Prestatyn Sports on their way back with a new management team!

Prestatyn Sports have announced the management for their proposed new first team and under-16 sides for the 2024-25 season.

Brian Nickson, next season’s under-16’s manager, will take up dual responsibility by taking charge of the senior first XI.

He will be assisted by club stalwart Daniel Mills as assistant-manager and Mike McClelland as goalkeeper coach.

Sports are currently on a season’s break from senior football. The first team folded at the end of last season due to a lack of players and key club personnel stepping down.

They did make it clear, though, that their resignation was temporary and that its junior sides would continue.

Formed in 2013-14, The Meadows based club won seven trophies in its first nine seasons and the first team rose from tier 6 to tier 3.

Speaking on the new appointments, a club statement said today: “As a club we feel it’s the right move for the continuity of the club moving forward. Brian is the right choice for all the youth players coming through our ranks.

“With the addition of Mills, it gives a great nod to the past of Sports and the vital back-up Bri will need on matchday and training; his knowledge of experienced players in the league will be invaluable. 

“Mikey has been working with all our youth set up keepers throughout the summer and it is a natural progression to see him step up to first team goalkeeper coach.”

The statement added: “Brian is an FAW C Licence coach looking to go for his B licence with plenty of playing and coaching experience.

“He is looking forward to encouraging young players to progress from the junior league stepping into the Tier 5 men’s league, opening a future pathway for all the Sports junior teams, which is something this club has needed for many years.

 “Brian would also like to have a mixture of players that are experiencing men’s football at present. 

“When you look at some of Sports men’s teams from the early past that they had when being  successful, they had that right mix of youth and experience.”

BRIAN NICKSON

“I’m very happy and passionate to take up this opportunity within the club, I’ve been part of the club for nearly 6 years, working with my junior team and supporting to build the junior section. I feel now is the time to push and test my skills by coaching in the men’s game.”I’ve always gone to watch the men’s team play when John (Hargreaves), Sion (Williams) and (Thomas) Brooks managed the past teams.

“Credit to them, the dedication they had was brilliant and hopefully even though now they work on the committee side of the club, I can lean on them if I’m unsure or have issues.”

Nickson continued: “My first aim is to raise a team to compete in Tier 5, and now I’ve found like minded coaches to help build my managerial team that will give the player’s the best possible staff to help achieve the club’s goals of building a team that can compete again at tier 5.

“I’ve been around the grounds watching a lot of games and it looks like a very exciting and competitive league to be a part of.”

DANNY MILLS

“I would like to firstly thank Brian for thinking of myself for the position of assistant for Prestatyn Sports.

“Since bringing my 10s over, I’ve been given the opportunity to enhance my coaching skills at this club.”Prestatyn Sports is a club who are there for each other and are always very supportive. 

“I believe in what everyone at Sports are trying to achieve and looking forward to learning more about coaching through Brian. 

“Through hard work, I believe we can bring success back to Sports first team and create more incredible memories like the ones I was involved in with this club in the past.”

MIKE MCCLELLAND

“When the club approached me to join the first team management it was a no brainer.

“The club has a fantastic youth section, we have been working hard with all summer and early winter and the rebuild of the first team was perfect for me. 

“I’m looking forward to working with Bri and Mills and hoping to get started with the junior keepers as soon as the light gets better and everyone is back at The Meadows.

“Together as a dual role youth and adult keeper coach, I hope we can bring great continuity to the number 1 position at the club and improve the junior keepers showing there is a pathway to men’s football.”

Further updates to come on pre-season open training sessions very soon…

The club added: “Any local businesses interested in sponsoring the team for the new season are welcomed, we will happily advertise on our ground and social media get in touch with this (Facebook) club page for further details.”

PRESTATYN SPORTS – THE HISTORY

Formed in 2013-14, Prestatyn Sports rose from Tier 6 to Tier 3 in their first five seasons.

They were runners-up to Conwy Legion United in their debut season in Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One, but the following campaign saw the Prestatyn club land a unique quadruple.

When they rounded off the season by defeating Llandudno Albion 2-1 in the Presidents Cup Final at Rhyl, it completed a tremendous four-timer the likes of which had not been done before or will ever be achieved again.

Sports won the Premier Division by a very comfortable 13-point margin, winning 19 out of 20 games and 10 from 10 away, hammered Waunfawr 5-1 in the final of the NWCFA Intermediate Cup and battered Rhyl Rovers 9-2 in the Premier Cup Final.

Goals flowed throughout the season for Mark Hughes and John Hargreaves’ team – 178 in 36 matches in all competitions making it an average of almost five per game.

The club itself actually celebrated a five-timer in 2014-15 as Prestatyn Sports Reserves won the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy Division One title.

Darren Cassidy was top-goalscorer with 51 and Craig Griffiths notched 45.

Sports were promoted to the Welsh Alliance in 2015-16 and in their first season finished sixth in Division Two and were Take Stock Van Hire Challenge Cup runners-up.

The following campaign, the Prestatyn side went one better and won the Take Stock Van Hire Challenge Cup, also claiming third spot in Division Two.

The 2017-18 season was an amazing one for Sports as they lifted the Welsh Alliance Division Two title, ending up eight points clear and recording a perfect home record of 14 straight wins.

In 2018/19, the club finished seventh in tier 3 Welsh Alliance Division One before the shortened 2019/20 saw Sports experience their first disappointing season as they ended up bottom of the league.

In May 2020 the club announced it would move away from its long-term home at Gronant as the facility has failed to meet Tier 3 grading criteria.

Sports subsequently relocated to The Meadows with a new lease of life, and received funding help from the local council to improve the drainage. 

They became a member of the newly-formed North Wales Coast East Premier Division in 2021-22 and completed the season in third place.

In 2022-23, Sports had their ups and downs, but still finished a respectable fifth in the NWCE Premier and were runners-up in the Cookson Cup.

However, problems in fielding a team towards the end of the campaign due to injuries and unavailability did mean two games were left unplayed.

With a number of their players moving on in summer 2023, it was becoming obvious Sports would struggle to compete to their previous high standard in the following season and therefore the senior team decided to fold.

But they are on the way back!

PRESTATYN SPORTS – HONOURS LIST

2014/15
Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Premier Division champions
NWCFA Intermediate Cup winners
Premier Cup winners
Presidents Cup winners
Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One champions (reserves)

2016-17
Division Two Take Stock Van Hire Challenge Cup winners

2017-18
Welsh Alliance Division Two champions