North Wales Coast Women’s League preview 2025-26 – can Pwllheli be stopped?
The new Llandudno Kia North Wales Coast Women’s Football League kicks off its first season this Sunday, September 7.
Originally, a 10-team league, membership is now down to nine following the folding of Amlwch Town.
With Llangefni Town involved in Genero Adran Trophy action this Sunday, their scheduled game at CPDM Henllan is off, while Denbigh Town have a free date.
CLUBS AND THEIR PROSPECTS
Caernarfon Town
After finishing bottom of the North East Wales League West Division last season, the only way is up for Caernarfon.
Three experienced new additions in club greats Katie Bowe, Elena Julio and Sioned Bohana will certainly boost the squad and help the many promising youngsters in the ranks achieve their potential.
Denbigh Town
Finished second in North East Wales League East Division last season after a strong finish to the campaign and are expected to go well again.
No major signings to report as yet, but Denbigh have an established, experienced squad who should have the beating of quite a few rivals.
CPDM Henllan
This very young side had a great debut season, including an appearance in the Betty Pickering Shield final, but it remains to be seen how they will cope without goal machine Beth Roberts, who scored 53 times last term but has now joined Tier 2 Flint Town United.
Still plenty of talent in the ranks and if they can swell player numbers it could be another good season.
Kinmel Bay
Oustanding last season in finishing third in the West Division, as well as lifting the Betty Pickering Shield.
Will enter league action on the back of NWCFA Challenge Cup wins already over Denbigh Town and Llanystumdwy which have advanced them to the semi-finals.
Alongside the brilliance of 2024-25 top-scorer Amy Chesters will be the ever-flourishing finishing skills of 16-year-old dynamo Lexi Walsh.
Kinmel are strong all-round and can really make an impact this season.
Llangefni Town
After back-to-back second-place finishes, could this be the season they outdo double champions Pwllheli and end up top of the tree?
Llangefni have certainly been busy in the transfer market, bringing in some great signings such as Lowri Thomas, Elin Roberts, Jordan Roberts, Mia Gleave and the colossal Cerys Gadd.
Town have lost Hannah Owen to Llandudno, while Ffion Thomas has joined CPDM Bangor, but young stars like Milly-Jessica Lowe can shine brightly and there is the return from injury of goals queen Jess Jones to look forward to at some stage.
CPDM Llanystumdwy
Improved vastly last season and could come on again for that experience.
The return of midfield general Hana Wellings is certainly a major positive.
Great to see striker Grace Mpuku back in the frame after a long spell out.
NFA
Back in Tier 3 after two tough seasons in the Adran North.
Might do them good to regroup. They have retained most of last season’s squad and added prolific scorer Sade Benjamin and goalkeeper Loz Jones from the now disbanded CPD Y Rhyl 1879.
CPD Pwllheli
Overall champions of the Tier 3 North East Wales League twice in a row as well as back-to-back West Division title winners.
Where can Pwllheli go from here? They will certainly aim to strengthen the club structure all-round in the hope they can apply for promotion back to Tier 2, something they have not opted to do for the past two years.
While Katie Bowe, Sioned Bohana and Elena Julio have moved on, Pwll are boosted by the signing of experienced Awel Ellis and promising youngster Lois Love.
They have also retained the services of ever-reliable goalkeeper Sara Williams for another season, while the striking partnership of Lois Thomas and Jini Owen-Hughes will be crucial to their hopes of success.
Pwllheli can expect tough challenges from Llangefni Town, Kinmel Bay and possibly Denbigh Town this season, but the Llyn ladies remain the team to beat.
Trearddur Bay
Just two women’s teams from Anglesey are now competing in senior football – Llangefni Town and Trearddur Bay.
Bay showed improvement last season and will be glad to have kept dynamic goalscorer Jess Woods in the ranks.
As for experience, the team will definitely benefit from the addition of Meinir Thomas from the now folded Amlwch Town.
First fixtures, Sunday, September 7 (2 pm)
Caernarfon Town v NFA
Kinmel Bay v CPDM Pwllheli
CPDM Llanystumdwy v Trearddur Bay