2020 review: Flint’s long-awaited top flight return and how they’ve fared so far

2020 will be a year remembered for all the wrong reasons for most, but for Flint on the 16th of June it finally saw their long awaited restoration into the domestic games elite.

Of course no team has a right to be in the Cymru Premier; just look to Bala’s success, or more pertinently the plight of some of Welsh football’s most storied clubs, Rhyl and Bangor. That is a role Flint knows all too well, having been in exile for some 22 years in the second tier. 

They may not be the biggest club in Wales, but Flint has an enviable history. Welsh Cup winners in 1954 and considered to be first domestic Welsh ‘champions’ in 1991, Flint were founding members of the League of Wales in 1992. A fourth place finish in 1994 was followed by two seasons in the top six. However, things turned sour and in 1998 Flint were relegated to the Cymru Alliance. They achieved a respectable third place in their first attempt, and most would have suspected the Silkmen’s stay in the Second tier to be a brief one. Fast forward to 20 years later and they were still there. A few near misses, most agonisingly to Llangefni in 2010 and one disastrous last place finish in 2001 had hardened Flint’s resolve. 

In November 2017 Ex-Rhyl manager, Niall McGuinness was appointed, and after a slow start to the season results began to improve. A first League cup was won at the end of the season, at the sixth time of asking and Flint started to believe they were on to something special. Already possessing the quality and guile of Richie Foulkes and Mark Cadwallder, over the next two years McGuinness was able to blend experience and youth by bringing in the likes of the ever spritely Callum Bratley and the experienced John Danby. Flint were again a side capable of challenging for a place in the Cymru Premier. Finishing second in 2019 to run away leaders Llandudno was a positive step and much was expected for 2020. Ultimately Flint would again finish short of their goal in second on PPG when the Cymru North was halted in March. Yet it would be three months later when Flint’s two decade long dream was fulfilled. Champions Prestatyn were denied a Tier 1 license and the Silkmen were going up through the back door. 

At the start of the season if you’d have asked any Flint fan about the upcoming season they would have been optimistic, and rightfully so. In Niall McGuinness they had a talented young manager looking to make a big impression back in the Cymru Premier, and signings like Wes Baynes and Nathan Craig were as good as you can get. Things were looking bright on the banks of the Dee Estuary. Two wins from their three matches brought more excitement, but this was not to last. An inability to defend was proving to be a crux in McGuinness’ side and a 10-0 defeat to The New Saints was abject at best. 

By December the Silkmen had won just three of their opening 12 games and drawn none, this was not the return most fans had in mind. Flint could not seem to turn losses into draws and the continued lack of points was becoming intolerable. A meek 2-0 loss to fierce rivals Connah’s Quay Nomads did nothing to dispel thoughts of an uncontrolled slide down the table. The six goals conceded away to Barry conspired to be McGuinness’ downfall and he was sacked on December 6th, a little over three years after being appointed. Former Prestatyn Neil Gibson was appointed a day later. 

In his place Flint have brought in a highly experienced manager who they hope can steer them into calmer waters in 2021. Gibson has a history of success which includes a Welsh cup, European forays and of course beating his new side to last season’s Cymru North title. Gibson’s first game in charge of the Silkmen, a 2-1 loss to Cefn Druids, saw them slip into last place in the Cymru Premier, but a decisive 3-0 victory over Aberystwyth, their last of this historic year, saw them rise to 9th. 

Finally, there has been much discussed about Flint’s rollercoaster 2020, and indeed their 22 year battle just to get to this point. Chief amongst them their decision to sack Niall McGuinness, the man who finally led them into the promised land after only 14 games. But ultimately as Flint goes into the new year, it is 2021 that will define the club and not 2020. If they survive this season their decisions will be vindicated and they can look forward to Cymru Premier football, as well as the return of fans and a new era at the Essity stadium. Alternatively, if they go down, could they be staring down another 22 years of heartbreak? 

(Featured Image: Mike James)