In the news: Gresford Athletic – catching up with a busy summer to date for the Colliers

Gresford (red) in pre-season action against Llanrwst United. Picture: RHYS JONES

Few clubs have been busier in the transfer market this summer so far than Gresford Athletic.

The Cymru North club have brought in a number of new faces, while also saying goodbye to some of the 2023-24 squad.

Gresford Athletic manager Eddie Maurice-Jones. Picture: RHYS JONES

Eddie Maurice-Jones’ side have spent eight successive seasons in the CN, having finished a highest ever third in 2016-17 and ending up 10th last term.

Media officer RHYS JONES brings us up to date with happenings at the Wrexham-area club.

NEW SIGNINGS

Joe Ormrod (from Mold Alex)

The midfielder is new signing number six for the first team during the 2024/25 summer transfer window.

Before his move to Welsh football, Ormrod spent time playing in England with Upton until he signed for Mold Alexandra in 2021.

The 29-year-old has spent the last four seasons at The Alex, becoming an integral part of their midfield during their rise up the leagues.

During the 2023/24 season, he made 33 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals as Mold finished in fourth place of the JD Cymru North and lifted the the Welsh Blood Service League Cup in both the Northern and National sections.

Simon Smith (from Penyffordd)

The days of Alan Price quips have long passed, but still this name will always evoke fond memories for football and music fans of a certain age.

A product of the club’s youth academy, Smith started his career at Gresford Athletic, before having spells at Lex, Llangollen Town, Airbus UK Broughton and Ruthin Town between 2008 and 2011.

In the summer of 2011, he signed for Penyffordd for the first time, spending two seasons at the club until he made the move to Denbigh Town. He then re-signed for his second spell at Gresford Athletic in 2015/16, which was followed by a brief spell at Oswestry Town before a return to The Colliers.

Following three consecutive seasons at Gresford Athletic, the 33-year-old re-signed for Penyffordd in March 2024 and made 10 appearances in all competitions before the end of the 2023/24 season, scoring four goals to help The Lions finish third in the North East Wales Football League Premier Division.

He now returns to Gresford for a fourth spell at the club and has already put in some good performances during the 2024/25 pre-season, scoring two excellent goals against Llanrwst United.

Alongside his playing career, Smith has also been first team coach for The New Saints for four years and will continue his work with the JD Cymru Premier champions whilst playing for The Colliers.

Lewis Dutton (following loan from Airbus)

Becomes a permanent signing after an impressive loan spell from Airbus.

Goalkeeper who signed for Athletic on loan during the 2023/24 January transfer window and has now agreed to continue his spell at the club on a permanent basis.

Dutton started his career with JD Cymru Premier champions The New Saints as a youth player, before going on to have brief spells at Garden Village Junior, Brickfield Rangers and Borras Park Rangers between 2012 and 2015.

He returned to The New Saints in 2016, broke through into the first team during the 2019/20 season and also earned international caps for his country, being called up to the Wales U18s Academy squad in 2017 and 2019.

The 22-year-old switched over to English football with Chorley and Whitchurch Alport in 2020, prior to signing for Airbus. He made 26 appearances in all competitions, keeping eight clean sheets, as The Wingmakers earned promotion to the JD Cymru Premier during his first season at the club. He was the number one during their 2022/23 JD Cymru Premier campaign, making 32 appearances in all competitions, but the season unfortunately ended in relegation.

He made six appearances for Airbus in 2023/24, before in January 2024 signing on loan for Gresford, for whom he has now committed his immediate future.

Elliott Orton (from Airbus)

Another highly-rated capture from Airbus.

Defender Orton has spent the majority of his career with the Wingmakers, initially signing as an academy player in the Under 8s and progressing through all age groups during his 12-year period at the club. He also had spells at Borras Park Albion and Borras Park Rangers as a youth player between 2015 and 2018 alongside his time at Bus.

The 20-year-old stepped up to the Airbus first team during the 2021/22 season and cemented himself as a regular to help win the JD Cymru North title, as well as gain plenty of valuable experience in the 2022/23 JD Cymru Premier.

He made 18 appearances in all competitions during the 2023/24 season, helping to keep five clean sheets as The Wingmakers finished third in the JD Cymru North.

Matthew Worrall (from Denbigh Town)

Gifted forward leaves Denbigh Town and returns for his third spell at The Colliers after first playing for the club during the 2019/20 season and then again in the first half of 2021/22.

Worrall started his career at Llay Miners Welfare, where he stayed for a number of seasons, before joining Queen’s Park for a couple of spells between 2016 and 2018.

In 2018, the 29-year-old spent time at both Denbigh Town and Rhyl until he returned to Llay Miners Welfare again in January 2019. Then, at the start of the 2019/20 season, he joined Gresford Athletic, but his time at the club was short-lived and he made the move back to Llay in August of the same season.

A brief spell at Capenhurst Villa and a second stint at Gresford were littered alongside his time at Llay between 2020 and 2022, until he joined Denbigh in January 2023 and helped the club win the Lock Stock Ardal North West and Lock Stock Ardal North League Cup in 2022/23 season.

During the 2023/24 season, Worrall made 23 appearances in all competitions and scored 15 goals as Denbigh Town secured a sixth-place finish in their first season back in the JD Cymru North.

Josh Watkin (from Mold Alexandra)

Defender Watkin started his career as a youth player at Wrexham, before making the move to Connah’s Quay Nomads in 2019.

The 20-year-old progressed through the youth ranks at Nomads, playing for their Under 16s, U18s and U21s and eventually reaching the fringes of the first team squad, making his senior debut against Holywell Town in the 2021/22 Nathaniel MG Cup, until shifting to Mold Alexandra on loan during the second half of the 2022/23 season.

A successful loan spell led to a permanent transfer to Mold in summer 2023 and throughout 2023/24, he made 39 appearances in all competitions, being named Alex’s Players’ Player and Young Player of the Season in a successful campaign in which saw them finish in fourth place of the JD Cymru North, whilst also winning the Welsh Blood Service League Cup in both the Northern and National sections.

He now joins Gresford to further increase the quality of the first team squad’s defensive options.

RETAINED PLAYERS

Leon Bennett
Alex Buxton
Dominic Deacon
Charley Edge
Harvey Ellis
Toby Gallagher-Keenan
Joshua Griffiths
Adam Hesp
Paul Johnson
Charlie Mann
Joe Nelson
Haci Ozlu
Jack Roberts
James Smith