Bangor relegated - but are still one of the best
TEAMS from the Anglesey and Bangor areas brought home plenty of silverware in the 2017/18 season. Here are 11 sides which stood out. Holyhead Town
Holyhead Town were the only team in North Wales to rise up a league last season and win the championship and cup double at the first attempt.
The previous season saw the name of Town return to the football scene and mark the occasion in style, lifting the Anglesey League title without losing a game and scooping the Megan Cup and Lucas Oil Cup.
Elevation to the Gwynedd League promised to be a much tougher assignment, yet Craig Brodie’s side finished champions and also raised the Gwynedd Cup, making it five trophies in two campaigns.
Their next step is promotion to Welsh Alliance League Division Two in 2018/19. Bodedern Athletic
In their first season back in the Welsh Alliance, Bodedern finished runners-up in Division Two to make it back-to-back promotions, and added the Take Stock Van Hire Cup to their impressive trophy cabinet, beating Mochdre Sports 3-2 in the final.
A magnificent season for Ricky Williams’ side, like Holyhead Town stepping up a level and really making a huge impact. For good measure, striker Steven Whittaker was named Division Two Player of the Season.
He found the target regularly for a tremendous 38 goals. Bangor City
How can a club relegated from the Welsh Premier League for the first time be one of the teams of the season?
Bangor City did not lose their topflight status through their league position, it was due to a failure behind the scenes to secure a Tier 1 and Uefa licence.
On the field, the Citizens were often sublime, producing the best football in the league and finishing second in the table - their best position in six years. Bro Goronwy When it comes to winning trophies on a consistent basis, few teams across North Wales football can match Bro Goronwy’s outstanding record in recent seasons.
Last term saw Lee Potter’s side lift the Bob Owen Memorial Shield, defeating NWCFA Junior Cup winners Nefyn United in the final, and they were runners-up in the Gwynedd League, finishing a point behind champions Holyhead Town, as well as the Gwynedd Cup. Holyhead Hotspur
Finished a disappointing 12th in the Huws Gray Alliance, but that does not tell the full story of their season.
Hotspur got off to a flyer, winning their first three matches to temporarily top the table, as well as beating Porthmadog in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Holyhead were the only team in the entire season to defeat champions Caernarfon Town in the league - a 2-1 win at The Oval in August.
Campbell Harrison’s side were also Huws Gray Cup semi-finalists, earning cracking wins over Porthmadog and Guilsfield along the way. Mynydd Tigers
Anglesey League champions at the first attempt - and at the expense of some pretty good rivals too.
In the final game decider, Mynydd needed to beat a Bryngwran side they had lost five times to previously that season to take the title.
A draw would have been enough for Bulls to finish top.
Tigers produced the goods, winning 4-2 to end up top of the tree. Llangefni Town
Pushed Conwy hard for the Welsh Alliance Division One crown and were unfortunate to miss out on promotion to the Huws Gray Alliance again.
Cefni have retained the services of manager Chris Roberts next season, made additions to the management set-up, and are signing some good players.
2018/19 could be their time. Bryngwran Bulls
Double cup joy for the Bulls, who just missed out on the Anglesey League title when they lost to Mynydd Tigers in the deciding game.
Nonetheless, a good season for the villagers, who raised the Lucas Oil and Dargie Cups, and were runners-up in the Megan Cup, as well as the league.
In 54-goal James Ryan they possessed a real star net-finder. Arriva Bangor
Two cups in your first season can’t be bad.
Arriva made their mark in the Anglesey League by winning both the Elias Cup and Benllech Car Boot Trophy.
Key players include goal-machines Scott Hughes and Andy Clarke. Caergybi
A newly-formed team that brought goals and excitement to the Anglesey League.
Caergybi were worthy winners of the Megan Cup and, in 58-goal Gary Jo Owen, produced the island’s top scorer in senior football. Gwalchmai
Good comeback season for Gwalchmai in the Gwynedd League.
Had they found their feet a little earlier, they would surely have finished higher than fifth.
Gwalch upset all the top teams along the way, also lifting the Safeflue Shield and reaching the NWCFA Junior Cup semis.