Bala Town's Colin Caton steps down after 22 Years
'He leaves after 880 matches at the helm and an encyclopedia of achievements – promotion in his first season to the Cymru Alliance – then three NEWFA Challenge Cup wins and three Cymru Alliance League Cup wins – then promotion at last after five seasons into the Welsh Premier League in 2009 – and then 16 years consecutively in the Cymru Premier.
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Leader Live
a day ago
- Leader Live
Awesome quartet of awards over at Connah's Quay Nomads
The club secured four prizes in the FAW National League Awards, which took place in Cardiff. In the Adran North section, Nomads' unbeaten season was recognised by three awards. Jordan Parry was named as the league's manager of the season, while there was double joy for Polly Wild-McGregor. The Connah's Quay skipper, who scored 21 goals from midfield, made it a season to remember by winning the Adran North player of the season and young player of the campaign accolades. Added to this, there was also success for the club in the men's awards. Former Wales U21 international Rhys Hughes was the standout performer for Connah's Quay Nomads over the course of the campaign and his impressive displays earned him the Cymru Premier player of the season award. Hughes joined the Nomads from Tranmere Rovers last summer and he featured in every league fixture. He scored 15 goals for Connah's Quay and Hughes also helped Nomads to reach the final of the Welsh Cup for the second consecutive season, where they were pipped 2-1 by league champions The New Saints. Former Wrexham striker Louis Lloyd, the league's joint-top goalscorer, claimed the young player of the season accolade and The New Saints' Craig Harrison was named as the manager of the season. Wrexham duo Abbie Iddenden and Lili Jones missed out on Adran Premier awards. Iddenden, who scored nine goals and supplied nine assists as the Reds finished the season in fourth place, was a nominee for player of the season, which went to Cardiff City's Shannon Evans. Midfielder Jones, who finished joint-third in the assists chart with seven, lost out to Cardiff's Fiona Barry for the young player prize. Rhys James, of Briton Ferry Llansawel, took the manager of the season nod. Iddenden and Jones were named in the league's team of the season, while a special recognition award went the way of Cheryl Foster. Earlier this year, Foster brought the curtain down on a playing and refereeing career that broke down boundaries and made history in both the Welsh domestic game and on the international stage. Now overseeing refereeing pathways with the English FA, Foster's achievements were celebrated with this award. Four Nomads players - Molly France, Wild-McGregor, Evie Chard and Ella Jones - were included in the Adran North team of the season. Also in the line-up is Flint's Taylia Chaloner. Airbus were acknowledged in the Cymru North awards, with Kaiden Cooke being named as young player of the season. The teenager scored seven goals in 28 games for the Wingmakers to establish himself as an important part of Mark Allen's side. Striker Danny Warren picked up the Cymru North top scorer award, while Colwyn Bay chief Michael Wilde claimed the manager of the season accolade and the player of the season nod went to Seagulls' captain Sam Hart. Three Airbus players - Jordan Evans, Warren and George Peers - are included in the Cymru North team of the season. They are joined by Buckley Town's Adam Smith and Holywell Town's Jamie Breese.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
TNS boss Harrison wins Cymru Premier award
The New Saints boss Craig Harrison has been named the Cymru Premier manager of the guided Saints to a domestic Welsh treble, winning the JD Cymru Premier for a 17th time, the JD Welsh Cup and Nathaniel MG also guided the club to the the Europa Conference League group stages, the first domestic Welsh club to do Quay Nomads forward Rhys Hughes was player of the season Caernarfon Town forward Louis Lloyd was named young player of the Ferry Llansawel's Rhys James was named Adran Premier manager of the seasonShannon Evans was player of the season with Cardiff City team mate Fiona Barry named the young player of the season. Former referee Cheryl Foster, the first female to officiate in the Cymru Premier in 2018, was presented with a special recognition called time on her refereeing career earlier this year having officiated at the Women's Euro 2022, the 2023 Women's World Cup and Women's Champions League enjoyed an equally successful playing career, during which she won three league titles with Liverpool and 63 Wales caps. National League Award 2025 winners JD Cymru PremierManager of the Season - Craig Harrison (The New Saints)Player of the Season - Rhys Hughes (Connah's Quay Nomads)Young Player of the Season – Louis Lloyd (Caernarfon)Golden Boot – James Crole (Penybont)Golden Glove – Zac Jones (Haverfordwest County)Goal of the Season - James Crole (Penybont)JD Cymru NorthManager of the Season - Mike Wilde (Colwyn Bay)Player of the Season - Sam Hart (Colwyn Bay)Young Player of the Season – Kaiden Cooke (Airbus UK)Golden Boot – Danny Warren (Airbus UK)Golden Glove – Rhys Williams (Colwyn Bay)JD Cymru SouthManager of the Season - Mark Dunford (Trethomas Bluebirds)Player of the Season - Liam Eason (Llanelli Town)Young Player of the Season – Ethan Edwards (Trethomas Bluebirds)Golden Boot – Liam Eason (Llanelli Town)Golden Glove – Harry Irving (Trethomas Bluebirds)Genero Adran PremierManager of the Season - Rhys James (Briton Ferry Llansawel)Player of the Season - Shannon Evans (Cardiff City)Young Player of the Season – Fiona Barry (Cardiff City)Golden Boot – Ffion Price (Cardiff City)Golden Glove – Charlotte Haynes (Swansea City)/Molly Arnesen (Barry Town United)/Molly Arnesen (Briton Ferry Llansawel)Genero Adran NorthManager of the Season - Jordan Parry (Connah's Quay Nomads)Player of the Season - Polly Wild-McGregor (Connah's Quay Nomads)Young Player of the Season – Polly Wild-McGregor (Connah's Quay Nomads)Golden Boot - Polly Wild-McGregor (Connah's Quay Nomads)Golden Glove – Molly France (Connah's Quay Nomads)Genero Adran SouthManager of the Season - Claire O'Sullivan (Pontypridd United)Player of the Season - Erin Parry (Cascade)Young Player of the Season – Nicole Fenton (Pontypridd United)Golden Boot - Nicole Fenton (Pontypridd United)Golden Glove - Georgia Tarullo (Swansea University)Special Recognition AwardCheryl Foster
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- North Wales Live
Top North Wales football club braced for sweeping cuts after bombshell news
A Welsh Premier League football team is braced to make sweeping financial cuts to balance the books. Bala Town are currently looking for a new manager after the shock resignation of Colin Caton this week. In a club statement, the Lakesiders said the resignation followed a 'hugely difficult and challenging 12 months' which had left their long-serving manager 'facing an almost impossible task". Club secretary Ruth Crump told BBC Radio Cymru's Ar y Marc that Bala are now assessing all aspects of their expenditure amid ongoing financial turmoil at the Gwynedd outfit. This could result in cuts of up to 30% to ensure stability. She said: 'We're looking into everything at the club in terms of our spending, facilities, training, we're looking at cuts everywhere. We're looking at between 20% and 30% (in cuts).' Following the manager's departure on Tuesday, June 3, the club rapidly launched a hunt for his successor. Candidates are being sought with a 'proven experience as a football manager or head coach at a professional or semi-professional level'. In a statement, Bala Town said: 'The issues which we as a small club within the JD Cymru Premier League have been widely discussed but there has been no assistance or resolution regarding the concerns raised. 'The challenges have had a personal affect on many involved in our club but we remain resolute in our determination to continue our journey at the very highest level of domestic football in Wales.' Colin was the Cymru Premier's longest serving manager, having been in charge at Maes Tegid for 22 years and 880 games. The club said he had 'transformed us from a team languishing at a low level in Tier 3 to the very top of Welsh domestic football'. After achieving promotion in his first season to the Cymru Alliance, then to the Welsh Premier League, he'd kept them in the top-tier for 16 years – the second longest running team in the league. A highlight was an historic Welsh Senior Cup victory. The club said Colin has been an 'unbelievable servant' and he departs with their 'admiration, respect and gratitude'. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Its statement concluded: 'The club will now take the necessary steps to safeguard the future of football at Bala Town.' Deadline for managerial applications is midnight on Thursday, June 12.
