Put your hands together for the Grassroots North Wales football awards 2022-23

It’s been an interesting 2022-23 season with many stand-out achievements involving a number of teams.

Here are the annual fun Grassroots North Wales Football Awards

YOUNG PLAYERS AWARDS

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON (WOMEN – TIER 2 GENERO ADRAN NORTH)
Sienna Strapp (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

For someone so young, she has adapted to the physical and psychological demands of tier 2 football so well.
Outstanding all season for Connah’s Quay, and while team-mate Kirstie Kural was probably player of the match in that record-breaking showpiece at the Racecourse, 18-year-old Sienna was fantastic as well.

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON (WOMEN – TIER 3 NORTH WALES LEAGUE)
Mia Roberts (CPD Merched Bangor)

This 17-year-old livewire netted a magnificent 14 goals in 19 league appearances for the champions.
One of many great players to emerge from the Penrhyn Bay girls teams, Mia made a dynamic impact for Bangor operating just behind top-scorer Stevie Donougher in attack.

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 2)
Dan Atkins (Prestatyn Town)

What 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.

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 3)
Ben Lockley (Denbigh Town)

Tremendous young right back whose ability to join in attacks and score vital goals made him a huge asset to the Ardal North West champions.

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 4)
Connor Owen (Gwalchmai)

An unbelievable season for this teenage sensation who put away 39 goals in 34 games across all competitions for Gwalchmai, as well as finishing top-scorer in the North Wales Coast West Premier Division.
Fittingly rounded off the season by scoring a hat-trick to win the Premier Division Cup for his village team.

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 5)
Harrison Bellis (Y Glannau)
A season this 21-year-old will never forget – 62 goals in just 29 games!
His 44 league goals ensured he finished a clear golden boot champion in North Wales Coast East Division One.
Harrison banged in nine hat-tricks.

PLAYERS OF THE SEASON

PLAYER OF THE SEASON (WOMEN – TIER 2)
Kirstie Kural (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Although Wrexham’s Rosie Hughes would be the obvious choice with 42 goals and the North Wales Golden Boot for a second season running, Kirstie just edges it for us after notching a magnificent 33 goals from midfield.
Showed her true class in the Racecourse live TV match between Wrexham and Nomads where she was the standout player. Sadly, she has decided to leave Nomads. We wish her well.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON (WOMEN – TIER 3)
Zoe Stopford (NFA)

Always been a quality player with a talent for scoring goals right up to Welsh Premier level, but this season with her new team NFA, Zoe really came to the fore.
She netted 18 times for the Rhyl side but also put in a series of player of the match performances.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 2)
Jake Cooke (Holywell Town)

One of the most exciting players to watch, Jake had a massive season for the Wellmen, goals and assists galore and a constant headache for defenders with his pacy bursts.
Was rightly chosen for the Cymru North Team of the Season.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 3)
Corrig McGonigle (Bangor 1876)

Who else? Scored 56 goals in 35 games across league and cups for the Ardal North West runners-up, who are heading for the Cymru North after Saturday’s play-off success.
Was top-scorer in terms of league goals across Ardal Northern by a country mile, 37 in just 26 outings. Closing in on 400 career goals and already has 90 for his club since joining them in February 2022.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 4)
Mike Latham (FC Queen’s Park)

Only joined Queen’s Park in the January transfer window, but completely transformed their season with 21 goals in 10 games to guide Dave Evans’ side to the North East Wales Premier Division title.
The 33-year-old hit 31 goals in all competitions from just 18 appearances for the Park, who made it a treble by scooping the Horace Wynne Cup and Mike Beech Memorial Trophy.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 5)
Asa Thomas (Trearddur Bay)

Scored a phenomenal 75 goals in just 36 matches for the North Wales Coast West Division One championship and cup double winners.
People can say what they like about this being at tier 5, but that amount of goals at any level is amazing and if it was that easy, why isn’t every striker doing it? Asa has scored goals from Tier 2 up to Tier 6 during his career.
He also set a new North Wales coast goal scoring record during the season – he is now on 657.

MANAGERS OF THE SEASON

MANAGER OF THE SEASON (WOMEN – TIER 2)
Steve Dale (Wrexham)

Led Wrexham to the Genero Adran North title with a perfect record of 12 straight wins.
Fittingly won Manager of the Season at the FAW awards.
Since Steve took over in November 2022, it’s been up, up and away for Wrexham!

MANAGERS OF THE SEASON (WOMEN – TIER 3)
Aron Griffith, Lefty Wright, Lois Regan (CPD Merched Bangor)

Aron will be the first to also credit fellow management team members Lefty Wright and Lois Regan for the team’s fabulous success, but hats off to this young man for his part in leading a largely youthful, exciting group of players to glory.
Bangor went unbeaten for the whole league season – 22 matches in which they amassed 120 goals and conceded just eight!

MANAGER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 2)
Steve Evans (Colwyn Bay)

A fantastic player who has found management very much to his liking too.
Guided a tremendous Colwyn Bay outfit to the Cymru North title and league cup, the Seagulls embarking on a 25-match unbeaten run during the season.
No better man to lead the team in the Cymru Premier League he knows so well.

MANAGER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 3)
Dewi Llion Jones (Denbigh Town)

A dynamic double and so nearly a treble – Dewi Llion and his management team have done a fantastic job at Central Park.
It was not just results, but performances which made this Denbigh team so special. They thrashed many teams out of sight in piling up 149 goals in 42 games.
Town deservedly finished top of a very strong Ardal North West and lifted the league cup in a canter, winning their last three ties 6-1, 5-1, 6-0.
And the treble only eluded them via a narrow 2-1 loss to Trethomas Bluebirds in the FAW Trophy Final.

MANAGER OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 4)
Matty Roberts (St Asaph City)

You can’t do much more than win a treble in such ruthless fashion.
Champions of the tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division by 17 points, Cookson Cup winners 5-0 in the final and a 4-0 triumph to lift the NWCFA Intermediate Cup.
All this from a team relegated from tier 3 the previous season. They will no doubt return there stronger and wiser.

MANAGERS OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 5)
Luke Binns, Jimbo Hay and Nick Holland (Abergele)

The club insists they are a three-man management team with no overall boss, so well done Luke, Jimbo and Nick.
A dream season for Gele as they scooped a treble of North Wales Coast East Division One title for a second campaign in a row, plus the NWCFA Junior Cup and REM Jones Cup.
This squad fully deserves promotion and a chance to prove itself at a higher level.

CLUB OF THE SEASON

FC Queen’s Park

So many great achievements in 2022-23 we’d find it impossible to choose an overall Team of the Season.
However, Club of the Season has to be FC Queen’s Park of Wrexham, who won five trophies collectively and nearly made it six!
Dave Evans’ first team landed the North East Wales League Premier Division title, Horace Wynne Cup and Mike Beech Memorial Trophy.
Malcolm Wareham led Queen’s Park Reserves to the North East Wales Reserve Division league (undefeated) and cup double.
And the Vets came close to making it a club six-timer, but were narrowly beaten by Hawarden Rangers in the NEWFA Vets Cup final.

TEAMS OF THE SEASON

TEAM OF THE SEASON (WOMEN – TIER 2)
Wrexham

Champions with an impeccable 100% 12 wins out of 12 and also set a new attendance record for a domestic league game in Wales. Who else?

TEAM OF THE SEASON (WOMEN – TIER 3)
Llangefni Town

CPD Merched Bangor would have been the logical choice, but let’s think outside the box.
The girls of Bangor had a great squad on paper and were expected to do well.
Llangefni, meanwhile, finished eighth the previous season with a goal difference of -54.
With the same players, this time they secured a magnificent third place with a GD of +43, and shrugged off some character-building heavy cup defeats to play out of their skins in the league.

TEAM OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 2)
Colwyn Bay

Double winners in the Cymru North, brilliant support, the ideal manager, promotion to the Cymru Premier and a 25-match winning run. Say no more.

TEAM OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 3)
Denbigh Town

One of the most attractive teams to watch in North Wales, they signed some tremendous players and gelled into a winning machine, landing the Ardal North West league and cup double.

TEAM OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 4)
St Asaph City

Won 29 out of 36 matches, losing just four, and went unbeaten in their last 18, winning 17 of them.
Lifted the North Wales Coast East Premier title, Cookson Cup and NWCFA Intermediate Cup with ease. No-one got near them at their level.

TEAM OF THE SEASON (MEN – TIER 5)
Abergele

As they beat Trearddur Bay – their equivalent champions in North Wales Coast West – 4-3 in the Junior Cup, one could argue Abergele are the overall Tier 5 kings in 2022-23, although the likes of Ruabon Rovers and Caerwys in the North East may have something to say about that! Coast kings for sure, though.
No-one can argue that Gele had an awesome season which delivered the North Wales Coast West Division One title, REM Jones Cup and NEWFA Junior Cup.
Played 33, Won 27, Drawn 3 and Lost 3 in all competitions and Jack Hoult in attack – awesome campaign.

VARIOUS OTHER AWARDS

PERSONALITY OF THE SEASON – ADMINISTRATOR
Connor Murphy (Llandudno)

Young man who in a very short time has become a dynamic force in publicising the goings-on at Llandudno FC. The sky’s the limit for this champagne character.

PERSONALITY OF THE SEASON – PLAYER
Richard Hillier-Evans (Bow FC)

Not only is he an excellent goalkeeper with a penchant for saving penalties, Richard is also an extrovert, larger-than-life character who does a great job in promoting his team and club. Happy summer boss x

MOST MISSED
Bodedern Athletic

After winning the tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division title last season and setting some amazing records, the Anglesey side nosedived in tier 3 and were forced to disband by December 2022.
Thankfully a new club, CPD Boded, has formed in the village for the 2023-24 season.

SADDEST MOMENT
Llandudno Albion

The club which rose from tier 6 to 3 and won plenty of silverware and friends since its formation in 2014/15 sadly called it a day at the end of this season.
They will be missed.

MOST EMBARRASSING EVENT
Welsh Cup Final – The New Saints 6 Bala Town 0
The heaviest loss in a Welsh Cup Final for 92 years served to further notice that the top level of domestic football in Wales is a one-horse race which shows no signs of changing, TNS having won by the Cymru Premier title by 22 points.

MOST IMPROVED TEAM (WOMEN)
Llangefni Town

In their first season, 2021-22, Llangefni finished 8th out of 12 in the North Wales League with a record of: four wins, two draws and 12 defeats with 27 goals scored and 81 conceded (goal difference – 54).
This season brought a stunning turnaround – a third-place finish with 14 wins, two draws and six losses, 79 goals scored and 36 conceded (goal difference + 43).
This drastic change in fortunes has been achieved by more or less the same squad of players under the management of Dan Gregg and Liam Ewing.
Hands down the most improved side in North Wales women’s football.

MOST IMPROVED TEAM (MEN)
St Asaph City

Relegated from the tier 3 Ardal North West last season, St Asaph bounced back in amazing style this term.
They won the tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division title in an absolute canter by 17 points, and won the Cookson Cup and NWCFA Intermediate Cup finals 5-0 and 4-0 respectively.
Winning a treble is great enough, but to achieve it in the manner they did makes Saints by far the most improved men’s team in North Wales.

MIRACLE OF THE SEASON
Charles Lloyd hat-trick

Charles Lloyd is a fine defender for Mochdre Sports, but he is not famed for his goals which are rarer than rocking horse poo.
However, on November 12, 2022, Mr Lloyd scored on 70, 75 and 85 minutes in an 11-0 drubbing of neighbours Glan Conwy.
Before this happened, it was thought there was more chance of Harold Lloyd rising from his grave and working at the Rovers Return in Corrie, but no, Charlie Lloyd scored a hat-trick that day and it was something to be proud of.

BEST NEW TEAM
Bow FC

You could argue tier 5 champions Trearddur Bay deserved this, but they were returning to football after just one season’s break.
Bow were brand new and made a tremendous impression, finishing fourth in North Wales Coast East Division One, while the second team also fared well in the North Wales Coast Reserve League. They also reached the NWCFA Junior Cup semi-finals.
The Prestatyn-based side produced one of the best tier 5 performers of the season in goalkeeper Richard Hillier-Evans, who saved a series of penalties.
Bow is a club to watch!

BEST PROMOTED CLUB
Bethesda Athletic

Pesda rose to the tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division this season and won the title at the first attempt by eight points.
Going down a league and topping the table the next season is one thing, but to dominate straight up at the higher level is something else.
Some magnificent young talent has thrived at Parc Meurig under Mark N Hughes, including his three sons Osian, Noa and Daniel.

COMEBACK OF THE SEASON
Bret Durkan

After four years out with a career-threatening injury, Bret made a welcome comeback to the field of play for Rhos United, who he had managed in his time on the sidelines.
Bret had a really good first season back, playing in plenty of games and scoring a few goals. The team also performed with great promise, winning high praise from many opponents.

INVINCIBLES AWARD
Trearddur Bay, Caerwys and Queen’s Park Reserves/CPD Merched Bangor and Wrexham AFC Women

In men’s football Caerwys (North East Wales League Championship Division – 20 games), Trearddur Bay (North Wales Coast West Division One – 26 games) and Queen’s Park (North East Wales League Reserve Division – 20 games) were the only three teams to emerge through their respective league campaigns without losing a single match.
Trearddur Bay had the best record of 26 games, 24 wins and 2 draws.

In women’s football, invincibles CPD Merched Bangor won the North Wales Women’s League with an undefeated record of 20 wins and two draws. Wrexham won all 12 matches to land the Genero Adran North title.

MOST GOALS
Ruabon Rovers

214 goals scored in 40 games and the North East Wales League Championship Division trophy to boot – not a bad season for Ruabon.
Exactly half of those goals came from strike force Andrew Swarbrick and Conner Kendrick, who netted 58 and 49 respectively for a combined total of 107. (Mark Hughes (Sparky) wouldn’t get a game in this team).
That made AS and CK the most productive pair in North Wales football.

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA
Holywell Town/Denbigh Town

One extreme to another in this category – some clubs provide a fantastic social media service, others mediocre.
For a mix of brilliant graphics, up to date news, self-promotion (but not overdone), quick appearance of match reports, I find it difficult to think of anyone better than Clive Davies and his team at Holywell Town and Iwan Jones and the crew at Denbigh Town.

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Rosie Hughes (Flint Town United)

So many have been talking about this 17-year-old sensation who dazzled in her first season for new team Flint Town United Ladies.
With a great family supporting her, Rosie’s displays as an attacking midfielder have made her a stand-out in many games and she netted 10 league goals.

CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU BACK – TEAM
Betws-y-Coed

Set to return in 2023-24 with new players and management after a brief disbandment.
Big part of North Wales football history – be great to see you again

CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU BACK – PLAYER
Ella Jones

Such an amazing goalscorer, but has been out the best part of two seasons with a knee injury.
Reports to be progressing well and the prospects of a return in 2023-24 look good for the 18-year-old.
Much-missed, we can’t wait to see you back.