Predictions Panel 2 – nine North Wales football experts choose teams to watch in tiers 3, 4 and 5 this season

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 challengers?

After previously giving their verdicts on tiers 2 and 3, today sees tiers 4 and 5 come under scrutiny.

NORTH WALES COAST LEAGUE EAST

LEON FIELD (Kinmel Bay joint-manager)

Premier Division: Champions – NFA; Biggest challengers – Llandudno Junction, Meliden, Mochdre Sports, Penmaenmawr.

NFA manager Niall McGuinness has really recruited well with top players who have played Welsh Premier, tiers 2 and 3, so his skill set and balance will be tough to break down
Mochdre are a hard-working, difficult team to penetrate, while Pen are always a strong outfit and with the signing of Mike Williams, who for me is a massive leader, will organise well and be difficult to beat.
Llandudno Junction are another side who are consistently improving every season and the same with Meliden, who have signed a lot of players so the strength in depth is there for all to see,

Division One: Champions – Bow FC; Biggest challengers – Glan Conwy, Llandudno Amateurs, Llysfaen, Rhos United, CPD Y Glannau

The players Bow have brought in are unreal – ex-tier 1, tier 2. They will walk the league in my opinion.
For runners-up it’s going to be a tight affair with any of the five teams mentioned challenging. They all have an abundance of talent and it’s defo going to the wire for that spot.

JONNY TAYLOR (CPD Y Rhyl 1879 player)

Premier Division: Champions – NFA; Biggest challengers – Abergele (2nd) and Meliden.

ROBERT CUNNAH (Rhyl All Stars manager)

Premier Division: Champions – NFA; Biggest challengers – Meliden, Penmaenmawr Phoenix

NFA have made some pretty impressive signings and taken full advantage of Prestatyn Sports folding, while also signing some of Rhuddlan Town’s best players from last season.
They’ve added to the quality they already have in the team, so I fully expect them to go on and win the league.
Meliden are under new management and have made a huge bundle of quality new signings. They could be one to watch going into this season.
Pen Phoenix are a tough side every season and are always a difficult fixture. I expect them to be putting pressure on the top again this season.

Division One: Champions – Bow FC; Biggest challengers – Rhos United, Llysfaen, Llandudno Amateurs

Bow have managed to get players to drop down several leagues to play for them somehow, and have strengthened their squad massively, I’d be very shocked to see anyone get close to them.
Rhos United are under new management and the squad has looked very strong in pre-season. They have a very organised style of play and are a tough side to break down.
Llysfaen have re-signed a lot of their players from 2019/20 that nearly won them the league. After a tough season last year I expect they will do well this year and their players appear very confident.
Llandudno Amateurs were fantastic last season, and like other teams are under new management. I expect them to be pushing for promotion.

GETHIN THOMAS (Bangor 1876 player)

Premier Division: Champions – Penmaenmawr Phoenix; biggest challengers – Abergele

Penmaenmawr were very consistent last season and have made a few good signings this summer.
Abergele only lost one league game last season and will want to have a strong campaign being the new additions after being promoted.

Division One: Champions – Llandudno Amateurs; Biggest challengers – Bow FC

Amateurs scored 116 goals last season and finished a good 3rd. Will be good to see them go for it again this season.
Bow were a close 4th last season and after making some big signings can challenge Llandudno.

RICHARD BA DAVIES (Bethesda Athletic fan and admin for North Wales football Facebook page)

Premier Division: Champions – Abergele; biggest challengers – Penmaenmawr Phoenix, Llanfairfechan Town, Llandudno Junction.

I think Abergele will win this one. Llandudno Junction could have a good season and don’t write off Penmaenmawr with the experience of Mike Lundstram and Michael Williams in their ranks.

Division One: Champions – Rhyl Dragons; biggest challengers – Llysfaen, Rhyl All Stars

You’ve got good teams like Rhyl Dragons, Rhyl All Stars and Llysfaen in this division, making it hard to predict. There’s also Betws-y-Coed coming back after pulling out last season. I’m going for Rhyl Dragons.

SION WILLIAMS (Prestatyn Sports player/management)

Premier Division: champions – NFA or Penmaenmawr Phoenix; biggest challengers – Abergele, Mochdre Sports, Llandudno Junction, Kinmel Bay

Home turf … Another very strong league, such a tough call. I think this league will go down to the wire this season.
The 2 new teams Abergele and NFA will 100% be right up in the mix.
Mochdre and Junction will be strong again, Kinmel Bay have made some great signings also, making this such an exciting league.
But I’m going Pen Phoenix v NFA for the title, be some scrap this – who’s got the minerals lads?
NFA have made some of the best signings of this window in Antonio Jacovelli, James Stead, Josh Parry, Matty Rees, but so have Pen with the Albion lads going there.
Seriously, two games NFA v Pen I’m going to watch this season – should be grassroots at its very best.

Division One: champions – Bow FC

Only one winner in this – Bow FC. Too strong for everyone. The signings they have made are class – 5 Prestatyn Sports lads and 3 other big signings.
They are beating tier 4 sides in pre-season at a canter. I really can’t see anything else, it’s inevitable in my opinion.
If this team doesn’t win the treble I’ll eat my hat. And I hope for the Sports lads they win that Junior Cup as it’s something they have never won and would complete the set of local trophies for them.

CHRISTOPHER O’NEAL (NWCFA councillor)

Premier Division: champions – Penmaenmawr Phoenix; biggest challengers – Llandudno Junction

My surprise choice is Penmaenmawr Phoenix. Going out and signing Mike Williams is a real statement of intent.
I expect Llandudno Junction to do well, they can be a bogey side for a lot of teams.

Division One: champions – Llandudno Amateurs; biggest challengers – Bow FC

Hard pick this one, but I’m thinking Llandudno Amateurs will feature prominently.
Bow have signed some big players and once they settle in, I think they’ll be up there.

PIJ MORRIS (CPD Mynydd Llandegai management)

Premier Division: champions – Penmaenmawr Phoenix; biggest challengers – Mochdre Sports

I’ve got a feeling Penmaenmawr will be strong this season
Nic Bould (ex-Llandegai keeper now with Sports) has told me Mochdre will be challenging so I’ll have to take his word for it.

Division One: champions – Bow FC; biggest challengers – Llandudno Amateurs

Bow have made some good signings. I was impressed when we played Llandudno Amateurs a few weeks back, strong team.

NIDIAN HUWS (CPD Llanberis player)

Premier Division: champions – Mochdre Sports; biggest challengers – Penmaenmawr and Abergele

Mochdre Sports were solid last season, play some good football and are very organised. I played against them last season in the cup and think they will be up there again.
Penmaenmawr have experience throughout the team and are always up there. Abergele will be tough to beat at home.

Division One: champions – Llandudno Amateurs; biggest challengers – Bow FC and Glan Conwy.

NORTH WALES COAST LEAGUE WEST

NIDIAN HUWS (CPD Llanberis player)

Premier Division: champions – Menai Bridge Tigers’ biggest challengers – Trearddur Bay, Gwalchmai

Division One: champions – Bontnewydd; biggest challengers – Llanfairpwll and Llanystumdwy

Bontnewydd were good last season and have kept the same squad. Fully expecting them to be crowned champions
Llanfairpwll and Llanystumdwy also both did well last year and I expect them to be up there again.

PIJ MORRIS (CPD Mynydd Llandegai management)

Premier Division: champions – Trearddur Bay; biggest challengers – Menai Bridge Tigers

Trearddur Bay will be the team to beat with the signings they have made. I’m sure there will be more signings as the season goes on.

Menai Bridge can push Trearddur all the way.

Division One: champions – CPD Boded; biggest challengers – Llanfairpwll

Boded have retained a few players that played under Ricky (Williams). Will be the team to beat.
Of the rest, I think Llanfairpwll can have a decent season.

CHRISTOPHER O’NEAL (NWCFA councillor)

Premier Division: champions – Trearddur Bay; nearest challengers – Menai Bridge Tigers, Glantraeth

What I should be saying is, with the signings they’ve made, Trearddur Bay (for the title).
However, I’m conscious them signings may not bed in as quick as they want to. Some of them are signing from some higher leagues down. Whether they can get back to the hardcore normality of grassroots football quickly enough is a question.
But if Trearddur Bay get it right in the first couple of weeks, they should go on to win the league..
Menai Bridge I’m sure will feature and will be top four at least and my bogey team who I think will take points off a lot of teams along the way will be Glantraeth.

Division One: champions – CPD Boded; nearest challengers – Holyhead Town

The strong pick will be the resurrection of Boded, who will want to come back and make a name for themselves straight away.
I think Holyhead Town will take quite a few points off teams, but this is a hard league to call and I think it will go to the wire.

SION WILLIAMS (Prestatyn Sports player/management)

Premier Division: champions – Trearddur Bay

Not my best league knowledge-wise, but I have to say it’s a strong league on names alone. I’ve been to all the grounds and been beaten badly over my 20 years in football.
To pick one I’d have to say Trearddur Bay. With players like Asa (Thomas) and led by Mel (McGinness) they on paper should be champions.
Great to see Bay back after so long as they were THE team everyone wanted to avoid in the Intermediate Cup back when I played.
It would be so interesting to see them against the best from the east in the Intermediate this year – Trearddur Bay v NFA, Pen, Abergele or Mochdre is a game I’d go to watch.

Division One: champions – CPD Boded

A league I will follow closely this season for selfish reasons as we have great friends coming back into it.
Blaenau have moved over from the east. They have such a big support who knows, it could be their time to build again. Holyhead Town are such a big name in that league, but if I’m picking a winner it’s our mates at CPD Boded.
They aren’t Athletic anymore, but with Ricky (Williams) as chairman and the structure they have put in place with great managers who know the club and the players they are signing, some were old Athletic legends, they will, in my humble opinion, be up there as champions.

RICHARD BA DAVIES (Bethesda Athletic fan and admin for North Wales football Facebook page)

Premier Division: champions – Cemaes Bay; biggest challengers – Trearddur Bay, Talysarn Celts, Llanberis

This is where Bethesda Athletic and CPD Pwllheli were last season, but both have been promoted, so I think the Premier Division title this season will be between Cemaes Bay and Trearddur Bay.
Both are coming up from tier 5, but I think both are strong enough to be tier 4 champions.
However, don’t write off Talysarn Celts. They have a great side and of course they are developing their ground up to tier 3 standard.
The problem is the pitch due to the weather, but that won’t be a problem this season and they are sorting out the drainage.
Nefyn United are a decent side, I think they can finish top-half, along with Menai Bridge Tigers.
Llanberis is another club to watch, but their problem is with their facilities they can’t go up, so I’m going for Cemaes Bay to win this division.

Division One: champions – FC Boded; biggest challengers – Blaenau Amateurs, Llanystumdwy.

We’ve got new sides FC Boded and Blaenau Amateurs in this league. No disrespect to sides here, but there are not many to choose from when picking a possible champion.
Don’t write off Llanystumdwy, they’ve got a decent side with Sion Parry back again, but I’m going for FC Boded for the title, with maybe Blaenau second as they’ve got a point to prove after struggling for a while.
I think Bethesda Rovers might do well after the signings they’ve made, mid-table finish at least.

GETHIN THOMAS (Bangor 1876 player)

Premier Division: champions – Trearddur Bay; biggest challengers – Llanrug United

Trearddur Bay were unbeaten as Division One champions last season and will want to continue to progress. Got a good squad there along with new signings which will surely make them one of the favourites.
Being from Llanrug myself, I watch them when I can and I think they are going unnoticed. They have made a few good signings for the new season. They went 11 games unbeaten last season and think they can finish higher in the league this time around.

Division One: champions – FC Boded; biggest challengers – Bontnewydd

It was very unfortunate to see the previous Bodedern Athletic fold, but the new CPD Boded look to have a sign a few of their previous players where they had a good side.
Bontnewydd are another team local to me who have a good young squad that went 7 games unbeaten towards the end of the season and finished an impressive third. Played for them for a season at U16 level so would like to see them have a good season.

ROBERT CUNNAH (Rhyl All Stars manager)

Premier Division: champions – Llanberis; biggest challengers – Trearddur Bay

Llanberis were excellent last season, and only finished a few points off pushing for promotion. I expect them to push on and win it this time round.
Trearddur Bay were incredible in tier 5 last season, didn’t lose a single game in the league, winning all but two games, scoring 141 goals. Their 75-goal forward of last season Asa Thomas will be dangerous.

Division One: champions – Bontnewydd; biggest challengers – CPD Boded

Bontnewydd were impressive last season, not far behind runners-up Cemaes Bay. If they can continue that form from last season, I think they can win it.
CPD Boded are a phoenix club formed after their village side folded from tier 3 last season. I expect them to be a danger as they try to bounce straight back.

JONNY TAYLOR (CPD Y Rhyl 1879 player)

Premier Division: champions – Trearddur Bay; biggest challengers – Llanrug United, Menai Bridge Tigers

Division One: champions – Blaenau Ffestiniog; biggest challengers – Llanfairpwll, Llangoed.

LEON FIELD (Kinmel Bay joint-manager)

Premier Division: champions: Trearddur Bay; Biggest challengers – Penrhyndeudraeth, Llannerchymedd

Trearddur Bay are always a tough, no-nonsense side that on their day can beat anyone.
It’s also a very tough place to go, I feel that with the set-up they have there this season they will be the one for whom it all comes to fruition. Asa Thomas leading that line will win them the league.
Both Penrhyndeudraeth and Llannerchymedd have signed well and both have goalscorers that will make the difference this season.

Division One: champions – CPD Boded; biggest challengers – Llanfairpwll

I believe the rebuild and the set-up they have in these lower leagues, Boded deserve to be promoted and this year I know that Ricky Williams and co will get them there
If Boded were not in this league my money would have been on Llanfairpwll to win it. Unfortunately I just see them falling short this season, but it will be tight.

NORTH EAST WALES FOOTBALL LEAGUE

LEON FIELD (Kinmel Bay joint-manager)

Premier Division: champions – CPD Caerwys; biggest challengers – FC Queen’s Park, Connah’s Quay Town.

Caerwys have strengthened well, a lot of lads who have played higher standard have come in. It’s a small home pitch which will cause a lot of teams problems
FC Queen’s Park and Connah’s Quay Town are up and coming and have good squads available to continue on last season’s 1st & 2nd place finishes

Championship: champions – CPD Gronant; biggest challengers – Sychdyn

Gronant’s Sandy Malone is a very good manager who gets the best out of his lads. The signings he’s made for this season will only strengthen my prediction come the end of the campaign.
It’s a tight league this one, but I feel Sychdyn will do well on their return and push Gronant all the way

JONNY TAYLOR (CPD Y Rhyl 1879 player)

Premier Division: champions – Rhostyllen; biggest challengers – Ruabon Rovers, Greenfield

Championship: champions – Acton; biggest challengers – Rhydymwyn, Plas Madoc

ROBERT CUNNAH (Rhyl All Stars manager)

Premier Division: champions – FC Queen’s Park; biggest challengers – Greenfield

Queen’s Park won the league last season and they did so fairly comfortably, so I expect them to do the same again this time.
Greenfield were champions two seasons ago, did not do as well last season, but I think they could be more dangerous this time and put pressure on the top end of the table.

Championship: champions – CPD Gronant; biggest challengers – Rhydymwyn

Gronant have got a good set up and performed well last season, scoring 99 goals in 20 games. They’ve made a feel-good additions to the squad.
After a tough year last year with having to resign from tier 3, I expect Rhydymwyn to put what went wrong last season, right this time.

GETHIN THOMAS (Bangor 1876 player)

Premier Division: champions – FC Queen’s Park; biggest challengers – Penyffordd Lions

FC Queen’s Park looked to have won the league last season quite comfortably with only 2 losses. They will want to match that this season.
Penyffordd Lions went on a very good run towards the second half of last season and will aim to build on that. Caerwys were unbeaten and promoted last season so will be out to make an impact at a level higher.

Championship: champions – CPD Gronant; biggest challengers – Acton

Gronant finished third in 2022-23 and look to have a good chance of the title, especially as the top two from last season have been promoted.
Acton had an overall good record last season and will want to push for a higher finish.

RICHARD BA DAVIES (Bethesda Athletic fan and admin for North Wales football Facebook page)

Premier Division: champions – Rhostyllen; biggest dangers – Greenfield

Greenfield used to be in the Welsh Alliance League, Rhostyllen were in tier 3 last season, I think both will be up there.
I back Rhostyllen to win this division and expect Greenfield to be close.

Championship: champions – Acton; biggest challengers – Plas Madoc

Judging by the amount of goals on the first night of the season I think there might be a few heavy beatings given out over the next few months.
I think Acton will win the division and Skippy FC will struggle big time.

SION WILLIAMS (Prestatyn Sports player/management)

Premier Division: champions – FC Queen’s Park; biggest dangers – Ruabon Rovers, Greenfield

Has to be Queen’s Park for the title again – the Wrexham boys have been so strong for years.
We (Prestatyn Sports) played them 2 years ago in the Welsh Cup. The support they bring is amazing, and every year they put out teams that are class.
Ruabon are a great outfit too, and not forgetting Greenfield, a lot of good lads there. Both I think will push hard.

Championship: champions – CPD Gronant; biggest challengers – Rhydymwyn, Aston Park Rangers, Sychdyn

I really like this league. Looks so equal I can see so many upsets week in, week out. I’ll be following it closely.
Rhyd coming back after a year out is so interesting as it’s what we want to do. APR were always a big team when I played and had an okay season last year. Sychdyn as a late arrival back into the league; such a tough place to go when I played.
My winner is Gronant though, cup winners last year, a great club with strong ties into the youth set up that’s coming good. Sandy and Dyl and Wayne doing great things up there right now and I think they will go one better and win the league this season.

CHRISTOPHER O’NEAL (NWCFA councillor)

Premier Division: champions – Corwen or FC Queen’s Park

Don’t know enough about the league but if Corwen and FC Queen’s Park don’t feature then I’m sure they will cause some upsets on the way

Championship: champions – Rhydymwyn

As above not overly familiar with the league but I’ll go for the club that always seemed a drama for me as manager – Rhydymwyn.

PIJ MORRIS (CPD Mynydd Llandegai management)

No selections as unfamiliar with the league (no problem Pij, thanks for what you did)

NIDIAN HUWS (CPD Llanberis player)

Premier Division: champions – Connah’s Quay Town; biggest challengers – Greenfield

Connah’s Quay Town ran the leaders close last year and can go one better this time.
Greenfield is always a tough place to go from my experience. They will pick up points at home.

Championship: champions – Rhydymwyn

Rhydymwyn have been busy in the transfer market and expecting them to be up there