Five exciting new signings for CPD Porthmadog!

After their relegation from the Cymru North last season, CPD Porthmadog will be aiming to bounce back at the first attempt in the 2024-25 Ardal North West campaign.

Manager Chris Jones has already made some exciting new captures who will no doubt boost the team in the months ahead.

Ashley Owen (Nantlle Vale to CPD Porthmadog)

After several seasons as a proven goalscorer with Nantlle Vale, Ashley Owen has switched his talents to fellow Tier 3 club Porthmadog for the 2024-25 campaign.

Formerly with Llanrug United, the 27-year-old Owen was third top scorer in T3 Ardal North West last season with 20 goals for Nantlle.

Since 2019-20, Owen has netted 65 goals in 125 club appearances across all competitions for Vale.

With relegated Port targeting an instant return to the Cymru North, they will be looking to the likes of Owen to repeat his excellent goal-getting form in Tier 3 of recent seasons.

John Littlemore (Llangefni Town to Porthmadog)

It’s a big welcome back for experienced forward Littlemore to Y Traeth.

The 29-year-old was last at Porthmadog in 2021-22, when he netted eight goals and helped the club gain promotion to the Cymru North, scoring in a 5-0 Ardal Northern play-off final victory over Caersws.

For the past two seasons, the former Wales Schools FA and Welsh Colleges international from Ynys Môn has played at Llangefni Town (2023-24) and Conwy Borough (2022-23).

John has represented a number of clubs in his senior career, starting at Llandegfan, then Bro Goronwy before in 2013-14 joining Bangor City.

He was top scorer for City’s Under-19’s in the Welsh Premier Development League and progressed to Nev Powell’s first team, where he made six substitute WPL appearances.

After short stays with Glantraeth and Bro Goronwy, in 2015 John moved to Cardiff to study. He was snapped up by the Cardiff Met University team, helping them win the Welsh League Division One title and secure promotion to the Welsh Premier.

He made 19 WPL appearances for the students, then after graduation, the 2017-18 campaign saw John back in North Wales representing Holyhead Hotspur in the Cymru Alliance.

Two good seasons followed at the New Stadium, then after experiencing success with the Ynys Môn gold medal winning squad at the 2019 Inter-Games, John signed for Porthmadog FC.

He soon moved to Conwy Borough, before returning to Port in 2021-22. After a season apiece at Conwy and Llangefni, he is now in his third stint with Porthmadog.

Jack Gibney (to CPD Porthmadog)

Port manager Chris Jones has brought in pacy winger Jack Gibney, a player who has been part of previous squads under the current Traeth boss.

Gibney’s former clubs include AFC Knowsley and Pilkington FC. and he also has Cymru North experience at Prestatyn Town.

In 2022-23, Gibney appeared in 16 Tier 2 games for Prestatyn and notched five goals.

He certainly has an eye for goal as Port learned to their cost when Jack netted an added time winner for Prestatyn against the Traeth men back in February 2023.

Jamie Jones and Sion Williams (Nantlle Vale to Porthmadog)

Chris Jones’ first new signings were announced late in June.

Jamie Jones and Sion Williams, who both created quite an impression in the Llanuwchllyn pre-season fixture for Port, join from Nantlle Vale.

Jones, 20, is a creative midfielder who was previously part of the youth set-up at Caernarfon while his team-mate Williams is a 24-year-old defensive midfielder.

Of Jamie, manager Chris Jones said, “Buzzing to get this one over the line, always been impressed when watching him; he brings real quality in the final third that he demonstrated with an immediate impact (against Llanuwchllyn) and I’m sure plenty more to come.”

Williams made 28 appearances in Ardal North West for Vale last season, netting five goals, while Jones bagged 15 goals in 29 outings at the same level.