Cymru Premier: The best players to have come out of Wales’ top flight in recent years
Will Evans celebrates with goalscorer Adam Roscrow. (Image: Matthew Lofthouse)
In recent times, the JD Cymru Premier has been a stepping stone for many a player who have gone on to build on their name in the English football system.
We take a look at nine players in the last decade to have had success after leaving Wales’ top flight.
Christian Doidge
Having started out at Cwmbran Celtic and Croesyceiliog, the growth of Doidge’s name began at Barry Town United, where he scored 16 goals in as many appearances.
During a season at Carmarthen Town, Doidge netted 19 times for the Old Gold, earning him a move to the National League’s Dagenham and Redbridge, where he also made double figures, scoring ten for the promotion hopefuls.
After an unsuccessful loan spell at Dartford, Christian Doidge’s breakthrough came at Forest Green Rovers, where he set the National League alight, scoring 59 goals in 108 appearances, including a goal in the play-off final against Tranmere Rovers, earning his side promotion to League Two.
Despite scoring just once on loan at Bolton Wanderers in the season they were relegated to League One, Doidge signed for Hibernian, where he has scored 18 this season.
As Euro 2020 loomed, Doidge looked set to make his Wales debut in the warm-up friendlies, only for the coronavirus outbreak to postpone the tournament until 2021. If Doidge can continue his form for Hibernian when normality resumes, a cap for his country is surely on the way.
Embed from Getty ImagesTom Bradshaw
Another striker who has progressed onto the international stage is Tom Bradshaw. After a very short spell in Aberystwyth Town’s first team in the 2008-2009 season, Bradshaw signed for Shrewsbury Town, where he averaged a goal every five appearances.
That average improved to a goal every two outings in a Walsall shirt, as he scored 34 goals in 70 games for The Saddlers, earning him a call-up to the Wales squad, making his debut in a 1-0 loss to Ukraine in March 2016.
Bradshaw was included in Chris Coleman’s provisional squad for Euro 2016, but withdrew due to a calf injury.
The striker signed for Barnsley that summer, for whom he scored 18 in 84 appearances. After losing his place in the starting eleven, Bradshaw was shipped out on loan to Millwall, before making the move permanent in January 2019, scoring eight times for The Lions since.
Embed from Getty ImagesSam Finley
After spells at English non-league sides Southport and Warrington Town, Finley signed for The New Saints in 2011. The midfielder impressed in his four seasons at Park Hall, winning the Cymru Premier four times, whilst also claiming the Welsh Cup twice, along with a Nathaniel MG Cup triumph.
Having scored 18 goals in 64 appearances for The New Saints, Finley was sent out on loan to National League club Wrexham, where he played 14 games. The view of many Wrexham fans was that Finley should have been signed on a permanent deal, but manager Gary Mills decided against signing him, allowing AFC Fylde to secure his signature.
Finley spent a successful three years at AFC Fylde, eventually becoming club captain, but missed out on promotion to the Football League.
Sam Finley signed for League One club Accrington Stanley in June 2018 after rejecting Sam Ricketts’ offer to rejoin Wrexham. Finley has impressed during his time at Stanley and has certainly held his own in England’s third tier.
Embed from Getty ImagesRhys Healey
In a two year spell in the first team of current Cymru Premier leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads, Rhys Healey looked an exciting prospect, scoring 15 goals in 29 games for the Nomads.
His breakthrough in the Cymru Premier didn’t go unnoticed, as Cardiff City signed Healey in 2013, but the striker struggled to break into the Bluebirds’ first team.
After numerous loan spells, including at Colchester United, Dundee, Newport County, Torquay United and Milton Keynes Dons, Healey made his loan to The Dons permanent in 2019 and has been on fire for them since, scoring 11 goals in League One so far this season.
Ironically, Healey’s performances for The Dons this season have proven he could have been of use in Cardiff City’s promotion bid.
Embed from Getty ImagesScott Quigley
After loan spells at Caersws, Carmarthen Town and Cefn Druids, Scott Quigley became a regular in The New Saints’ side and played his part in the clubs back-to-back treble.
Having scored 25 goals in 86 Cymru Premier appearances, Quigley was signed by Blackpool in 2017 for a fee of £35,000 and was described by manager Lee Bowyer as a “young, powerful forward who fits our model”.
Quigley managed just nine appearances for Blackpool, falling out of favour, as he joined Wrexham on loan until the end of the 2017-18 season. Scoring twice on his debut against Hartlepool United, Quigley recorded 8 in 17 games for The Robins, as they just missed out on the play-offs.
After unsuccessful loan spells at Port Vale and Halifax Town, Scott Quigley returned to his best at Ian Evatt’s Barrow, where he is the National League’s top scorer this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesJason Oswell
Despite struggling in the early stages of his career in Welsh football, scoring just three goals whilst a5 Rhyl and Airbus UK Broughton respectively, Jason Oswell’s breakthrough came at Newtown.
The striker was the club’s top scorer in his first season, scoring 20 goals in 37 appearances, earning him a place in the Cymru Premier’s Team of the Seasons, as well as qualification for his side to the Europa League.
His form continued as he won the Golden Boot in the 2016-2017 season, scoring 25 goals. This earned him both the Cymru Premier Player of the Season award and a move to Stockport County, where he also had success.
In his season spell at County, Oswell netted 25 goals and was the National League North’s top scorer, earning him a move to League Two side Morecambe.
Since then, Oswell’s progression has been hampered by injury, as the striker struggled to cement a first team place at Morecambe, which has also been the case at his current club, Wrexham.
As he looks likely to be released at the end of the season, a return to the Cymru Premier could be on the cards in what would be a coup for any side in Wales’ top flight.
Embed from Getty ImagesMacauley Southam-Hales
Born in Cardiff, right-back Southam-Hales impressed in his two-year spell at Barry Town United, catching the eye of many interested Football League clubs.
Fleetwood Town secured his signature in January 2019, but the Welshman has struggled for first team minutes for The Fishermen.
Manager Joey Barton allowed Southam-Hales to go out on loan to Hartlepool United, managed by Dave Challinor, who knows of the Cymru Premier’s quality from his time at AFC Fylde, where he signed Sam Finley.
Embed from Getty ImagesJordan Davies
Little was known about Wrexham’s academy full-back Jordan Davies until he had a loan spell at Bangor City, who were then in the Cymru Premier.
Having made 14 appearances for The Citizens, Davies caught the eye of Brighton and Hove Albion, who signed him for an undisclosed fee.
Jordan Davies has since been playing for Brighton and Hove Albion’s youth teams, and is highly thought of at the The Seagulls.
As Brighton are now managed by former Swansea City manager Graham Potter, who showed during his time at the Swans that he has no qualms in giving young players opportunities, a first-team debut for Jordan Davies could well be on the cards in the coming months.
Adam Roscrow
A star-player for both Cardiff Met University and Wales C, Adam Roscrow is certainly a player who made his name in the Cymru Premier.
The striker scored 34 goals in 79 Cymru Premier appearances during his time with the Archers, as well as winning the Nathaniel MG Cup.
His form for Met earned him a move to AFC Wimbledon, where injuries have refrained him from hitting the ground running.
If Roscrow can replicate the numbers he recorded for Met at AFC Wimbledon, he will cement his place as a Football League striker.
(Featured Image: Matthew Lofthouse)
