No Cymru Premier recognition for North Wales but tier 2 northern stars shine at FAW awards

With North Wales entirely overlooked in the FAW National League Awards winners’ list at Cymru Premier level, our region had to be content with recognition at Tier 2.

Players, staff and club officials from across the JD Cymru Leagues and Genero Adran Premier gathered at the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff on Saturday night for the annual awards ceremony.

South Wales and Shropshire swept the board in the Cymru Premier and Genero Adran Premier, the latter understandably as the women’s tier 1 league did not include any North Wales-based teams in 2022-23.

All the highlights for Gogledd Cymru were featured in the tier 2 JD Cymru North awards.

Colwyn Bay, Holywell Town and Prestatyn Town all scooped two accolades each.

JD Cymru North Player of the Season – Tom McCready (Colwyn Bay)

Colwyn Bay skipper McCready has led by example, becoming a combative influence at the base of the midfield and also chipping in with 11 league goals. It is no surprise that out of the three league games that the Bay dropped points in this season, McCready did not play in two of them.

JD Cymru North Manager of the Season – Steve Evans (Colwyn Bay)

JD Cymru Premier football awaits Colwyn Bay next season after an incredible campaign under the guidance of Steve Evans.
The Seagulls scored 101 goals, lost just one league game and won 25 consecutive league matches between August and March on their way to the title.
Evans is the ideal man to guide the Bay at tier 1 level having won numerous titles with The New Saints during his stint there which led to spells at Wrexham and seven international caps for Wales.

JD Cymru North Young Player of the Season – Dan Atkins (Prestatyn Town)

It has been an impressive debut season at Prestatyn Town for 21-year-old Dan Atkins, who finished as the joint top scorer in the JD Cymru North with 22 goals in 28 appearances.
Four braces in the space of five games at the back end of 2022 was particularly impressive.

Special Recognition Award – Kevin ‘Bones’ Jenkins

Kevin Jenkins’ passing in January was a heart-breaking loss for the Welsh football community and this award was presented in tribute to ‘Bones’.
The charismatic community hero played key roles at both Aberystwyth Town and Penrhyncoch across men’s, women’s and youth teams and the impact that his passion and dedication had on players was immeasurable.

JD Cymru North Golden Boot – Dan Atkins (Prestatyn Town) and Dave Forbes (Holywell Town)

Dan Atkins’ four-goal haul on the final day of the season against Cefn Druids saw him draw level at the top of the scoring charts with Dave Forbes, who bagged a hat-trick on the last afternoon himself.

The pair finished on 22 league goals for the campaign.

Dave scored a magnificent 36 goals in all competitions.

JD Cymru North Golden Glove – Keighan Jones (Holywell Town)

Holywell Town may not have won promotion, but they did finish with the best defensive record in the JD Cymru North.

Keighan Jones played all 30 matches and kept 17 clean sheets, while conceding just 22 goals.