Cymru North 2023-24 preview: Will Holywell Town go one better this season?

The Cymru Premier League may represent the top block of the Welsh pyramid, but when it comes to pure excitement, fan support and value for money, the second-tier Cymru North puts its ‘superior’ in the shade.

Take last season for example.

While the Premier proved to be another procession for The New Saints, who coasted to a 15th title success, the Cymru North delivered a thrilling battle between Colwyn Bay and Holywell Town for the championship.

In the end Bay clinched promotion to the Premier after finishing four points clear of Holywell, who had not applied to go up anyway.

However, the pair shared a real ding-dong battle over several months, during which both recorded a remarkable 25 straight wins.

As Bay made the better start to 2022-23, they were always just ahead of the Wellmen, who took just one point out of a possible first nine before embarking on an amazing winning streak.

With the Seagulls now in tier one, does this mean Holywell will be the team to beat in the CN this season – and are they title favourites?

Based on last season’s feats, plus the fact they have added some class signings such as Rhys Edwards, Gaz Evans, Shaun Pearson, Julian Williams and Jack Pennington this summer, Johnny Haseldin’s side will surely be right up there.

So where will the main opposition come from?

Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town United, both relegated from the Cymru Premier last season, are likely to be strong contenders.

Despite last season’s disaster of not managing a single league win in 32 attempts and ending on minus four points, Airbus have always been a force at tier-two.

Several of the better players from 2022-23 have been retained, while manager Mark Allen has brought in quality newcomers such as striker Craig Lindfield, a former Football League success with clubs such as Macclesfield Town and Accrington Stanley and in more recent years a non-league hit with FC United of Manchester and Colwyn Bay.

Defender Kristian Platt, who was last at Colwyn Bay, returns to the Wingmakers after enjoying a previous spell at the club between 2017-21, having also in the past turned out for Chester City, Stalybridge Celtic and Bala Town.

Also on board at Airbus are brothers Jordan and Kieron Evans.

Jordan, 27, joins from Whitchurch Allport, but began his career at Wrexham before moving onto Fulham and later Oxford United on loan, where he made 14 first-team appearances, prior to featuring for Bala Town, Cefn Druids and Newtown in the Welsh Premier.

Kieron, returning to Airbus for a second spell, has plenty of experience at tier 2 level and will bring defensive stability to the team, while also contributing quality in attack.

Flint Town United, promoted to the Premier at the end of 2019-20 as Cymru North runners-up, lasted three seasons in the top flight before a slump in form meant a return to tier 2 this term.

One would expect the Silkmen to be among the front-runners at this standard as they so often have been in the past, but manager Lee Fowler may still be looking to bring in some new signings to strengthen the squad.

Among those to arrive at the Essity so far include outstanding front man Tom Hilditch from Prestatyn Town, a proven goal scorer.

Back at Flint is defender Jake Phillips, while other additions include the experienced Joe Williams, right-sided attacker Joshua Jones from Ruthin Town, well-travelled forward Elliott Reeves and young goalkeeper Max Williams.

Much interest will surround newcomers Bangor 1876 and Denbigh Town, who both rise up from the Ardal North West.

Last season’s tier 3 champions Denbigh achieved their successes with a truly dazzling squad and this has been added to this summer with Mason Blackwell-Jones, a young midfielder with plenty of Cymru North experience, exciting young front man Levett Gundogan, ex-Welsh Premier schemer Ryan Kershaw and the gifted Tom Weir among the new faces.

Manager Dewi Llion-Jones can also turn to the skills of last season’s heroes such as Nathan Brown, Jacob Walker, keeper Aaron Jones and skipper Paul Fleming to make an impact.

Bangor 1876 finished runners-up in Ardal North West last season before clinching a third successive promotion via the play-off final.

It will be interesting to see how striker Corrig McGonigle, who hit 56 goals in the last campaign, adapts to tier 2, while players such as Tomos Clarke, goalkeeper Carl Jones and winger Liam Morris, all outstanding for Ynys Môn in the recent Island Games, should hit the ground running.

Porthmadog may be a team to watch based on the quality signings they have made – Shaun Cavanagh, Morgan Owen, Ryan Williams and Danny Brookwell among them. All have stood out at Cymru North standard or higher.

Llandudno finished third last season, but it has been all change over the summer with the departure of almost the entire 2022-23 squad, as well as manager Sean Eardley.

New manager Jordan Hadaway is untried at this level, but has been busy building up a good-looking local squad who will give their all for the badge.

Tudno may need some settling in time, but once they start to gel as a team they might emerge as a dark horse.

Prestatyn Town surpassed the expectations of many last season by finishing sixth, and although they have lost the goals of Tom Hilditch, a few promising signings over the summer have created a positive aura about Chris Jones’ men.

For me, the top three will be: 1 Holywell Town, 2 Flint Town United and 3 Airbus UK Broughton but Denbigh or Bangor could finish up as major players and there are always one or two sides which unexpectedly cause a stir. Don’t dismiss mid-Wales pair Guilsfield or Caersws lightly either.

OPENING FIXTURES

FRIDAY, JULY 28

Chirk AAA v Buckley Town

Ruthin Town v Mold Alexandra

SATURDAY, JULY 29

Airbus UK Broughton v Guilsfield

Bangor 1876 v Llanidloes Town

Caersws v Llandudno

Flint Town United v Denbigh Town

Holywell Town v Porthmadog

Prestatyn Town v Gresford Athletic