Will Sienna Strapp’s departure from the Welsh pyramid spark an exodus of our top talent to England?

One wonders whether the departure of Connah’s Quay Nomads’ gifted defender Sienna Strapp to the English pyramid might spark a number of similar moves.

Today the 18-year-old Welsh Colleges player signed for Stoke City of the Tier 3 FA Women’s National League North.

It is another big step forward for the teenager from Hawarden, who joined Nomads in November 2021 from Northop Hall and linked up with the women’s scholarship programme at Deeside’s Coleg Cambria.

Sienna went on to have a great 18 months with the Quay, winning the NEWFA Challenge Cup twice and being a key member of the side which finished runners-up in Genero Adran North last season.

She stood out on live TV when playing for Nomads against champions Wrexham in front of a Welsh domestic league game record crowd of 9,511 at the Racecourse on March 26, 2023.

Today came the news that the classy central defender has said goodbye to the Welsh pyramid for now and joined Stoke.

She follows in the footsteps of former North Wales football stars Hannah Keryakoplis and Ashleigh Hayes in joining the Potteries club in recent seasons.

Other North Wales talents to make the leap to England in recent years have included Olivia Fuller and Emilie Revitt, who both had spells with Liverpool, and Anna Jones, currently with Tranmere Rovers.

After the match at Wrexham in March, FAW head of women’s football Lowri Roberts said she did not expect anyone from the tier 1 Adran Premier to reach the Wales senior squad in the near future.

With Nomads operating in tier 2, Roberts’ statement appeared to pour cold water on any aspirations their players may have had of an international breakthrough, as well as those of Wrexham, who are about to embark on their debut top-level Genero Adran Premier campaign.

However, the FAW chief did say there was hope of progression to the Welsh set-up for the very young players in the 17-19 bracket, which Strapp fits into perfectly.

With current Wales women’s teams manager Gemma Grainger seemingly unaware of what we have to offer in North Wales, maybe Sienna has more chance of getting noticed if she performs well in English tier 3 – and possibly higher in the not-too-distant future.

The young North Walian certainly has tremendous ability and possesses the physical attributes needed as standards she competes in rises.

Sienna’s desire and dedication to football was recognised at this year’s Coleg Cambria presentations where she received the award for Sports Student Of The Year.

Grassroots North Wales named her our Young Player of the 2022-23 season.

On her departure, Sienna commented: “I don’t think it’s possible to thank the coaches and players at The Nomads enough for the help and support they have given me on and off the pitch.

“Over the past two years at The Nomads I’ve achieved so much as my whole mentality, focus and overall footballing ability has grown massively and that’s because of everyone involved.

“It’s sad to go and leave a group of amazing players and coaches, however it’s an opportunity no one could turn down. I’m so grateful to be given such incredible opportunities over the two seasons I’ve been here and that’s all thanks to The Nomads.

“I’ve been able to go to Rome with the Welsh Colleges squad, play in a record breaking game at the Racecourse Ground, lift trophies and have been the first ever Women’s U19s captain and to be able to be part of the girls PDC that’s got lots of amazing talent already.

“I will be supporting the girls throughout the season definitely and I’ll be wishing them the best of luck in league and cup competition.

“Hopefully, I will see the girls lift all the trophies they can this season and to see them in the Genero Adran Premier next season.”

Another North Wales talent “crosses over”

Airbus UK Broughton player Poppy Hâf Smith has left the club and joined Nantwich Town.

The Dabbers operate in the Cheshire Women’s Premier League.

Poppy produced some fine performances for Airbus in Genero Adran North last season and was their Young Player of the Season in 2021-22. She will no doubt prove an asset to her new club.