a fine job as an ever-present between the sticks throughout 2021-22.

Manager Sarah Colville said: “Sara’s doing really well. She has pulled off some very good saves in games when she has needed to. We are lucky to have her as it’s hard to get keepers.”

Sara started playing football at the age of eight for Llechid Celts, and was the only girl on the team.

Having three brothers who were always playing football and the fact her father used to manage Bethesda U15s, it was sort of inevitable Sara would follow suit.

Her first senior team was Colwyn Bay Ladies, who were champions of the North Wales League at the time and packed with many good players.

Later came stints with Llandudno Junction, Amlwch Town and Bangor City.

While with Junction Ladies she won Club Player of the Year and in 2014/15 at Amlwch, she received Manager’s Player of the Year.

Caernarfon Town are another of Sara’s former clubs. She skippered the Canaries in the Welsh Premier League in 2017-18.

Next was a move to Mountain Rangers, where she also wore the captain’s armband.

Before 2020-21, Sara and Elena Julio were due to take over as player-managers of Rangers, but the team was forced to fold in the summer.

That left the much-sought-after Sara without a club and Llandudno were quick to snap her up.

Unfortunately, the season was cancelled completely due to Covid-19.

However, the birth of the Genero Adran North gave Sara a new opportunity as a goalkeeper at Maesdu Park – and how she has taken it!

Sara is a very versatile player, capable of filling any position, and was once described as “a hard as nails ball-winning midfielder”.

Aside from the quality of her play, one of Sara’s biggest strengths is her personality.

She is a very sporting player, always gets on well with the opposition and is a great role model for the youngsters. One of my favourite people in football without a shadow of a doubt.

Penblwydd hapus Sara – gobethio gei di ddiwrnod da

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