Football

RECAP: Night of the Nomads at Cymru Leagues awards

Connah’s Quay Nomads captain Polly Wild-McGregor had a night to remember at the FAW National League awards. She won Genero Adran North Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and the Golden Boot. Pictures: ASHLEY CROWDEN/FAW – massive thanks

It was the Night of the Nomads at the FAW National League Awards in Cardiff last Saturday evening.

Connah’s Quay Nomads picked up SIX accolades at an event of celebration for Welsh domestic football.

Nomads landed the following prizes:

  • Polly Wild McGregor – TREBLE success! Adran North Player and Young Player of the Season, plus the Golden Boot for her 21 league goals
  • Rhys Hughes – Cymru Premier Player of the Season
  • Jordan Parry – Adran North Manager of the Season
  • Molly France – Adran North Golden Glove

While the Nomads men’s team uncharacteristically failed to finish in the Cymru Premier top six, they did reach the Welsh Cup final.

However, the women’s side truly did the club proud, landing a first Tier 2 Adran North League title with a perfect record of 14 straight wins.

Unfortunately, they just missed out on promotion to the Adran Premier after losing 3-2 to Pontypridd United in the play-off final.
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At last week’s Cardiff showpiece there were also three awards for Colwyn Bay and two each for Caernarfon Town and Airbus UK Broughton.

Winners announced on the night were decided by a public vote combined with an independent panel.

JD CYMRU PREMIER

JD Cymru Premier Player of the Season – Rhys Hughes (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Rhys Hughes was named Cymru Premier Player of the Season. Picture: Ashley Crowden/FAW

A dream debut season in the Cymru Premier for the former Wales Under-21 international.
The 23-year-old midfielder played in all 32 league matches for Nomads, netting 15 goals.
Formerly with Everton, Tranmere Rovers, Chester and Curzon Ashton, the Wrexham-born Hughes notched 17 goals in all competitions for the Quay in 2024-25.

JD Cymru Premier Manager of the Season – Craig Harrison (The New Saints)

JD Cymru Premier Young Player of the Season – Louis Lloyd (Caernarfon Town)

Louis Lloyd was joint Golden Boot winner and Cymru Premier Young Player of the Season. Picture: Ashley Crowden/FAW

Became the first Caernarfon Town player ever to win the Cymru Premier Golden Boot, sharing the award with Penybont’s James Crole on 16 goals.
The 21-year-old then added another five goals in the European Play-Offs, hitting four in a 5-2 win over Barry Town United and bagging a consolation in the Cofis’ 3-1 final defeat against Haverfordwest.

JD Cymru Premier Golden Boot (shared) – Louis Lloyd (Caernarfon Town) and James Crole (Penybont)

Another accolade on the night for Lloyd, who was also in the frame for overall Player of the Season.
His 16 goals in the regular league season came as follows: Cardiff Met University 1, Barry Town United 1, Cardiff Met 2, The New Saints 1, Newtown 1, Barry Town United 2, Aberystwyth Town 1, The New Saints 1, Haverfordwest 1, Bala Town 2, Haverfordwest 1, Penybont 1, Cardiff Met 1.

JD CYMRU NORTH

JD Cymru North Player of the Season – Sam Hart (Colwyn Bay)

Sam Hart. Picture: GERAINT NICHOLAS/FAW

Captain Hart’s third campaign with the Bay ended in joy as the Seagulls were crowned JD Cymru North champions for the second time in three seasons.
In 25 games, Hart helped the Seagulls keep a league-high 13 clean sheets and registered 7 assists.
The former Bangor City, Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town United left-back was very consistent throughout 2024-25 for the Bay.

JD Cymru North Manager of the Season – Michael Wilde (Colwyn Bay)

Cymru North Manager of the Season Michael Wilde. Picture: ASHLEY CROWDEN

Cymru Premier legend Wilde, fourth highest scorer in the league’s history with 235 goals, is on his way back to the top flight as a manager after a great debut season in charge of the Bay.
Things did not start too well with a 4-0 defeat at home to Bangor 1876, but the Seagulls went unbeaten in 29 games after that, winning 26 of them and finishing up champions three points ahead of Airbus.
Wilde and assistant Danny Harrison signed a new three-year deal at Colwyn Bay before the end of the season.

JD Cymru North Young Player of the Season – Kaiden Cooke (Airbus UK Broughton)

Brilliant 18-year-old prospect scored seven goals in 28 JD Cymru North games for Airbus during the season and established himself as an important part of Mark Allen’s side.
His dazzling skills and ability to glide past opponents made him a must-watch attacker.
Helped the Wingmakers land a terrific treble of Welsh Blood Service League Cup Northern and National, plus the NEWFA Challenge Cup.

JD Cymru North Golden Boot – Danny Warren (Airbus UK Broughton)

Goal king Danny Warren. Picture: Ashley Crowden/FAW

This absolute goal machine joined Airbus at the start of the season and delivered the goods in no uncertain terms.
Having netted more than 150 times for previous club Mold Alexandra, Warren finished up the Cymru North’s leading hitman with 24 goals in 27 appearances. In all competitions he pocketed 28 goals in 39 games.

JD Cymru North Golden Glove – Rhys Williams (Colwyn Bay)

Well done Colwyn Bay goalkeeper Rhys Williams. Picture: Ashley Crowden/FAW

Played in 28 league games for the Cymru North champions and kept 14 clean sheets, not conceding once in Bay’s closing five matches.

GENERO ADRAN LEAGUES

Genero Adran North Player of the Season – Polly Wild-McGregor (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Was named Connah’s Quay Nomads captain at the start of the season and went from strength to strength.
Led Nomads to the Ardal North title with a perfect record of 14 straight wins and was league top scorer with 21 goals, netting 30 in all competitions.

Genero Adran North Manager of the Season – Jordan Parry (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

In his fourth season as manager Parry made some outstanding summer signings and moulded together no ordinary title-winning side, but one which won the Tier 2 league with an immaculate record of 14 consecutive wins.
Although the Deesiders were defeated in the promotion play-off, Parry still oversaw a remarkable season for the Nomads, who scored 67 goals and conceded just six in their championship success.

Genero Adran North Young Player of the Season – Polly Wild-McGregor (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Led her team to the title with such maturity, yet is still only 19 years old.
Polly’s leadership qualities came to the fore in a Nomads side including several players older than her, yet she was a figure everyone looked up to.
Winning Player of the Season and securing the Young Player award as well says it all.

Genero Adran North Golden Boot – Polly Wild McGregor (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Polly with her Golden Boot award. Picture: ASHLEY CROWDEN

Competing a terrific treble, Polly was also leading goal-getter in the Ardal North with 21 in 12 matches, registering four hat-tricks.
Her goals came as follows: Llanfair United 3, CPD Y Rhyl 1879 1, Flint Town United 1. Llandudno 2, CPDM Bangor 3, Flint Town United 2, Llandudno 3, CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2. CPDM Bangor 3, NFA 1

Genero Adran North Golden Glove – Molly France (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

Molly France. Picture: FAW

Five clean sheets kept in the nine league games she played for the 2024-25 Adran North champions.
Produced some fantastic performances over the season, including in the promotion play-off final defeat to Pontypridd United. Brave, great shot stopper.

Special Recognition Award – Cheryl Foster

Cheryl Foster received a special recognition award. Picture: GERAINT NICHOLAS/FAW

Former referee Cheryl Foster, the first female to officiate in the Cymru Premier in 2018, was presented with a special recognition award.
Foster called time on her refereeing career earlier this year having officiated at the Women’s Euro 2022, the 2023 Women’s World Cup and Women’s Champions League final.
She enjoyed an equally successful playing career, during which she starred for Liverpool and Bangor City, also gaining 63 Wales caps.

Genero Adran Premier Player of the Season – Shannon Evans (Cardiff City)

Genero Adran Premier Manager of the Season – Rhys James (Briton Ferry Llansawel)

Genero Adran Premier Young Player of the Season – Fiona Barry (Cardiff City)

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