PROFILE: Gareth ‘Perry’ Thomas has much to be proud of from his managerial career
After more than 25 years in football management which have seen him win a host of honours Gareth Thomas has certainly earned a chance to recharge his batteries..
Known widely as ‘Perry’, the Flintshire-based boss has begun the new year by stepping down as Prestatyn Town chief after 14 months in charge.
He leaves the Seasiders in a good position – fourth in Tier 3 Ardal North West and into the FAW Amateur Trophy quarter-finals as well as the last 16 of the Ardal Northern League Cup.
Thomas took over at Bastion Gardens in November 2024 with the club in deep trouble near the foot of JD Cymru North.
Relegation was inevitable, but under Perry and his management team Prestatyn have rebuilt and bounced back well this season with a strong group of local players.
Town is one of very few clubs where Thomas has not won a trophy.
His managerial career, stretching back to 1999 when he was appointed assistant to George Thelwell at Halkyn United, has encompassed numerous successes.
Most of his playing career was spent with Halkyn, where he won the Welsh Alliance League title alongside Thelwell in 1999-2000.
Thomas took over as first team manager at Pant Newydd in 2002 and did a solid job keeping United in the Cymru Alliance until his departure in May 2004..
After a very short stay at Llandudno, Thomas moved on to Mynydd Isa in December 2005 and got the club promoted from the Welsh National League Premier Division to the Cymru Alliance in 2005-06.
Three good seasons at Tier 2 ensued, including a tremendous fourth-place finish in 2008-09, but heartbreak was around the corner when the club dissolved.
After his success at Argoed, plenty of clubs wanted Thomas’ expertise on board and Perry took over at another Cymru Alliance club, Buckley Town, in May 2009.
In a great four-year stint, Thomas not only ensured the Bucks remained a strong Tier 2 outfit, including a third-place finish in 2011-12, he also lifted the North East Wales Challenge Cup twice with the club in 2010 and 2013.
Thomas next became assistant-manager at Flint Town United, but with Buckley struggling in the 2013-14 season, he returned to The Globe and guided the Bucks out of relegation trouble.
In 2014-15 a new challenge came up at fast-rising FC Nomads of Connah’s Quay, Thomas landed the Welsh National League Premier Cup in his first season.
The prestigious appointments kept coming for Perry, with Denbigh Town his next port of call in 2015-16.
This was an amazing season for the Vale of Clwyd club, who finished third in the Cymru Alliance and also reached the Welsh League Cup (Word Cup) final, knocking out Cymru Premier teams Rhyl, Airbus and Connah’s Quay Nomads before going down gallantly 2-0 to The New Saints in the showpiece game.
Thomas left Central Park in November 2016 and in May 2017 took the reins at Conwy Borough of Tier 3.
The Perry magic continued as he inspired the Tangerines to a treble of Welsh Alliance League title, FAW Amateur Trophy and Cookson Cup. Silverware-wise, this was the most rewarding campaign of his managerial life to date.
After moving upstairs to be director of football at Y Morfa the following season, Thomas left Conwy and after a break emerged as the first manager of newly-formed CPD Y Rhyl 1879 in June 2020.
With the 2020-21 season wiped out by lockdown, Thomas’ job in earnest did not begin until 2021-22.
This was a first experience of Tier 4 for Perry, but what a job he did, with the Lilywhites scooping the North Wales Coast East Premier Division title as invincibles and also raising the Cookson Cup.
He remained at Belle Vue until October 2024, when the club announced his departure after a mixed start to the season, although league results had been more than decent and laid the foundation for the Ardal North West title triumph that ensued under Paul Moore.
Thomas was back in management in familiar territory – the Tier 2 Cymru North – with Prestatyn Town in November 2024. Town became his ninth club as a manager.
Times were tough at Bastion Gardens and Perry was unable to stave off the first relegation of his career.
Nonetheless, with Ryan Turner alongside, the pair had worked a more than respectable rebuild of the Seasiders in Ardal North West this season before this week’s events.
Anyone who may feel qualified to assess Gareth Thomas’ managerial career should perhaps read this article and realise what a great job he has done at so many clubs.
If he does return to management, whoever he joins will know they have a vastly experienced head on board, with relentless enthusiasm and a contagious work ethic which has won him endless respect in North Wales football.
GARETH THOMAS – MANAGERIAL APPOINTMENTS
Halkyn United – assistant manager 1999 to 2002
Halkyn United – manager June 2002 to May 2004
Llandudno – player-manager June 2004
Mynydd Isa – December 2005-May 2009
Buckley Town – May 2009 to May 2013
Flint Town United – assistant manager May 2013 to October 2013
Buckley Town – October 2013 to May 2014
FC Nomads of Connah’s Quay – June 2014 to May 2015
Denbigh Town – May 2015 to November 2016
Conwy Borough – May 2017 to December 2018
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 – June 2020 to October 2024
Prestatyn Town – November 2024 to January 2026
MANAGERIAL HONOURS
Halkyn United
Welsh Alliance League champions (as assistant to George Thelwell) 1999-2000
Mynydd Isa
Welsh National League Premier Division runners-up 2005-06 (promoted to Cymru Alliance)
Buckley Town
NEWFA Challenge Cup winners 2009-10 and 2012-13
FC Nomads of Connah’s Quay
Welsh National League Premier Cup winners 2014-15
Denbigh Town
Welsh League Cup/Word Cup finalists 2015-16
Conwy Borough
Welsh Alliance League champions, FAW Trophy, Cookson Cup winners 2017-18
CPD Y Rhyl 1879
North Wales Coast East Premier Division champions and Cookson Cup winners 2021-22