10 teams that lit up local football in 2016/2017
The Canaries lifted the League Cup for the third time in four seasons and finished runners-up in the Huws Gray Alliance.
Iwan Williams’ side also reached the Welsh Cup semi-finals for the first time in 29 years, knocking out two Welsh Premier sides en route before losing 3-1 to eventual competition winners Bala Town in the last four, having led 1-0 until the closing stages.
Off the field, the club attained the coveted domestic licence qualification required to compete in the Welsh Premier – something they had failed to achieve the previous season.
LLANRUG UNITED
Renowned knockout specialists Llanrug turned on the magic again as they ended Glantraeth’s treble ambitions by beating them in the Mawddach Cup Final.
It was also a good season for Mark Jat’s side in the league as they finished fourth in Welsh Alliance Division One and were in with a chance of runnersup until the final game.
PORTHMADOG
Although they lacked consistency at times, Porthmadog still achieved an impressive fourth-place finish in the Huws Gray Alliance – their joint highest final position since returning to the tier-two league in 2010/11.
PENRHYNDEUDRAETH
Beaten finalists in the Cookson Cup at the hands of league champions Glantraeth, Penrhyn finished in sixth position in Welsh Alliance Division One and proved as hard to beat as ever throughout the season.
WAUNFAWR
The Beganifs lifted the Cwpan Gwynedd, beating Bro Goronwy 1-0 in the final. Waunfawr also made it to the NWCFA Junior Cup Final where Bro were the opposition again, but on this occasion the Anglesey side ran out 2-0 winners.
BONTNEWYDD
The highlight of Bont’s season came on May 19 when they beat Llanystumdwy 1-0 in the final of the Safeflue Shield at Nantlle Vale.
Bont also led the Gwynedd League table regularly throughout the season, but ended up having to settle for third spot after Aberffraw and eventual champions Bodedern Athletic overtook them in the closing matches.
LLANBERIS
Not a bad season overall for the Darans as the first team advanced to the Cookson Cup semi-finals and finished 11th in Welsh Alliance Division One.
The second team were the highest- placed local side in the Reserves Division, ending up fourth, one position above Caernarfon Town.
CAERNARFON TOWN LADIES
A Caernarfon squad containing a nice balance of youth and experience proved head and shoulders above the rest in the North Wales Women’s Football League.
The Canaries breezed to the league title, finishing top by a 13-point margin with a record of 18 wins and just two defeats in a 20-match campaign which saw them amass 119 goals and concede just 13.
Town made it a double by beating Pwllheli 5-1 in the Betty Pickering Cup Final.
Catrin Thomas was top-scorer for Caernarfon with 38 goals.
BETHEL LADIES
It was a season to remember for Bethel as they reached the Welsh Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
The village side led cup holders Cardiff City FC Women 1-0 in their last eight tie before eventually going down bravely 4-2.
Bethel finished fifth in the NWWL.
PWLLHELI LADIES
The Llyn side made it to the final of the Betty Pickering Cup where they were defeated 5-1 by Caernarfon Town.
In the league, Pwll finished sixth but produced a series of good performances with a number of promising youngsters coming to the fore.