Eight of the latest signings on the North Wales club scene
Some of the latest signings on the North Wales football scene. Stay tuned for plenty more to come.
Gary Jo Owen (Cemaes Bay to Caergybi)
One of the finest goalscorers Ynys Môn has produced in recent years is back at CPD Caergybi.
Gary Jo Owen, 34, is a two-time winner of the Bob Brodie Trophy which recognises the leading net-finder in senior Anglesey football.
He won the competition in 2013/14, while at Morawelon, after bagging 57 goals and went one better in 2017/18, scoring 58 times for Caergybi.
In other seasons, Gary has been a consistent marksman for the likes of Bodedern Athletic, Gaerwen, Holyhead Town and Trearddur Bay Bulls, notching well over 200 goals in total.
He has a brief stint with Cemaes Bay last season.
Caergybi manager Dale Moffat is more than happy to have Gary back on board – and the new man will have added duties in his latest spell with the Millbank side.
“We are delighted to announce that Gjo will once again be playing in the black and white kit,” said Moffat.
“He needs no introduction as he’s scored goals everywhere he’s been and we are delighted to have him return to us.
“Not only will Gjo be playing this year, he will also be taking on his first coaching role as he makes the first step into management so he will be a player/coach and helping Dale and James for the upcoming season and he can’t wait to get started.”
John Littlemore (Conwy Borough to Llangefni Town)
After spending the last three seasons switching between Porthmadog and Conwy Borough, a fresh start on his native Ynys Môn with Llangefni Town might prove just the ticket for striker John Littlemore.
The 28-year-old lands at Cae Bob Parry from Conwy, where he netted six goals in 18 appearances last term for a side which ended up relegated from the Cymru North.
Cefni manager James Saxon is delighted to capture the experienced front man, who has played in both the top two tier Welsh Premier and Cymru North leagues.
Saxon said: “Having played Cymru Premier and Cymru North level, John will bring wealth of experience to the team.
“He is a strong and powerful forward and will be a welcome addition.”
Littlemore was an outstanding youth international who also captained the Welsh Colleges side.
His senior football career began with a brief stay at Llandegfan in 2010 before he moved to Bro Goronwy, where over three seasons he shone brightly, knocking in 19 goals in 49 starts.
In 2013-14, he became part of the Bangor City set-up, finishing top scorer for the Under-19’s in the Welsh Premier Development League and progressing to Nev Powell’s first team, where he made six substitute appearances.
The following season brought a short spell with Glantraeth before he returned to Bro Goronwy, netting five times in as many games.
In 2015, John moved to Cardiff to study. He was snapped up by the Cardiff Met University team, helping them win the Welsh League Division One title and secure promotion to the Welsh Premier.
John remained part of Met’s plans for top flight football and he featured in 19 WPL games for the students in 2016-17, scoring in a 4-0 thrashing of former club Bangor City at Cyncoed.
After graduation, the 2017-18 season saw John back in North Wales representing Holyhead Hotspur in the Cymru Alliance.
He was at the club for two seasons, with perhaps his biggest highlight scoring an 11-minute hat-trick in a remarkable 7-5 Huws Gray Cup victory over Bangor City.
After experiencing success with the Ynys Môn gold medal winning squad at the 2019 Inter Games Tournament, John was Sion Eifion Jones’ first signing for Porthmadog.
Things didn’t work out at Port and by January 2020, John had signed for fellow Cymru North club Conwy Borough.
His progress at Y Morfa was hampered by a number of postponements due to unprecedented bad weather and the early curtailment of the season because of COVID-19.
John rejoined Porthmadog in 2021-22 and helped them win promotion to the Cymru North via a 5-0 Ardal Northern play-off final win over Caersws in which he scored.
He returned to Conwy Borough for what was a disappointing 2022-23 season at Y Morfa, but now comes a new adventure at Llangefni.
Aaron Heald (Bangor 1876 to Bethesda Athletic)
Defender Heald started playing competitive football with his local team, Llanfairpwll, aged 11 and signed for Wrexham three years later.
In 2019-20, he spent the early part of the season with Bro Goronwy and impressed Bodedern, who signed him just before Christmas.
He made his league debut in the Welsh Alliance Division One match against Greenfield on 4 January and was a regular first teamer until the premature end of the season due to Covid.
Heald has spent the last two seasons with Bangor 1876, making more than 40 appearances in total for the Cymru North bound club.
The 20-year-old now moves on to tier 3 Ardal North West League newcomers Bethesda.
Manager Mark Hughes said “I know Aaron well, he used to share a lift up to Wrexham for years with us so I know he’s not only a quality player but also a top lad.
“Still only 20, he’d be the first to admit he’s lost his way a little over the past 6 to 8 months or so, but that’s to our gain as he’s a tier 2 player no doubt about that.
“I want to give him the platform to enjoy his footy again; he knows quite a few of the lads already and I believe this is the perfect environment for him.”
Harri Hughes (Porthmadog to Nantlle Vale)
Midfielder who rejoins Nantlle Vale after spending last season at Porthmadog.
Featured in 24 matches for Port in 2022-23, 11 as a substitute.
The previous campaign saw Hughes play 25 Ardal North West games for Nantlle, netting seven goals.
Has a reputation as a pacy winger with a dangerous left foot.
Also played for the Bangor City Development Squad and, whilst a student in Cardiff, for the Met. He has represented Wales Schools at U-16 and U-18 level and also Welsh Colleges U-18.
Iwan Hardy (Cefn Druids to Chirk AAA)
Teenage striker who played in 18 first team games for Cefn Druids in the Cymru North last season, scoring three goals.
Was an academy player at Bala Town before moving to Druids, where he was a regular in the EDS/Development side in 2021-22 prior to featuring more frequently for the firsts last season.
With Druids withdrawing from the Cymru North, Iwan needed a new club and Chirk AAA were delighted to snap him up.
“The young striker is raring to go and looking sharp in training,” said a Chirk statement this week.
Jay Finter (Pentraeth to Llanfairpwll)
After a brief spell with Pentraeth towards the back end of last season, Jay Finter is reunited with the club where he has truly made his mark.
Returning to Llanfairpwll will give the 21-year-old the opportunity to relaunch his deadly striking partnership with the inimitable Marquis Holland.
The Anglesey club reports Jay is looking electric in pre-season training.
Finter notched 15 goals for Llanfair last season and 24 the previous term. His versatility means he can fill any attacking role.
With pace, finishing ability and dribbling skills in abundance, the ex-Llangoed player will be welcomed with open arms back at Maes Eilian.
Spencer Parrish (Guilsfield to Chirk AAA)
Chirk’s new management team of Gary Jones and Jack Ellis recently made their first signing of the new season with the return of Spencer Parrish from Guilsfield.
Spencer rejoins the Holyhead Road club after having spent the last two seasons at Guilsfield in Cymru North, where he made a total of 45 appearances.
Last season he missed a lot of action through injury but is now back fully fit and raring to go.
Max Williams (Newtown to Flint Town United)
Lee Fowler has added a promising young goalkeeper to his squad as Flint prepare their quest for an instant return to the Cymru Premier.
Max Williams. 20, was previously at Newtown AFC as understudy to Dave Jones, before spending a year in the USA, where he played for Wright State Raiders, a University club.
Upon his return, former Welsh U18 player Max was immediately snapped up by Silkmen chief Fowler, as he continues to formulate his squad.
Max was also on the books of Salford City before making the move to Latham Park.