Club of the Month/Clwb y Mis – who have we chosen as the star performers of December 2022?

Connah’s Quay Nomads are the Grassroots North Wales/Clwb y Mis for December.

I know this website is called Grassroots North Wales and the Cymru Premier League is not exactly ‘grassroots’ football, but Nomads are still, I believe, a big part of the grassroots family because of what they contribute across the sport.

While The New Saints predictably look to be running away with the CPL title again, an unhealthy situation which has returned to Welsh football after a couple of seasons of Deesiders’ glory, Nomads have been a credit to North Wales this term.

Undefeated in their last 18 matches, Nomads have won 15 of those and are still not out of the title race yet, six points behind TNS but having played a game more.

During December, the Quay’s first team won three and drew two – five with no losses which is the best record in senior North Wales football this month.

It could have been even better. They were seconds away from ending TNS’s unbeaten record before conceding a 95th minute equaliser, and were held at Flint.

Nonetheless, after last season’s problems, it is great to see Nomads back up there again – and with a man like Neil Gibson at the helm.

Over the years Gibbo has done so much for grassroots, especially the job he did in helping guide Prestatyn Town from tier 3 Welsh Alliance into the Cymru Premier for eight seasons, winning the Welsh Cup and playing in Europe along the way.

He then did a decent job at Flint Town United before taking over at Nomads, where he really is doing fantastically well.

That defence he has concocted is tighter than Boris Johnson’s fridge space.

CONNAH’S QUAY NOMADS – DECEMBER RESULTS

December 2 – Airbus UK Broughton (a – Cymru Premier) 2-1
December 20 – Aberystwyth Town (h – CPL) 3-0
December 23 – The New Saints (h – CPL) 1-1
December 26 – Flint Town United (h – CPL) 2-0
December 31 – Flint Town United (a – CPL) 0-0

Other worthy mentions

Colwyn Bay
Not a lot of football played in December, so not as easy to choose a Club of the Month. But you can never ignore the Bay – 6-1 and 4-0 away victories in December, still undefeated and top of Cymru North.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879
Up against it last month due to player absences galore, yet they ended 2022 top of the Ardal North West after hard-fought wins over Hawarden Rangers, Llandudno Albion and Llanrwst United.

Llandudno
Sean Eardley’s side are firing on all cylinders with fine wins against Chirk (6-1) and Holyhead Hotspur (5-2) in December.

Bangor 1876
Began the month with a cup defeat at Denbigh Town, but bounced back to whip Llangefni Town 7-2 and Rhostyllen 6-2.

Flint Mountain
Great to see these Ardal North West newcomers shaping so well.
Suffered a surprise 2-1 loss at home to Llangefni Town, but three great victories over the month, outscoring Brickfield Rangers (6-0), Llay Welfare (4-1) and Denbigh Town (3-1).

Llangefni Town
Relegated to tier 3 this season, had a tough start but are really going well now.
That 2-1 win at in-form Flint Mountain was really something. They also beat Y Felinheli 3-1, but a 7-2 home loss to Bangor 1876 blotted the copybook – not majorly though.

Clwb y Mis/Club of the Month winners 2022-23 season

August – Talysarn Celts
September – FC Queen’s Park
October – Holywell Town
November – Denbigh Town
December – Connah’s Quay Nomads