Tribute to legends of CPD Llanberis – we bet you can think of a few more!

It was great to see CPD Llanberis’ first team lift their first winners trophy since 2000-01 recently when they won the Tier 4 Cwpan Snowdonia Fire and Security Cup.

While it had been a good while since the Darans last landed winners’ silverware, they certainly have not been short of great players or excellent league and cup performances in the past 23 years.

Here are some of the names most memorable to me – I am sure you Llanberis followers out there could name many more.

Terry Saynor

“Mr CPD Llanberis” has filled virtually every role within the club, but I remember him best as an awesome central defender with a lethal shot in the 1980’s, 90s and 2000s.
One of the best of his era in the former Welsh Alliance League, if there was ever a free kick 20 to 30 yards from goal and Terry stepped up to take it, it was a scary prospect for any defensive wall or goalkeeper.
Terry has held nearly every position within the club and is still on the coaching staff as well as being groundsman and kit man, not to mention his 20 years plus as a player.

Darren Owen

A great goalkeeper for the Darans with a particular talent for saving penalties.
Darren was man of the match for Llanberis in 2005/06, when he faced former Manchester United stars Clayton Blackmore and Lee Martin in a 4-0 Welsh Cup loss to Welsh Premier side and eventual finalists Bangor City at Farrar Road.
In 2009-10, when the Darans reached the FAW Trophy semi-finals, Darren made two penalty shoot-out saves in a memorable fourth round win at Welsh Alliance leaders Rhydymwyn.

David ‘Didi’ Jones

While with Llanberis, he was Welsh Alliance League top scorer with 25 goals in 2012/13.
Prolific marksman also with the likes of Mynydd Llandegai and Nantlle Vale.
One of his fondest memories was winning the Cookson Cup with Llanberis as a 16-year-old back in 1998/99.

Nidian Caffo Huws

Deiniolen lad, aged 35, current captain of Llanberis and longest serving member of the present squad.
Nidian signed for Llanberis juniors at 11 after football stopped in the junior section at CPD Deiniolen. He played half a season for Llanberis Reserves when he was 16 and then progressed to the first team.
Signed for Llanfairpwll in summer 2006, where he played for three and a half seasons, then rejoined the Darans.
Half a season at Caernarfon Town followed in 2011-12 and he has been with Llanberis ever since.
This skilful, attack-minded defender has spent about 15 seasons in total at Ffordd Padarn and made an estimated 500+ appearances.

Louis Williams

Goalkeeper who joined Llanberis from Glantraeth in 2011/12 and spent nine seasons at Ffordd Padarn before departing in 2020.
Consistently one of the best goalkeepers in the third tier for a number of years. He made more than 400 appearances for the Darans and throughout his time at the club was a renowned penalty stopper.

Colin Saynor

Younger brother of Terry and another true club legend.
Always a centre half, Colin first played for Llanberis aged 15 back in 1984.
In 1986 he moved on and represented several clubs in the North West Wales area including Bangor City, Porthmadog and Cemaes Bay and then returned to the Darans in 2001/2002 as player-manager, remaining until 2010.
During this period, he was a player, manager and towards the end chairman of the club when the late Euron Davies was first team boss.
Colin then had a spell at Caernarfon Town, both as assistant to Steve Smith and then first team manager when the club was battling to get out of the tier 3 Welsh Alliance League.
In total, Colin’s time playing for Llanberis was about 10 years.
His son, Tomos Saynor, currently plays for the team.

Marc Lloyd Williams

Llanberis-born “Jiws” ended a long and illustrious career with the Darans between 2012-14.
And it was with the village where he started his football, playing for Llanberis Under-12s
He is best known for being the Cymru Premier’s all-time top goalscorer with 319 goals in 468 appearances.
His many clubs included Porthmadog, Bangor City, Aberystwyth Town, TNS, Newtown, Airbus, Rhyl, Stockport County, Altrincham, Colwyn Bay, Halifax Town, York City, Southport and Haugersund of Norway.
His greatest season came as a Bangor City player in 2001/02, when he set the league scoring record with 47 and would have won the European Golden Boot award had Wales enjoyed a higher Uefa coefficient. Lloyd Williams was also named WPL Player of the Season.

Guto Llywelyn

Consistent goalscorer in his spells with Llanberis, where he won the Gwynedd League Bob Owen Shield with the reserves in 2014-15, beating Aberffraw 4-3 in the final at The Oval, Caernarfon.
Also a previous cup winner with the Llanberis Youth side.
Notched a fair few goals over the years for the first team, having also had a successful stint with Waunfawr.

Euron Wyn Davies

Strong, rock-solid centre half for Llanberis, where he began in the youth team before progressing to the firsts.
Later became first team manager at Ffordd Padarn before taking over as Felinheli boss in 2011-12.
Won back-to-back NWCFA Junior Cups with Felin, as well as lifting Caernarfon and District, Gwynedd League and Welsh Alliance Division Two titles.
Sadly passed away last month at the age of 46. Will always be a much-loved figure at Felinheli, Llanberis and throughout North Wales football.

Adrian Wakeham

Best remembered for his great ability from set-pieces, deadly from the penalty spot and also a danger from free kicks.
Also played for Llanrug United. Class footballer whose son Gethin Wakeham also became a Llanberis player and captain.

• This is just a selection of the ‘Best of Llanberis’ over the years. Can you think of any others? We’d welcome emails to dave@nwsport.co.uk with some names and info if possible.