Promoted! Holyhead Hotspur return to the level they have played at for 21 of their 34 seasons

Lock Stock Ardal Northern League Play-Off Final

CPD Llanuwchllyn 0
Holyhead Hotspur 3 (C Williams 33 & 78, I Jones 70)

After a two-year absence Holyhead Hotspur are heading back up to where they truly belong – the Tier 2 JD Cymru North.

Darren Garmey’s side ensured they return to the level of football where they have spent most time as a club with a 3-0 Ardal Northern Play-Off Final victory over Llanuwchllyn at Y Traeth on Friday night.

Formed in 1990, Hotspur have operated for 21 of their 34 seasons in either the Tier 2 Cymru Alliance or Cymru North.

They have been a Tier 3 club for six seasons, competed for six in the former Anglesey League during their early days and were a Gwynedd League outfit for just the one campaign.

Holyhead pushed themselves into the promotion positions with a fine end-of-season run where they scooped 20 points out of a possible 27 to finish in second spot.

Although third in Ardal North East, Llanuwchllyn made the play-off as second-placed Bow Street did not apply to go up.

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 and Brickfield Rangers had already sealed their Tier 2 status for next season after winning the respective Ardal North West and North East titles.

Hotspur had lost at the Traeth three weeks earlier to Porthmadog in their final league match, but the runners-up berth was already in the bag.

Watched by a superb crowd of 1,149, the Holy Islanders took the lead in the 33rd minute when James Phillips set up Cory Williams for the opener.

The lead was doubled in the 70th minute through Ifan Emlyn Jones and with 78 gone Williams was on target again with his 23rd goal in all competitions this season, Jacob Godsman-Pilling providing the assist.

Llanuwchllyn finished with 10 men after Dan Dascalu was red-carded in the 82nd minute.

HOTSPUR LINE-UP

Guto Hughes
James Phillips
Kyle Murphy
Tomos Owen
Alex Jones (c)
Ifan Emlyn Jones (Mitchell Jones 83)
Corey Jones (Craig Whelan 89)
Jack Walsh (Morgan Davies 90+2)
Cory Williams (Kenleigh Owen 89)
Tomi Llywelyn (Shay Murphy 83)
Jacob Godsman-Pilling

Manager: Darren Garmey
Assistant-Manager: Mike Kelly
Coach: Alex Lynch
First aider: Tony Maguire

HOLYHEAD HOTSPUR COMPLETE LEAGUE RECORD (1990-91 to 2024-25)

Played 1015
Won 486
Draws 179
Lost 350
Goals For 2226
Goals Against 1689

• Hotspur’s 1,000th league game was a 4-0 win at Menai Bridge Tigers on January 11, 2025