Can you even believe it’s here? Who is in Dave’s Dynamic Dozen for the 2024-25 season?

It’s time once more for Grassroots North Wales to choose 12 players to watch in the 2024-25 season across the North Wales pyramid.

Dave’s Dynamic Dozen turns the spotlight on some of the best talents across the leagues, but also tries to avoid the more obvious choices, players almost certain to be successful.

One could argue we’ve picked our elite group too late with the campaign already in mid-September, but time restraints have delayed us putting the feature together.

More than half of the list is made up of names I jotted down at the end of July, although there are a few early-season flyers who have influenced my latest decisions.

We’ll be checking up on the progress of these 12 players regularly over the season.

See what you think….

James Stevens (CPD Y Rhyl 1879)

At the age of just 18, the versatile Stevens has already shown to Rhyl fans what a phenomenal talent he possesses.
Operating mainly wide on the right, Stevens’ skills and ability to deliver a great ball into the box has been in evidence on several occasions, including in a man of the match performance against NFA which brought a 3-0 victory for the Lilywhites.
Formerly with Prestatyn Town, Saltney Town and Burscough, James is truly one to watch.

Mason Blackwell-Jones (Bangor 1876)

For someone aged just 22, Mason has already amassed bundles of higher league experience with the likes of Rhyl, Flint Town United, Prestatyn Town, Denbigh Town, Conwy Borough and Llandudno.
However, since joining 1876 in early 2023-24, he has hit new heights, quickly establishing himself as a fans’ favourite.
Since scoring on his debut against Guilsfield a year ago, Mason has made more than 30 appearances and is on five goals this season. One of the most wholehearted players around.

Jenson Wold (Bow FC)

Aged just 18, Jenson has shown tremendous promise for Bow, scoring some vital goals for the Development this season and featuring for the first team.
Exciting young talent who joined Bow from Gronant Under-19s last season, having also stood out as a junior for Cymru Diamonds and Rhyl Academy.
Bow Development are on fire in the NWCFA East League and Jenson has played a major role in them hitting top spot.

Jacob Jones (Kinmel Bay)

Young forward who has dazzled for Kinmel Bay Development this season, bagging two hat-tricks already.
Jacob also found the net for the first team in a 3-1 victory at Bow in the North Wales Coast East Premier Division.
In his third season with Kinmel Bay, he scored 14 goals for the development side in 2023/24 and is very highly rated at the club.

Pascal Gomez (Connah’s Quay Town)

In their first season as a tier 3 club, Connah’s Quay Town have started on fire, sitting unbeaten in Ardal North West’s top three.
One of the major influences for the Deesiders has been Pascal Gomez, a forward from Gambia in his third season with Town. who has already netted some crucial goals at the higher level.
Pascal, 21, has scored 27 goals in 81 appearances for the club, including 17 last season as Quay won promotion from the North East Wales League Premier.

Andy Vale (Brickfield Rangers)

An obvious choice maybe, but Vale has been a key man in Brickfield Rangers’ stunning start to the campaign which sees them top of Ardal North East with a 100 percent record.
Vale has already bagged 15 goals in 11 matches across all competitions in 2024-25, and in three previous tier 3 campaigns with Bricky in Ardal North West, he netted a total of 61 times.
In 2021-22, he piled up 29 goals in 29 ANW matches, with only Mold Alex hitman Danny Warren finishing ahead of him on 34.

Elis Williams (CPD Y Felinheli)

Eighteen-year-old hotshot started the season with a bang, notching a hat-trick in a 6-0 triumph over Greenfield. He has added three goals since.
A product of the Felinheli youth system, also spending time with Cae Glyn, Elis made his first team debut for Felin in tier 3 last season, his first goal arriving in a 2-2 draw with Saltney.

Owen Herbert (NFA)

Aged just 17, but has already made quite an impact as a midfielder with Ardal North West newcomers NFA.
There is plenty of young talent in the Rhyl side, Owen being among the very finest, having joined the Ffordd Derwen club this season from Denbigh Town after emerging through the Connah’s Quay Nomads youth ranks.

Ryan Jakovlevs (Plas Madoc)

Although Plas Madoc have made an average start to their tier 4 season, the 17-year-old Ryan is already making waves, having grabbed four goals in eight games for the first team and seven in three for the Under-19s.
Formerly with Cefn United Under-16s and Cefn Druids Academy, Ryan joined Plas Madoc last season and rattled in a phenomenal 32 goals in 24 appearances for a team which lifted the tier 5 North East Wales League Championship Division crown.

Noa Hughes (Bethesda Athletic)

Recently reached 100 first team appearances for Bethesda at the age of 19.
Versatile performer who has really struck it rich in front of goal in the North Wales Coast West Premier this season, hitting 13 goals in 10 matches to date.
One of three brothers in a team managed by dad Mark, Noa is a player to watch closely this term.

Richard Hillier-Evans (Rhos United)

Ambitious Rhos United are targeting promotion and the North Wales Coast East Division One title this season.
Among their signings for 2024-25 was outstanding goalkeeper Richard Hillier-Evans, nicknamed the Pink Panther and a star for Bow FC over the previous two campaigns.
A magnificent shot-stopper, Richard’s saves are likely to be as important for Rhos as the goals which will inevitably flow at the other end.

Calum Thomas (CPD Gaerwen)

Having made his first team debut at the end of 2022-23, 17-year-old Calum has gone from strength to strength for tier 5 Gaerwen.
He scored both goals in the Auctioneers’ amazing 2-0 win at tier 3 Rhos Aelwyd in the last round of the Welsh Cup.
Calum already has eight goals in eight matches for the North Wales Coast West Division One side this season, having struck 19 times for the first team in 2023-24.
The grandson of legendary former Llangefni Town and Llanfairpwll defender Allan (Ali) Jones, Calum hails from a great footballing background and is a star in the making.