How great is it to see Shannon back and finding the net!

It is always heartwarming to see a player return from a long-term injury and even better when they score their first goal.

While Beth Roberts raised the roof with her stunner for Flint Town United in their 4-0 win over CPDM Bangor on Sunday, there was equal joy and emotion to see the name Shannon Hobbs featuring on the scoresheet just a couple of minutes earlier.

The 26-year-old forward signed for Flint in the summer during her recovery from a bad knee injury suffered in January 2024.

She made a long-awaited comeback in the second half of the Welsh Cup defeat at Cardiff City on November 9, then came on in the 69th minute versus Bangor with Flint only 1-0 up at the time.

Shannon soon added to the Silkwomen’s strength up front and after Zoe Stopford had made it 2-0, hotshot Hobbs ran through on goal in the 91st minute and produced a classy and composed finish.

It was her first goal since notching a hat-trick for Connah’s Quay Nomads in an 11-0 NEWFA Women’s Challenge Cup victory over Llanfair United on January 17, 2024.

Eleven days later, her knee gave away in a game against Llandudno at Deeside Stadium and so began the long road to recovery.

“I had to rehab for 9 months then had surgery and rehabbed for another 12,” said Shannon.

“I’m feeling better and more stable but just getting used to the feeling this is how my knee feels like now compared to my other.”

Shannon admits it was a very special moment to be back on the pitch – and the scoresheet – again.

“It feels great to be back – still a bit on the scary side as obviously I don’t want to do that ever again, but getting more confidence every week.

“Scoring my first goal was emotional to say the least as I haven’t played a game in a very long time so for me mentally it brought up a lot of emotion.”

SHANNON HOBBS – CAREER RUNDOWN

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 U16 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.

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.

She went on to become (and still is) 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 goals) 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 fierce shots.

She has had no difficulty settling in at Flint as she was already a well-known and popular figure among the squad.