All hail the 2023-24 treble kings – Caerwys Under-19s!
Words: Jack Reynolds
To win a treble in football is a fantastic achievement, no matter what the level.
But to win everything on offer, in your debut season nonetheless, is something you don’t see very often.
The Under 19’s team at Caerwys was formed last summer after interest from some of the current players to get a squad together.
Neil Day and Ross Sinclair took up the roles of managers, and the rest is now history.
With the current home pitch in Caerwys unable to be used on a Sunday, and no other fields available to use in the small town, it was always going to be an uphill battle.
But from their first few pre-season games as a newly-formed team, one could tell this team was special, and would reward the effort that it would take to get it off the ground.
The team based themselves on the 4G Pitch at Ysgol Treffynnon, which really suited their fast-paced and fluid style of play.
Caerwys entered what was a bumper 16-team, Flintshire Youth League Under 19’s Division.
Their first game of their season was a trip to Mynydd Isa Under 19’s in early September. It took just 17 minutes for them to score their first competitive goal, Alex Jones tucking away number one of 38 in Under 19’s games.
Mynydd Isa did get back into the game after half time, but three goals in just over 10 minutes towards the end, (from captain Harry Strong, Charlie Story and another for Alex Jones), secured a first victory of the season.
Between then and Christmas, they played 10 games, won them all, progressed through the first rounds of both cups and sat at the top of the standings before the table was split into Division 1 and 2. Results for these games below:
Game 1: Mynydd Isa (A), 4-1 Win
Game 2: Llangollen (H), 6-1 Win
Game 3: Gronant (A), 5-1 Win
Game 4: Holywell (H), 2-0 Win
Game 5: Gronant (A), 5-2 Win
Game 6: Rhostyllen (A), 5-3 Win
Game 7: Mynydd Isa (H), 10-0 Win
Game 8: Buckley (A), 9-1 Win
Game 9: Brickfield 19’s (H), 9-0 Win
Game 10: Broughton (H), 10-0 Win
In the New Year, the league was split in two to allow for two competitive divisions.
The lads continued where they had left off with an 11-1 drubbing of Gronant before another high-scoring 7-1 win away to Ewloe.
The first time we saw the team have to dig deep was away to Llangollen. On a poor, tight surface, there was no room to play or find gaps. Caerwys defended brilliantly, and took one of limited chances that fell their way. Alex Jones slamming home an awkwardly bouncing ball to keep their 100% win record going.
The tough games kept coming. Two back-to-back semi-final games against Coedpoeth threatened to derail the season.
After winning the first of the two 4-0, and progressing to the League Cup Final in the process, you would have thought the second game might have went the same way. But that was not to be the case.
After going ahead early on, Coedpoeth fought back and found themselves 2-1 up in the 60th minute.
Remarkably, even though it was now February, this was the first time the team had found themselves trailing all season. The team once again showed real character, and top scorers Alex and Caleb Jones scored a goal each in the final 20 minutes to win the game 3-2 and book their second final.
Successive home league games followed against Brickfield 17’s and Brickfield 19’s, both ending 4-0 to Caerwys.
Caerwys then travelled to Coedpoeth for their third meeting of four for the season, the third in five weeks.
Injuries restricted the shape in which the team could play, with very few midfielders available against a very strong Coedpoeth side.
The hosts deservedly led going into half time, before Tom Fenton levelled with 20 minutes to go.
Searching for the winner, Caerwys were caught short at the back and Coedpoeth took advantage, running out 3-1 winners and handing the Under 19’s their first loss, ever.
A disappointing result, but the team had been formed for seven months at this point, so this was still an incredible achievement.
With their first final of the season looming, there was no time to be feeling sorry for themselves.
The lads bounced back in fantastic style. After struggling to see off Llangollen a few weeks prior, the team breezed to a 6-0 victory. The final game before the first final of the season left confidence high.
Then came the Flintshire Youth League Cup Final. The first final of the season for the team, and their first playing together.
Despite their opponents, Brickfield 17’s, not having the greatest league record, they had shown their quality after seeing off Hawarden to get themselves into the final.
It was a great day down at the home of Tier 2 Champions, Holywell Town, surrounded by great travelling support in the form of friends, family and the rest of the club at Caerwys.
The lads didn’t disappoint, putting on a show in a 3-0 win. Caleb Jones had opened the scoring in the first half, before two Tom Hughes wonder strikes helped to ease the nerves in the second half.
It was a very proud day for the club. Team captain, Harry Strong, lifted the first of what turned out to be three trophies, in front of the supporters.
After securing their first piece of silverware, there was a few weeks wait until the team got back to action.
Two games in two days saw the same result. Revenge against Coedpoeth in the form of a 4-1 win at home, followed by a 4-1 away triumph in another good game against Brickfield 17’s.
Two weeks later they were back at Brickfield, this time to face the Under 19’s. Another test against good opposition, but a penalty from Alex Jones and a great header from Harry Strong, after a fantastic Jamie Davies delivery, saw the lads take a 2-0 victory.
Three league games and a cup final left. The first was a home league test against fellow finalists, Ewloe.
Both teams only had small squads available due to it being midweek, but five different scorers, (Tom Fenton, Iwan Barnes, Caleb Jones, Alex Jones and Jamie Davies), saw the game finish 5-0.
11 days later, the teams met again, this time at the home of Ruthin Town in the NEWFA Under 19’s Cup.
Both teams this time had full strength squads, and with the league well out of Ewloe’s reach, they had something to play for and were out for revenge.
A Caleb Jones brace had Caerwys up 2-0 by half time, but the scoring was far from done.
Within 11 second half minutes, the score went from 2-0, to 5-2 with the teams trading blow for blow as they fought for the trophy. Alex Jones had another two, with Jamie Davies also getting one.
It was then the turn of another Tom to ease final nerves, this time Tom Fenton, getting himself a brace towards the end of the game to seal a 7-2 victory.
Captain Harry Strong was able to celebrate lifting the trophy with the team and supporters for a second time.
With Cup competitions complete, there was just one team standing in the way of the treble. Hawarden.
A club known for holding high standards and regularly delivering silverware, this would never be an easy task. With just 2 points separating the sides, it could have gone either way, especially as both games would take place in the same weekend.
The first game took place on Friday, 17th May. A big crowd turned up to witness the two sides meet at Caerwys’ home pitch in Lon Yr Ysgol.
The first time the side had hosted at the ground, it was almost as if it was fate. The crowd showed their support for both sides, but it was Hawarden who took the upper hand going into the final game, ruining a fairy tale ending. A 2-0 victory for the visitors, in an uncharacteristic performance from the hosts. Nerves were clearly setting in, but there was still one more opportunity to finish their story.
Two days later, Sunday, 19th May, the two sides met at Gladstone Playing Fields.
Caerwys travelled with the same 16, fielding a slightly different 11 due to injury niggles.
Hawarden had also made changes to their winning side. Once again, the support for both sides was ferocious. Caerwys did find themselves 2-0 up at half time, thanks to another Alex Jones goal, Joe Drummond scoring the second.
Both sides knew Hawarden only needed a draw to take the title, and they came out all guns blazing.
There was nothing to lose. As the 60th minute approached, Hawarden halved the deficit to just 1.
However, Caleb Jones restored the two-goal cushion shortly after. The lads were leading 3-1 as the 90th minute passed and had the treble in their sights.
For whatever reason though, the time continued to pass. Hawarden managed to grab another back in the 98th minute. The Caerwys side stood strong as Hawarden threw everything they had left at them.
Finally, after more than 12 extra minutes, the whistle at last blew, Caerwys win 3-2, and the job was done – 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑷𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺!
Viewing the stats across the season, it is fantastic to see.
27 games played, 25 games won, 134 goals scored and only 24 conceded.
Flintshire Youth League, Flintshire Youth League Cup & NEWFA Under 19’s Cup Champions.
21 players contributed to the success, all now will be remembered within the club as being part of this fantastic team:
Alex Jones
Alex Woodhead
Alfie Matthews
Caleb Jones
Carwyn Higgins
Charlie Story
Dan Shaw
Evan Davies
Ewan Duffy-Brogan
Harry Serridge
Harry Strong (C)
Harvey Birch
Iwan Barnes
Jamie Davies
Joe Drummond
Liam Grafton (GK)
Nath Prince
Riley Griffiths
Tom Fenton
Tom Hughes
Will Lloyd Jones
On another positive note, out of those 21 lads, 17 have been involved in games for the senior sides this season.
The club was told that by bringing this team together, they would ruin their players development, and it has been quite the opposite both on personal levels and as a team.
Players have been given the freedom to show what they are capable of and have completely evolved as the season progressed.
They have also done all of this whilst the majority are in the middle of exams. The team will now go and celebrate their success, before decisions are made on what happens next. The club are extremely proud and see this team as the next generation and are excited to watch them continue to progress.
The team would also like to say a big thanks to their sponsors, Waffle Box Mold and Chesworth Building & Renovations. Both of them committed to the team and have they hope to have done them proud. Also to the club, committee & supporters – the team behind the team. Up the Wys!
