Dave’s Dynamic Dozen 2023-24 – 12 players to watch this season in North Wales football

For the third season running Grassroots North Wales is running a Dave’s Dynamic Dozen feature, where we choose 12 players from different areas and varying league stands and assess their progress over the campaign.

We will provide updates on a regular basis about each player’s form in 2023-24.

Callum Queen (Holyhead Town)
Born 18.6.2006

Central midfielder, aged 17. A workhorse who never stops running.
Callum is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and excels from set pieces.
He scored from a couple of free kicks in pre-season and his smart-thinking in testing the opposition keeper straight from the second half kick-off in last Saturday’s 2-0 Welsh Cup win against Bethesda Rovers led to the Harbourmen’s opening goal.
Callum emerged through the acclaimed Holyhead Hotspur youth system and formerly played at Caernarfon Town’s Academy.

Tomos Clarke (Bangor 1876)
Born 1.8.1996

No surprise at all that this man was named in the Ardal North West Team of the Season for 2022-23.
Tall, commanding centre half who was outstanding as Bangor 1876 clinched promotion to the Cymru North at the first attempt.
Ideal type of player to succeed in tier 2, where he has previous experience.
Arrived at 1876 in summer 2021 from Conwy Borough.
Came through youth system at Oldham Athletic, where he was called up for the Wales Under-17 team. Has also played for Colwyn Bay, Porthmadog, Glantraeth and Holyhead Hotspur.

Tom Weir (Denbigh Town)
Born 21.2.2001

Amazing talent from whom the best is surely yet to come.
Made a surprising move to tier 5 with Bow FC last season. On his recent tier 2 debut for Denbigh Town at Flint, he scored in a 2-1 defeat.
Began his career with Connah’s Quay Nomads before gaining Welsh Premier League experience with Flint Town United. Has also played for Conwy Borough, Rhyl and Gresford Athletic.

Antonio Jacovelli (NFA)
Born 15.7.1993

Could turn out to be one of the signings of the season.
Antonio spent the last two seasons with the now disbanded Prestatyn Sports, netting 16 goals in 2022-23 and 11 the campaign before.
A skillful, quick-footed wide player, who should be as effective in tier 4 with NFA as he was for Sports.
Man of the match on his NFA debut, a 6-0 Welsh Cup caning of Penrhyn Bay.

Sam Gregson (Holyhead Hotspur)
Born 29.8.2003

One of the stars of Ynys Môn’s Island Games heroics in Guernsey, Sam scored a stunner in the final, where Anglesey lost 5-2 to Jersey.
The attacking midfielder, still just 19, netted four goals in all during the tournament and will surely hit the ground running with new club Hotspur.
Sam was part of the phenomenal Bodedern Athletic tier 4 title-winning side of 2021-22.
Went to the USA to play for Onondaga University in New York State.before returning home earlier this year and signing for his first club Llangoed.

Calyn Spencer (Flint Mountain)
Born 9.2.2000

Dazzling attacking player, quick and lethal in and around the opposition penalty box.
Formerly with Runcorn Town, Penycae and Blacon Youth, Calyn stood out for Ardal North West debutants Flint Mountain last season.
Aden Shannon aims to guide Mountain towards a title push this season, and lads like Calyn will surely be a huge part of his plans.

Adam Hold (CPD Y Rhyl 1879)
Born 24.2.1999

After a number of seasons representing Llandudno Albion, the folding of that club at the end of 2022-23 led to an exciting move to Rhyl for winger Hold.
A versatile player with a great delivery into the box, Adam also scores goals himself – he notched 42 in his time with Albion.
Rhyl fans should take an instant liking to him as he is a player who stands out on the ball and always looks to be positive.

Morgan Jones (Pwllheli)
Born 21.12.1999

Brilliant shot-stopper who made a surprise move from tier 2 Porthmadog to third-tier newcomers Pwllheli in pre-season.
Morgan had previously played at both aforementioned clubs, also performing well in spells with Blaenau Amateurs and Penrhyndeudraeth.

Osian Jones (Llangefni Town)
Born 17.1.2000

Good signing for Ardal North West side Llangefni Town.
Highly-rated 23 year old who returns to Cefni after four very productive years with Mynydd Llandegai.
A Welsh Colleges international, Osian began his senior career with Glantraeth before switching to Llangefni, then was at Llandudno in 2018-19 prior to signing for Llandegai, where he really began to make his mark.
In three seasons at the Penrhiw club, he notched 50 goals, including 23 last term.
Osian’s progression continued when he represented Ynys Môn at the 2023 Island Games in Guernsey where Anglesey won a silver medal at football.

Kallum Pierce (CPD Gronant)
Born 3.1.1994

Goals is what this player is all about – expect plenty from him for tier 5 side Gronant this season.
Pierce, 29, has been on the mark in each of his first two games. On his debut in the North East Wales Championship Division, he netted in a 9-3 drubbing of Holywell United and provided four assists.
Kallum scored 38 times last term – 36 for main club Aston Park Rangers and two in a short spell at Hawarden Rangers.
It is that quality of return which prompted Gronant chief Sandy Malone to chase Pierce’s signature.

Chris Smyth (Mochdre Sports)
Born 9.10.1990

Strong, powerful front man who has made a big impact with a number of clubs in his career.
It is significant that a thriving club like Mochdre, who finished third in the tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division last season, have signed him.
Chris has had some very productive seasons with the likes of Llandudno United, Llandudno Albion and Llanfairfechan Town, before becoming a very successful personal trainer and MMA fighter after taking a break from football.
In more recent times, he was a standout performer in a Llandudno Amateurs shirt, where he netted 15 times last season.
Scored on an impressive debut for Mochdre in a 3-2 Welsh Cup victory against Llanfairfechan on July 29.

Luis Hughes (Cefn Albion)
Born 9.7.2005

Played 20 matches last season for a Ruabon Rovers side which won the tier 5 North East Wales League Championship Division title.
Formerly with Penycae, Luis is a highly promising central defender and now he has a big chance to make an impression at tier 3 club Cefn Albion.