All change at Penyffordd Lions with new first team manager taking the helm

From left: retiring chairman Roy Tunnicliffe, new chairman Gareth Tunnicliffe and new Penyffordd first-team manager Stuart Tunnicliffe

North East Wales Football League Premier Division club Penyffordd Lions have appointed a new manager for the 2023-24 season.

He is Stuart Tunnicliffe, replacing his brother Gareth Tunnicliffe, who in turn becomes the new club chairman.

Stuart has a long history with the Penyffordd football community. He has represented the junior and senior teams and won trophies and accolades with both.

Since Gareth’s appointment as manager, Stuart has been one of the assistants, so the club is delighted he will now step up to the first team boss role, ensuring continuity, especially from the players’ point of view.

Stuart’s backroom staff will be announced in the coming weeks.

There are lots of other changes at Penyffordd this summer.

Roy Tunnicliffe is stepping down as club chairman. Roy, father to Gareth and Stuart, has epitomised what the club is about for over 40 years in the area as a volunteer, manager, vice-chair and chairman of Penyffordd Lions.

He has previously set up the thriving Penyffordd Junior girls team and won the Horace Wynne Cup with the senior side.

As mentioned earlier, Gareth Tunnicliffe is ending his tenure as first team manager.

A club statement said: “It was a very difficult decision for Gareth, who we know loves coaching the seniors, but ultimately has personal commitments that need to come first.

“Gareth has set up a team that has competed with the biggest teams in the area with no budget. The Lions are now seen as one of the most difficult teams to face.”

It’s not goodbye for Gareth though, as he now takes over as chairman.

Martin Jones, who has been a pivotal assistant for both Craig Mossman and in recent years Gareth Tunnicliffe, will step down from his role in light of Gareth moving up.

Martin himself has been a player, assistant and manager of previous Penyffordd teams and proved outstanding in the support he has given to the club.

Again, as with Gareth, it’s not goodbye for Martin as he moves into a newly-created role of vice-chairman of the seniors team. This arrangement will work alongside the chairman and vice chairman of the juniors (Chris Walsh) to ensure stability across the club.

For details on further developments at Penyffordd, check out their club page on Facebook.