FEATURE: Which young players at North Wales clubs could reach women’s international level? Check our choices….

The door appears to have been closed on any Adran Premier players reaching the Wales senior squad in the near future.

FAW head of women’s football, Lowri Roberts, said in an interview with BBC Wales recently that our national league is not of a high enough standard to produce international level talent at present.

Speaking after Wrexham AFC Women lifted the tier 2 Genero Adran North championship trophy in front of a domestic record 9,511 crowd at the Racecourse recently, Roberts said: “In the short term, that’s unrealistic.

“In the next few years, no-one in Wales will be able to offer the right kind of high performance environment that we need our senior international players competing and training at.

“However, it absolutely can be for those girls in the under-17’s and under-19’s.“

She added: “I know it’s going to be an unpopular statement to make.

“For us, the strategy has to be ensuring that this is a good development tool for our youth internationals, then when they’re hitting 18/19/20, that they’re able to play professionally. And right now that’s outside of Wales.”

Recently, I suggested a Wales women’s team not exactly prolific in the goals department could do worse than invite Wrexham’s net-machine Rosie Hughes to attend a session or two with the national squad, just to see how she shaped up.

Goalscorers are born, not made and Rosie is a natural – 90 goals in 38 appearances since she joined the Red Dragons in 2021.

Yes, most of those goals have been scored against defences well below even top of the Adran Premier standard, but sometimes life is worth a gamble.

There’s a lot of romance around Welsh football at present, not least the Hollywood effect at Wrexham, so why not let Rosie go through her paces at training or even a trial match with Wales?

After all, Ryan and Rob are big fans, Rosie charmed the Queen Consort, so why not Gemma Grainger?

Even FAW head Noel Mooney encourages us to believe everything will come up ‘Rosies’, so why not this?

Many Wrexham followers seemed to like my idea, which was ridiculed by a rival team’s manager (might have been different had I suggested one of his players) but I’ve not heard anything from the FAW.

Not that I would ever expect the Cardiff Massive to ever note anything I’d say. And the North is largely invisible in their eyes.

So let’s note something else Lowri Roberts said: ‘getting our 17, 18 and 19 year olds up to professional standard’.

Well we’ve got loads of talented girls in that age group playing in the North right now, so could some of these be among the stars of the future?

The number of North Wales players in the Welsh senior squad have gone steadily down in recent years, as did opportunities for some of our better youngsters at other age levels, but things have improved.

Helped in no small part by the progression of the FAW Trust Academy North, we are in ‘the now’ and people are at least talking more about advancement.

Some of our best in the north playing outside the domestic tier 2 and 3 system have become Wales youth regulars. Names like Sophie Rawling, Casi Evans, Amy Richardson, Mayzee Davies, Mared Griffiths, Ania Denham and Annie Small have all appeared in Wales squads from under-16 to under-19.

I follow the Genero Adran North and North Wales leagues and have seen a number of players I feel can go a long way.

I’m not saying these should all be picked immediately, but I do feel all are worth keeping an eye on.

THE SUPER 12

Sienna Strapp (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

The best young player I’ve seen perform in North Wales this season.
Joined the Nomads in November 2021 and has made 30 first-team appearances alongside captaining the under-19’s.
Such a strong, talented player, she did a great marking job on Rosie Hughes in the recent record-breaking game versus Wrexham watched by 9,511 at the Racecourse.
A Welsh Colleges international, she began her career at Northop Hall.
Sienna turns 18 on Friday (April 14).

Erin Doran (Llandudno)

Captain of a brilliant Penrhyn Bay side which reached back-to-back FAW Under-16 Welsh Cup Finals, Erin is only 17 yet since breaking into Llandudno’s first team this season she has come along in leaps and bounds.
A hard-working midfielder with classic passing and shooting ability, Erin hopes to follow elder sister Louisha to international honours.

Mia Roberts (CPDM Bangor 1876)

With 14 goals in 19 North Wales Women’s League appearances this season, 17-year-old Mia has been one of the stars of CPDM Bangor 1876’s title success which saw them go undefeated through all 22 matches.
Mia also formerly played for the outstanding Penrhyn Bay under-16 side which reached two Welsh Cup finals and won numerous trophies.
She has also been a key player in the CPDM Bangor 1876 under-19 set up. Her determination to succeed makes her an inspiration to all around her.

Jess Jones (Llangefni Town)

What a prospect! This 17-year-old youngster with an eye for goal and electric pace recently joined Llangefni Town and has already scored three times.
The niece of Anglesey-based goal machine Marc ‘Logs’ Evans, Jess made her name coming through the ranks at Caernarfon Town, whom she helped reach the U16 Welsh Cup semi-final last season, netting 50 times over the campaign.

Elana Harley (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Attacking midfielder who has forced her way into the Nomads first-team set up in a highly promising season for the side.
She has scored 15 goals in all competitions for the senior team and 13 for the under-19s. Total = 28 goals in 30 appearances.

Iona Sloan-Lewis (CPDM Y Felinheli)

Eighteen-year-old talent being talked about very highly in Cae Seilo circles.
Scored twice in NWCFA Challenge Cup ties against Llangefni Town and Llanystumdwy and appeared in a handful of first team matches in Genero Adran North, never looking out of depth.
One of a number of well-regarded youngsters coming through at Felinheli.

Rosie Hughes (Flint Town United)

She may share the same name as the North Wales’ goal goddess, but Rosie Hughes of Flint is an outstanding talent in her own right.
A star player in a Flint side performing in their first season in a senior league, 17-year-old Rosie has put away seven goals so far and has won high praise from many opposing teams.
Will be launching her own soccer skills school for girls 6-10 next month – there’s confidence for you!

Lili Jones (Wrexham)

This midfield dynamo has already won caps for Wales Under-17’s but is also capable of going much further.
Aged just 17, Lili was a valued member of the Wrexham AFC Women squad crowned tier 2 Genero Adran North champions this season.
She is also a prolific goal-bagger for the under-19’s, with 24 goals in 18 league matches over the past two seasons. Already well on her way, but still worthy of mentioning here.

Lily Whitefoot (Wrexham)

Seventeen-year-old forward returned to Wrexham in January after a spell in the Adran Premier with TNS.
Scored in three matches for the Red Dragons first team and grabbed a hat-trick on debut for the under-19’s versus Caernarfon Town.
Played a key role in the recent 2-1 win over Nomads at the Racecourse, winning the ball and finding Rosie Hughes, who broke forward to score the decider. High hopes for Lily.

Ella Jones (CPDM Bangor 1876)

Joint-second top scorer for the North Wales Women’s League champions this season on 14 goals.
The 18-year-old was also a regular markswoman for CPDM Bangor’s under-19 team.
Another who came through the dynamic Penrhyn Bay girls squads alongside names such as Erin Doran and current 1876 team-mate Mia Roberts.

Yasmin Wilcox (Trearddur Bay)

There was plenty of joy at Trearddur Bay recently when the excellent Yasmin Wilcox came on board.
Hailing from nearby Y Fali, Yasmin, 16, opened her account for Trearddur with a double in a 3-1 victory against Llanystumdwy.
Yasmin signed from Caernarfon Town Under-16’s, where she scored 36 goals in 2021-22 and another 20 this term, helping the Canaries last season win the NWCFA Under-16 Girls Cup – notching a hat-trick in the final – and reach the Welsh Cup semis.

Polly Wild-McGregor (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Sharp-shooter Polly was with the Wrexham AFC Girls Development Centre before going on to shine for the Penrhyn Bay Under-16 girls side.
She scored 19 goals in 12 matches for the NWGFL champions of 2021-22, the team winning all of their league fixtures. Polly also netted seven times in five ties as Penrhyn reached the FAW Cup final where they lost 3-1 to Cardiff City.
And she knocked in a hat-trick in the NWGFL Under-16 Cup Final in an 8-2 demolition of Brickfield Rangers.
This season, the 17-year-old joined Nomads and has made 18 first team appearances, plus 12 for the under-19’s, pocketing (Polly Pocket) eight goals.

Here’s a nice list for you Lowri, something to pass on to Gemma Grainger perhaps?