Happy birthday to title-winning captain Rachael Thomas – 27 today!

Rachael Thomas in action for Rhyl 1879 last season. Photo: SHON HUGHES

Happy birthday to Rachael Thomas – 27 today.

Formerly known by her maiden surname Nattrass, Rachael married Cassandra Thomas earlier this year.

The couple have a beautiful baby girl named Layla.

2022 has also been one of Rachael’s best ever football years, as she captained CPD Y Rhyl 1879 to the North Wales Women’s League championship at the first attempt for the newly-formed team.

Rachael celebrates a title-winning season with her Rhyl 1879 team-mates

She scored an outstanding 18 goals from midfield, where she formed a dynamic partnership with long-time friend and team-mate Becca Bannister.

Born on June 26, 1995, Rachael is a former Liverpool Ladies and Wales international player.

She began playing football at the age of five, and has represented many teams.

The full list is: Prestatyn Pumas (boys), Prestatyn Athletic (boys), Prestatyn Girls, school football teams, Tranmere Rovers, Liverpool Ladies Centre of Excellence, Liverpool Ladies Reserves, Prestatyn Ladies, Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies, Rhyl FC Ladies, a brief spell with Llandudno Ladies, Connah’s Quay Nomads and CPD Y Rhyl 1879. Her younger sister, Tara, also turns out for 1879.

Rachael receives her Wales cap from the great Ian Rush back in about 2010

Rachael has played for Wales from under-16 up to under-19 level.

For almost the past 10 years, Rachael has been one of the mainstays and key figures of the North Wales women’s football scene.

She won the North Wales League title with Prestatyn Ladies in 2013-14 and went on to play for the amalgamated Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies in the Welsh Premier Women’s League.

The team later changed its name to Rhyl FC Ladies, competing for a number of seasons in the WPWL until relegation at the end of 2018-19.

In the 2019-20 season, which was shortened due to Covid, Rachael played for newly-formed Connah’s Quay Nomads, who made it all the way to the FAW Welsh Cup semi-finals, only for their tie with Swansea City never to be played because of the pandemic. The result of the season saw Nomads knock out Welsh Premier side Port Talbot Town on their way to the last four.

An amazing photo of Rachael taking a free kick for 1879 against NFA last season. Picture: MATT JOHNSON

Nomads also finished runners-up in North Wales League Division Two, going unbeaten and only missing out on the title to Amlwch on the average points-per-game method.

With 2020-21 cancelled completely, Rachael was on duty for new team CPD Y Rhyl 1879 in the 2021-22 season.

She skippered an 1879 side which did not lose a single game to the title and scored numerous fantastic goals along the way.

Happy birthday to a great player and person – Rachael Thomas. 🎂🎂🍾🍾🍦