Mynydd Llandegai say farewell to great boss but welcome a hugely popular successor

Club stalwart Iwan “Pij” Morris is the new manager of tier 4 North Wales Coast League West Premier Division side Mynydd Llandegai.

The 33-year-old replaces Huw “Dulyn” Davies, who stepped down yesterday after a five-year reign at Penrhiw.

Morris, who has also played for Bethel and Llanllyfni, is a central-defender or centre-midfielder and team captain.

He was among the Mynydd Llandegai heroes of 2009-10 which won the NWCFA Junior Cup, beating Bangor City Reserves in the final.

Iwan was also a key member of the 2016-17 side which went on a 13-game unbeaten run to clinch promotion to Welsh Alliance Division One.

He is the son of former Mynydd manager, Glyn Morris. who was in charge of the team which lifted the Junior Cup in 2010.

Huw Davies said he felt the time was right to give someone else an opportunity at the helm.

Reflecting on a stint as manager he fully enjoyed, Huw said: “I took over in March 2017 after Mark Hughes stepped down. We went on a run then and won 12 out of the 13 remaining games, finishing 3 points behind champions Llandudno Albion in Welsh Alliance Division Two. 

“So we were promoted to Tier 3 that year and of course only came back down to Tier 4 when the FAW restructured the leagues and the club did not meet the ground criteria.”

Davies welcomed the appointment of Pij Morris, saying: “Great appointment and the club continues the tradition of promoting from within. 

“Pij has been with the club since he was a teenager and is a tremendous motivator, Mynydd Llandegai through and through.”

Mynydd had won their opening two league games of the 2022-23 season but were defeated in their last four. They sit 10th in the 15-team Premier Division.

Huw said he will now take a break from football before deciding on his next move. He will remain part of the Mynydd Llandegai club committee and has not ruled out a return to playing!

In a message to the club, he said: “Fydd pawb sy’n nabod fi’n dda yn cydnabod fod oedd hyn ddim yn benderfyniad hawdd o gwbl i mi wneud.
“Mae’r clwb yn agos iawn at fy nghalon ac am y rheswm yna fyddai ddim yn mynd yn bell iawn, ac yn camu yn ôl i’r pwyllgor i helpu gymaint a gallai yn fano. Who knows, ella fyddai nol yn chwarae cyn bo hir!

“Diolch i bawb am y negeseuon caredig, meddwl lot. A diolch mawr i bawb sydd wedi helpu neu cefnogi mewn unrhyw ffordd dros y blynyddoedd, yn enwedig y pwyllgor, Phil, Tim, Mart a’r chwaraewyr i gyd (past and present). Amser am chill bach wan, dim stress ac enjoio cefnogi’r hogia ar bnawn Sadwrn. Gawni weld be ddaw yn y dyfodol. “