Breakout players burst onto the scene year on year and a season riddled with COVID-19 hasn’t prevented that in this Welsh domestic campaign.
As the regular season has finished and we head toward the European Playoffs, we take a look at five of the best breakout stars in the JD Cymru Premier for the 2020/21 season.
OLLIE HULBERT
He only turned 18 in February but looking at the brilliant first full season Cardiff Met’s Ollie Hulbert has had, you certainly wouldn’t know it.
The striker on loan from Bristol Rovers has been with the Gas since he was eight years old and signed his first professional contract in 2020. And by coming to Cardiff Met for a first taste of senior football, he hasn’t disappointed.
This breakout star has scored an impressive 14 goals in 23 games for Christian Edwards side in a season where the Archers have finished in the top two of the Play-Off Conference for the fourth time in as many years.
It is very unlikely that Hulbert will be involved in Joey Barton’s plans next season in Bristol, so it’s likely another loan spell will follow, which may bring him back to the JD Cymru Premier next year.
BEN CLARK
20 year old Ben Clark has an impressive amount of experience for a man of his age, but he’s certainly had a breakout season this last year, playing all but four of TNS’ Cymru Premier games.
Clark is a product of the TNS academy system and after successful loan spells with Llandudno and Caernarfon, he has etched himself into the heart of the Saints midfield.
He’s put up some great numbers for Anthony Limbrick’s side this season attributing eight goals and seven assists to the Cymru Premier big boys.
With Clark being such a force in the midfield this season, there’s no surprise the likes of Greg Draper and Louis Robles have also had good returns for the Saints.
Unfortunately for Clark and TNS, it was Connah’s Quay Nomads who triumphed in the JD Cymru Premier this past weekend. But with experience of European football already, the Europa League qualification they are heading into won’t be new for Clark.
TYRONE OFORI
Tyrone Ofori was playing for Cefn Druids last season and only managed two goals. Fast forward a year and the 20 year old has had a very impressive campaign, this time round with Newtown.
After a summer switch from the Cefn Druids down to Powys with the Robins, Ofori has had a prolific season finding the net 10 times in 26 games.
The youngster spent eight years in the Aston Villa academy growing up and then moved to Shrewsbury Town for his youth years. But since moving across the border to Wales, he has found success and is turning out to be a top marksman.
He has really hit some form in Phase Two, scoring five and assisting one, being a focal point in Newtown’s road into the European Play-offs.
Newtown head into their European Play-off semi-final against Penybont this Sunday off the back of a 4-0 drubbing by Aberystwyth. But Ofori will be hoping to add to his tally and help Chris Hughes’ side reach European football in the coming weeks.
JACK WILSON
Named Haverfordwest County’s Wizard of the Wing by one of our writers back in November, Jack Wilson started the season strongly and continued to put up good performances throughout the term.
The 20 year old has been able to effect games off both wings this season and has been praised by manager Wayne Jones on several occasions, “He’s been brilliant. He is a massive threat”, said Jones earlier on this season.
Wilson has both scored and provided goals for the Bluebirds this season netting nine times whilst setting up teammates on four occasions. Despite suffering an injury that sidelined him for four months, it’s certainly been an impressive campaign.
The Pembrokeshire youngster, who has won the clubs Player of the Month award numerous times this season, is now contracted until the end of the 2021/22 season.
After a really strong start to the term, County have stumbled to survival this season, and Wilson will be hoping to help the Bluebirds to a higher finish next campaign.
JAKE BICKERSTAFF
After arriving from National League Wrexham on loan in February, Jake Bickerstaff has certainly impressed at Caernarfon. The 19 year old has played in all bar one of the Cofis’ 15 games since he joined, netting five times and assisting one.
Bickerstaff scored three of Caernarfon’s ten goals in the Championship Conference, a pick of those strikes being a cracking goal in a 5-2 defeat against Bala Town. He also put away a tidy finish against eventual league winners Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Formerly of the Liverpool Academy, Bickerstaff made the move to Gwynedd alongside fellow Wrexham teammate Max Cleworth. Since then, the pair have become mainstays in the starting XI, missing just one game each between them.
Bickerstaff signed a contract extension with the Red Dragons in March until the end of next season, and with the side heading toward a play off campaign, may Dean Keates be tempted to keep the youngster around next season for Football League action.
For now though, the centre forward will be looking to finish the season strongly as they play Barry Town in the European Play-offs on Saturday.
(Featured Image: Will Cheshire)
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