What a week for Lili Mai Jones – one of North Wales football’s finest young talents

It’s been a fantastic week for Wrexham AFC Women player Lili Mai Jones!

As well as winning two awards at the club’s end-of-season presentations, it was announced Lili will be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru at the Wrecsam National Eisteddfod in August.

The 19-year-old is a key figure in the ever-rising profile of Wrexham AFC and women’s football in Wales.

She began to make her mark playing for Everton’s Under 16 Youth Women’s team in the FA Girls’ England Talent Pathway League from 2019 to 2021.

Lili scored twice on her senior debut for Wrexham in an 8-3 loss to CPDM Y Felinheli in an Adran North match in September 2021.

A prolific markswoman in that 2021-22 season for the Under-19s, netting nine times in six games, she also made 10 first team appearances.

Lili’s tremendous progress continued in 2022-23, lifting the Adran North League title with a Wrexham side which won all 12 games, as well as scoring 15 in 12 outings for the U19s and featuring for Wales Under-17s in the European Championships against Sweden.

The teenager shone brightly in 2023-24 as the Red Dragons went up to the Adran Premier and finished third, as well as reaching the Welsh Cup Final. She made 26 appearances for the first team in total.

Last season saw Lili again prove a key player as Wrexham achieved another top-four finish in the Premier, having exploded into dazzling form in phase 2, and made it to the Welsh Cup Final again. In 2024-25, she made 25 appearances and the most starts of any player in the squad.

Her current stats for Wrexham’s first team read: 78 appearances and 11 goals.

AWARDS

For a second consecutive season, midfielder Lili was recently presented with the Young Player of the Season award by Wrexham.

Having also picked up the Genero Adran Premier Young Player of the Season for 2023/24, she has continued to develop both on and off the pitch, establishing herself as a key component in the side.

Lili said: “I’m massively pleased to have been awarded young player of the season for the second time. At the time, it was a bit of a shock for me – I’m lucky to be surrounded by some unbelievable players and I think that there’s plenty of players who are worthy of the award.”

Goal of the Season

Lili’s second award came from her fantastic late winner against TNS in February, keeping the Red Dragons’ top four hopes alive from distance.

Her thunderous strike outside the box into the top-right corner was a true stunner.

Speaking about that game, Lili told the Wrexham AFC website: “That goal against TNS was so important and being able to provide the winner is such a big highlight and something that will stick with me forever.

“We gave ourselves a fighting chance to get top four, and to do that in a derby is always something that I will remember.

“It was a tough game, and Liz (Craven) put in a massive performance to keep us in it so it was nice to make sure all that hard work paid off in the end.”

NATIONAL HONOUR

Lili was this week named as one of those to be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru at the Wrecsam National Eisteddfod.

These accolades, presented annually, recognise individuals from all parts of the country for their achievements and their commitment to Wales, its language and their local communities across the whole of Wales.

This year’s individuals will be honoured at special ceremonies on the Eisteddfod Maes on Monday 4 August and Friday 8 August.

In announcing Lili as a Blue Robe recipient, Eisteddfod organisers wrote: “She is the face and voice of that revolution.

“Having played for the Wrexham Club Academy since she was 12, she played for Everton for two seasons before rejoining Wrexham and has won several international caps for her country at under 15 and under 17 levels.

“She is a familiar voice on radio and television, discussing the growing influence of football on the physical and mental health of young women, but beyond that, she is also a Welsh presence on programmes broadcast around the world, bringing attention to Wrexham and the Welsh language.”