North Wales Female Football’s Festive Fifty – who’s made the list for 2022?

Grassroots North Wales has chosen its women’s football Festive Fifty For 2022.

We cover 19 senior sides across two leagues and have tried to give every team at least a single mention.

Names chosen are based on games seen and liaison with players and managers from various teams across North Wales.

Players are selected more on their form over the whole year rather than this season (2022-23) alone, which began in September.

While we try to be as impartial as possible, it is much easier to appraise clubs which work with us.

Teams that give us reports, updates on their players and, admittedly at times, clubs which play at the more reachable grounds.

Several clubs do not support us at all. Never a report, hard to find out goalscorers or how goals were scored, no chance of any updates.

While we like to include everyone, and everyone deserves a mention, we do need to be met halfway in more cases. One person covering 19 teams is not easy.

FEMALE FOOTBALL FESTIVE FIFTY FOR 2022

1 Maddie Williams (Llandudno)

With 27 league and cup goals scored in 2022 and two winners’ medals in her locker, 26-year-old Maddie from Llanfairfechan has had a year she will never forget.

She joined Llandudno in summer 2021 after a spell helping develop Llanfairfechan’s recreational football team.

Maddie took on the main striking role in December 2021 after an injury to young netting machine Ella Jones, who had banked 22 goals in 10 games, ruled her out for the rest of the season.

The impact Maddie had was both dynamic and dramatic as she amassed 33 goals in 22 games, including 22 in 14 in the league which helped guide Tudno to the inaugural Genero Adran North title.

Maddie was also prominent in Llandudno’s win over NFA to lift the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup, scoring once in a 4-3 success.

With 10 goals in 10 matches so far this 2022-23 season, Maddie has scored a total of 42 in 32 games for the Seasiders. Sensational, such tremendous consistency.

2 Rosie Hughes (Wrexham)

Throughout her career Rosie has been an out-and-out goalscorer, but since joining Wrexham she has entered another world!

In 2022 alone, she has scored 44 times in just 17 games for the Dragons.

Since joining Wrexham at the start of 2021-22, Rosie has netted a phenomenal 72 goals in 30 matches.

Rosie has hit eight hat-tricks this year, including an eight, a six and a five. She is pure dynamite.

3 Mari Gibbard (Llandudno)

As gifted a player as you could wish to see at tier 2 level, Mari split 2022 between representing CPDM Y Felinheli and Llandudno.

In the first part of the year, she scored 4 times in 11 games for Felin, including a stunning hat-trick in a 4-1 thrashing of Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Over the whole season, she netted 16 times for Felinheli in 20 league and cup outings, including 13 in 13 in the Genero Adran North.

Mari joined Genero Adran North champions Llandudno for a second spell in the summer.

She is on fire again, with 14 goals in 10 games this season so far, including an amazing double hat-trick in 36 minutes against Rhyl 1879 in the Welsh Cup.

4 Kirstie Kural (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

This 33-year-old goalscoring midfield star was mainly renowned for her Futsal successes before joining Nomads in 2021-22, although she had won trophies in football previously with Northop Hall.

Last season, Kural notched a fabulous 26 goals in 21 appearances from centre midfield for a Quay side which landed the North East Wales FA Challenge Cup.

In a more advanced role this term, the goals have kept coming for the skipper – 15 in 10 games to make it a magnificent total of 41 in 31 outings for the club. This year alone, she has bagged 26 goals in 19 matches.

Set-piece and dead-ball specialist Kirstie is not just a goalscorer, she is prolific on the assists front too.

5 Amber Lightfoot (Wrexham)

Sensational up front performer who began her career within the youth ranks at Liverpool before joining Wrexham in summer 2021.

She quickly broke into the first team after a flying start with the Under-19’s.

Amber helped Wrexham win the U-19 Development title in 2021-22 with 13 goals in seven league outings.

She went on to score 14 times in 12 fixtures for the firsts, who finished runners-up in Genero Adran North.

In the whole of 2021-22, Lightfoot amassed 31 goals in 26 games for the club.

And she remains a hot property in this current 2022-23 season, with eight goals in 11 matches for the firsts and three in three for the U-19’s.

That is 42 club goals in 40 games since she joined the Dragons.

In 2022, Amber scored in seven successive games from January 9 and over the year has struck 26 goals in the same number of matches.

6 Rachael Thomas (CPD Y Rhyl 1879)

Captain Marvella Rachael was named Grassroots North Wales Women’s Player of the Year – so why is she not No1 in this list ?

Well first of all, the top 10 in the Festive 50 are so close, you could not separate them with an After Eight mint wrapper.

Secondly, as opposed to the ‘best’, the FF is perhaps more about players who have made the most dramatic impact over 2022, beaten the odds and written their own headlines.

Maybe Rosie Hughes, Mari Gibbard, Kirstie Kural, Amber Lightfoot and Rachael Thomas would have been expected to do well this year, given their pedigree.

With Maddie Williams, it was not such a cert. She was urged to take on a main striker role and had not played a massive amount of senior football, not for a few years at least. What she has done, and continued to do, is magical. Magic Maddie.

But what about our Rachael? The leader of a Rhyl 1879 women’s team which made history – undefeated league champions in their debut season.

Rachael’s midfield displays have been superb, both in the North Wales League, and the tier 2 Genero Adran North where 1879 are holding their own at a much higher standard.

Amazing free kicks, great passes, some super goals, strong tackles and quality corners – Rachael is the complete midfielder.

7 Jennifer Cox (Llangefni Town)

To make your first venture into competitive football and score 24 goals in your first 23 games is just remarkable – take a bow Jennifer Cox.

The Llangefni Town striker is averaging more than a goal-a-game (no need for a check from Eni Aluko).

In 2022, ‘Cox in the Box’ has put away 19 goals in 17 matches (yes Aluko, again more than a goal-per-match).

That total could be considerably better had Cox not had so much bad luck with injuries. There is also the fact that Cefni have played a number of much higher level sides in cups, which has led to some heavy losses and understandably not many goals for them – or Jen.

The flight line mechanic glided in a hat-trick on debut in a 5-1 win over Welshpool Town on September 12, 2021.

At the end of her first season, she had pocketed 12 goals in 14 games. This season, she is on 12 in nine, including three hat-tricks and becoming the first Llangefni player to net four in a match.

8 Sade Benjamin (NFA)

Another absolute goal machine who has done as much as anyone to ensure NFA are a title-challenging team in the North Wales Women’s League.

The 27-year-old notched 26 goals in 25 league and cup matches for the first team in 2021-22, helping them to finish runners-up in the NWWFL. She also nabbed four goals for the U-19’s.

This season, Sade has 13 goals in 11 matches, making it 39 in 36 for the firsts since joining NFA at the start of 2021-22.

Before that, she turned out for Rhyl FC and Rhyl Development.

In 2022 alone, Sade has piled up 29 goals in 26 matches – regular as clockwork.

9 Jasmin Dutton (Llandudno)

In March’s Genero Adran North title-decider at home to Wrexham, Llandudno were in trouble, 1-0 down and being outplayed.

A Wrexham win at Maesdu Park and they would pinch the championship.

Step up Jasmin Dutton, who blasted in a free kick from around 30 yards, clean as a whistle high into the net to equalise in pure Ronald Koeman style.

Wrexham led 2-1 at half time, but two Indie Hassall goals after the break secured a 3-2 win and the championship for Tudno, who needed just a draw to finish top.

That levelling goal typified what this tremendous all-rounder brings to Llandudno. Not just solid defending and tackling in front of the defence and in midfield, but the gift of the unexpected too.

Jasmin’s steamroller-like runs from the back, ball at feet, often instigated a goal over the campaign.

A former full Wales international who despite seeming to have been around forever has only just turned 30, Jasmin has also treated Tranmere Rovers and Connah’s Quay Nomads to her talents over the years, as well as enjoying a successful spell in America.

A remarkable run at the start of 2022 saw her score in eight successive games for champions Llandudno, netting 10 times. She has also hit the net on five occasions this season so far.

The Rolls Royce of North Wales women’s football.

10 Jenna Allsup (Bangor 1876)

This versatile performer had to make the top 10.

In 2021-22, she was an outstanding defender for Bethel/CPDM Y Felinheli

This season, Jenna has adopted a more attacking role for the awesome Bangor 1876 and the goals have flowed.

The first campaign of the Genero Adran North was an excellent one for Felinheli, who finished third, scored more goals than Wrexham and conceded the same amount as the runners-up.

One of the key figures was Jenna Allsup, who made 10 league appearances and 16 in all competitions as a defender, scoring twice.

This season, former Bethesda Athletic and Caernarfon Town player Jenna decided to switch to Bangor 1876.

She has again slotted in perfectly to a cracking team which has won all 11 matches, amassing 82 goals, conceding just five and establishing a 12-point lead at the summit.

Jenna has notched eight goals in nine league appearances to date. It has been a fantastic year for her both as a footballer, netball player and professionally as a clinical academic radiographer and researcher.

11-50

From 11 to 50 the mini biographies will be somewhat shorter. If I wrote everything to the length of the top 10, I might be here typing until 2024 – which will kind of defeat the object 😆ha ha ye daft clack

11 Tesni Hughes (Amlwch Town)

This 19-year-old is electric!

She has netted 25 goals in 20 North Wales Women’s League games for Amlwch and scored 14 in 14 appearances during 2022. I won’t even mention the music or the presenting! Football stands on its own.

12 Sarah Massey (Northop Hall)

Tall, inspirational player with masses of experience who can make an impact in most positions.

Former Kinmel Bay star Sarah did well for Holywell last season, scoring three in seven games, but in 2022-23 she has really sparked for Northop Hall, having netted in all five matches and piling up eight goals, including a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Flint.

13 Becca Bannister (CPD Y Rhyl 1879)

One of North Wales’ finest ball-playing midfielders and shot-hitter, “Boo” hammered 16 goals in as many games last season as unbeaten Rhyl 1879 stormed to the North Wales League title.

She is joint top-scorer on six this term as 1879 adjust to life in the tier 2 Genero Adran North.

14 Fflur Williams (CPDM Y Felinheli)

Fflur has always been a consistent net-finder. She chalked up 22 last season for CPDM Y Felinheli in their first tier 2 campaign.

This season has not gone so well for a Felin squad which has lost several key players, but Fflur is still top-markswoman on four. In 2022, she has hit an impressive 14 goals.

15 Tamara Hamer (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Talented winger with bags of pace who has shone brightly in her two seasons at Nomads so far.

The 22-year-old scored nine in all competitions last term and has struck twice in 2022-23 to date.

16 Nia Ginnelly (Llangefni Town)

One of the key components in Cefni’s considerable improvement over the past 12 months or so.

A hard-tackling, smart-passing midfielder who has played in every one of Town’s 27 league and cup matches so far – she never wants to miss one.

Spectators at Llangefni games tend to talk about her determined displays more than any other player.

17 Sara Williams (Caernarfon Town)

A true legend of North Wales football, Sara’s career can be summed up by the past two seasons.

Last term she was a stand-in keeper for a Llandudno side which went on to win the first tier 2 Genero North title – and Sara was phenomenal between the sticks throughout.

This season, the mum-of-three decided to return to hometown club Caernarfon Town to help with their development. She is doing a sterling job so far. It’s never about glory for Sara, it’s about benefiting the game.

18 Lois Thomas (Pwllheli)

One of the most consistent players around. However Pwllheli are performing, Lois always does her job, which is scoring goals in the main.

She bagged 14 last season and helped Pwll achieve good runs in the Welsh Cup and FAW Trophy.

This season she is on eight goals and leading by example as usual with her strong running up front.

19 Zoe Stopford (NFA)

Always such a neat and tidy player whoever she represents.

This former Rhyl FC prospect in the Welsh Premier joined NFA this season and is on six goals from eight matches, including a few PoM awards.

Last season she helped newcomers Holywell find their feet in the North Wales League and was top-scorer with an impressive nine goals.

20 Cerys Gadd (Amlwch Town)

Another of North Wales’ all-time finest who continues to dazzle on the park.

Amlwch have been up and down this season, but whenever there’s a good result Cerys has usually played a big part in it.

Her goals are often important and spectacular and the passing is different class.

21 Hana Wellings (Llanystumdwy)

Llan are getting going this season after a slow start and skipper Hana is right at the forefront.

In the two campaigns the villagers have been in the league, Wellings has stood out. Her record is 11 league goals in 21 outings – very good in a team which has struggled at times.

22 Mia Roberts (Bangor 1876)

Mia showed bags of quality in her time with the mighty Penrhyn Bay Under-16’s and now she is transferring that brilliance to an exciting 1876 team.

Still only 17, Mia splits her time between the under-19 and senior sides, but she is now pretty much a permanent fixture with the North Wales Women’s League runaway leaders.

Having made her senior debut last term, she pocketed two goals in 12 games, and this season is on nine in nine.

23 Ashleigh Jones (Trearddur Bay)

Another team on the up are Trearddur Bay, whose skipper is playing better than ever.

Ashleigh has hit six goals in nine matches this season and scored four in 2021-22, Bay’s debut campaign in the NWWFL.

24 Ellie Coulson (Llangefni Town)

This tall, industrious front player showed promise in her first-season partnership with Jennifer Cox, but this term Ellie is adding goals to her work-rate.

The performances have been first class as the horse-loving striker has produced seven goals, including a first hat-trick for the team.

25 Jordan Roberts (CPDM Y Felinheli)

Jordan was one of the best young attackers around when she wore Bangor 1876 colours last season, netting 15 goals in 20 matches.

She opted for a rise in standard when joining tier 2 Genero Adran North side CPDM Y Felinheli in the summer.

While Jordan undoubtedly has added strength to the Felin attack, the departure of other key players has meant this season being more of a struggle.

Jordan has still impressed at times, though, having scored twice in seven games.

26 Elana Harley (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Named Grassroots North Wales Young Player of 2022 – and deservedly so.

This 17-year-old has had a brilliant 2022, storming onto the Genero Adran North tier 2 scene for Nomads.

In the FAW Women’s Cup and Genero Adran Trophy combined, Elana has slammed in five goals in four matches. For the under-19’s, she has 10 goals in seven outings.

Elana was also part of the Wrexham Under-19 side which won the Genero Adran North Development title last season.

Harley New Year Elana!

27 Becca Elliott (Bangor 1876)

While 1876 have bamboozled 82 goals in 11 straight league wins this season, they have conceded just five times!

Much credit for that has to go to Becca Elliott, former Welsh Premier stopper with Llandudno and a mature keeper despite her still young age. In her second season with Bangor, Becca continues to flourish.

28 Niomi Taylor (CPD Y Rhyl 1879)

She has been used in a variety of positions over the past couple of seasons, but Niomi has generally always come up trumps for 1879.

Last season, she netted 12 goals for the invincible North Wales Women’s League champions and this term is on six in the Genero Adran North.

29 Georgia Spibey (Airbus UK)

Georgia enjoyed a great 2021-22 debut season with NFA, scoring five goals in 14 league games, helping her team finish runners-up and earned a cup runners-up medal.

This campaign the versatile defender/midfielder with the long throw decided to test herself in tier 2 with Airbus.

She scored a hat-trick in a cup win over Y Felinheli, but overall the Wingmakers have struggled. Still a good year for The Mighty Spibey though.

30 Emma Louise Roberts (Amlwch Town)

Saves a lot of her best performances for the TV!

A driving force with Môn Actif, which aims to get youngsters hooked on sport, Emma is the daughter of former 1980’s Bangor City midfielder Steve Roberts.

Super-fit, Emma is great on the ball and often pops up with a goal. She hit four in the league last season and this term scored in great wins over NFA and Llangefni Town.

31 Ellie Sian Jones (Amlwch Town)

One of the most enthusiastic players on the circuit, Ellie is great on the overlap, delivering fine crosses and scoring some classy goals.

She timed it perfectly at the start of this season, netting twice for the TV cameras against Llangefni in the Welsh Cup and getting interviewed after the game.

Ellie has poached six goals in 2022-23 and got three for Town last term after her move from Bethel.

32 Sian Moore (Pwllheli)

Sian has only played for Pwllheli twice this season – but the team hasn’t kicked a competitive ball since November 13 either!

When defender Sian does play, Pwll are so much the better for it. She was part of the team’s best performance and result of this season, a 3-0 cup defeat of Bangor 1876.

Last season, in matches played in 2021 and this year 2022, magical Moore was outstanding. A defender who tries endlessly for the cause, but can join the attack too.

33 Sienna Strapp (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

She was just 17…start of a Beatles song there – turn off the sound.

I told Sienna she would be in my Festive Fifty and she replied…

“This means nothing to meeee, this means nothing to meeeee, this means nothing to meeee”

And I sang back (with a sad face): “Oh, Siennnaaaa” 😟

Well, I had to get a pop music quip in somewhere, so why not Ultravox and their 1980 classic….(only 25 years before Sienna was born).

Seriously, Sienna is one of my North Wales young players of the year. She has been amazingly impactive for the Quay over the past two seasons, To become a regular in a side of that quality at 17 years of age says everything.

Happy new year Sienna and best of luck with Welsh Colleges.

34 Grace Mpuku (Llanystumdwy)

I’ve used the word ‘amazing’ enough times already in this article, so for obvious reasons I will not be typing it out in connection with Ms Mpuku.

What a player Grace has been for Llanystumdwy over the past two seasons since the team joined the NWWFL.

The 25-year-old striker has notched five goals this term and pouched a tremendous 13 in 15 games in 2021-22.

She recently hit a hat-trick in a 5-2 win against Northop Hall, a feat she also enjoyed twice in the last campaign against Hall (again) and Holywell.

Fourteen of her goals came in 2022 – she’s flying.

35 Molly Brown (NFA)

Not only is Molly one of the most pleasant people you could meet, she is also a very talented footballer.

Every time I have seen her play I’ve been mightily impressed.

If playing at the back, she can storm forward and end up in the opposition box, taking a shot or providing an assist. She was so unlucky not to score twice against Rhyl 1879 in the Welsh Cup this season.

Just 18 years of age, Molly represented NFA in the Under-16 FAW Girls Cup in 2020/21 and in the past two seasons has made 28 first team appearances, scoring four goals.

One of those goals secured a brilliant 3-1 win at Amlwch.

36 Stevie Donougher (Bangor 1876)

The Australian astonisher didn’t make her debut for Bangor until October, but she still deserves a mention in this list after scoring 17 goals in seven matches.

Ten of those came in her opening three games.

The Wonder from Down Under.

37 Ffion Thomas (Llangefni Town)

Hailing from Aberffraw, living in Llanfairpwll and playing for Llangefni, Ffion has come on in leaps and bounds this season, scoring six goals for Dan Gregg’s Môn Maidens.

She is a speedy winger who always plays with a smile. One to watch for sure as Cefni get better and better.

38 Lisa Jones (Caernarfon Town)

This season is a learning curve for Caernarfon’s young side, but 19-year-old Lisa is already learning fast.

She has netted six times in eight matches, including a hat-trick against Flint, in a game the Cofis unluckily lost 4-3. Lisa also recorded a double versus Northop Hall.

39 Sophie Haywood (CPD Y Rhyl 1879)

What an unsung hero Sophie is.

A fantastic performer in defence during CPD Y Rhyl’s title-winning season, she has featured in eight games this term and turned out for 11 in 2021/22.

Every time she plays, she puts everything into it.

40 Ava Suckley (Wrexham)

Another who only joined Wrexham in summer 2022, but well worth highlighting for what she has already achieved.

The former Wales Under-17 international and Stoke City prospect has already scored eight goals in five Genero Adran North appearances, and 10 in all competitions for the first team.

Ava has also banged in 14 goals in six games for the Under-19s and is turning into a great striking partner for Rosie Hughes in the senior team.

41 Tegan Hewitt (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

It proves what quality Tegan brings to the table in the fact an already bulky Nomads squad wanted to add her to the ranks, which they did at the end of November.

The 22-year-old was outstanding for long-time club Airbus last season, grabbing 20 goals in 17 games, including 14 in 12 for a struggling team in Genero Adran North matches.

She merits a place in this article based on that form alone.

This season saw Tegan, also a coach at Airbus Academy, decide to stay with the Wingmakers until she was persuaded her future may lie with Nomads.

42 Indie Hassall (Llandudno)

Whatever else the New Zealander achieves in her time at Llandudno, she will never, ever be forgotten for her two second-half goals which clinched a 3-2 win over Wrexham at Maesdu Park on March 20, and with it the inaugural Genero Adran North title.

Indie is a lively left winger with a real eye for goal. She scored 10 in 2021-22 and has five this term. 2022 was truly her year on the football front.

43 Rebecca Jarvis-Evans (Llandudno)

Another unsung hero from 2022.

Rebecca was a huge presence at the back for Llandudno in their title-winning season – and she put away a handy four goals too.

Her best display possibly came in the title-clincher against Wrexham, where she got stronger and stronger as the game went on and was praised by the opposition.

44 Jess Collings (Flint Town United)

With all due respect, Flint have only been playing competitively since September and have lost eight of their 10 matches.

Based on that, picking out positives is not so easy (yet) but one player who has shown good form is Jess Collings, scorer of three goals in her 10 appearances so far.

Jess played for Holywell last season, so her experience of competitive matches is growing nicely.

45 Katie Spruce (Denbigh Town)

Goalkeeper who has earned a lot of good reviews since joining a strengthened Denbigh squad at the start of the season.

Spent some time with Holywell in 2021-22 and has come along really well under Ellen Lawson. Good, solid performer.

46 Elin Jones (Llanfairfechan Town)

Winger Elin has really impressed with her determination and industry down the flanks.

She joined the team when it restarted post-Covid, and her dedication is first class.

Whatever happens on the pitch she keeps her head up and keeps fighting for points. She gives her best in training and games and the management have been proud to see her ingrain herself as a vital part of the team.

Elin scored four goals in her first four matches for Llanfair and is one of many reasons why the team has started their debut campaign in the NWWFL so well.

47 Freya Davies (Trearddur Bay)

Really skillful player who had many good moments when I saw her play in 2022.

Three goals in 10 games this season, two arriving in a great win at Flint.

48 Ceri Pritchard (Amlwch Town)

Her distinctive pink shirt is quite eye-catching, but more impressive is her goalkeeping.

Ceri has been a steady performer between the posts for a quite a while now and her ability has won her Ynys Môn recognition.

Good shot-stopper and handler.

49 Morgan Jackson (Llanfairfechan Town)

Not only is Morgan Jackson such a cool name, she is also a cool finisher.

Every time Morgan scores, Llanfairfechan win!

She hit two in a 3-1 victory over Llanystumdwy, notched one in a 3-2 verdict over the same opponents and struck in a 2-1 success at Northop Hall.

50 Sara Lacey (Llanystumdwy)

Who better to finish with than the woman I always think of whenever I am in Heron Foods – Sara loves the store herself and we often talk about the best buys.

Sara is a brave, solid keeper who is never afraid of getting muddy or going in where it hurts.

Her football history goes back a long way with a vintage Pwllheli side, but she has been part of a Llanystumdwy team which has been going two seasons and is improving all the time.

It helps to have a player who knows what she is doing between the sticks.