Ten exciting new signings to kick off the summer
Clubs across North Wales are already busy building their squads for the 2022-23 campaign – Grassroots North Wales has picked out 10 of the best signings so far.
Alex Jones (Flint Town United to CPD Y Rhyl 1879)
The signing of the summer in North Wales football so far.
Last season Alex skippered Flint Town United to fifth place in the Cymru Premier League, but has now taken the bold move to drop down to Tier 3 where exciting newcomers Rhyl 1879 are aiming to make their mark in the Ardal North West.
Alex’s twin brother, James, is already a key player at Belle Vue and had a spell as captain last season, when 1879 won the North Wales Coast East Premier Division title without losing a game and lifted the Cookson Cup.
A true goal-scoring midfielder, Alex, 27, has football history with the town as he joined the former Rhyl FC in July 2016 from Prestatyn Town and made an immediate impact with the Lilywhites in his debut season in the Welsh Premier League.
Sadly, injuries in the second phase hampered his progress and Rhyl ended up relegated.
Despite this setback, Alex committed to Rhyl for the 2017/18 season, but injuries were again a problem and in January 2018 he temporarily hung up his boots due to work commitments.
He returned to football in 2018-19, re-signing for Prestatyn Town whose fortunes improved after Neil Gibson returned as manager.
The following season, Alex captained the Seasiders to the tier 2 Cymru North title.
In 2020-21, the midfielder returned to the top flight when he joined former boss Gibson at Flint.
Alex made 18 appearances, scoring three goals, and he continued to shine last season as the Silkmen secured a place in the Championship Conference, featuring in 22 games and netting three times.
Now comes a fresh challenge at CPD Y Rhyl 1879, about to embark on their second season of competition.
Alex said: “After the season we had at Flint Town last year it (to move) was a very difficult decision for me, but after watching Rhyl many times last season and seeing what’s being built by Pez (manager Gareth Thomas) and the lads I feel it’s the right move.
“I look forward to getting back on the pitch alongside my brother and a few close mates and hopefully I will drive the team forward and get Rhyl as a football town back where it belongs.”
1879 manager Thomas added: “Alex Jones is a superb addition to the squad.
“This signing is a huge signal of intent from the club and the progress we have made in such a short time, to be able to attract players of Alex’s calibre shows how far we have come on and off the pitch.
“The signing has come out of the blue with Alex showing a desire to join the club and progress through the league.”
Matty Hill (Ruthin Town to Colwyn Bay)
Big loss for Ruthin Town but a major gain for Colwyn Bay as they sign one of the finest players to grace the Cymru North last season.
The 21-year-old Hill netted 19 goals from 31 appearances across all competitions during 2021-22, including the opener in the NEWFA Challenge Cup final, in which Ruthin defeated Buckley Town 4-3.
Hill was shortlisted for the JD Cymru North Young Player of the Season, an award won by fellow new Bay signing Dylan Allshorn.
He was also recently in the Cymru North squad which beat the Cymru South 4-2 to qualify for the Uefa Regions Cup.
George Macready (to Gresford Athletic)
Gresford’s first signing of the 2022/23 summer transfer window is a young and athletic defender, who provides a different, left-footed option at centre-back.
His first club was Broughton United, playing for them as a youth from 2011 until 2014.
During the 2014/15 season, he signed for Flint Town United before leaving the club and joining Chester.
Macready played for Chester’s academy for a number of years and also signed for 1874 Northwich on loan during the 2019/20 season, as well as Sandbach United.
The 21-year-old left Chester and re-signed for Flint Town United in the 2020/21 summer transfer window. He has also since played for Chester Nomads.
Joe Chaplin (Gresford Athletic to Llandudno)
One of the most capable goal-scorers around on the North Wales scene for a number of seasons has rejoined a former club.
Joe Chaplin is back at Llandudno, where he had a short spell at the beginning of 2017.
The 29-year-old striker lands at Maesdu Park from Gresford Athletic, whom he joined in 2021 after a successful loan spell at the club during the 2019/20 season.
Over both stints at Clappers Lane, Chaplin made 35 appearances in all competitions, scoring 21 goals and providing five assists.
During the 2021/22 season, he was named JD Cymru North Player of the Month for December 2021 and was the fourth top goalscorer in the league.
He has also played for Cardiff Metropolitan University, Glan Conwy, Conwy Borough, Porthmadog, Airbus UK Broughton and Colwyn Bay during his career.
Chaplin stood out at Porthmadog in 2017-18, netting 26 goals in 27 starts.
Dylan Allshorn (Holywell Town to Colwyn Bay)
One of the true stars of 2021-22 in North Wales football.
Dylan was recently named JD Cymru North Young Player of the Season after an impressive campaign for Holywell Town.
He scored seven goals in 34 appearances across all competitions as the Wellmen finished fourth. The speedy winger was also on the shortlist for the Cymru North Player of the Season award.
Dylan, who also played for Wrexham Youth and Flint Town United, was recently part of the Cymru North squad which beat their Cymru South counterparts, scoring in the second leg 4-2 victory, to secure a place in the Uefa Regions Cup.
Sam Spridgeon (Saltney Town to Gresford Athletic)
Striker Spridgeon has joined Cymru North club Gresford from Saltney Town.
He first played for Lache in the Chester and District League, before moving into Welsh football with FC Nomads of Connah’s Quay in 2016.
Sam then moved back into English football, playing for both Upton AA and Oswestry Town, until he made the return to Wales with Buckley Town in 2019.
The 25-year-old stayed at Buckley until 2020, when he had a short spell at Chester Nomads, before returning to The Globe during the 2020/21 January transfer window until the end of the season.
He spent the first half of the 2021/22 season at Prestatyn Town and then signed for Saltney Town in January 2021.
Sam made 13 appearances for Saltney in all competitions during the 2021/22 season, scoring six goals and providing four assists to help the club finish eighth in the Lock Stock Ardal North West table.
Dean Seager (Llandudno to Llandudno Albion)
Llandudno Albion are delighted to welcome local striker Dean Seager to their club for the first time.
The 27-year-old has been a proven goalscorer over the years for other teams in the area, such as Llandudno Junction, Conwy Borough and Llandudno.
He was part of the Junction side which played their only season in the tier 2 Cymru Alliance in 2017-18.
Capped for Wales Schools at Under-18 level, he is a quality operator at both tiers 2 and 3, excelling at holding the ball up and bringing others into play.
On joining the Albion, Dean said: “I’m happy to finally be an Albion player.
“They were the only team I had on my mind when I knew I was leaving Llandudno.
“Can’t wait to get started and also play with some of my best mates and family.”
Tom Weir (Conwy Borough to Gresford Athletic)
Forward Weir first played for Prestatyn Town as a youth player in 2013, before signing for Rhyl in the 2015/16 season and then Denbigh Town until 2017. He also had a short spell at Colwyn Bay.
Weir then moved to Connah’s Quay Nomads for four seasons, playing for their academy, until he returned to Rhyl in 2020.
The 21-year-old signed for Flint Town United in 2021 before joining Conwy Borough in the 2021/22 January transfer window.
During the 2021/22 season, he made six appearances and scored two goals for Conwy Borough, who finished in 10th place in the 2021/22 JD Cymru North table.
Jack Davies (St Asaph City to CPD Y Rhyl 1879)
Jack started last season with tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division side Llannefydd, before moving to T3 Ardal North West club St Asaph City in January.
He now gets an opportunity to shine with tier 3 newcomers CPD Y Rhyl 1879.
Manager Gareth Thomas said: “Jack Davies is another important signing.
“We followed Jack when he first played against us for Llannefydd last year as he was the stand out player that night.
“He then moved to St Asaph in tier 3, where he was their best player in the games we watched, so I am delighted he has agreed to join us and I look forward to working with him.
“He will give us balance on the left side and has a great delivery.”
Meilir Williams (Conwy Borough to Porthmadog)
Striker Williams is back at Porthmadog where he spent the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, scoring 14 goals in 36 matches (9 starts, 27 as sub).
This time he will no doubt aim to be a more regular starter for the newly-promoted Cymru North outfit..
Meilir has scored goals wherever he has played and at previous club Conwy Borough he has already done it at tier 2 Cymru North level.
The 25-year-old has always played at a good standard. In 2018-19, he was Welsh Alliance Division One top-scorer with 28 goals for Penrhyndeudraeth. In total, he netted more than 100 goals in less than 90 matches with the Maes-y-Parc club.
One of his career highlights was winning the Mawddach Cup with Penrhyn in 2015-16.
Meilir has also represented Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs.