North Wales football’s most underrated players of the 2022-23 season
So many star players to write about in 2022-23, but what about those unsung heroes who were not that often in the headlines, yet their teams could not have done without them?
Here are 10 of the best, but most underrated players Grassroots North Wales came across.
We rate them very highly, but perhaps they did not always get the plaudits they were merited.
Five men and five women who had special seasons……
UNDERRATED MAGIC MEN 2022-23
Ricky Jones
Joined Penmaenmawr Phoenix last September from Llandudno Albion and what an impact he made!
The 33-year-old former North Wales Coast FA Uefa Regions Cup midfielder scored 20 goals in 26 games for Pen in all competitions, and 19 in 21 league outings – top net-finding!
Ricky was fourth highest goalscorer in the tier 4 North Wales Coast East League Premier Division, where Phoenix ended up an excellent fourth.
After beginning the 2022-23 campaign as joint-manager of Albion, Ricky made Pen his latest club. He has previously played for Llandudno Junction and Conwy.
Football talent runs in the family, as Ricky’s brother Toby has played in the Welsh Premier for Llandudno, Rhyl, Airbus and Neath. And dad Barry is a former Conwy United manager.
Liam Morris
While Corrig McGonigle attracted most attention for Bangor 1876 with his 56 goals this season, no-one should forget the scoring skills of winger Morris.
The 24-year-old, who joined 1876 at the start of 2022-23, hit 21 goals in all competitions, many of them vital and none more so than the beauty which put the blues 3-2 up in extra time of the Ardal Northern play-off final against Cefn Albion.
Previously a consistent marksman with Holyhead Hotspur and Conwy Borough in tier 2, Liam was also a hero for Ynys Môn in the 2019 Inter Games Football Tournament final, where he scored a stunner to bring the hosts level with Guernsey.
Mel McGinness went on to score a late winner for Anglesey.
Connor Morris
Top-scorer in the tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division with 32 goals in just 24 games for a resurgent Kinmel Bay.
This 25-year-old notched 36 goals in all competitions, yet he still passed under the radar at times, perhaps because of the high standard of other teams in the division.
Connor joined Kinmel Bay at the start of 2022-23, having previously been a proven goal-getter with Llysfaen, where he netted 38 times the season before.
He scored in nine successive games towards the end of a season where Kinmel Bay hit a very rich vein of form, also bagging three hat-tricks in all, including a six and a four.
Tom Scott
What a season for the veteran midfielder with North Wales Coast West Division One double winners Trearddur Bay.
Tom netted eight goals in 35 appearances and played a key part in strike force Asa Thomas and Mel McGinness scoring more than 100 between them.
Never one to blow his own trumpet, natural leader Tom even said himself on social media recently he thought his season was pleasing personally and he felt involved in something special at Lon Isallt.
A leading airman in the Royal Navy for eight years, the popular midfielder is now a crew manager at RAF Valley.
For more than 20 years of his football life, Tom represented Holyhead Hotspur, but last season he helped Caergybi’s quest for success and this term joined the Trearddur Bay results machine.
Underrated this season maybe, but very highly rated over his career.
Jay Gibbs
Although Holyhead Hotspur had a tough season, finishing bottom of the tier 2 Cymru North, their star midfielder Jay Gibbs was outstanding.
Scoring 11 goals in 27 matches across all competitions, former Tranmere Rovers scholar Gibbs, 30, gave his all for the cause in a difficult campaign.
Another top performer in the Ynys Môn side which won the 2019 Inter Games Football Tournament, Jay has also represented other strong North Wales clubs such as Caernarfon Town, Llandudno, Porthmadog and Glantraeth.
He was capped at under-19 level for Wales against Scotland and Ireland in 2010.
In a career packed with medals, he has won the Cymru North/Alliance title twice and the Welsh Alliance championship in 2011-12, scoring 27 times for a treble-winning Hotspur outfit.
UNDERRATED MAGIC MAIDENS 2022-23
Ashleigh Jones
What a difference captain Ashleigh has made to an ever-improving Trearddur Bay women’s side over the past two seasons.
Formerly with Amlwch Town, Ashleigh was part of the new Trearddur team which joined the North Wales League in 2021-22.
She is now the team’s all-time top scorer with 15 goals, having scored 11 in a 2022-23 season where she really stood out and earned lots of praise from opposing teams.
Ashleigh deserves more credit than she gets, but to those who play alongside her and against her, she’s known and respected as a top player.
Becca Elliott
Because CPD Merched Bangor – Bangor Women’s FC scored 120 goals in storming to the North Wales League title this season, the other side of their game did not perhaps receive enough focus.
However, it is certainly quite a feather in their caps that Bangor conceded just eight goals in 22 league matches, with the star of the show – as well as the defence – their brilliant young goalkeeper Becca Elliott.
With past experience of playing in the Welsh Premier Women’s League with Llandudno, Becca is no rookie, but still only aged 23, she is a real asset to Bangor.
She has been playing football for around 15 years, starting with Mostyn Dragons Girls, moving to Flint Girls, and was then in the star-studded Prestatyn Girls FC legends who won the Welsh Cup in 2014/15,
Then it was Llandudno in the top flight before becoming a champion all over again with Bangor.
Shannon Jade Jones
Not only did midfield dynamo Shannon have a fine season for CPDM Y Felinheli in the tier 2 Adran North League, she also starred for Bangor University’s football team.
Shannon was top-scorer for the Bangor side which won the BUCS Northern 4A League title, as well as lifting the Varsity Trophy.
The gifted Piscean, 22, netted some fantastic goals for the Uni, who also earned promotion for next season.
Shannon is better known for her amazing performances over recent years for the likes of Bangor City, Bethel, Bethesda and Felinheli.
She was part of the Bethesda side which won the North Wales League Division Two title at the first attempt in 2018-19 and helped Felinheli lift the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup this season.
Skilful, strong and direct, this wonder girl who does not like chocolate earned the nickname Shannon the Cannon this season for her powerful shooting.
Joanna Bramwell
While the likes of goal-getters Tesni Hughes and Ellie Sian Jones were winning high praise this season, no-one overlooked the fantastic efforts of midfield marauder Jo Bramwell.
Jo was definitely one of Amlwch’s finest players in a testing campaign which ended really well for the island femmes.
I needed a little more info on Jo, so step forward her lovely team-mate Ellie Sian, who received many a fine pass from the underrated Bramwell this term.
“For the whole 90 minutes of a game Jo doesn’t stop,” said Ellie.
“She’s all over the pitch supporting defence and midfield! She’s very strong when it comes to tackling, and speed is definitely one of her strengths.
“Us upfront have received many amazing through balls from Jo which have led to a goal. She’s a great team player, and will play anywhere she’s asked to. She’s even ended up as a goalie a couple of times this season due to injury!
“She’s a massive part of our team and you can 100% notice when she isn’t there (which isn’t often at all). Jo’s also absolutely hilarious and has a great personality, there’s always a laugh!”
Dave says: As it’s the end of the season and humour is in the air, I will declare at this point that when Jo wears the shirt bearing the sponsor’s name Monuts on the front, I always laugh out loud and have nicknamed her Jonuts as a result! That’s it, not that funny I guess.
Sophie Haywood
If you are talking about underrated then CPD Y Rhyl 1879 defender Sophie Haywood is the epitome of the word.
This girl is an amazing competitor, she never stops working, putting in tackles, making clearances and trying to join the attack when she can.
She played in 14 games for Rhyl this season, 10 in the league, and they always looked a better unit defensively when she was involved.
Sophie deserves massive praise for the work-rate she puts into a game and I know the management and coaches at 1879 are very proud of her.