Grassroots North Wales Team of the Year 2024: Flint Mountain

Flint Mountain are the GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES TEAM OF THE YEAR for 2024.

Crowned tier 3 Ardal North West champions in May in just their second season at that level, Aden Shannon’s side also lifted the NEWFA Challenge Cup during the same month and have made an impressive start to life in the T2 Cymru North in 2024-25.

May 2024 also saw Mountain’s second team beat Ruthin Town Reserves 4-3 to land the NEWFA Reserve Cup. The team continues to excel this season.

Formed in 2009, Flint Mountain enjoyed numerous successes, including achieving a North East Wales League quadruple in 2018-19 before winning promotion to the T3 Ardal North West at the end of 2021-22.

In their debut ANW season, Mountain finished a highly commendable fourth, but the 2023-24 campaign was to be something really special.

ARDAL NORTH WEST TABLE 2023-24

At the end of January 2024, Mountain were down in eighth place, 14 points behind leaders CPD Y Rhyl 1879, but with games in hand on all teams above them.

From there, the Flintshire outfit ignited North Wales football by winning 15 of their next 18 matches and were crowned champions on May 15 after a 6-1 away thrashing of Llannefydd.

Mountain also produced a magical run in the NEWFA Challenge Cup, knocking out Cymru North sides Buckley Town and Holywell Town before beating T2 Mold Alexandra 3-2 in the final.

There were further eye-catching results in the Welsh Cup, where Mountain made the quarter-finals only to lose 3-0 to Cymru Premier side Bala Town, although the end score certainly flattered the Lakesiders.

And Mountain rounded off the season with an appearance in the Lock Stock Ardal North League Cup final, going down 2-1 to Holyhead Hotspur.

Beginning in July came the tough hurdle of the JD Cymru North, but Mountain could not have wished for a better start in the new league as they hammered Ruthin Town 7-0 at the Essity Stadium.

Shannon’s stars are currently a highly respectable sixth in the table with a record of eight wins, a draw and seven losses.

Numerous players have stood out for Mountain during 2024, including former Cymru Premier striker Michael Hayes, who bagged 32 goals last season and is on 10 for the current campaign.

Quality young forward Jack Parry – seven goals to date – experienced former Chester and Connah’s Quay Nomads keeper John Danby, skipper and midfield ace Joe Holt and Lloyd Ellams, a well-travelled defensive colossus with an eye for goal, have all impressed.

FLINT MOUNTAIN – COMPLETE MATCH RECORD IN 2024 (league and cup)

Played 48
Won 30
Drawn 1
Lost 17

WELSH CUP 2023-24 RUN

Qualifying round: Kinmel Bay (h) 9-0
R1: NFA (a) 3-0
R2: Holywell Town (h) 3-1
R3: Canton (h) 2-1
R4: South Gower (h) 2-1
Quarter-final: Bala Town (a) 0-3

HONOURS

2023-24 Ardal North West Champions
2023-24 NEWFA Challenge Cup winners
2023-24 NEWFA Reserve Cup winners