Lots of positive vibes emerge from Colwyn Bay

Some great new signings have come on board at Colwyn Bay.

Newly-appointed manager Mike Wilde and his assistant Danny Harrison have gone straight for top class captures as the Seagulls build for a big 2024-25 season back in JD Cymru North.

All the new names have Cymru North experience and the knowhow of what it takes to succeed at Tier 2 level.

So who are the fresh faces?

Rhys Nash – a quality goal-scoring midfielder signs from Mold Alexandra
Ethan Roberts – talented winger moves over from Llandudno
Lewis Sirrell – commanding defender returns to the Bay from Flint Town United
Tom Weir – classy forward signs from Prestatyn Town
Craig Lindfield – proven goal-getter rejoins the Seagulls after a stint with Airbus
Joe Williams – experienced defender returns to club where he won the Cymru North in 2022-23
Jay Owen – midfield maestro with majorly impressive CV joins from Flint Town United
Rhys Williams – Wales under-19 international keeper makes move from Flint
Sol Forde – quality defender lands at Llanelian Road from Flint

Further good news is top-notch players Tommy Creamer, Cai Owen, Guto Williams and Jamie Cumming are staying on, with the highly-rated Sam Hart appointed captain.

Development squad prospects Joel Giblin, Keiran Jones, Will McKinley and Szymon Tyszko have signed up for the first team.

Popular Bay former player Danny McGoona has joined the board of directors, while young dazzler Connor Murphy is the club’s new community officer.

Connor is highly regarded for the amazing voluntary work he previously did at Llandudno, where he took on many roles, which helped keep the club survive at a difficult time, and then thrive last season.

SIGNINGS

Many thanks to CBFC for player information and photos

Rhys Nash

Midfield ace joins from Mold Alexandra, a club he had played for since 2015 and where he won the FAW Amateur Trophy in 2022.
Last season, he was part of an Alex outfit which finished a club best-ever fourth in the Cymru North.
The 31-year-old also captained Mold to success in the Welsh Blood Service Cup, with victory in the northern competition final against Llandudno and in the national final over Briton Ferry Llansawel, in which he scored one of the goals.

Ethan Roberts

Wide man arrives at the Bay from Llandudno following an impressive 2023-24 for the Seasiders, where he was named both Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Season.
The 19-year-old, a graduate of Llandudno’s academy, scored six goals in 36 games in all competitions last term, chipping in with six assists.
Ethan recently featured for the Cymru North side in the Uefa Regions Cup play-off games against Cymru South.

Lewis Sirrell

Was part of Colwyn Bay’s JD Cymru North title winning team of 2022/23. He spent the second half of last season at Flint Town United and helped the club secure second spot and promotion.
The central defender had originally joined the Bay from Llandudno in summer 2020 and won the Supporters’ Player of the Season award in 2022. He has made 61 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring nine goals.
Came through Middlesbrough’s Academy, playing for the Under-18s and U-21s, before going on loan to National League side Gateshead. He then signed for Swedish club Ostersunds FK on a free transfer but relocated to North Wales in 2014.
Had spells at Bay Reserves, Llandudno Junction and Denbigh Town prior to signing for Llandudno in 2019.

Tom Weir

Arrives at Colwyn Bay from Prestatyn Town, where he scored the goal that earned the point which kept the Seasiders in the Cymru North last season.
Weir first played for Prestatyn as a schoolboy in 2013 before joining Rhyl and then Denbigh Town. He also had a short spell at Colwyn Bay.
The forward moved to Connah’s Quay Nomads for four seasons, playing for their academy, and was then promoted to the first team squad before landing back at Rhyl in 2020.
Weir signed for Flint Town United in 2021 before joining Conwy Borough in the 2021/22 January transfer window.
Later had stints with Gresford Athletic and Tier 5 club Bow before rejoining Denbigh Town last season.
Made the perfect return to Prestatyn, scoring the winner on his debut in a 3-2 win over Porthmadog on January 13, 2024.

Craig Lindfield

Lindfield rejoins after spending last season at Airbus, where he scored 15 goals in 26 league appearances.
During his first spell at the Bay he scored 12 goals in 37 outings in all competitions and was a member of the JD Cymru North title winners of 2022-23.
Craig came through Liverpool’s academy and was twice an FA Youth Cup winner with the Anfield club in 2006 and 2007. After leaving Liverpool in 2009, he made more than 100 appearances in the Football League for Macclesfield Town and Accrington Stanley.
The former England Under-19 international has also played for Chester, FC United of Manchester, Marine and Runcorn Linnets.

Joe Williams

Another who won the Cymru North title with Bay in 2022-23.
Experienced 35-year-old defender returns to the Seagulls, where he made 54 appearances in two seasons and also won a WBS North League Cup winners medal before a switch to Flint in the summer of 2023, going on to be part of the Silkmen’s latest promotion-winning campaign.
Twice a Cymru Alliance title winner with Caernarfon Town, he was previously with Glan Conwy, Conwy Borough and Llandudno.

Jay Owen

Vastly-experienced midfielder joins Bay for the first time.
Jay started at Chester, where he made seven Football League appearances and represented Wales at Under-17 level. He moved to Barrow in early 2010 and made 95 appearances over three seasons in the Conference.
The 33-year-old was with Airbus between 2013 and 2016 before switching to Connah’s Quay Nomads, where he spent six seasons and made 160 appearances, winning the JD Cymru Premier, Welsh Cup and Nathaniel MG League Cup.
Although he joined hometown club Caernarfon Town in the summer of 2022, he was released from his contract to join Flint Town United and where he spent two seasons, making 46 league appearances and captained the side.

Rhys Williams

Outstanding performer at Flint Town United last season, helping the Silkmen win promotion back to the Cymru Premier.
Goalkeeper Rhys joined Flint from Gresford Athletic in the summer of 2022.
A former Wales Under-19 international, 26-year-old Williams has had spells with Bury, Carlisle United and Colchester United. He has also spent time with Connah’s Quay Nomads, Airbus and Cefn Druids.

Sol Forde

Another to switch from Flint Town United to Colwyn Bay this season.
Last season he helped the Silkmen secure promotion to the JD Cymru Premier.
The 18-year-old scored five goals in 29 league appearances.
Locally based defender who played as a junior for Penrhyn Bay and Llandudno Junction and was at Llandudno and Chester Academies.