How would you define a Club of the Year?
Well, the clue must be in the title. If you are using the term ‘year’ then your choice has to be based on how a club has performed over 12 months. Or a calendar year.
If you’re decision is made on the form book between January and May of any particular year, then you’d be choosing a ‘club of the season.’
However, if a team has a great end of season up to May packed with trophies, but then the following campaign they falter badly, then they surely cannot be a contender for overall ‘club of the year’, although of course they will still be worthy of praise.
So that brings us to the Grassroots North Wales Clubs of the Year for 2023.
Our top seven have been chosen on their achievements over the year as a whole.
Others mentioned may have had a good season, but not an exceptional year.
Here are our choices, like anything else it is about opinions.
Denbigh kicked off 2023 in magical style – 19 straight wins – and ended it with the Vale of Clwyd derby bragging rights after beating Ruthin Town 2-1 thanks to a stoppage time decider from skipper Paul Fleming.
In between, Dewi Llion’s side were crowned Ardal North West champions, lifted the League Cup and were national FAW Amateur Trophy runners-up.
Since promotion to the Tier 2 Cymru North, Town have been exceptional at times and currently sit fourth in the table.
Games win rate in 2023: 78.3%.
Saints actually started off the year with back-to-back league defeats but then went on a 15-match winning run which led to a tremendous treble.
Asaph lifted the Tier 4 North Wales Coast East Premier Division title by a 17-point gap, scooped the NWCFA Intermediate Cup, defeating Menai Bridge 4-0 in the final and celebrated a 5-0 success over Prestatyn Sports to land the Cookson Cup.
Since their promotion back to Tier 3 Ardal North West, Saints have performed superbly, currently lying third in the table.
And in the summer they set a record for the biggest Welsh Cup victory by a North Wales team after whipping Rhyl Dragons 18-0.
Win rate in 2023: 73.80%
During this year the Wellmen set a joint all-time record 25 successive wins in the Tier 2 Cymru North (13 of the victories were achieved in 2023).
In May, Johnny Haseldin’s side added to their impressive silverware cabinet by winning the NEWFA Challenge Cup.
This year also saw Town make it to the Welsh Cup quarter-finals.
The current season is also going well for the Flintshire side as they sit third in the Cymru North table, still well in title contention. They are unbeaten away in the league all through the current calendar year – 15 matches which include 13 wins.
Win rate in 2023: 78.38%
Since forming at the start of 2022-23, Trearddur Bay have never lost a league game – 34 matches, 32 wins and two draws.
The Anglesey club’s overall record in 2023 is phenomenal, just two losses in 35 matches, those coming against Tier 3 teams Cefn Albion and CPD Y Felinheli in the FAW Amateur Trophy and Welsh Cup respectively.
During the year, Bay were crowned undefeated Tier 5 North Wales Coast West Division One champions with 24 wins, two draws and 141 goals scored. And they scooped the Division One Cup to complete a double.
Since rising to the Premier Division they have enjoyed a 100% record of eight straight wins.
Match win rate in 2023: 91.4%
This is the one exception where a team gets picked for the top seven based on their record in the first half of the year.
No-one could begrudge Queen’s Park such status though – consider what they did.
They began 2023 with 21 wins in 22 games, their only defeat away to Tier 2 Ruthin Town in the NEWFA Challenge Cup.
Queen’s Park ended the season with FIVE trophies as a club. The first team landed the Tier 4 North East Wales Premier Division title, as well as the Horace Wynne Cup and Mike Beech Memorial Trophy under Dave Evans.
The Park Reserves won their league title and cup as well.
This season, the Park’s first team are finding life more of a struggle defending their Premier crown, but the reserves are second in their division.
Newcomers to the scene who have never stopped impressing.
They secured promotion at the first attempt from the North Wates Coast East League Division One in May, losing just twice in 22 games over the season.
This season they have settled very well in the Tier 4 Premier, winning six out of six and looking well capable of a title challenge in 2024 with all the games in hand they have on teams above.
Win rate in 2023: 86.2%
Ambitious club very much on the up.
Finished third in the 2022-23 North East Wales League Championship table and also in April raised The Two Counties Cup, beating league champions Ruabon Rovers 1-0 in the final at Rhydymwyn.
This season Gronant are absolutely flying, 11 straight wins putting them second in the table, just two points behind leaders Acton with five games in hand.
A team to watch for sure in 2024.
Win rate in 2023: 76.3 %
Crowned Tier 2 Cymru North champions in April, Steve Evans’ men holding off the challenge of a brilliant Holywell side.
Promoted to the Cymru Premier for the first time, but have found things tough so far, lying third bottom at present. However, the Seagulls have reached the Welsh Cup quarter-finals.
Have performed marvels to reach the Welsh Cup quarter-finals as a Tier 3 side.
Finished an impressive fourth in Ardal North West last season, while this term they sit 10th but are just six points off second spot and have games in hand on all teams above.
Won their first league title in 14 years in April when they were crowned North Wales Coast West Premier Division champions at the first attempt.
Have found the going much harder since their promotion to the Tier 3 Ardal North West.
In just their second season in the North East Wales League, they claimed the Championship Division title on goal difference in May.
Rovers were also runners-up in the NEWFA Horace Wynne Cup and Two Counties Cup finals, while strikers Andrew Swarbrick and Conner Kendrick amassed 107 goals between them in 2022-23.
Since going up to the Tier 4 Premier Division, Ruabon have struggled for the most part, currently occupying next-to-bottom spot.
Had a marvellous first half of 2023, landing the Tier 5 North Wales Coast East Division One title, as well as adding the NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup and REM Jones Cup to their collection.
It has been the complete opposite since Gele joined the Tier 4 Premier. They are presently three places off the basement, although difficulties in finding a permanent home ground has not helped them.
While the Bridge have been steady throughout the year in the Tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier, it is their achievements in knockout competitions which has put them in the spotlight.
The islanders have beaten the leaders of Tier 3 Ardal North East and West, Radnor Valley and CPD Y Rhyl 1879, on penalties in the FAW Amateur Trophy and Welsh Cup respectivrely.
Current leaders of North Wales Coast East Division One, where they finished third at the end of 2022-23, scoring bagfuls of goals.
The Amateurs also made it to the NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup Final in May, losing 4-0 to Abergele but playing much better than the score suggests.
Looking a great bet to scoop the Tier 5 North Wales Coast East Division One title this season, having won seven out of seven to date.
The Prestatyn-based side has also reached the NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup semis, where either Y Glannau, Llanystumdwy or Llandudno Amateurs await.
Their first season of 2022-23 saw Bow finish fourth in their current division.
Produced one of the stories of the season when they landed a kit deal with Spanish giants La Liga this year.
On the field, the Tier 5 Anglesey side did especially well in the FAW Trophy, where they got through four rounds, beating three teams from leagues above.
A team going places who have lit up North Wales football with many fine performances in 2023.
They won the Cwpan Snowdonia Fire and Security Cup last season and this term have stormed to top spot in the Tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division.
In Kaine Bentley and Connor Owen, they possess two of the most dynamic young goalscorers around.
Gwalch are also into the NWCFA Intermediate Cup semis alongside Llandudno Junction, Trearddur Bay and Penrhyndeudraeth.
Runners-up in the Tier 3 Ardal North West League in April and went on to clinch elevation to the Cymru North after defeating Cefn Albion 4-2 in the Ardal Northern Play-Off Final at Prestatyn in May.
Since rising to Tier 2, on the back of a third successive promotion, 1876 have fared really well, currently occupying sixth place ahead of their return derby with Porthmadog on January 1, 2024.
The club’s prolific striker Corrig McGonigle finished top-scorer in the 2022-23 Ardal North West season with 37 goals and is currently flying high in the Cymru North chart.
Bangor 1876 also reached 100 competitive match wins in November in just their 124th game in all competitions since 2019-20.
This promising club has continued to win things in 2023.
They lifted the North East Wales League Top Mark Uniforms Premier Cup in May – making it four trophies in two seasons.
Town’s senior teams were also runners-up in both the Premier and Reserve divisions respectively in 2022-23.
Promoted to their highest level this season in reaching the Tier 3 Ardal North West and are doing very well in mid-table.
Runners-up at the end of 2022-23 in the North Wales Coast East Premier Division, Llannefydd are growing nicely as a club, having completed many ground improvements in recent times.
Gwyndaf Pritchard’s side are also into the FAW Trophy last 16, where they host Conwy Borough in the new year. Llan knocked out highly regarded South Wales outfit Risca United in the last stage.
Finished third in Tier 3 Ardal North West at the end of 2022-23, but are going even better this season, ending the year with a commanding lead at the top.
Nine wins in 10 league matches have helped establish the Lilywhites at the peak, and an added bonus in December saw them secure a revenge 3-2 victory over Flint Mountain to reach the last 16 of the FAW Trophy, where they host Newport City next.
Can Kinmel Bay cause a stir in the cup tonight? WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 NWCFA WOMEN'S…
After two tough years Prestatyn Cricket Club has high hopes for improved fortunes in 2026…
Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs celebrated a fine win tonight RESULTS TUESDAY, APRIL 14 NORTH WALES COAST…
Caernarfon Town's senior side celebrate last Sunday's Welsh Cup success. Picture: JOHN SMITH FAW They…
CPD Y Felinheli won the NWCFA Junior Cup in 2013 and 2014 under the great…
Llandudno lifted the NWCFA Women's Challenge Cup last season PREVIEWS: NWCFA WOMEN'S CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS…