It’s a return to Flint Town United for Shannon and Becca
Two players with strong past associations with Flint Town United have rejoined the club.
Shannon Hobbs and Rebecca Hughes have both signed for the Silkwomen for the 2025-26 season.
One of North Wales women’s football’s finest strikers, Shannon, 26, switches to Flint from Connah’s Quay Nomads.
The proven goal-getter will be itching to get back to action, having not played since January 2024 because of a serious knee injury.
Shannon began playing football around the age of 10 and her first team was the successful boys’ side Flint Juniors.
In 2014, a 15-year-old Shannon earned selection for the Wales Under-17 side, being named in a 17-strong squad for a development tournament in Lithuania, which also featured Latvia and Ukraine.
She was later picked for the Wales U17 party which played two matches against Northern Ireland. Another personal highlight was playing in Spain with the U-16 Wales development squad.
By the 2014-15 domestic season, Shannon had plenty of experience under her belt and became a key player for Prestatyn Girls Under-16’s.
After winning the North Wales Girls U-16 League title, the team went on to lift the Welsh Cup, beating Coed Duon Dragons of Gwent 4-0 in the final at Latham Park, Newtown.
Shannon netted Prestatyn’s second goal.
The team completed a treble when they defeated Caernarfon 3-0 in the League Cup Final at Colwyn Bay.
Shannon stepped up to senior football the following season, playing for Rhyl in the Welsh Premier Women’s League before later joining Northop Hall, who ended up 2015/16 North Wales Women’s League champions.
In 2016, Shannon was selected for the Wales Under-19 squad and switched clubs to Prestatyn.
She remained there before joining the exciting new Connah’s Quay Nomads side for 2019-20.
Although the season was cut short because of Covid-19, Nomads made it to the last four of the Welsh Cup, and came runners-up in North Wales Division Two. Shannon netted five goals that term.
She has gone on to become Nomads’ second all-time highest goalscorer with 48 goals.
After her five goals in 2019-20, she netted 17 in 2021-22, then 13 in both 2022-23 and 2023-24. Shannon also won three successive NEWFA Challenge Cups with the Nomads, scoring in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 (2) finals.
Hailing from Flint and a former pupil of the town’s St Richard Gwyn RC High School, Shannon’s assets include her speed, strength and ball control. She is capable of accurate long passes as well as pinpoint corners and on target shots.
She now joins her hometown team, where she is already a popular figure among the players.
REBECCA HUGHES SIGNS
Midfielder Becca joins Flint Town United from Wirral Phoenix.
She has previously played for Northop Hall as well as Flint, which is where her footballing journey all started.
A footballer from a very young age, Rebecca’s journey saw her play for: Shotton Steel boys under 6-10, Flint Town United girls under 10-12, Chester & District girls under 12-16, Northop Hall girls and ladies – and Wirral Phoenix, of the Liverpool County FA Open Age League, who she joined in 2020
With Northop Hall she was part of the 2017-18 double-winning side which scooped the North Wales Women’s League and NEWFA Cup, beating Denbigh Town 4-1 in the final.
She once won the Cheshire Cup Final with Chester under 16’s, scoring the winner in the final.
Among her other footballing adventures, Rebecca has been a long-time coach for Flint Town United youngsters.
A strong tackling midfielder, Becca will add bite in the centre for the Silkwomen.