Predictions Panel – nine North Wales football figures choose their potential champions and danger teams for 2023-24
The 2023-24 North Wales senior football season is upon us.
We asked a panel of nine enthusiasts where they think the major prizes could end up going across tiers 2-5 this term.
For each league we asked:
Which team do you think will finish up champions?
Who will be the biggest challenger (s)?
First up, the panel give their verdicts on tiers 2 and 3. And tomorrow, it will be tiers 4 and 5 under scrutiny.
CYMRU NORTH
LEON FIELD (Kinmel Bay joint-manager)
Champions: Prestatyn Town
I believe this season manager Chris Jones has strengthened in every department and the addition of Mike Jones between the sticks and the energetic Kurtis Pearson, who can create a chance out of nothing, will ensure this will be the year they get the job done.
Dangers: Flint, Airbus, Holywell
The biggest dangers have to be Flint and Airbus, who will want to bounce back into the Cymru Premier. They both know what it takes to win the Cymru North and I expect them both to be pushing hard, plus Holywell Town if they can continue in the same rich vein of form they had last season. Johnny Haseldin’s men showed they can compete with the best teams out there, but will the summer departures slow the progress down ?
JONNY TAYLOR (CPD Y Rhyl 1879 player)
Champions: Airbus UK Broughton
Cymru North is a tough one for me to call. I’d say Flint Town United would be favourites but I’m going to call Airbus to win it.
Dangers: Flint Town United, Bangor 1876
I can see Flint taking second spot and Bangor 1876 being the surprise side and the danger to most.
ROBERT CUNNAH (Rhyl All Stars manager)
Champions: Flint Town United
I feel that Flint will bounce straight back up to the Cymru Premier as they’ve made some quality signings, while also keeping a good base of their squad from last season.
Dangers: Holywell Town
I feel Holywell will be a big danger this season after narrowly missing out on the title last season to champions Colwyn Bay.
I will be intrigued to see how both Denbigh Town and Bangor 1876 manage after their promotions from tier 3 last season.
GETHIN THOMAS (Bangor 1876 player)
Champions: Bangor 1876
Of course, I back ourselves Bangor 1876. We have a brilliant squad here and unbelievable support home and away. Can’t wait for the season personally and being back at Nantporth is brilliant.
Dangers: Flint Town United
Narrowly relegated last season and look to have kept a good squad. They’ll be wanting to bounce back with a wealth of Tier 1 & 2 experience.
RICHARD BA DAVIES (Bethesda Athletic fan and admin for North Wales football Facebook page)
Champions: Airbus UK Broughton
Airbus UK could win tier 2 depending on who they are signing. From what I’ve seen so far, I think they will win the league.
Dangers: Flint Town United
Fflint could be right up there challenging. A new club like Bangor 1876 will find it hard but expect them to be top half.
SION WILLIAMS (Prestatyn Sports player/management)
Champions: Bangor 1876
Wow what a real tough league – when you line them up everyone can beat everyone.
It has some real legitimate big, big teams, but I’m going for Bangor 1876 to win the league. They have the momentum, the players, the new ground and the fan base. What a story. They are destined for the Cymru Premier, if not this year, it won’t be long. Good luck to them.
Dangers: Denbigh Town, Holywell Town, Prestatyn Town
I respect all my local teams, Denbigh for all their exploits last season, Holywell for everything Johnny Haseldin has done since returning, Prestatyn Town are building something special again and really could go close.
CHRISTOPHER O’NEAL (NWCFA councillor)
Champions: Holywell Town
Did very well last season in a very strong league and unlucky that Colwyn Bay were so strong or they would have been champions by a mile.
Dangers: Bangor 1876
Biggest danger and a top four finish. They’re on a big run, some great additions to the squad.
PIJ MORRIS (CPD Mynydd Llandegai management)
Champions: Holywell Town
Very unlucky not to win the league last season. Went on that incredible run of 25 straight wins.
Dangers: Flint Town United
Got relegated last season, so should be up there challenging.
NIDIAN HUWS (CPD Llanberis player)
Champions: Holywell Town
Holywell pushed Colwyn Bay all the way last year and have signed experienced players in Gaz Evans and Shaun Pearson this year. Team to beat.
Dangers: Porthmadog, Bangor 1876
Porthmadog and 1876 will both be up there in my opinion. Porthmadog have signed well and Bangor signing the likes of Iolo Hughes at the back will make them a tough team to beat.
ARDAL NORTH EAST
NIDIAN HUWS (CPD Llanberis)
Champions: Cefn Albion
Danger: Llanuwchllyn and Bow Street
PIJ MORRIS (CPD Mynydd Llandegai)
Champions: Bow Street
Dangers: Cefn Albion
CHRISTOPHER O’NEAL (NWCFA councillor)
Champions: Bow Street
A respectable finish last season, could go all the way this time.
Dangers: Cefn Albion
Don’t think the Albion have got it in them to finish a job, but who knows will I eat my words?
SION WILLIAMS (Prestatyn Sports)
Champions: Cefn Albion
Another strong league and a very hard choice, but the one that stands out and my winner is Cefn Albion, a team I have a lot of respect for the way they have come through the leagues. The football they play is so tough and strong, but there are so many good teams at tier 3 I could be totally wrong haha
Dangers: Penrhyncoch
Penrhyncoch is a big name coming down. They will have to be watched.
RICHARD BA DAVIES (Bethesda Athletic fan and admin for North Wales football Facebook page)
Champions: Bow Street
Don’t know much about this league really, but I recognize some clubs. I think depending on who they get in their ranks I’m going for Bow Street, who beat 1876 in the Welsh Cup and lost on penalties against Bethesda Athletic in the FAW Trophy.
GETHIN THOMAS (Bangor 1876)
Champions: Cefn Albion
Played against Cefn Albion in the promotion play-off final last season with Bangor 1876. They proved they were a good team then and I think they will do well again.
Dangers: Bow Street
Played against them in the FAW Welsh Cup last season and they went on a good run. They also finished 3rd in the table last season.
ROBERT CUNNAH (Rhyl All Stars manager)
Champions: Cefn Albion
After missing out in the play-offs by the smallest of margins last season, I think they will be back to get the job done this season. They are also under new management and have made some quality signings.
Dangers: Bow Street
Having only missed out on a play-off by a small distance last season behind Cefn Albion, i feel they will be pushing up the top end of the table again this season.
JONNY TAYLOR (Rhyl 1879)
Champions: Cefn Albion
I don’t know much about the Ardal North East tbh, but my old team-mate Neil Ashton taking over at Cefn is huge. They’ve a great set of lads up there and have always been a tough side to face, I think they will win it comfortably.
Dangers: Llanrhaeadr YM, Bow Street
I think Llanrhaeadr will finish second and Bow Street will be a danger.
LEON FIELD (Kinmel Bay)
Champions: Cefn Albion
After finishing runners-up last season I honestly believe they will go that one step further and win the league. Neil Ashton is a good manager who will get the best out of his lads.
Dangers: Bow Street, Llanuwchllyn
Both teams improve every season and for me they will be the biggest challengers to Cefn Albion.
ARDAL NORTH WEST
LEON FIELD (Kinmel Bay)
Champions: Holyhead Hotspur
Knowing Daz Garmey, he’s a quality coach who has signed really well. It’s also a tough ground to go to at Holyhead and I think the lads he’s brought in will do the job and he will get them promoted again into tier 2
Dangers: Flint Mountain, CPD Y Rhyl 1879
Flint have strengthened really well due to being backed well so they will always be strong and Rhyl are always a quality outfit that can cause anyone problems. The signings made by Pez (Gareth Thomas) this season have been good, the addition of Sam Thomas in goal will strengthen them massively.
JONNY TAYLOR (Rhyl 1879)
Champions: CPD Y Rhyl 1879
Obviously I’m playing in the Ardal North West with Rhyl, I know what we’ve got in our changing rooms and I fully believe we’re the team to beat. Rhyl to win it.
Dangers: Flint Mountain, Conwy Borough
Flint Mountain biggest danger for me, but Conwy United, just relegated from tier 2, will be a danger.
ROBERT CUNNAH (Rhyl All Stars manager)
Champions: Flint Mountain
Flint looked excellent last season, they were the only ones to compete with Denbigh, Rhyl and Bangor. I feel it’s theirs for the taking this season, and they have looked very strong in pre-season.
Dangers: Llanrwst United, CPD Y Rhyl 1879
Llanrwst have made some real quality signings. It’ll be interesting to see if they can push up the table this season and be a danger.
Also fantastic last season, Rhyl just faltered at the end against both Denbigh and Bangor, but I expect the Lilywhites to push for promotion again.
GETHIN THOMAS (Bangor 1876)
Champions: Holyhead Hotspur or CPD Y Rhyl 1879
This looks a massively competitive league which is brilliant with 5-6 teams who will be more than capable of taking the title. Holyhead look to have a good squad and will want to bounce back along with Rhyl 1879, who also look to have a strong set of players.
Dangers: Llangefni Town, Bethesda Athletic
Llangefni have signed a few players and will want to better their league position from last year. Bethesda can’t be discounted and I think they’ll be a bit of a dark horse being the newly promoted team. They have a good young squad.
RICHARD BA DAVIES (Bethesda Athletic fan and admin for North Wales football Facebook page)
Champions: CPD Y Rhyl 1879
My club Bethesda Athletic are in tier 3, but I reckon this one is going to be between Rhyl 1879 and Flint Mountain.
I’m going for Rhyl 1879 to win the league, think Bethesda will be in mid-table and Flint Mountain runners up and go into the play-off.
SION WILLIAMS (Prestatyn Sports player/management)
Champions: CPD Y Rhyl 1879
More my area and this is some league, wow seriously what a league.
Can I pick a serious all out winner? Probably not.
So many good sides I’ve managed against, Gareth Thomas’ Rhyl , Matty Roberts’ St Asaph, Gwyndaf Pritchard’s Llannefydd…
My choice is Rhyl – just.
Dangers: Flint Mountain
I’ve just watched Flint Mountain recently and I believe they won’t be far behind. They’re a class outfit if not potential champions.
CHRISTOPHER O’NEAL (NWCFA councillor)
Champions: CPD Y Rhyl 1879
Rhyl have got to be my hot favourites if Gareth Thomas can keep 11 men on the pitch each game.
Dangers: Holyhead Hotspur
I think Holyhead will take points at home but not as many as they like on away days. My former club Bethesda will be middle table and I’m sure Mark (Hughes) will be happy with that.
PIJ MORRIS (CPD Mynydd Llandegai management)
Champions: Flint Mountain
Did well last season and have made some quality signings this summer.
Dangers: Rhyl 1879
Challenged Denbigh Town and Bangor 1876 for top two last season, have added some good players over the summer and should go close again.
NIDIAN HUWS (CPD Llanberis)
Champions: Flint Mountain
Mike Hayes leading the line will guarantee goals.
Dangers: Holyhead Hotspur, Rhyl 1879, Llangefni Town and Nantlle Vale
Holyhead, Rhyl, Llangefni and Nantlle Vale will be up there in my opinion. Holyhead will want to bounce back straight away. Vale had a good season last year and will look to build on it. Llangefni have also signed well, bringing in some young talent like Osian Tomlinson.