With the 2022-23 season just underway, now is a good time to pick 12 players to watch in the Adran North and North Wales Women’s leagues for the months ahead.
Grassroots North Wales has avoided picking some of the “shoo-in” choices.
For instance why list Wrexham’s Rosie Hughes or Llandudno’s Mari Gibbard as key players when it is already obvious they will be. Both scored hat-tricks in their opening games.
Our emphasis is more on players who impressed last season and are expected to shine again and even improve, as well as young talents on the verge of a breakthrough, plus more experienced campaigners who may have changed clubs but are gunning for a fresh start.
At just 18 but already with plenty of senior football experience under her belt, this could be Ellie’s breakthrough season.
The young winger left Bethel last term to join Amlwch Town and made a great impression.
She scored twice in Amlwch’s Welsh Cup win at Llangefni on September 16 and is showing tremendous promise.
This midfield marvel, aged just 16, is a brilliant signing for Adran North champions Llandudno.
Erin made her mark as captain of the Penrhyn Bay Under-16 side which reached two Welsh Cup finals and won a host of domestic trophies.
The younger sister of fellow Llandudno player Louisha Doran, Erin made her debut as a substitute for the Seasiders in the opening day 8-0 win over CPD Y Rhyl 1879.
Former Wales Under-17 international who progressed through the development pathway at Stoke City, appearing for the first team, before deciding on a return to her native North Wales in the summer to join Wrexham.
Ava has already made a tremendous impact for her new club, scoring twice on her debut for the first team in a 6-0 win at Llanfair and also bagging a double for the under-19s and providing three assists in another 6-0 success at Airbus.
On the probably very few occasions Wrexham goal machine Rosie Hughes might misfire, it is good the Reds have another lethal finisher on call in Ava.
Goalscoring midfielder, excellent from set-pieces and the penalty spot, who could prove to be a real diamond for Connah’s Quay Nomads this season.
Set to turn 17 in a few days, this gifted player was known as B’Elanna Ali when she played for NFA, Flint, Wrexham, Chester and various representative sides.
She was also selected to take part in a Wales Under-17 training camp at the age of 14.
Elana will be eligible to play for Nomads Under-19’s and the full side, and has already shown her class, netting five times during pre-season.
Steph, 28, was an outstanding defender for the CPD Y Rhyl 1879 side which won the North Wales League last season without losing a single game.
She has now returned to Denbigh, who are back in the North Wales League following their relegation from tier 2 Adran North last term.
And Steph is already very much on the front foot, having scored her team’s winner in their first match at Llanfairfechan.
With the experience she gained from playing for the champions last season, Steph will prove an invaluable asset for a Denbigh side aiming to get back to their best.
Already recognised as one of North Wales’ best goalkeepers, it doesn’t seem apt to class Loz as ‘one to watch’.
But this season she is stepping up to tier 2, so her skills may be more in demand than last term, when she was part of Rhyl’s North Wales League invincibles.
Already, Loz has produced a magnificent performance in a difficult opening-day 8-0 defeat at champions Llandudno.
Not all games will be like that, but this tremendous shot-stopper may end up busier this season than last. She is more than up to the task.
Scorer of eight goals for Llanystumdwy in their debut season, Hana has already been on the mark twice in this current term.
An outstanding, hard-working player, she was one of the stars of Llan’s first campaign, in which they produced a mixed bag of results. She scored a hat-trick in a 7-1 demolition of Northop Hall.
Because of their somewhat remote location and player availability, it is not always easy for Llan to field their strongest side, especially away, but when on song they play a tremendous tune and former Shrewsbury Town player Hana is right at the heart of it.
Top-scorer for Holywell last season with nine goals, Zoe had already made an impact in previous spells with Prestatyn and Rhyl.
She is well remembered for scoring the winner when the former Rhyl FC won their first-ever game in the Welsh Premier back in 2014-15.
Zoe is an elegant yet strong attacking player who knows where the goal is. With NFA already having three prolific forwards, Zoe will only enhance the Rhyl side’s potential in front of goal.
The more I saw of Ellie last season, the more I admired.
Tall, hard-working and with good skills, her up-front partnership with Jennifer Cox is one of the most exciting aspects of the current Llangefni side.
Ellie scored twice in Cefni’s opening game against CPDM Bangor 1876 and should progress further this season.
Experience in abundance is something Jenna brings to a largely young 1876 side.
A serial winner, Jenna has had successful spells in the past with the likes of Bethesda, Caernarfon Town and Bethel.
Although often a defender, she aims to adopt a more attacking role this season and her motivational prowess can only be good for her new team.
Anyone who saw her pre-season Rabona goal will have a good idea what Jordan brings to the table.
Skilful, tricky, strong in the tackle, she also has an eye for goal, as she proved in netting 15 times for CPDM Bangor 1876 last season and ending up top-scorer.
Felinheli have lost the goals and the genius of Mari Gibbard this season, but the capture of Jordan is a big plus.
Airbus have made some cracking pre-season signings with Georgia a prime example.
One of the best performers for an NFA side which finished North Wales League runners-up last term, Georgia’s long throws and left-wing back talents really worked wonders for the team.
She was also Player of the Match in the NWCFA Challenge Cup final, which NFA lost narrowly to mighty Llandudno.
Now she is trying her luck at the higher tier 2 level with the Wingmakers and it is hard to see her not doing well.
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