Fans Choice: JD Welsh Premier League ‘Team of the Season’ 2017/2018
A Welsh Premier League Team of the Season for the 2017/2018 campaign, has been chosen by you, the readers of Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
After asking you to vote on our website, you have put together a squad with players from all around the JD Welsh Premier League. This is an unofficial team of the season, with the official team expected to be announced at the Welsh Premier League awards, next month.
This season saw The New Saints win a seventh consecutive title under new manager Scott Ruscoe as well as the Nathaniel MG Cup, the Connah’s Quay Nomads win the JD Welsh Cup against Aberystwyth Town and the Cefn Druids claim the final European spot through a Play-Off Final victory over Cardiff Met. This season has seen a number of players stand out from the rest, in what is a competitive league.
Here is your Welsh Premier League ‘Team of the Season’
Goalkeeper – Matthew Hall (Bangor City)
The 20-year-old has a stellar debut season for the Citizens and has been nominated for the Welsh Premier League ‘Young Player of the Season’ by managers throughout the league. Hall dethroned Connor Roberts to take the position between the sticks this season. In the 26 appearances for Bangor, he was on the winning side 15 times and earnt the Player of the Match award once.
Left-back: Chris Hugh (Barry Town United)
Chris Hugh was called up to the Wales C team squad by manager Mark Jones, with the former Port Talbot Town boss full of praise for the dentist. Hugh was named in our Welsh League ‘Team of the Season’ last season, showing that he has made the step up to the top flight of Welsh football. The 26-year-old played a total of 22 times and was part of a strong Barry Town United backline.
Right-back: Declan Walker (Aberystwyth Town)
The Republic of Ireland youth international has had a superb individual season after recovering from injury. Walker who was signed by Neville Powell, who also worked with him at Bangor City has turned him into a goalscoring threat for the Green and Black. Walker has been nominated for the official Player of the Season.
Centre-back: Connell Rawlinson (The New Saints, now of Port Vale)
Rawlinson, 26, had a fine season for The New Saints and with that came Football League interest. The Wrexham born defender has since moved to Port Vale after attracting interest from them in February.
This season Rawlinson had Welsh Premier League and League Cup success, as well as being given the captains armband for the Wales C fixture with England.
Centre-back: Anthony Miley (Bangor City, now of Bala Town)
Miley just pips Cefn Druids defender Nathan Peate and Connah’s Quay Nomads recently departed defender Kai Edwards to partner Rawlinson in this defence. Miley himself has remained in the JD Welsh Premier League, having signed for Colin Caton’s Bala Town, following Bangor City’s demotion to the Cymru Alliance.
The former Colwyn Bay defender played a total of 33 times for the Citizens this campaign, winning an impressive 21 games and suffering defeat just three times. He scored 2 goals, bagged two assists and picked up a Player of the Match award.
Left-wing: Luke Wall (Bangor City)
The Liverpool born Wideman is included in the team has been influential to the Citizens attack, since his move from Accrington Stanley.
The 21-year-old scored eight times, as well as assisting six goals, helping Bangor City to a second-placed finish.
Right-wing: Eliot Evans (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Eliot Evans has been one of the shining lights in the Archers season. The Chepstow born attacker has been a big part of their progress this season, with a higher points tally than last season.
Evans ended up finishing second in the top scorers’ charts, scoring 14 goals in 33 appearances for the Archers. This is despite playing predominantly in a wide position.
It wasn’t to be as Met suffered play-off heartbreak again but Evans himself was called up to the Wales C team alongside Adam Roscrow.
Centre-midfielder: Alec Mudimu (Cefn Druids)
It’s been a dream campaign for 23-year-old Zimbabwean, Alec Mudimu. Since arriving at The Rock he has received two senior call-ups to the Zimbabwe national team, as well as winning the Europa League Play-Off final with the Cefn Druids.
The former Stalybridge Celtic man has caught the eye of a number of Football League sides, having spent time with Fleetwood Town earlier on in the season.
Centre-midfielder: Danny Gossett (Bangor City)
Partnering with Alec Mudimu in the centre is Bangor City’s Danny Gosset who was another player who featured for the Wales C team against England.
An Oldham Athletic academy product, with Football League experience before moving to Rhyl and then The New Saints, has performed well this season.
Forward: Kayne McLaggon (Barry Town United)
McLaggon arrived at Barry Town United last summer, having left Southern League Premier side Merthyr Town. Since then McLaggon hasn’t looked back after joining his hometown team.
The experienced striker finished fourth in the goalscoring charts this season, scoring 12 goals in 30 appearances for the Linnets as they reached the Europa League play-off semi-final.
Forward: Greg Draper (The New Saints)
The New Zealand international is an obvious inclusion, after his goalscoring form this season. Draper won the Golden Boot after scoring 21 goals in 31 appearances as The New Saints claimed their seventh consecutive title.
He has added six more goals to his game from last season, where he scored 15 goals in 32 appearances. Draper is also being considered for the Welsh Premier League ‘Player of the Season’ after being nominated by managers around the JD Welsh Premier League.
(Featured Image: Rhys Skinner PJ)
