Magic Memories: Mostyn FC and the great Johnny Parry

The imminent return of Mostyn to the North Wales football roster has got the memory banks of many people flowing.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Flintshire club was big news – league and cup wins, a seven-season stint in Tier 2, and a number of cracking players still talked about often today.

One of those all-time greats was Johnny Parry – a player who holds legendary status around the Flint and Holywell areas, and beyond.

Just like others of that era, including Richard Jones (Rich Bach) of Ynys Môn, Peter Donnelly of Colwyn Bay, Glyn Williams and Mike James from the Vale of Clwyd, Eifion Williams of Caernarfon and Wrexham-area defender Nigel Beaumont, Parry was a North Wales football great of his time, and remains so.

Grassroots North Wales spoke to another Mostyn all-time star, Geraint Rowlands, about the midfielder who stood out in his field.

Rowlands and Parry were part of the Mostyn side which famously won a treble in 1988-89, including the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup and Clwyd League Premier Division title.

Strong and solid, Parry controlled endless midfield battles and netted plenty of goals, while Rowlands was noted for his pace and trickery and was a prolific marksman.

Speaking about the Mostyn side of the 1980s and early 90s, Geraint said: “That was some team and we all lived within shouting distance of each other.

“Johnny is still alive and lives in Prestatyn. I was chatting to him last week. He doesn’t do anything with football and hasn’t since his knee injury while playing. We played together for many years for Mostyn and Also for Sunday league teams.”

Among the many unfrogettable matches the pair featured in for Mostyn include the 1991-92 2-1 Welsh Cup victory over Rhyl, which led to a third round tie against Football League club Hereford United played at Flint Town United, which The Bulls won 3-1. Mostyn met Hereford again in the 1993-94 Welsh Cup, this time going down fighting 3-0 at Edgar Street.

There was also the memorable 1990-91 Welsh Intermediate Cup run, where Mostyn knocked out Afan Lido 4-1 to reach the semis for the first time, where they beat previous year’s beaten finalists Porthcawl 3-2, having lost a two-goal lead only to grab a winner. This game was necessary as a first match between the pair was abandoned in the second half due to a downpour, with Mostyn leading 1-0.

In the final, a weakened Mostyn outfit missing key faces lost 2-0 to Abergavenny Thursdays, a club soon to become founder members of the new League of Wales.

Geraint was very proud to be part of a great Mostyn side comprising all local lads.

He said: “Mostyn won all the leagues with local players and got into the Cymru Alliance. We played Hereford twice in the Welsh Cup and we beat Connah’s Quay Nomads and Rhyl when many leagues below them.

“Johnny got the winner in the Welsh Intermediate Cup semi final v Porthcawl and I think we would have won that competition, but lost 3 key players to injury for the final – Johnny, Kev Butcher and keeper Mike Alder.”

Recalling other great wins of the time, Geraint added: “We beat Rhyl twice – 2-1 at home, when Johnny got the winner (penalty) and 2-1 away when I got the winner.

“We beat Nomads 4-3 when 3-0 down at half time and Mike Alder saved a pen. Johnny and I scored in the second half.”

Another legendary chapter in Mostyn’s history was the 1988-89 NWCFA Challenge Cup final versus Felinheli at Belle Vue, Rhyl.

Mostyn took the lead a minute before half time, when Mark Speakman made a tremendous run, and his cross was met by centre-forward Graham Messham, who powered a glorious header into the net.

After 53 minutes, a 30-yard volley by Steve Adler made it 2-0.

Then, eight minutes from time, Messham put Geraint Rowlands through to round keeper Islwyn Owen. and slot home for Mostyn’s third. Ernie Maher headed in a consolation for Felin on 87 minutes.

Geraint remembers: “We won the North Wales Challenge Cup at Rhyl 3-1 v Felinheli, Johnny was captain. We also beat Felinheli at their ground in another cup when they were unbeaten for nearly 3 seasons, including beating Bay just before playing us … me and Johnny scored.

“Another time we beat Machynlleth away, who were unbeaten there for 2 years, 3-1 and me and Johnny scored again.

“We had some amazing times.”

Johnny Parry….Geraint Rowlands….Mostyn FC…..North Wales football salutes you.

Let’s hope the new Mostyn FC creates some great memories of their own from next season.