Transfer news: Special focus on Blue Bridge, Llay Welfare, Porthmadog and Glantraeth
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Jonny Bravo-Pinto (Flint Mountain to Porthmadog)
After a very brief stay at Flint Mountain – one appearance, one goal – Portuguese striker Bravo moves fto Ardal North West club Porthmadog.
Skilful, dynamic front man who signed for CPD Y Rhyl 1879 from AFC Liverpool at the start of 2024-25.
Made 34 appearances for the Lilywhites and scored 10 goals as the team was crowned tier 3 Ardal North West League champions.
Released by 1879 this summer and snapped up by Flint Mountain, but has quickly relocated to Y Traeth.
Arden Gisbourne (CPD Llannerchymedd to Porthmadog)
Scored a magnificent 30 goals for tier 4 Llannerchymedd last season, making him the second highest marksman on Ynys Môn.
Was also with Medd the season before and spent the previous two campaigns with Amlwch Town.
Tier 3 will be a big test of the 20-year-old’s abilities.
Jonny Taylor (Lex XI to Connah’s Quay Town)
Renowned goalscorer who was with Lex XI last season as well as leading the very successful Llay Welfare Vets side.
Other former clubs include Wrexham, Burnley, Shrewsbury Town, Bradford Park Avenue, Flint Town United, Buckley Town, Mold Alexandra, Gresford Athletic, Cefn Druids, Llay Welfare and CPD Y Rhyl 1879.
Notched 30 goals in all competitions for Llay in 2021-22.
A former Wales Under-15 and U-16 international, he represented Cefn Druids in the Europa League v FK Trakai of Lithuania in July 2018.
His biggest strengths as a striker are scoring goals and holding the ball up.
Josh Cooke (Conwy Borough to Porthmadog)
Experienced keeper who joins Port as a replacement for Ollie Farebrother, who has signed for both Prestatyn Town and latterly Rhyl 1879 this summer.
Cooke’s former clubs include Conwy Borough, CPD Y Rhyl 1879, Brickfield Rangers, Saltney Town, Prestatyn Town in the Cymru North and Hawarden Rangers.
Sam Reynolds (CPD Y Rhyl 1879 to Porthmadog)
Midfielder who has played in the Cymru North for Mold Alexandra and Ruthin Town, as well as in tier 3 for Connah’s Quay Town, Saltney Town and CPD Y Rhyl 1879, where he filled an important role in last season’s Ardal North West title-winning squad.
Jamie Ryan Jones (CPD Boded to Llanrwst United)
Centre-back joins Llanrwst from CPD Boded, where he spent the latter part of last season having earlier been at Menai Bridge Tigers.
Won promotion from the North Wales Coast West Premier Division with Tigers in 2023-24 and the season before was part of the Bodedern Athletic tier 4 championship-winning side.
Sam Roberts (to Llanrwst United)
Defender returns to Gwydir Park after a couple of seasons away from football.
Last played for the Rwsters in 2022-23 and before that had a spell with Bangor 1876.
Louis Gizzi (CPD Y Glannau to Rhos United)
Caught the eye last season after scoring 24 goals in 20 appearances for Y Glannau’s Development team.
Now excited to test his skills in tier 4 with newly-promoted Rhos United.
Earlier playing stints came with St Asaph City Development and Gronant Under-19s.
The 21-year-old said: “I’m excited to join Rhos and challenge myself in Tier 4. I’m looking forward to playing alongside my brothers and my new team-mates. I can’t wait to get started and show the lads what I can do.”
Rhos manager Richard Hillier-Evans: “He’s someone I’ve been after from the very start. Technically gifted and with a real eye for goal, he’s going to be massive for us this season. I can’t wait to see him develop even further.”
SEVEN NEW NAMES AT GLANTRAETH
Harry Collins Jones (Caergybi to Glantraeth)
Made 20 appearances last season for a Caergybi side which won the Menai Tractors Cup and finished runners-up in North Wales Coast West Division One.
Harry was a substitute in the Menai Tractors final, where Caergybi defeated league champions Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs on penalties.
The previous season saw him represent Holyhead Town.
Iolo Jones (Caergybi to Glantraeth)
Former Aberffraw player who joined Caergybi last season and was part of the Menai Tractors Cup winning side as well as in the team which lost to Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs in the NWCFA Junior Cup final.
Liam McCann
Experienced player returns to a club he represented in previous seasons.
Other former teams include Beaumaris Town.
Dan Rylance
Last played in the 2021-22 season for Nantlle Vale Development and before that was at CPD Penrhyndeudraeth.
Tom Mummery (Llanfairpwll to Glantraeth)
Aged 19, has been a Llanfairpwll player since 2022-23, making 71 appearances and scoring eight goals.
Previously with Colwyn Bay Academy and Llanfairpwll Under-16s.
Has now decided to opt for a change of scenery at Glantraeth.
Tommy Evans
Eighteen-year-old previously with Llangefni Under-15 and U17s, Gwalchmai and Gaerwen Development, who he made a handful of appearances for last season.
Chris Isreal Oluwadamilare (CPD Gaerwen to Glantraeth)
Nigerian player who made 15 appearances for the CPD Gaerwen Development team last season.
FIVE FOR LLAY MINERS WELFARE
Fre Tewolde
Made 13 appearances in Ardal North West for Conwy Borough last season, scoring one goal.
Has impressed with his experience and sharpness in training with new club Llay.
Charlie Cottis (Flint Mountain Reserves to Llay Miners Welfare)
Scored 17 goals in 24 appearances last season for an impressive Flint Mountain Reserves side which finished behind only champions The New Saints in the FAW Reserve League North East.
Also featured in one Cymru North game for Mountain.
Has stood out with his energy and attitude since joining the Welly.
Cameron Dutton
Goalkeeper returns to Llay after ending last season at Lex XI.
Spent some of the pre-season with Rhyl 1879, but has now rejoined Welfare, where he played last term until the end of December.
Just 20, but plenty of clubs on his CV, having also turned out for Brickfield Rangers, Penycae and Cefn Druids,
Jack Williams
Has spent most of the past two seasons with Flint Mountain, mainly featuring for the accomplished reserve side.
Was with Hawarden Rangers for two Ardal North West campaigns, and prior to that was at Flint Town United, making a couple of Cymru Premier appearances.
Also progressed with Flint Town United Development and Hawarden Rangers Development teams.
Lewis Fearns
Featured for Saltney Town in the 2023-24 Ardal North West season and made a handful of Cymru North appearances for Prestatyn Town the previous campaign.
Jacob Dempsey (Flint Town United to Connah’s Quay Town)
Nineteen-year-old defender who signs for tier 3 Connah’s Quay Town from Flint Town United, where he mainly represented the Development side.
Quay manager Gary McConnell said: “Really pleased to add Jacob to the squad, at 6 ft 7 he gives us height in both boxes!.
“Jacob has worked extremely hard throughout pre-season, still only 19 years old he is very coachable and a great lad to have around the squad.”
FOUR MORE NEW ARRIVALS FOR BLUE BRIDGE
Kyle Lally
Having scored 25 goals in 50 appearances for Rhyl Albion over the past two seasons, Blue Bridge can feel confident they have landed a proven goal-getter in 25-year-old Lally.
Previous clubs include Bow, where he was a prolific marksman for the Development team, and Rhyl Dragons.
Bridge manager Jordie Baker said: “This is one I’ve chased for the whole of pre-season.
“Kyle wasn’t short of offers but he could see the ambition we have at the club and the chance to enjoy his football. Kyle needs no introduction and is a known goalscorer. So pleased to get this one over the line.”
Lewis Evans
Midfielder who spent the last three seasons with the now folded Rhyl Albion.
Evans said: “Since I started training with the club it was a no brainer for me to sign on. It’s good seeing a number of lads I have played with previously also sign on to hopefully see an improvement in results this season.
“On a personal perspective, having not played for a couple of seasons consistently, I am hoping to be given a chance to be able to get back to my best and enjoy a successful season.”
Josh Jones
Quality playmaker is another who chose Bridge as his club after the unfortunate demise of Rhyl Albion.
Blue Bridge manager Jordie Baker: “This signing I am excited about the most. Josh’s footballing brain is second to none. Watching him slice defenses open has been a joy to watch in pre pre-season. The game or two we haven’t had him in you can see we miss him. Hopefully he will record assists for fun this season.”
Leo Sayburn
New face Sayburn brings not just footballing ability but also a great personality to the revamped Blue Bridge for the 2025-26 season.
Manager Jordie Baker: “Leo joined us late on in pre season and he’s given us a different dimension to the team, a strong player with good ability too. On top of that he’s a good lad too. One non-negotiable for my signings is they have to fit the squad not only ability wise, but as a person too and he definitely ticks that box.”