International Women’s Day/Weekend: We choose our all-time North Wales XI

Twelve months ago, I chose my all-time North Wales Women’s Dream Football Team for International Women’s Day.
Have my choices changed a year on? Some have

Nicky Davies (goalkeeper)

With over 60 Wales caps to her credit, Bangor-born goalkeeper Davies spent three years with Bangor City before joining Liverpool, where she was the regular first-choice gloveswoman between 2003-2012, winning the FA WSL Goalkeeper of the Year award.
She later had spells with Rochdale, Chelsea and Doncaster Belles before signing for Reading in 2014.
Later returned to Doncastle before signing for Sheffield United in 2018-19. Announced her retirement from football in July 2019.

Mayzee Davies (defender)

Tremendous young defender who stood out for Cymru in their recent Nations League clash in Italy, where she won her third full cap.
Hailing from Flint, where she attended the town’s high school, this 18-year-old star plays her club football with Manchester City.
Mayzee started playing at Flint at 7, then moved on to Llandudno for a season before signing for Everton aged 9.
She had a season with the Toffees before being offered a switch to Manchester City a year later.
After five seasons there, she joined Manchester United.
Mayzee represented Wales at under-15, U17 and U19 level, before stepping up to the full squad.

Katie Williams (now Davies – defender)

Davies is a former Wales defender who won 20 full caps for her country between 2004-10..
Strong in the tackle and with excellent ball skills, she was part of the all-conquering Bangor City squad of the early millennium before later joining Tranmere Rovers and Blackburn Rovers.
She spent the 2008 off-season in the American W-League with the Fredericksburg Lady Gunners but suffered a damaged cruciate ligament.
Between 2009-11, Davies played for WSL club Liverpool. Returned to Caernarfon Town in her later career.
Married to Huw since 2016, Katie is now a mother-of-two.
She returned to football on a temporary basis this season with Trearddur Bay.

Erica Jones (defender)

Was named the all-time Queen of North Wales football in 2021 in a poll involving 30 players past and present.
Very strong, well-organised defender.
Erica has spent most of her career with Pwllheli, with whom she reached the Welsh Cup Final in 2006, but in the 2017-18 season joined Caernarfon Town after the Canaries were promoted to the Welsh Premier.
She later returned to Pwllheli as a player, coach and manager and led the team to the inaugural North Wales Women’s League title last season with a 100% record.
This season Erica remains a key player, having recently scored in a 4-3 win at Kinmel Bay.
Pwllheli are still in contention for a NWWFL title, NEWFA Challenge Cup and Betty Pickering Cup treble.

Louisha Doran (defender)

A great player over a number of seasons whose career would have been even more successful but for injuries.
In 2023-24 she joined a Wrexham AFC Women team embarking on its first adventure in the Tier 1 Adran Premier and was outstanding over the first dozen games before suffering knee damage.
Former Wales Under-17 international who was part of the fantastic Kinmel Bay side which reached the 2012 Under-16 Welsh Cup final.
Was with Everton as a teenager and later represented Tranmere Rovers before a great spell at Llandudno in the Welsh Premier League. October 2017 saw her win the WPWL Player of the Month award after scoring eight goals in three league matches.
Later played for Chester and rejoined Llandudno before signing for Wrexham.
Has been out of action since January 2024 after suffering a bad injury in an Adran Trophy tie against Cardiff City.

Katie Louise Bowe (midfield)

Midfield genius still registered as a player with CPD Pwllheli but is currently recovering from injury
Katie represented North Wales sides all through her youth and featured in the Wales Under-17 national squads for matches against Switzerland and England.
With highly respected women’s football coach Keith Fearns a major influence, in her late teens Katie became a key player in the successful Caernarfon Town ladies teams which won the Welsh Premier Women’s League Northern Conference title twice.
Later went on to star for Llandudno, netting 21 goals in her best season of 2015-16, creating history when her 25-yard stunner in the Welsh Cup Final made her the first-ever woman to be included in Sgorio’s Goal of the Month competition.
Returned to Caernarfon Town and had a spell with Mountain Rangers, scoring seven goals in one game, before signing for Pwllheli in 2021-22.

Anna Jones (midfield)

Hard-working, tough-tackling, skilful midfielder who has had the guts and ambition to test herself in the English pyramid with Chester and Tranmere Rovers over the past five seasons.
Before that, Anna was an outstanding performer with Bethel, Caernarfon Town and Llandudno.
She won the North Wales League title and Betty Pickering Cup double with Caernarfon in 2016-17, scoring 16 goals.
Anna also stood out for Llandudno in the Welsh Premier in 2018-19 before joining Chester in 2019-20 after Tudno resigned from the top flight.
She has also scooped the BUCS League championship with Bangor University Women’s FC twice.

Cheryl Foster (striker)

After starting her career at Conwy Devils, deadly striker Foster moved to Bangor City and was the club’s Northern Division top-scorer in every season from 1999–00 to 2002–03, also representing the Citizens in Europe.
In 2003 she moved to Liverpool, where she stayed until 2012. In 2009/10 she was Northern Division leading scorer with 16 goals as the Reds stormed to the title. Foster then went on to play for Liverpool in the WSL.
She won 63 Wales caps between 1997 and 2011 and is now a highly-respected referee who in 2015 made the FIFA international list and went on to officiate at the World Cup.
Recently announced her retirement from refereeing.

Mari Gibbard (attacking midfield)

Has become a key player for a Wrexham AFC Women’s side which has made a major impact in the Adran Premier League and reached a Welsh Cup final.
The 26-year-old joined the Dragons in February 2023 and recently made her 50th appearance for the team.
She was part of the side which lifted the 2022-23 Adran North title and then beat Briton Ferry Llansawel in a play-off to reach the Tier 1 Adran Premier.
Mari previously starred for Bethel, CPDM Y Felinheli and Llandudno, who she previously represented in the former Welsh Premier Women’s League and was their top-scorer with 15 goals in 2018-19.
In May 2010, Mari scored a hat-trick as the girls of Ysgol Brynrefail, Llanrug, beat Cwmtawe 11-1 in the Welsh Schools Under-13 Cup Final at Park Hall, home of The New Saints.
She is also an international, having represented Wales Universities in football.

Elise Hughes (striker)

One of the very few players from North Wales who has been a regular part of the Welsh Women’s senior squad in recent seasons.
Recently made a welcome return from an ACL injury to feature for Crystal Palace in the FA Women’s Championship and Cymru in the Nations League.
She has won 23 caps for her country, scoring three goals.
Hailing from Hawarden, Elise has also played for Everton, Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic.

Ceryl Jones (winger)

Regarded by many as the North Wales G.O.A.T
In an accomplished, goal-packed career Jones started off with Bangor City Girls, joined Everton, returned to Farrar Road and then signed for Liverpool before finishing on a high with Caernarfon Town.
Ceryl, known popularly as ‘Giggsy’. won three Welsh Cups with Bangor in 1997, 2001 and 2002, scoring in all three finals.
She also represented City in the 2002/03 Uefa Cup.
A dazzling wide player who excelled at taking players on, Ceryl scored goals for fun, specialising in free kicks.
Was a tremendous performer for both Merseyside clubs. In 1999 she scored in a penalty shoot-out victory for Everton over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.
Retired aged 30, rounding off a glittering career by winning trophies with Caernarfon Town.