Preview: A look ahead to the 2023-24 season in the North Wales Coast East League

Action in the tier 4 and 5 North Wales Coast East League gets underway this weekend – and what a season it promises to be!

So many good teams operating in both divisions make picking potential title winners difficult in the extreme.

PREMIER DIVISION

Abergele dominated tier 5 last season, adding the NWCFA Junior Cup to the Division One title and REM Jones Cup in landing a terrific treble.

The question is, how will Gele settle in tier 4?

They begin their Premier Division campaign with a tough home test against the experienced Meliden on Saturday.

Ambitious Abergele will play home matches at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, as a temporary measure as they continue their quest to find a pitch suitable to meet higher tier criteria.

Last season’s strike partnership of Jack Hoult and Frankie Hennigan will be vital to Gele’s hopes of making a big impact, but the tier 4 new boys have also achieved some exciting new signings.

Midfield general Finley Ellam joins from Meliden, where he was captain for two seasons, while striker Simon Roberts, formerly with Llannefydd, will add to the team’s attacking potential.

As for Meliden, they have a new manager in former Rhyl 1879 player Warren Adam, who has brought fresh enthusiasm and drive to the club.

Promising new captures include goal-scoring midfielder Tom Wickerson from Prestatyn Sports and goalkeeper Elijah Beattie, who has impressed with Kinmel Bay in recent times.

Mochdre Sports finished an outstanding third in the Premier last term and will be looking to launch 2023-24 on a positive note when they visit Bro Cernyw.

Sports have kept the majority of last season’s squad and an interesting new face is proven goalscorer Chris Smyth, whose ex-clubs include Llandudno Albion and Amateurs.

Kinmel Bay showed massive potential in 2022-23 and could really make their mark in the new campaign, which they begin with a home test against Llansannan.

Last season’s Premier Division top-scorer with 33 league goals, Connor Morris, remains on board and is joined by dynamic front man Dylan Ford and the return of Ben Cawley, a prolific marksman in Bay’s 2017-18 title-winning side.

Llandudno Junction progressed well last season and will present a stiff opening day test for newcomers NFA, who have brought in numerous big signings over the summer, including Antonio Jacovelli from Prestatyn Sports.

NFA are tipped to be among the leading teams in the Premier, but the Junction are also expected to fare well.

Penmaenmawr Phoenix look to have one of their strongest squads in years, not least boosted by the addition of former Wrexham, Wales Under-21, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno defender Mike Williams.

Last term’s leading marksman and Premier player of the season Ricky Jones also remains a key man.
Phoenix face Llandyrnog United first up at Cae Sling.

Rhuddlan Town have experienced major personnel changes over the summer, but under new coach Phil Peabody appear to be progressing nicely. They open their fixtures by welcoming Cerrigydrudion.

Without a game on the opening afternoon are Llanfairfechan Town, another team expected to kick on this season after an eye-catching 2022-23 under highly-rated young manager Glyn Bellfield.

DIVISION ONE

This tier 5 division might prove to be one of the most exciting to follow in the pyramid.

After a promising debut season, Prestatyn-based Bow FC could be even more of a major player this time around.

With ex-TNS and Bangor City midfielder Robbie Parry among the new signings, it says a lot about the ambition of the club.

Other fresh faces include Shane Middleman and the goal-king Ian Griffiths, both of whom were with the sadly no longer operating Prestatyn Sports senior side last season.

Bow’s opener is against Llysfaen, who struggled last term, but have now re-signed several players who starred for them in the 2019-20 season when they went so close to the Division One title.

Sean Sheridan, Jake Reynolds, Dan Batey, Lee Fallas and Sam Rogerson will be among the important figures for Emlyn Robert Jones’ men, who have already caused a Welsh Cup sensation by dumping Premier Division Llansannan out of the competition.

Glan Conwy have dropped down to tier 5, but are rebuilding under new managers Nathan Watson and David Pasko. They could prove dark horses with the likes of Cai Kearney and Sam Sinkinson joining.

First opponents for Glan at Cae Ffwt will be Rhyl All Stars, a team led by award-winning coach Rob Cunnah, who have been making a few waves in pre-season with some fine results.

New signings Josh Lally, Kyle Lally and Joe Smith will be well worth keeping an eye on.

Y Glannau were fantastic at times last season, reaching the first cup final in their history and producing some great attacking football which spawned 62 league and cup goals for the astonishing Harrison Bellis.

The young striker remains at the St Asaph club, who will be another team to ruffle more than a few feathers if they maintain pre-season form.

Y Glannau welcome Penrhyn Bay Dragons for their opener.

Henllan and the returning Betws-y-Coed clash this Saturday and both are likely to have their good moments and perhaps a few not so good this season – we will see.

Llandudno Amateurs and Rhos United have an open date on the first weekend, but with the quality in their ranks, both appear a sound bet for the top 4 or 5 places.

Caer Clwyd, also fixture-less on Saturday, are still finding their feet and will look for improvement in the months ahead.

Finally this Saturday, we have a potential stormer between new side Prestatyn Wanderers and the more established Rhyl Dragons.

Wanderers have as player-manager a certain Steven Taylor, former boss of the Dragons.

Despite his mature years, Taylor can still find the net handily and he would surely enjoy putting a couple past his former team on Saturday.

Wanderers have signed some good names, including the talented and energetic Tom Jones, who has not played a full season of Saturday football in some years, but is hungry and ready to make a dynamic comeback.

Promising young keeper Haydn Harris and the experienced defender Dale Lewis, highly respected on the coast, are two more top class additions.

OPENING FIXTURES – SATURDAY, AUGUST 12

PREMIER DIVISION
Abergele v Meliden
Bro Cernyw v Mochdre Sports
Kinmel Bay v Llansannan
Llandudno Junction v NFA
Penmaenmawr Phoenix v Llandyrnog United
Rhuddlan Town v Cerrigydrudion
Free date: Llanfairfechan Town.

DIVISION ONE
Bow FC v Llysfaen
Glan Conwy v Rhyl All Stars
Y Glannau v Penrhyn Bay Dragons
Henllan v Betws-y-Coed
Prestatyn Wanderers v Rhyl Dragons
Free date: CPD Caer Clwyd, Llandudno Amateurs, Rhos United