Now it’s the men’s turn – Grassroots North Wales’ Dynamic Dozen for 2022-23

With the 2022-23 season still in its relative infancy, now may be a good time to pick 12 players to watch across the North Wales football pyramid for the months ahead.

Grassroots North Wales has avoided picking some of the “shoo-in” choices – for instance why list the likes of Corrig McGonigle, Asa Thomas or Marc Evans as key players when it is already obvious they will be. Bags of goals between them already.

Our emphasis is more on players who impressed last season and are expected to shine again, 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.

Connor Owen (Gwalchmai)

One of the most talked about players in North Wales this season.
Aged just 17, Connor has followed up a superb debut campaign with Gwalchmai in the tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier with a roaring start to 2022-23, hitting 13 goals in nine matches so far.
A pacy front man who can operate either centrally or out wide, Connor is a cousin of former Gwalchmai manager and village legend Paul Owen (Skin).
Named Tier 4 Player of the Season for 2021-22, Connor notched 12 goals, so has already surpassed that figure this term. His early feats include bagging a hat-trick against Mynydd Llandegai in the Welsh Cup.
What a prospect!

Jack Hoult (Abergele)

After a flying start to the season, Abergele already looked like a great bet to retain their North Wales Coast East Division One title, but the addition of former star front man Hoult has only made them stronger.
Jack has played as high as tier 2 level for the former Rhyl FC and Prestatyn Town and also once had a stint with Kinmel Bay.
One of his finest seasons was 2016-17, when he was top-scorer in the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy Premier Division with Abergele.
A player with his attacking skill and eye for goal should dazzle at tier 5. Jack is on the comeback trail following injury and will be in the frame for a start soon.

Rhys Edwards (Chirk AAA)

What a great impact this young talent has made since joining Chirk in August on loan from The New Saints.
The 18-year-old professional striker is on a deal at Holyhead Road that runs until the end of January.
He has already scored in four games for the Colliers, who were promoted to the Tier 2 Cymru North this season.
With an eye-catching hairstyle that is pure 1980’s Whitesnake and lightning speed and skill, Edwards is highly regarded at TNS who want him to taste football at Tier 2 level after impressing in both youth development and reserve leagues in the last couple of seasons.
Expect more goals from him in the coming months for Chirk, who will surely hope to arrange a loan extension come January.

Kaine Bentley (Trearddur Bay)

While much has been said and written about the arrival of dynamic duo Asa Thomas and Marc Evans at Trearddur Bay this season, the signing of young Kaine Bentley is also a huge plus for the Anglesey side.
This 19-year-old goal-getter from a well-known island football family was a stand out player as a junior before truly making his mark with Holyhead Town in the tier 5 North Wales Coast West Division One last season, netting 17 goals and supplying 13 assists.
With the return of Trearddur to senior football this term, manager Nick Dumbarton has built a strong squad at Lon Isallt which includes Kaine, son of Rob and brother to Mike, both highly-respected goalkeepers from Holy Island.
On his Trearddur debut, Kaine scored a hat-trick in a 12-1 win against…..Holyhead Town. Mixed feelings for him maybe, but an indication of what this fantastic talent promises for the future.

Bret Durkan (Rhos United)

Being ruled out of playing football for four years through injury may have caused some to call it a day – not Bret Durkan.
The Rhos United striker – who spent his years on the sidelines coaching and managing the team – has put his boots back on this season and is showing plenty of his old skills in the early stages.
Bret, 30, has featured in five matches for the North Wales Coast East Division One side to date and pocketed a couple of goals.
It has taken tremendous character to come back, and Bret admits he is relishing playing again.
Rhos have a good squad and could prove a dark horse in Division One this term.
Already they have produced a huge result, thrashing a Caergybi side which knocked mighty Cefn Albion out of the FAW Trophy earlier this month, 6-0 in the NWCFA Junior Cup.
Bret scored in that game and he will be a player to watch among many in a Rhos shirt over the coming months.

Tom Bibby (Holywell Town)

Some loan moves work out, others don’t. Tom Bibby’s did!
The midfield general joined Holywell Town in January 2022 on an initial temporary basis having just signed a contract with Cymru Premier giants Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Tom settled in well at Halkyn Road and his contribution helped the Wellmen end the campaign in fourth place in JD Cymru League North. He made eleven appearances and grabbed three goals.
Holywell were delighted to make the transfer permanent at the start of this season.
A marauding midfielder with a professional attitude and a real eye for goal, Tom spent four years in Texas playing for the UIW Cardinals.

Kian Owen (Bangor 1876)

Bangor 1876’s hopes of major success in their debut season at tier 3 level has received a big boost in the recruitment of left-back Kian Owen.
The 20-year-old, who landed at Treborth in the summer, has already played at a higher level than Ardal North West, so offers experience alongside his tremendous talent.
Kian joined 1876 from Conwy Borough, for whom he made 23 league appearances in the Cymru North. He also made a further 15 appearances in tier 2 for Colwyn Bay during the 2019-20 season.
A left back, he has been a regular standout for the fan-owned club so far, showing ability to get forward and pose an attacking threat. Possessing a lot of pace and energy, he has set up a few goals.
On signing Kian, 1876 manager Michael Johnston said: “He’s a player I’ve admired for many years now. I played with him when he was 16 and he has been going from strength to strength.”

Liam Davies (FC Queen’s Park)

Queen’s Park look set for a very good season – and Liam Davies promises to be right at the heart of it.
Already, the 25-year-old striker has netted eight times as the Park have kicked off the 2022-23 campaign with nine straight wins.
Liam notched a hat-trick in last weekend’s 3-2 Premier Cup win over New Brighton Villa and netted both goals in the Wrexham side’s fantastic 2-0 Welsh Cup win at tier 3 Rhos Aelwyd in August.
Davies was part of the team which lifted the Horace Wynne Cup last season and is sure to be a key figure in the Park’s pursuit of the North East Wales League Premier Division title this term.

Benn Lundstram (Bethesda Athletic)

Renowned far and wide for his goal scoring ability, Benn has formed a great striking partnership with Dean Redmond at Parc Meurig.
Benn has a few notable notches on his CV, one of them being the first player ever to score a goal for Bangor 1876 in the fan-owned club’s debut friendly at FC United of Manchester.
The son of Mike Lundstram, a prolific marksman over the years with a number of North Wales clubs, dad and lad now play in the same Bethesda team.
Benn was top-scorer in the Rhyl and District Sunday League last season and has also turned out for Llanrwst United and Penmaenmawr Phoenix, as well as being a dynamic marksman in academy and development football.
With Pesda flying high in the North Wales Coast West Premier Division, expect big things from Benn.

Kane Roberts (Mynydd Llandegai)

After a number of seasons representing Pentraeth, Kane has made a really good impact at new club Mynydd Llandegai this term.
He scored on his debut in a 5-3 defeat to Gwalchmai in the Welsh Cup and followed that up with a hat-trick in the 7-0 hammering of Amlwch Town days later.
Kane, who hails from the Isle of Man, is a quick and direct attacking threat who is already making his mark in tier four.
New Llandegai manager Iwan Pij Morris will no doubt see him as an asset.

Guto Hughes (CPD Y Felinheli)

There are quite a few strings to this player’s bow.
Not only is he a keeper who specialises in outstanding saves, he also nets spectacular goals – check out his stunner in Felinheli’s recent win over Llandudno Albion.
Euron Davies’ Felin are settling quite nicely into tier 3 Ardal North West and the form of dependable players like Guto is key in that.
Guto is only 20, but must rate as one of the finest shot-stoppers at his club’s league level.
He also has a growing reputation as a great penalty-saver. His effort in a 2-0 win over Saltney this season was a major factor in the result. Guto also stood out in Felin’s recent defeat at unbeaten CPD Y Rhyl 1879.

Kieran Ellis (CPD Y Rhyl 1879)

An obvious choice?
Maybe, but he has stepped up a level with Rhyl 1879 and is continuing to show the signs that he can score at any standard.
Kieran joined 1879 from Kinmel Bay last season and notched 25 goals in 16 outings as Gareth Thomas’ side lifted the North Wales Coast East Premier Division title as invincibles, as well as the Cookson Cup.
This season he has bagged six goals in eight appearances.
Tall, robust, fantastic with his head and lethal on the deck, he is an all-round striker who has so much to offer Rhyl.
If 1879 win more trophies this season, it will be no surprise if Kieran plays a massive role.