Is George Horan now the all-time highest scoring central defender in the Cymru Premier?
Connah’s Quay Nomads colossus George Horan passed a major milestone during 2022 and has others in his sights as the year draws to a close.
The 40-year-old, who reached that age landmark in February, still remains one of the finest defenders operating in the Cymru Premier League.
On January 29 this year, Horan registered his 50th career Cymru Premier goal when he scored against Barry Town United.
Not many Welsh top-flight defenders have accomplished that figure, full-back Gary Lloyd is perhaps the leading hitman on 90, but subject to confirmation Horan could be the league’s highest-scoring centre back ever.
Steve Evans hit 42 in the CPL across spells with The New Saints, Connah’s Quay, Caernarfon Town and Oswestry Town, while ex-Rhyl and TNS great Timmy Edwards played a total of 16 seasons in the league and featured in 463 games, scoring 41 times.
George Horan has to date made 329 Cymru Premier starts for the Nomads and appeared as a sub on five occasions, bagging 39 goals.
He started 144 matches for Rhyl and came on as a substitute twice, scoring 15 times, and made two appearances for Bangor City in 1999-2000.
Up to Boxing Day, 2022, George has featured in 482 Welsh Premier games (475 starts – seven as a sub) and notched 54 goals.
His latest outing was quite significant as not only did he score in a 2-0 win over Flint Town United, he also edged up to fourth in the all-time CPL appearance list.
Three more league matches will put him third. Depending on how much longer he carries on in the national league, he could end up top appearance-maker, although Chris Venables in second place is still performing for Bala Town, is three years younger than Horan and played 27 more games.
ALL-TIME TOP 10 CYMRU PREMIER LEAGUE APPEARANCE MAKERS (up to Dec 26, 2022)
1 Colin Reynolds 516 (including 12 as substitute)
2 Chris Venables 509 (6)
3 Andrew Thomas 484 (38)
4 George Horan 482 (7)
5 Andy Mulliner 481 (1)
6 Wyn Thomas 481 (55)
7 Gary Lloyd 481 (35)
8 Aneurin Thomas 447 (49)
9 Hugh Clarke 445 (23)
10 Lee Surman 441 (8)