Well done to CPD Blue Bridge’s latest Player of the Month!

CPD Blue Bridge’s latest Player of the Month award has gone to a very worthy recipient.

Skipper and defender Stephen Middleman is the Rhyl club’s PoM for October.

Bridge manager Jordie Baker said: “Well deserved award for the captain of the first team. Solid performances throughout October with his leadership skills being the standout.”

The experienced Middleman, who was 40 earlier this month, is actually a relatively new face in Saturday football.

For many years he played Sunday football only for Bar Bow, until that club switched to the Saturday game at the start of 2022-23 and became known as Bow FC.

Stephen made 72 club appearances for Bow, mainly for the first team but also occasionally representing the Development side, before the Rhyl-based outfit disbanded at the end of 2024-25.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 6-0 win at Penrhyn Bay on October 29, 2022,

Bow finished fourth in North Wales Coast East Division One in that debut season, but in 2023-24, Stephen was a vital member of the squad which won the title as invincibles, 19 wins and a draw in 20 games, as well as lifting the REM Jones Cup.

Bow lasted just the one more season in the Tier 4 Premier. but Stephen decided to continue playing with Blue Bridge, who were formed in 2024-25.

The team’s performances are much improved in 2025-26, one of the highlights being a Dragon Signs Amateur Trophy clash against Tier 3 side CPD Dinas Bangor City 1876, plus a Welsh Cup meeting with former Welsh Premier club Cemaes Bay. All positive experience for a new team.

Stephen has made 11 first team appearances for Bridge this season, as well as turning out for the Development and scoring in a 5-5 draw against Llandudno Under-19s.

A strong tackler, great leader of the back-line, powerful in the air and a rock-solid all-round defender, Stephen Middleman is a player you would always want on your side.

Football runs in the Middleman family as dad Stephen senior played for Rhyl-area sides over many seasons, younger brother Shane has been a big performer for Prestatyn Sports and Bow in recent campaigns, and another brother, Matty, has shown ability in a number of sports.