Football

Let’s celebrate North Wales football’s invincibles – past and present

The greatest invincibles ever? Rhyl FC – Cymru Alliance League champions 2012-13

Going through an entire league campaign unbeaten is quite a feat.

Penmaenmawr Phoenix and Rhos United did it this season – that’s around eight to nine months without suffering a single loss.

So, how often do these seasons of invincibility occur?

They are more frequent than you might think, although few and far between enough to be classed as rare – and every example is a special achievement.

Let’s check out some of the best unbeatables of recent seasons…..

2024-25

PENMAENMAWR PHOENIX
North Wales Coast East Premier Division champions – Played 28 Won 22 Drawn 6 Lost 0 Goals For 106 Goals Against 21

The greatest season in this proud club’s history saw them not only win their league, but also the coveted NWCFA Intermediate Cup and Cookson Cup too.
In the league, they had to overcome some tough hurdles, especially in the demanding closing weeks, but they kept finding a way to get results.

RHOS UNITED
North Wales Coast East Division One champions – Played 24 Won 19 Drawn 5 Lost 0 Goals For 108 Goals Against 19

After dominating for the vast majority of the season, Rhos had to pull out all the stops to finish up invincibles, their last three league games ending in draws.
The club won its first league title since 1981-82 with three games to spare and goalkeeper Richard Hillier-Evans kept a remarkable 14 clean sheets in 24 matches.

2022-23 and 2023-24

TREARDDUR BAY
2022-23 – North Wales Coast West Division One champions – Played 26 Won 24 Drawn 2 Lost 0 Goals For 141 Goals Against 16
2023-24 – North Wales Coast West Premier Division champions – Played 28 Won 25 Drawn 3 Lost 0 Goals For 104 Goals Against 27

Trearddur Bay’s double-winning squad of 2022-23. Picture: SEAN CHADWICK

Achieving one invincible league season is hard enough – to do it twice back-to-back is phenomenal!
Relaunched as Trearddur Bay FC in 2022-23, the Beach Boys went 54 league matches without a loss in lifting the North Wales Coast West Division One and Premier titles in successive campaigns.
Of those 54 games, 49 were wins and Bay scored 245 goals, 102 of them supplied by North Wales’ most prolific striker of them all – Asa Thomas.
This season, Bay needed to avoid defeat in their first two league matches to set a new North Wales record of 56 unbeaten, but in their first tier 3 Ardal North West game, they were unfortunate enough to run into Holyhead Hotspur first up, losing 2-0.

2023-24

BOW FC
North Wales Coast East Division One champions – Played 20 Won 19 Drawn 1 Lost 0 Goals For 106 Goals Against 30

In just their second season since formation, Prestatyn-based Bow FC not only won their Tier 5 Division One title, but did so without a single defeat.
Inspired by the goals of Robbie Parry, Loui O’Carroll and Kie Ellis, Bow were unstoppable,

BONTNEWYDD
North Wales Coast West Division One champions – Played 22 Won 20 Drawn 2 Lost 0 Goals For 77 Goals Against 18

Simon Jones led Bont to an unbeaten season in North Wales Coast West Division One, goals from the likes of Luke Phillips and Alex Kalafusz proving vital.

2022-23

CPD CAERWYS
North East Wales League Championship runners-up – Played 20 Won 16 Drawn 4 Lost 0 Goals For 80 Goals Against 28

Here’s an unusual one – Caerwys did not lose a single league match in 2022-23, yet had to be content with second place as Ruabon Rovers, who were beaten twice, pipped them to the title on goal difference.

2021-22

CPD Y RHYL 1879
North Wales Coast East Premier Division champions – Played 26 Won 24 Drawn 2 Lost 0 Goals For 116 Goals Against 20

Gareth Thomas’ newly-formed Rhyl 1879, a phoenix club which emerged after the demise of Rhyl FC. were untouchable in their first season as a Tier 4 outfit.
No-one got near the Lilywhites except CPD Llannefydd, who drew with them twice, but finished 15 points behind them in the league and lost 2-0 to the Belle Vue side in the Cookson Cup final. Top-scorers in the league were Rhyl’s Carl Lamb (27) and Kie Ellis (24).

2019-20

BANGOR 1876
Gwynedd League champions – Played 16 Won 16 Goals For 115 Goals Against 9

The final Gwynedd League champions before the North Wales pyramid was restructured were probably one of the very best – newly-formed Bangor 1876.
While Bangor City were in all sorts of turmoil, 1876 set up as a fan-owned club to protect the future of football in Bangor.
Had not all cup competitions been scrapped due to the season finishing in March because of Covid, 1876 would probably have won the lot.
The mighty 1876, Les Davies, Dylan Summers-Jones, Jamie Petrie and all, were far too strong for Tier 5.

NFA
Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One champions – Played 12 Won 10 Drawn 0 Lost 0

LLYSFAEN
Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One runners-up – Played 11 Won 9 Drawn 2 Lost 0

Both these sides ended their league campaign in March 2020 unbeaten, but the early cessation meant the title-winners were decided on PPG (points-per-game)

2018-19

PLAS MADOC
Welsh National League Division One champions – Played 22 Won 20 Drawn 2 Lost 0 Goals For 106 Goals Against 26

No stopping the Wrexham side in this season as they swept to the Division One title by a massive 19 points.

FLINT MOUNTAIN
North East Wales League – Played 20 Won 18 Drawn 2 Lost 0 Goals For 111 Goals Against 20

This was some season for Mountain, a Tier 5 club at this time.
Not only did they win the former North East Wales League title as invincibles, they also landed the Horace Wynne Cup, Presidents Cup and Mike Beech Memotial Trophy to make it a quality quadruple.
Nowadays they fly much higher in Tier 2 Cymru North.

CPD GRONANT
Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One champions – Played 20 Won 17 Drawn 3 Lost 0 Goals For 115 Goals Against 26

Unstoppable in this season, Gronant – then known as Llanelwy Athletic – had a debut campaign to remember as they won their division without loss in 20 matches and scored a lot of goals.

Pic by Nik Mesney/FAW

SHALL WE GO FURTHER BACK……

FC NOMADS OF CONNAH’S QUAY
Clwyd League Division Two champions 2009/10; – Played 20 Won 20; Clwyd League Division One champions 2010/11 – Played 24 Won 23 Drawn 1; Welsh National League Division One champions 2013/14; Played 20 Won 20

With three full unbeaten league seasons on their record, are the Connah’s Quay based Nomads the greatest invincibles ever to compete in North Wales football?
The Deesiders, formed in 2009, won every league game over an entire season on TWO occasions.
In 2009/10, they landed the Clwyd League Division Two title with a 20-0 record, topped Division One the following season with a log of 23 victories, one draw and no defeats and then in 2013/14 lifted the Welsh National League Division One championship with a perfect 20-0 slate, piling up 140 goals in the process.
Between August 2009 and February 2012, Nomads went a massive 55 league matches unbeaten before losing 5-3 to Sychdyn.
Nomads won five league titles in their first seven seasons of existence.
In 2019, Nomads of Connah’s Quay withdrew their first team from the WNL.

RHYL FC
Cymru Alliance League champions 2012-13 – Played 30 Won 24 Drawn 6 Goals For 100 Goals Against 24

Rhyl remain the only team in the history of the tier-two Huws Gray Alliance (formerly the Cymru Alliance) or its successor Cymru North to avoid defeat over a full season. As the highest ranked invincibles, does this make them the best unbeatables ever?
Greg Strong’s unstoppables included players like top-marksman Steve Lewis, midfield general Paul McManus and commanding defender Russell Courtney.

PRESTATYN TOWN
Welsh Alliance League champions 2005-06 – Played 30 Won 25 Drawn 5 Lost 0 Goals For 114 Goals Against 28

This was the season where Prestatyn’s remarkable rise to prominence really began.
Dave Fuller’s marvels did not endure a single loss in a magnificent campaign, which included a reported club record 14-0 demolition of Cemaes Bay.
Steve Bowes and Jon Fisher-Cooke provided a huge chunk of the goals, but other top players such as Dave Hayes, Neil Gibson and Jack Lewis played a major role.

TREARDDUR BAY
Gwynedd League champions 2012-13 – Played 22 Won 20 Drawn 2 Lost 0 Goals For 79 Goals Against 24

It was a magnificent season for Mark Williams’ Trearddur Bay side as they coasted to the Gwynedd League title without encountering a single loss.
Bay won their first 20 matches, clinching the championship with a 3-2 victory over Llanfairfechan Town, which included a late winner from Anthony Parry – his 22nd goal of the campaign.
Ian Williams and Martin McClymont also produced plenty of goals for the Lon Isallt side.

CEFN UNITED
Welsh National League Division Two champions 1999-2000 – Played 30 Won 28 Drawn 2 Lost 0 Goals For 184 Goals Against 17

Few teams have caused the sort of stir Cefn United did when they first joined the Welsh National League in 1999/2000.
In their first season, the villagers blitzed their way to the Division Two title with a prolific record of 28 wins, two draws and no defeats in 30 matches, amassing 184 goals in the process.
The next term saw Cefn crowned Division One champions with just a single loss in 28 starts, thus rising to the Premier Division.
United went on to collect the FAW Trophy in 2001/02, but the Premier title eluded them until they left the league in 2007/08.

FC QUEEN’S PARK
North East Wales League champions 2013-14 – Played 20 Won 19 Drawn 1 Lost 0 Goals For 118 Goals Against 17

In the first season of their formation, the late Martin Ford and fellow manager Kevin White guided the Wrexham side to the tier-five North East Wales title without losing a single game.
The Park also lifted the President’s Cup, Horace Wynne and Clwyd Cups to make it a first season quadruple.

HOLYHEAD TOWN
Anglesey League champions 2016-17 – Played 14 Won 12 Drawn 2 Lost 0 Goals For 50 Goals Against 19

On their return to football after a four-season absence Holyhead stormed to the Anglesey League title without losing a game.
Their final record was 12 wins and two draws, with 50 goals scored and 19 conceded. They also won the Lucas Oil and Megan Cups to complete a comeback treble.

BRO GORONWY
Anglesey League champions 2015-16 – Played 14 Won 13 Drawn 1 Lost 0 Goals For 64 Goals Against 11

A great season for Lee Potter’s side as they secured a return to the Gwynedd League with a magical undefeated campaign.

OTHER NOTABLE INVINCIBLES

WELSH ALLIANCE LEAGUE
Denbigh Town (2013/14): Played 28 Won 25 Drawn 3 Lost 0.
Halkyn United (1999/2000): Played 24 Won 19 Drawn 5 Lost 0.

WELSH NATIONAL LEAGUE
Oswestry Town (Premier Division 1994/95): Played 26 Won 24 Drawn 2 Lost 0.

GWYNEDD LEAGUE
Llangefni Town (1989/90): Played 24 Won 22 Drawn 2 Lost 0.
Amlwch Town (1997/98): Played 24 Won 23 Drawn 1 Lost 0.
Bethesda Athletic (1999/2000): Played 28 Won 24 Drawn 4 Lost 0.

ANGLESEY LEAGUE
Holyhead Hotspur (1995/96): Played 26 Won 23 Drawn 3 Lost 0.

WELSH NATIONAL LEAGUE – WREXHAM AREA
Flint Town United (Reserves and Colts Division 2016/17): Played 20 Won 19 Drawn 1 Lost 0

Picture: GEOFF QUINN

VALE OF CONWY LEAGUE INVINCIBLES

1996/97
Llansannan (27-3-0)

1992/93
Mochdre (29-3-0)

1987/88
Blaenau Amateurs (17-3-0)

1986/87
Hotpoint Social Club Llandudno Junction (15-5-0)

1981-82
Rhos United (18-4-0)

1978-79
Llandudno Amateurs (17-5-0)

1974-75
Section A: Llandudno Amateurs (19-3-0)
Section B: Conwy Borough (13-1-0)

1968-69
Section A: Machno United (12-4-0)

1960-61
Machno United (23-3-0)

1959-60
Gwydir Rovers (22-2-0)

1930-31
Craigydon (13-5-0)

1929-30
Conway Casuals (21-2-0)

1924-25
Dolgarrog United (12-2-0)

CAERNARFON AND DISTRICT LEAGUE INVINCIBLES

1958-59
Penrhos United – Played 22 Won 21 Drawn 1 Lost 0 Goals For 104 Goals Against 21

1964-65
Llechid Celts – Played 24 Won 20 Drawn 4 Lost 0 Goals For 109 Goals Against 20

1987-88
CPD Bontnewydd – Played 22 Won 19 Drawn 3 Lost 0 Goals For 91 Goals Against 19

2007-08
Division Two: Caernarfon Wanderers – Played 18 Won 17 Drawn 1 Lost 0 Goals For 70 Goals Against 17

2010-11
Division One: Llanllyfni – Played 20 Won 16 Drawn 4 Lost 0 Goals For 64 Goals Against 26
Division Two: Conwy United Reserves – Played 20 Won 16 Drawn 4 Lost 0 Goals For 64 GA 21

2011-12
Division Two: Machno United – Played 12 Won 10 Drawn 2 Lost 0 Goals For 36 Goals Against 16

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