And then there were 16 as Pwll rejoins WAFL top tier
DIVISION One of the Welsh Alliance Football League is back to 16 teams following the reinstatement of Pwllheli.
Trearddur Bay United’s withdrawal from the league last week due to a player shortage had reduced the top division to 15 teams.
Pwllheli were relegated to Divi- sion Two for the first time at the end of last season after finishing bottom of the upper level.
However, the Llyn Peninsula club revealed on Monday their Division One status has been restored.
Pwllheli manager Ben Ogilvy said: “It is never nice to see a football club struggle and have to withdraw. Everyone here at Pwllheli FC wish Trearddur Bay all the best for the future and hope to see them back playing soon.
“After a disastrous season last year, we have made several changes at the club, on and off the field, to make sure we improve on last season. We aim to take full advantage of this opportunity given to us and we can’t wait for the season to start on the 11th August against Mynydd Llandygai at home, our only home game in August.”
Pwllheli’s early fixtures: Saturday, August 11 - Mynydd Llandygai (home); August 18 - Greenfield (away); August 22 - Llanrug United (a); August 25 - Penrhyndeudraeth (a); August 29 - Llangefni Town (a) ; September 1 - Llannefydd (h - Welsh Cup).
THE start of the 2018/19 North Wales football season is just days away. Here is a look at the runners and riders in the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance League Division One – with one late addition. Following Trearddur Bay United’s resignation last week, Pwllheli were reinstated into Division One on Monday.
BARMOUTH AND DYFFRYN UNITED (last season - 9th)
Last season delivered a lot of positives for a Barmouth side which reached the Cookson Cup final.
Bermo have signed goalkeeper Adam Walters from Aberystwyth Town and possess a squad which should comfortably hold its own.
BODEDERN ATHLETIC (last season - promoted from Division Two)
Back in Division One for the first time since 2013/14, Bodedern manager Ricky Williams has made some good signings, one of the best being Jack Griffiths from Amlwch Town.
Last season’s Division Two Player of the Year Steven Whittaker, who grabbed 38 goals, is more than capable of being a prolific net-finder in Division One too.
GREENFIELD (last season - 5th)
In their first two seasons in Division One, the Flintshire side have finished fifth on both occasions.
Greenfield will be hoping for another productive season from last term’s top scorer Sam Jones.
LLANBERIS (last season - 4th)
The Darans did very well last season to finish fourth - their best position in the Welsh Alliance since 1998/99.
It is an exciting time at Ffordd Padarn with new management team Carwyn Jones and his assistant Aled Hughes taking the helm.
The club reports most of last season’s largely young squad has re-signed for the 2018/19 campaign.
LLANDUDNO ALBION (last season - 7th)
Former Llandudno Junction manager, the highly-respected Darren Jones, takes over from Paul Cheung Jnr as Albion boss this season.
The majority of last season’s squad have resigned, while prolific striker Lee Ellis, Ashley Beacall, Luke Smith, Scott Hall, Peter Jones and goalkeeper Joe Lewis are new arrivals.
Anthony Marshall has stepped up to Llandudno in the Welsh Premier, while striker Conor Davies has rejoined Glan Conwy.
LLANDUDNO JUNCTION (last season - relegated from Huws Gray Alliance)
The 2016/17 Welsh Alliance Division One runners-up rose to the Huws Gray Alliance last season, but it all ended in disaster with instant relegation.
Now the Railwaymen will aim to get back on track with what is on the whole a very young squad.
LLANDYRNOG UNITED (last season - 11th)
Manager Ryan Harden has a tight-knit squad of local talent which augurs well for another steady season in Division One.
The loss of prolific goal-getter Mark Roberts to Denbigh Town is an obvious blow, but otherwise the majority of last season’s leading names have re-signed, with left-back Dan Lloyd and striker Sion Davies joining.
LLANGEFNI TOWN (last season - 2nd)
Having finished runners-up to Conwy Borough last season, it is understandable that many are tipping Chris Roberts’ side to go one better in 2018/19. Strikers Alan Mark Owen and Liam Morris, plus midfielders Marvin Pritchard and Chris Saxon, have added real quality to the Lon Talwrn ranks this summer.
LLANRUG UNITED (last season - 3rd)
The new manager of Llanrug this season needs no introduction. David Noel Williams has been a fantastic midfield mainstay with the club for a number of years, so progression into management seems only natural.
Williams takes over from Mark Jat, who stepped down this summer due to work commitments after leading ’ Rug to an excellent third place last term.
Securing the return of goalkeeper Dylan Roberts has been a big boost for the Eithin Duon club and, while the loss of goal-machine Alan Mark Owen to Llangefni is a setback, Williams has more than compensated with the signing of ex-United net-finder supreme Kevin Lloyd.
LLANRWST UNITED (last season - 6th)
The return to prominence of Llanrwst United in 2017/18 was one of the stories of the North Wales football season.
Talisman player Leighton Griffiths has retired, but can now inspire the team through his already proven management skills.
It’s been an encouraging summer on the signings front at Gwydir Park, with the majority of last season’s squad recommitting.
MYNYDD LLANDEGAI (last season - 10th)
Finished 10th in their first season in Division One.
Last term’s leading scorer Alwyn Roberts will be an important figure again, no doubt, in the coming campaign.
The management side has been strengthened with Tim Davies recruited to work alongside Phil Thomas as assistants to first-team boss Huw Davies.
NANTLLE VALE (last season - 13th)
Although finishing third-from-bottom last term suggests it was a bad season for Nantlle Vale, that position far from tells the whole story.
Struggling very badly at one stage, the Vale really came on strong in the second half of the campaign, upsetting many of the top sides to haul themselves clear of the relegation zone.
Things are looking good for a better season at Maes Dulyn this time around.
Pre-season training has been going well and several dependable players have re-signed, such as Aaron Davies-Thomas, Ceirion Hall, Sion Williams, Aaron Griffiths, Mathew Davies, club captain Dylan Williams and Adam Jackson.
PENRHYNDEUDRAETH (last season - 8th)
Gareth Piercy took over as interim-manager at Maes-y-Parc in the closing weeks of last season and did a more than solid job.
Now he has agreed to become permanent boss, and has been busy building a strong squad for the forthcoming season.
In no time, he had secured the services of 16 from last season’s crew, but some new faces have also been added.
Striker Tomos Harri Smith has rejoined after taking a season off, skillful operator George Sutherns, formerly of Barmouth, is also on board, as well as Barry Evans from Pwllheli.
Recommitting are: Iwan Thomas, Ifan Jones, Alun Hughes, Huw Quaeck, Carwyn Price, Josh Hughes, Liam Jones, Liam Watson, Sion Jones, Steven Jones, Ben Jones, Cedri Lloyd, Tom Llewelyn Owen, Richard Jones, Iwan Lane and Adam Griffiths.
PRESTATYN SPORTS (last season - Division Two champions)
Sports stormed to the Division Two title in 2017/18, losing just once all season and producing a perfect home record of 14 straight wins.
Many expect Mark Hughes and John Hargreaves’ side to shine in Division One too.
As well as keeping last term’s squad together, including the prolific Ian Griffiths, Sports welcome back net-finder supreme Darren Cassidy and midfield dynamo Ross Hannen.
ST ASAPH CITY (last season - 12th)
Saints have a new manager as they prepare for a fourth successive season in Division One following their Division Two title success of 2014/15.
On the back of a promising stint in charge of Rhyl Youth, Daniel Brewerton now takes over at Roe Parc and he has already made some topclass signings such as Duncan Midgley.