Who is the Cymru Premier’s leading goal scorer in Europe?

The Cymru Premier League’s top marksman in European competitions plied his trade in Tier 3 last season.

Declan McManus of CPD Dinas Bangor City 1876 heads the chart for scoring the most goals by a CPL player in Europe with 10.

The fact that only one of our players has made double figures despite our national league competing on the continent since 1993-94 perhaps speaks volumes on how poor overall our performances have been over the past 33 years.

Nonetheless, the title of CPL top scorer in Europe is still a satisfying one to possess.

The last of McManus’ 10 goals, all scored for 18-times Cymru Premier champions The New Saints, came in 2024-25, when the Oswestry full-timers made history by becoming the first club from the Welsh league system to qualify for the group stage of a major UEFA competition.

Their one victory in the six glamour matches of that phase, a 2-0 outcome against Kazakhstan’s FC Astana, featured another McManus penalty.

SIX of McManus’ 10 Euro goals have come from the spot – but as long as they hit the back of the net, they all count.

McManus left the Saints in January 2025 and joined Northern Ireland club Coleraine, but last season made a shock return to the Welsh pyramid when signing for Ardal North West outfit Bangor City 1876.

He went on to score 19 goals in 18 matches for the Citizens as they wrapped up the treble of league title, FAW Amateur Trophy and Ardal North League Cup.

McManus’ European heroics include a hat-trick for Saints in their third qualifying round tie against Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic in the 2021-22 Uefa Europa Conference League competition. Saints agonisingly lost on penalties after the tie ended 5-5 on aggregate, the Cymru Premier club winning 4-2 at home but losing 3-1 away.

McManus’ other Euro goals came against Kauno Zalgiris of Lithuania (2), Hesperange of Luxembourg (2), Northern Ireland’s Glentoran and Hacken of Sweden, as well as the aforementioned one versus Astana.

No doubt the former Dunfermline Athletic and Ross Country striker will be targeting future Euro adventures with Bangor.

DECLAN McMANUS – GOALS IN EUROPE

2023-24 – CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
First qualifying round: Häcken (Sweden) 5-1 The New Saints
(3-1 McManus; 2-0)
2021-22 UEFA EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE
Glentoran 1-3 The New Saints
(1-1 Smith; 0-2 McManus pen, Smith)
Kauno Zalgiris (Lithuania) 1-10 The New Saints
(0-5 L Smith, D Davies 2, McManus, J Williams; 1-5 Redmond, Robles, McManus, L Smith, D Davies)
The New Saints 5-5 (1-4 pens) Viktoria Plzeň (Czech Republic)
(4-2 McManus 3, 2 pens, Hudson; 3-1 aet Robles)
2023-24 UEFA EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE
The New Saints 3-4 Swift Hesperange (Luxembourg)
(1-1 Holden; 2-3 McManus 2 pens)
League Phase
The New Saints 2-0 Astana (Kazakhstan) – Holden, McManus pen)

CYMRU PREMIER TOP SCORERS IN EUROPE (All The New Saints unless stated)

Declan McManus 10
Michael Wilde 7
Scott Quigley 6
Dean Ebbe 6
Matty Williams 5
Danny Davies 5
Callum Morris (Connah’s Quay Nomads) 5