2009-10 Cymru Premier Team of the Year: Where Are They Now?
The 2009-2010 Cymru Premier season saw the title race go down to the wire, with The New Saints achieving their fifth title, finishing just two points ahead of Llanelli.
It was a season which also saw success for Port Talbot Town, who qualified for the Europa League, along with Llanelli and Bangor City.
The Citizens’ manager Neville Powell was rewarded for leading the club to European qualification, as he was named the Cymru Premier Manager of the Year.
We take a look at the 2009-2010 Cymru Premier Team of the Year and where they are now.
Embed from Getty ImagesLee Kendall
Taking the goalkeeper spot in the 2009-10 Team of the Year was Lee Kendall.
Having had spells in the Cymru Leagues at Haverfordwest County and Rhyl, Kendall earned the award for his performances for Port Talbot Town, as the club finished third.
Since retiring in 2012, Kendall became manager of Pontypridd Town, who were bottom of the Cymru South, but led the Dragons to safety with six wins, three draws and two defeats in eleven games.
Having stepped down from his role with Ponty in May 2019, Kendall is now Barry Town’s first-team goalkeeper coach.
Embed from Getty ImagesDanny Holmes
Holmes earned a place in the Team of the Year during his first season at The New Saints.
The Saints were crowned champions for a fifth time, finishing just two points above Llanelli in second.
Holmes went on to play one more season at Park Hall, before signing for Tranmere Rovers in 2011, where he spent four years.
The defender returned to the Cymru Leagues however, signing for Bangor City in 2017, after spells at Newport County, Fylde and York City.
Danny Holmes now plays for Cymru Premier leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads, adding invaluable experience to Andy Morrison’s side.
Embed from Getty ImagesSteve Evans
Another Saints defender, Steve Evans was during his second spell at the club when TNS won their fifth league title.
Evans was part of a strong defence, who won the Nathaniel MG Cup in the same year, beating Rhyl 3-1 in the final at The Airfield.
A centre-back in his playing career, Evans is now assistant-manager at The New Saints, for whom he made 261 appearances.
Michael Johnston
Michael Johnston was named in the Team of the Year during his time at Bangor City.
The Citizens gained qualification for the following season’s Europa League, despite finishing in fifth position.
Johnston went on to make 239 appearances for Bangor City, and now plays for CPD Bangor 1876.
Embed from Getty ImagesScott Barrow
Port Talbot Town’s left-back during the season they finished third in the Cymru Premier, Scott Barrow was rewarded for his performances, with an inclusion in the Team of the Year.
Barrow has gone on to play in the National League for the likes of Tamworth and Macclesfield Town, before making the step-up to League Two, signing for Newport County in 2015.
The left-back now plies his trade for Gateshead in the National League North and has made over 100 appearances for the club.
Embed from Getty ImagesCraig Jones
Jones won the Cymru Premier title in his first season at The New Saints, having signed for the club in 2009.
The right-sided player was named Young Player of the Year for his performances in the 09/10 season.
After making 111 appearances for the Saints, Jones signed for Bury in the Football League, for whom he also accumulated over a hundred games.
Jones had a brief spell at Connah’s Quay Nomads in 2018, but is now retired, after a successful career.
Scott Ruscoe
Scott Ruscoe was in his eighth season at The New Saints, as the club won their fifth title.
The midfielder went on to play over 300 games for the club, scoring 56 times.
Ruscoe is now manager of the Saints, with the club currently second in the Cymru Premier.
Liam McCreesh
Liam McCreesh was hugely influential in Port Talbot Town’s third place finish, earning the club qualification for the Europa League.
McCreesh was not only rewarded for his form with a place in the Team of the Year, but was also named the league’s Player of the Season.
The midfielder is now playing for Afan Lido, who are currently tenth in the Cymru South.
Geoff Kellaway
Kellaway was named in the Team of the Year, as Aberystwyth Town achieved a fourth-place finish.
At the end of the season, Kellaway signed for Australian side Dandenong Thunder and also featured for Melbourne Victory in the A-League.
Kellaway returned to Welsh football in 2011, re-signing for Aberystwyth Town, before brief spells at Rhyl and Carmarthen Town.
The winger is now in his third spell at the Seasiders, and is a fans’ favourite at Park Avenue.
Penblwydd hapus @martinrose09, sy'n dathlu ei benblwydd heddiw yn 9 oed! #Blwyddynnaid
— ⚽ Sgorio (@sgorio) February 29, 2020
Happy birthday Martin Rose, who celebrates his 9th birthday today! #LeapYear pic.twitter.com/L9zSxY6TBg
Martin Rose
Port Talbot Town striker Martin Rose fired the club to a third-place Cymru Premier finish, earning European qualification for the following season.
Rose netted 16 times in the 09-10 season, coming sixth in the top-scorers chart.
The striker is now retired, having had a successful, goal-scoring career.
Rhys Griffiths
A Cymru Premier goal-scoring machine, Rhys Griffiths claimed the Golden Boot for the fifth year in a row.
The striker scored 30 goals for Llanelli, as the club narrowly missed out on the title.
Griffiths went on to win the Golden Boot in the following two seasons, and is currently second in the all-time Cymru Premier leading goal-scorers chart, with a remarkable 269 goals to his name.
Rhys Griffiths is now the manager of Cymru Premier club Penybont.
(Featured Image: Darren Griffiths, Lewis Mitchell and NCM Media)
