Youth progression is key: Llandudno women’s manager Billy Fuller outlines aims for 2024-25 season

What is your aim for the season?

Our aim for Llandudno this season covers many facets.

Firstly, performance wise we have to play the Llandudno way, which is possession based but with purpose.

I love wide play, making the pitch as wide as possible, however equally I love a great work ethic.

Please let me elaborate, good teams ask questions and the girls need a good work ethic to answer questions asked from them by opposing teams.

To improve they need to keep honest by doing the non-negotiables, graft, bravery, honesty and search for continued improvement.

Results wise, as a club we will strive for the top two and look to further embolden our senior players and develop our younger players in our squad.

The younger players in our squad are the future of Llandudno and will benefit the domestic game for the next decade plus so it’s holistic in its approach but vital for the good of the club and game that they prosper.

So, with youth spoken about with so much vigour, please elaborate a little further

The Club has identified we were not set up with a pathway to the first team as well as other clubs such as Bangor and Connah’s Quay, who both play in our league.

The club with the junior sides have now ensured that the girls within the development sides have a clear pathway to the first team.

After being an Academy Manager/Coach for 8 seasons and working with great advocates of youth players such as Neil Gibson and Steve Giblin it is no surprise to anyone who knows me that developing players, offering opportunities, placing trust is a snapshot into who I am.

During pre season I have witnessed the best 13 year old I have ever seen, who if I could would be in the squad now! I have also witnessed 4 or 5 technically gifted footballers who under their coaches have developed into the players they are.

It’s my job to now integrate them and develop the subtle nuances required to be as best prepared they can be both physically and mentally to play Tier 2 football.

This, as it sounds rather holistic in its approach will be phased in as they turn 16, please be assured of that. If Neil Gibson can espouse that view with more experience than I evidencing his huge number of debuts given, then as someone I look up-to, I’ll quite happily follow his lead.

Is this approach why you have been quiet in the transfer window?

In a nutshell, yes. We wanted a wide player with Kelsey looking at going into the Cymru Premier, however with Kelsey now opting to stay with us due to work commitments is a huge gain for us as a club.

Some clubs have been aggressive in their procurement of players in the pre season which is showing how good various teams’ development sides are in producing the next generation of players. I would be open to 1 or 2 players joining, however I won’t be avidly searching.

Subject to availability as any manager in Tier 2 would tell you, I have a good squad of experienced winners who have won silverware, it’s supplementing the experience with the younger ones that will be the ultimate litmus test of how successful we are as a club.

What is your opinion on the women’s game at Tier 2?

I remember refereeing a Cymru Premier match a few years back and seeing the difference in quality last season in Tier 2, was as different as chalk and cheese. (In a good way!)

As last season wore on I noticed the improvement of players at Airbus especially. I have huge positive thoughts on the development of this league going forward. I have 3 daughters so I’m a borderline feminist, therefore I might be a little biased.

I do genuinely think girls have a great attitude to learn, it’s the opportunities that in the past they lacked.

With 19s football now adding players into the league season after season, we are witnessing a technically better player that understands their role in the tactical battle on the pitch.

This progression will continue and therefore the depth of quality on offer will improve and so will the depth of the leagues.

I would love to see in 10 years a mirror image of the men’s game, Tier 2 & 3 having 16 teams in each.

So, what will success be for Llandudno this season?

Finishing in the top 2 and integrating the development side once they turn 16 into the first team.

If they’re good enough, they’re old enough. As a club we have to catch up with our development set up and then hopefully prosper further down the line.

Vision wise, there is nothing more in Welsh football than I want to see than Jas Dutton leading Llandudno FC. If that happens with a clear pathway in place; that for me is total success.