Asa Thomas breaks all-time North Wales coast goal-scoring record after double hat-trick for Trearddur Bay

One of the most famous records in North Wales football has been broken today.

Trearddur Bay striker Asa Thomas passed the great Tommy Welsh’s total of 631 career goals, a mark which has stood since the 1960’s.

Asa netted six times in Bay’s 15-0 win over Holyhead Town in North Wales Coast West Division One to boost his personal tally to 633.

The 31-year-old also passed the half-century milestone for the 2022-23 season with today’s double hat-trick which raised his haul to 51.

The new coast record holder is actually related to the late Mr Welsh, who sadly passed away on March 23, 2019, just six days after his 90th birthday.

Asa is nephew to the great man’s six children, Rosalind, Alison, Diane, Gary, Jackie and Tommy junior.

And Asa’s dad Jimmy Thomas is an Anglesey football icon himself, having spent many seasons banging in the goals and playing in the same Holyhead sides as Jackie Welsh.

Asa was on 627 goals ahead of today and the record possibly was expected to go in the next two or three games, but in an amazing coincidence the 631 was equalled and passed against Holyhead Town, the club where Tommy Welsh made his name in the 1950’s and 60’s.

On setting a new goal-scoring best, Asa said: “I’m over the moon, I really am mate. And how about that against the team he became a legend!

“The aim next is to score as more many goals as possible, but more importantly help Trearddur Bay hopefully win some trophies in our first season back.”

Asa has played for eight clubs in his career, all Anglesey/Holy Island based: Trearddur Bay, Bodedern Athletic, Holyhead Town, Holyhead Hotspur, Trearddur Bay United, Gaerwen, Morawelon and Holyhead Gwelfor Athletic.

He has scored goals at every level from tier 2 Cymru Alliance up to tier 5/6.

Asa has also won just about every club competition available to island teams.

His best season was undoubtedly 2010-11, when he scored 112 in 47 appearances for Trearddur Bay United.

In 2012/13, he represented the North Wales Coast side in the UEFA Regions Cup in Macedonia.

He will go down in history as an Anglesey football legend and with him not turning 32 until next month, who knows what his eventual career goals total will be when he finally hangs up his boots!

ASA THOMAS – SENIOR CAREER GOALSCORING RECORD

2022-23 (up to and including March 25, 2023)
51 – Trearddur Bay

2021-22
58 – Bodedern Athletic

2020-21: Season cancelled (Covid)

2019-20
12 – Holyhead Town/Holyhead Hotspur
2018/19
20 – Holyhead Town
2017/18
45 – Holyhead Town
2016/17
26 – Trearddur Bay United/Holyhead Hotspur
2015/16
48 – Trearddur Bay United
2014/15
22 – Gaerwen
2013/14
52 – Morawelon
2012/13
48 – Morawelon
2011/12
41 – Trearddur Bay United (including 19 for Holyhead Hotspur)
2010/11
112 – Trearddur Bay United
2009/10
29 – Holyhead Town
2008/09
37 – Holyhead Gwelfor Athletic
2007-08
32 – Holyhead Gwelfor Athletic

Total: 633 (up to and including March 25, 2023)

REMEMBERING THE GREAT TOMMY WELSH

Born on March 17, 1929, the late, great Thomas John Welsh is probably best known for his record-breaking haul of 631 goals in the halcyon days of North Wales coast football throughout the 1950s and 60s.

The Anglesey-based Ulsterman from Belfast scored the majority of those goals for his beloved Holyhead Town, where he played 11 seasons between 1953-1964, the team winning the Welsh League North title twice in that era.

Mr Welsh first made his mark in North Wales football in 1952/53. While serving as a soldier in the Royal Artillery at Kinmel Bay Camp, he played one season for Blaenau Ffestiniog, scoring 29 goals.

He then went on to enjoy those 11 glorious campaigns at Holyhead Town, where notched 79 goals in 1953-54, including six versus Conway Borough, four of those coming within a spell of three minutes and 42 seconds.

In 1953 against Llandudno, he scored 10 seconds after kick-off in the first half, and struck again 12 seconds into the second half.

He also netted eight times in one game for Holyhead against Llanfairfechan in 1955-56.

In 1956, he scored a memorable hat-trick as the Harbourmen defeated Caernarfon Town 6-1 in the NWCFA Challenge Cup Final in front of 6,000 fans at Bangor.

Mr Welsh joined Colwyn Bay in 1964/65 and helped them win their first Welsh League North championship. He also finished top-scorer for the club and in the league itself.

The following season saw Mr Welsh sign for Bethesda, where he reached 631 goals, beating Don Spendlove of Rhyl’s all-time record of 629, and then retired from football.

Mr Welsh’s other achievements included being selected for the North Wales Coast team which played against Scottish Juniors in 1954.

A late starter in the game, he attracted the interest of Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, Wolves, Southend and Doncaster at his peak, but stayed loyal to the town and football club he had grown to love – Holyhead.

A fine example to youngsters, he was booked only once in his career and never sent off.

In 2004, on his 75th birthday, Mr Welsh was presented with a mounted football boot and certificate from the North Wales Coast FA and Holyhead Town Council in recognition of his outstanding services to the game.

When Holyhead Town reformed in 2016, they made Mr Welsh their honorary president.