Neville Southall’s former club among new names in North Wales Coast East League for 2023-24

The team which helped launch the career of the great Neville Southall is returning to North Wales football this season.

The line-ups for the tiers 4 and 5 North Wales Coast East League in 2023-24 include Llandudno Swifts, a famous footballing name in the town but long off the scene.

Southall, 64, played youth football for Llandudno’s Ysgol John Bright and Swifts alongside fellow legend Joey Jones before the goalkeeper went on to find fame with Everton and Wales.

At age 14 he toured Germany with Llandudno Swifts and was offered a chance to play for the youth team of Bundesliga outfit Fortuna Düsseldorf, but decided against the move abroad.

The Swifts were a poor side that were regularly beaten heavily, though the near constant barrage of shots he faced enabled Southall to improve on his shot-stopping skills.

He later featured for Bangor City and Conwy United before joining Bury in 1980-81, then later moving on to Everton, where he established himself as one of the world’s great goalkeepers.

In 17 years at Goodison, Nev made a record 578 league appearances for the club, won two First Division titles and the same number of FA Cups, as well as lifting the European Cup Winners Cup, and also won 92 caps for Wales.

The great man will no doubt feel a bit nostalgic with the return of Llandudno Swifts.

Other new clubs accepted into the Coast East league are: Prestatyn Wanderers and Rhyl Town United.

The Premier Division will drop from 16 to 14 clubs this season, while Division One will have an uneven number of 15.

St Asaph City and Llannefydd have gained promotion to tier 3 Ardal North West, while Glan Conwy are relegated to Division One (level 5)

It has been agreed that Blaenau Ffestiniog (at their request) move from the East league to compete in the West League.

Abergele and NFA have been promoted from Division One (Tier 5) to the Premier Division (Tier 4)

Betws-y-Coed have been accepted back into the league to compete in Division One (Tier 5) after disbanding last season.

THE LINE UPS

NORTH WALES COAST EAST PREMIER DIVISION 2023-24 (14 TEAMS)

Abergele
Bro Cernyw
Cerrigydrudion
Kinmel Bay
Llandudno Junction
Llandyrnog United
Llanfairfechan Town
Llansannan
Meliden
Mochdre Sports
NFA
Penmaenmawr Phoenix
Prestatyn Sports
Rhuddlan Town

NORTH WALES COAST EAST DIVISION ONE 2023-24 (15 TEAMS)

Betws-y-Coed
Bow FC
CPD Caer Clwyd
Glan Conwy
Henllan
Llandudno Amateurs
Llandudno Swifts
Llysfaen
Penrhyn Bay Dragons
Prestatyn Wanderers
Rhos United
Rhyl All Stars
Rhyl Dragons
Rhyl Town United
CPD Y Glannau