Totally foursome – manager Andy Colville talks about FC Mally’s amazing quadruple-winning season

North Wales Sunday league football kings FC Mally made it four quadruples in seven completed seasons in 2021-22.

The Llandudno Junction side celebrated perhaps their greatest campaign of all in landing the Quad Quad in view of the fact they started off the season with some uncharacteristic defeats and were bottom of the Rhyl and District Sunday League for a short time.

Manager ANDY COLVILLE talks to Grassroots North Wales about a stunning season gone by.

Four quadruples for FC Mally now….how does the latest compare with the previous three?

I’d say this one was by far the toughest to achieve, especially after our start in the league. Bottom after two games and up against some very good teams this year we dug in and got the job done.

After your unusually erratic start to the season, did you think this might not be your year?

We’d never experienced a start like that in the league and after losing some key players in the summer I thought to myself the best we could do this year was win a couple of cups but the lads turned a corner and showed why they are so dominant in Sunday league.

What turned things around for you and put you on that long unbeaten run in which you didn’t lose a single cup game?

First time I’ve told anyone this….

I sent a text in December to my ex-captain at the time and best friend Shaheen Twinny Ahmed, who had left to play higher league football. I was at a low point at the time and thinking about calling it a day but I got a reply from him saying give it till January everything’s going to be alright.

At that point I didn’t know he’d agreed to sacrifice his Saturday football to come back and help the team do the unthinkable. The signings of Twinny, Conor Davies and Sam Sinkinson were big turning points in January.

Benn Lundstram, first season, team and league top-scorer. How impressed have you been with him?

What a talent! 20 years old and to finish top goal scorer in such a competitive league tells you what kind of ability this lad has. We have tried to get him to play before this season but now he’s had a taste of it, he loves it.

We know you’re a big Liverpool FC fan. Would you have swapped Mally’s quad for the Reds to win theirs?

Good question that Dave and to be honest no I wouldn’t swap it. This team we have built isn’t just about us, it’s about our community, the people who come out every week to cheer us on and we are like one big family. I wouldn’t swap it for anything in the world.

Tell us a little about the management team which runs FC Mally. They must be a pretty special crew

Lynne Plumb – Chairwoman/physio. Without her there wouldn’t have ever been a team. She loves it just as much as everyone else and will do anything to help anyone. She’s had a tough last month in her personal life losing loved ones and I’m just glad we could put a smile on her face by winning the quad.

Martin Poomyolo Tomkinson – assistant manager
This lad came out of retirement to help me this year after seeing I was struggling doing it alone. Great voice on the sideline and knows what he’s talking about; someone I’m proud to stand next to in the dugout. A good friend.

How have the supporters impacted on your season? Did they get you over the line a few times?

The support this year has been brilliant home and away, especially at the cup finals we must have had over 100 supporters at each one. It’s great seeing them cheering the lads on then having a pint with them after the game.

Who are the best opponents you faced this season?

Another tough one. There’s a lot of good sides in this league now. Royal Oak always give us a good battle, as do the two local teams Y Clwb and Conwy Comrades.

Is there a fifth quadruple in this squad?

Most definitely. We may lose a few players during the summer but the majority will stay and I’m already in talks with some players about joining the club so watch this space.

Would you like to say thank you to anyone who helped you in this amazing season?

I’d like to thank Lynne and Martin for all their help during the season, it means a lot to have them by my side, the supporters for coming out in all weathers to cheer the lads on and last but not least the players, without them we wouldn’t be celebrating winning another quadruple, they have been fantastic.

FC MALLY ROLL OF HONOUR

QUADRUPLE 1: 2013-14

Lee Jones Cup Winners
Premier Cup Winners
NWCFA Cup Winners
Rhyl & District Sunday League Winners

QUADRUPLE 2: 2014-15

Lee Jones Cup Winners
Premier Cup Winners
NWCFA Cup Winners
Rhyl & District Sunday League Winners

QUADRUPLE 3: 2018-19

NWCFA Cup winners
Lee Jones Cup winners
Rhyl and District Sunday League Winners
Premier Cup winners

QUADRUPLE 4: 2021-22

NWCFA Cup winners
Lee Jones Cup winners
Rhyl and District Sunday League Winners
Premier Cup winners

OTHER TROPHIES

2017/18

Lee Jones Cup Winners
NWCFA Cup Winners
Rhyl & District Sunday League Winners

2016/17

Premier Cup Winners (as Crozzy FC)