Father and son team join Colin Caton at Ruthin Town

A well known dad and lad combination in North Wales football have joined the new management set-up at Ruthin Town.

Steve Crompton and his son Jack Crompton will renew acquaintances with Colin Caton at the Cymru North club.

A highly respected figure in Welsh football, Steve worked alongside Caton for many years at Bala Town.

Steve returns to the Vale of Clwyd club with a wealth of experience and a long-standing connection to Ruthin Town.

After completing his playing career, he spent seven years within Town’s renowned youth system before serving as first team manager from 2011–13.

Joining him on the touchline is his Jack, who has represented Ruthin Town and several clubs across the Vale of Clwyd, most recently developing his coaching credentials at CPD Llansannan.

He now links up with Colin and Steve at the Memorial Playing Fields as part of the coaching team.

Caton was appointed Ruthin Town manager earlier this month after a 22-year, 875-match spell at Bala Town, where he won the Welsh Cup, Nathaniel MG Cup, spent 16 seasons in the Cymru Premier and led the side in numerous European ties.

STEVE CROMPTON: PROFILE

Born on December 3, 1958, Crompton’s football career really took off in 1973, when as a pupil of Brynhyfryd School in Ruthin, he was selected for Wales at under-15 level, playing alongside Eddie Niedzwiecki, Terry Boyle and Ian Walsh.
This attracted the attention of the big clubs and on leaving school in 1975 he joined Wolves as an apprentice footballer.
Although he never made the first team at Molineux, Steve did score six goals in the Midlands club’s run to the 1975-76 FA Youth Cup final, where they were beaten by West Bromwich Albion.
Defenders Bob Hazell and George Berry, both later to play in Division One, the latter earning five full caps for Wales, were also in the Wolves side, while WBA’s line-up included future England left-back Derek Statham.
In 1977, Steve moved on to Hereford United, where he featured in relegation battles in the ‘old’ Football League Second, Third and Fourth Divisions.

Three years later, he was transferred to Worcester City for £4,000. They played in the newly-formed National Conference (Alliance Premier League) and were a semi-professional outfit.
The winger spent five very happy seasons with the Blues, completing coaching badges with the English FA while there. Crompton was twice voted Player of the Year at Worcester, in 1980-1981 and 1984-1985.
In 1985-86, the Welshman was transferred to Runcorn, another Conference team, which reached the final of the English FA Trophy, playing Altrincham at the old Wembley Stadium.
The following campaign, Crompton moved to Bangor City, who at the time frequented the Multipart Northern Premier League.
The Citizens, who had beaten Fredrikstad of Norway in the European Cup Winners’ Cup the previous season, before losing 3-0 on aggregate to mighty Atletico Madrid in the next stage, were managed by ex-Welsh international John Mahoney, whose style of management influenced Steve immensely.
Whilst at Farrar Road, he played for Wales against England at semi-professional level.
Steve spent two good seasons at Bangor, playing in a side which won promotion to the new NPL Premier Division in 1986-87.
On leaving Bangor at the end of 1987-88, Steve went into coaching and completed a seven-year stint at Ruthin Town in their youth set-up, completing all the qualifications required.
His passion for the adult game was reignited when in 2004, he joined Colin Caton at Bala Town, who at the time were in the tier 2 Huws Gray Cymru Alliance.
Steve obtained his UEFA B licence from the Welsh FA while at Bala, where he spent seven successful seasons, helping guide the club to the top-flight Welsh Premier.
Crompton next tried his hand at management with a return to Ruthin Town in 2011. He stepped down in January 2013 before later taking over at Corwen, leaving in 2017.
Then came four years with Llandyrnog United.