Revealed: The Welsh Premier League’s most valuable team
The New Saints celebrate Greg Draper's goal against Barry Town United. (Image: Tomos Lewis)
There is always a lot of debate when it comes to selecting an ‘all-star’ team consisting of players from the Welsh Premier League.
Supporters often find it difficult to separate their biases, while others are simply not able to watch certain teams regularly enough to make informed decisions.
So what about using market value to help determine who should make the XI?
German-based website Transfermarkt, which provides scores, results, statistics and transfer news has attributed a figure to each Welsh Premier League player.
So who makes the star-studded team?
Goalkeeper
Paul Harrison (The New Saints)
Value – £113,000
Probably the choice that the majority of the league’s supporters expected to see.
A stalwart of the Welsh Premier League, the 34-year-old has made almost 350 appearances for the Park Hall outfit since joining in 2007.
Harrison, who began his career with boyhood club Liverpool, kept 20 clean sheets in the 2018/19 campaign which saw the Saints win an eighth-consecutive domestic crown.
You would expect keepers such as Alex Ramsay, Will Fuller and Lee Idzi to be nearest challengers to Harrison.
Right-back
Ryan Valentine (Bala Town)
Value – £270,000
The Lakesiders full-back is listed as the second most valuable player in the side.
The website hasn’t revealed how it comes to decide on valuations, but it’s fair to assume that the 36-year-old’s list of former clubs including the likes of Darlington, Wrexham and Hereford has a role to play.
Making over 100 appearances since joining the Maes Tegid outfit in 2013, Valentine is a former Wales under-21 international, playing eight times between 2001 and 2002.
Trailing closest to Valentine are Connah’s Quay Nomads pair Danny Holmes (£135,000) and John Disney (£23,000).
Centre-back
Joel Edwards (Cardiff Metropolitan)
Value – £23,000
One of the more experienced members of the Archers squad, 27-year-old Edwards joined the team from Hereford – which perhaps explains his valuation – in July 2017.
Edwards, who started both legs of the Students’ Europa League tie with Progres Niederkorn, was called up to the Wales C squad for the game against England C in March.
Defenders such as Blaine Hudson, Jonny Spittle and Emlyn Lewis can count themselves unlucky not to make the team,
Centre-back
Andrew Burns (Bala Town)
✍🏼 : Burns bags new Bala deal! https://t.co/ETP8m85lZd #lakesiders pic.twitter.com/9yNP7x9iL1
— Bala Town F.C. (@BalaTownFC) March 18, 2019
Value – £23,000
Irishman Burns is given an identical value to fellow centre-back Edwards.
The Irishman joined the Lakesiders in May 2018, and recently extended his stay at Maes Tegid in March this year.
A former Bolton Wanderers youth product, the 26-year-old has played for clubs including Bradford, Dagenham and Redbridge and Barrow.
Burns was part of a Bala defence which kept just four clean sheets in the league last season, the second worst record behind only Llanelli who managed two.
Left-back
Laurence Wilson (Connah’s Quay Nomads)
Value – £135,000
The former Chester defender joined the Nomads in July 2018 after a two-year spell with Bangor City.
Making 18 appearances for Andy Morrison’s side, the 32-year-old brought a calming influence to the defence, helped by his vast experience which included over 300 appearances in the Football League.
Wilson is rivalled closely by Bala’s Evan Horwood, who is valued at £113,000.
Central midfield
Jon Routledge (The New Saints)
Value – £180,000
The former Dumbarton and Hamilton Academical man is listed as the fourth most valuable player in the team.
The 29-year-old was a mainstay in the Saints’ midfield last season, playing 28 times and contributing two goals.
Fans of the league may have expected to see Routledge’s teammate Aeron Edwards in the XI, given his experience and quality.
Again though, this may be an example of a player’s former teams deciding the valuation.
Central midfield
Alec Mudimu (Cefn Druids)
Value – £135,000
The Cefn Druids midfield maestro is one of only two players in the team to have represented his country, most recently doing so with Zimbabwe at the African Cup of Nations, where he came up against the likes of Mohamed Salah.
Harare-born Mudimu arrived at the Rock in 2017 from English side Stockport Town, and is one of the first names on the team sheet when it comes to selection.
The main highlights during his time in Cefn Mawr include winning the Europa League play-off against Cardiff Metropolitan, and then having the chance to play European football.
Left midfield
Steven Leslie (Newtown)
Value – £90,000
Midfielder Leslie arrived at Latham Park in the summer of 2018, and averaged a goal every four games in his first 20 appearances for the Robins.
Formerly on the books of Shrewsbury Town, Wrexham and AFC Telford United, the 31-year-old Scot added experience to the Newtown squad, and helped them to a commendable fifth place finish in 2018/19.
Leslie was unable to help his side into the Europa League play-off final, as they succumbed at home to Bala Town in the semi-final.
Centre-attacking midfield
Danny Redmond (The New Saints)
http://gty.im/618118422
Value – £225,000
Redmond has played an important role for the Saints since arriving from Hamilton in 2018.
The Liverpudlian was part of an impressive New Saints midfield which was able to provide a good platform for their forwards to find the goals to take them to yet another top flight title.
The third most valuable player in the team, Redmond is sure to be an important part of Ruscoe’s team for the years to come.
Right midfield
Luke Bowen (Carmarthen Town)
Value – £135,000
Bowen returned for a second spell at Richmond Park in January 2018 after four years with Port Talbot Town.
Finding the net 11 times last season, he formed a strong partnership with Liam Thomas; who finished as the league’s second-highest scorer with 24 goals.
His transfer to the now-defunct Neath in 2011 perhaps explains his market value.
Striker
Greg Draper (The New Saints)
Value – £360,000
It’s no surprise to see The New Saints’ front-man as the most valuable player.
Since joining the Oswestry side from Basingstoke Town in 2011, the Kiwi has netted a remarkable 132 times in his 212 league appearances.
He finished as the Welsh Premier League’s top scorer last season with 27 goals to his name, and recently extended his stay at Park Hall, meaning Saints fans will be able to enjoy watching him play for a while longer yet.
Winning a solitary cap for New Zealand in 2008, he joins Mudimu as the only other player in this team to have played for their country.
(Featured image: Tomos Lewis)
