North Wales women’s all-time club XIs: No 14 – CPD Y Rhyl 1879/Rhyl FC

CPD Y RHYL 1879/RHYL FC WOMEN ALL-TIME XI

Lauren Jones

When Rhyl 1879 won the North Wales Women’s League title in 2021-22. Loz played 11 of the Lilywhites’ 18 games in goal and kept seven clean sheets.
Over the next three seasons in the Tier 2 Adran North, Loz shared the goalkeeping duties with Bethan Thomas.
A tremendous shot stopper and exceptionally brave, Loz just gets the nod as Rhyl’s No 1 keeper, although there are some very close contenders.

Saskia Wynne-Thomas

Exceptional right-back, tidy in the tackle and always an asset in joining the attack going forward.
Made 64 appearances for Rhyl 1879 over four seasons, winning the 2021-22 North Wales League title, although injuries at times held her back.

Rosie O’Brien

Marauding left-back who spent a number of seasons at Rhyl before the team disbanded at the end of 2024-25.
Brilliant in attacking situations and has bagged a few goals over the years.
She made 50 appearances across spells in the North Wales League and Adran North for 1879.
Has joined Denbigh Town this season.

Cassie Thomas

Composed defender, excellent on the ball with superb deliveries from set-pieces.
A natural leader, she was more often than not a player-manager at Rhyl 1879.
She was also an important part of predecessor clubs Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies and Rhyl FC Ladies’ Welsh Premier Women’s League adventure, which lasted from 2014-15 to 2018-19.
In their final season at that level, Cassie was player-manager.

Sophie Haywood

Tremendously hard-working defender, great tackler and quality on the ball.
Was a member of Rhyl 1879’s 2021-22 title-winning side, making 54 appearances for the team over four seasons.
Signed for Rhyl-based NFA last season.

Rachael Thomas (Nattrass)

Midfield general, magnificent passer, scorer of goals, often spectacular.
In 2021-22, she skippered an 1879 side which did not lose a single game to the North Wales League title and scored an outstanding 18 goals from midfield.
List of clubs: Prestatyn Pumas (boys), Prestatyn Athletic (boys), Prestatyn Girls, Tranmere Rovers, Liverpool Ladies Centre of Excellence, Liverpool Ladies Reserves, Prestatyn Ladies, Rhyl and Prestatyn Ladies, Rhyl FC Ladies, Llandudno Ladies, Connah’s Quay Nomads, CPD Y Rhyl 1879 and NFA.
Rachael has played for Wales from under-16 up to under-19 level.
Formerly known by her maiden surname Nattrass, Rachael married team-mate Cassandra Thomas in March 2022.

Becca Eagles (Bannister)

Another midfield genius who spent four inspirational seasons with Rhyl 1879 before joining Flint Town United for the 2025-26 season, later taking over as player-manager.
Better known under her maiden name Bannister, Becca married fellow footballer Hana Eagles in June 2025.
Affectionately nicknamed Boo, Becca played for Prestatyn Girls from U10’s through to U16’s, then Everton Girls Centre of Excellence before joining Rhyl Ladies in the Welsh Premier.
She was part of the Prestatyn Girls Under-16 side which won the Welsh Cup Final in 2015.
Becca is also a Wales international, having been capped for her country at under-15 and U-17 levels.
She joined newly-formed CPD Y Rhyl 1879 in 2021-22, netting 17 goals in 18 appearances across all competitions as the Lilwyhites lifted the North Wales League title.
Left Rhyl with a brilliant record of 65 appearances, 32 goals.

Paige Williams

Pacey right-winger who first stood out for Rhyl FC in the 2016-17 season as a 16-year-old, winning the North Wales Young Female Player of the Year award.
Went on to have a couple more excellent seasons for Rhyl in the Welsh Premier, then moved into the English pyramid with Bolton before in 2021-22 beginning a long association with Leeds United. She made 83 appearances for the Whites before leaving the club this month.
Paige was a member of the awesome Prestatyn squad which won the 2015 FAW Under-16 Girls Cup.

Ashleigh Mills

Dynamic left-winger, super-fit and by far one of the best to wear a Rhyl shirt..
Scored a number of goals for Rhyl in the Welsh Premier League, many of them spectacular.
In 2014-15, Ashleigh was player of the match in the Under-16 Girls Welsh Cup Final, scoring twice in Prestatyn Girls’ 4-0 victory over Coed Duon Dragons.
She represented Wales from U16 to U19 level and played in the Welsh Premier for Rhyl FC before later joining NFA.
A serving British Army officer in Oxfordshire, she signed for Southern Region Football League club Southampton Women last season.

Laura Williams

Veteran forward who could well be Rhyl FC’s overall top-scorer given her consistency in front of goal over many years.
With a deadly left-foot, her corners, free kicks and long-distance shots make her a constant danger to opponents.
Joined Rhyl 1879 at the very start in 2021-22, going on to score 28 goals in 64 appearances for the team, including nine in 13 matches in the debut-season title win.

Candice Nellist

The complete forward – power, control, heading prowess, hold-up skills and a great ability to find the back of the net.
Started out as a raw youngster with Rhyl FC, soon making her mark, having learned her trade at Tranmere Rovers.
Scored a fantastic 29 goals in 17 matches during 1879’s title-lifting campaign of 2021-22.
Sadly, injuries have ruled her out since January 2023.
Also stood out for Connah’s Quay Nomads in their 2019-20 debut season, finishing top-scorer with 16 goals, including one in a famous Welsh Cup win over Cymru Premier Port Talbot.