Big news in women’s football as Rhyl pair switch to coastal rivals Llandudno

Llandudno announced two new signings ahead of Sunday afternoon’s NEWFA Challenge Cup tie against Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Cassie Thomas and Rachael Thomas have both moved to the Go Goodwins Stadium from North Wales coast rivals CPD Y Rhyl 1879.

Former Rhyl manager Cassie has been an immense figure in the Lilywhites’ rise to prominence in recent seasons, which included winning the North Wales Women’s League title as an unbeaten team in 2021-22 and is now in its third season as a Tier 2 Genero Adran North side.

She was also an important part of predecessor clubs Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies and Rhyl FC Ladies’ Welsh Premier Women’s League adventure, which lasted from 2014-15 to 2018-19.

In their final season at that level, Cassie was player-manager.

The 2019-20 campaign saw Cassie become assistant-manager to Sara Hilton at newly-formed Connah’s Quay Nomads ladies.

The Deesiders finished runners-up in North Wales League Division Two, going unbeaten in a season curtailed due to Covid, and reached the Welsh Cup semi-finals.

Cassie joined the new CPD Y Rhyl 1879 management team in 2021, later becoming manager/head coach.

She returned to playing football towards the end of the season, helping 1879 be crowned North Wales Women’s League champions without losing a single match.

A B-licence holder, Cassie has also coached in the United States.

A strong-tackling, ball-playing defender, she also represented Kinmel Bay and Tranmere Rovers before joining Rhyl.

Rachael, 29, is a former Liverpool Ladies and Wales international player.

She began playing football at the age of five, and has represented many teams.

The full list is: Prestatyn Pumas (boys), Prestatyn Athletic (boys), Prestatyn Girls, school football teams, Tranmere Rovers, Liverpool Ladies Centre of Excellence, Liverpool Ladies Reserves, Prestatyn Ladies, Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies, Rhyl FC Ladies, a brief spell with Llandudno Ladies, Connah’s Quay Nomads and CPD Y Rhyl 1879.

Rachael has represented Wales from under-16 up to under-19 level.

Formerly known by her maiden surname Nattrass, Rachael married Cassandra Thomas in March 2022 and the couple have two children.

Rachael won the North Wales League title with Prestatyn Ladies in 2013-14 and went on to play for the amalgamated Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies in the Welsh Premier Women’s League.

The team later changed its name to Rhyl FC Ladies, competing for a number of seasons in the WPWL until relegation at the end of 2018-19.

In the 2019-20 season, which was shortened due to Covid, Rachael played for newly-formed Connah’s Quay Nomads, who made it all the way to the FAW Welsh Cup semi-finals, only for their tie with Swansea City never to be played because of the pandemic.

Nomads also finished runners-up in North Wales League Division Two, going unbeaten and only missing out on the title to Amlwch on the average points-per-game method.

With 2020-21 cancelled completely, Rachael was on duty for new team CPD Y Rhyl 1879 in the 2021-22 season.

She skippered an 1879 side which did not lose a single game to the North Wales Women’s League title and scored an outstanding 18 goals from midfield, where she formed a dynamic partnership with long-time friend and team-mate Becca Bannister.

For the past two seasons, Rachael has represented 1879 in the Tier 2 Genero Adran North League, although playing time has been limited due to motherhood and family life.