Ex-Liverpool striker fronts up Bala Town’s business after key departures
Manager Colin Caton will hope for a big performance from his team this evening. (Photo: Lewis Mitchell/YCPD)
Ahead of Colin Caton’s 21st season in charge of the Lakesiders, we take a look at a very busy transfer window at Bala Town.
After Nathaniel MG League Cup success and an appearance in the Welsh Cup Final, there was no European football for Bala Town this summer. Cue a mass overhaul of the Bala Town squad with eleven departures and nine new additions in what might be Colin Caton’s largest squad rebuild in his twenty one year tenure at Maes Tegid.
Retaining Nathan Burke, Naim Arsan, Ollie Shannon, Ross White, Harri Lloyd, Luke Wall, Nathan Peate and George Newell, Caton has named long serving midfielder Kieran Smith as new Captain who celebrated his ten year testimonial last week against National League North outfit Chester where Town took a 1-0 victory.
Departures saw duo Lassana Mendes and Oliver Southern join Hereford, loanee forward Adam Roscrow re-join parent club The New Saints and goalkeeper Alex Ramsay leave the club to take up a coaching role at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Captain Chris Venables left for Penybont after six years at the Club, veteran centre half Anthony Kay made the switch to Runcorn Linnets aswell as David Edwards and Paul Rutherford both deciding to retire from football – chalking off around 120 years combined age off Bala Town’s squad. Kieran Molloy, James Davies and Christoph Aziamale were all allowed to depart for pastures new.
Let’s take a look at the new additions:
Kelland Absalom – Moving to Maes Tegid from fellow Cymru Premier side Penybont, Absalom made 26 starts last season. The 25 year old has represented Wales at Under 17’s and Under 21 level so will bring plenty of experience to the new look Lakesiders with spells also overseas in Sweden. Back closer to home he has also played for Merthyr Town, Haverfordwest County, Barry Town and Carmarthen.
Cardiff Met v Penybont in the JD Cymru Premier at Cyncoed Campus on the 30th December 2022.
Kyle Harrison – Coming in from Stalybridge Celtic is commanding centre half Kyle Harrison. Named in the Northern Premier League Division One West Team of the Year in the 2021-22 season, there is quite an expectation within the Town camp that Harrison will be a useful addition to the Bala backline. Making 31 starts last season he has plenty of appearances under his belt within the non-league structure and will slot in well with the Bala defenders who struggled at times last season.
Joe Nelson – A highly rated youngster, Joe Nelson put pen to paper after leaving Chester’s youth system. Rumoured to have been offered a two year deal at Chester, Nelson has opted to take up an apprenticeship at Airbus alongside semi pro football at Bala Town. The 18 year old Welshman began his football at Wrexham Academy before a spell at Shrewsbury Town and then more recently Chester and has spent all of pre-season with the Lakesiders.
Cesaire Lingouba – 27 year old defensive midfielder Cesaire Lingouba was Bala’s third signing of the window as he made the move from Northern Premier League outfit Atherton Collieries. A former teammate of Harrison at Stalybridge, Lingouba is also a tall, strong presence who is comfortable on the ball.
Osebi Abadaki – A pacy strong winger with a wicked cross into the box is what maybe Bala have lacked in recent years – they might have found their answer in left winger Abadaki. Coming in from Warrington Rylands, the Nigerian is an experienced campaigner with numerous clubs under his belt over the border. He is one to watch this coming season.
Cardiff Metropolitan University v Connahs Quay in the Nathaniel MG Cup Final at Bryntirion Park on the 6th February 2022. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Aeron Edwards – There’s no introduction required to Aeron Edwards who is one of the Cymru Premier’s most decorated midfielders. On Bala Town’s radar for many years, Aeron has finally made the move to Maes Tegid after two seasons at Connah’s Quay. A serial League title winner, he has lifted the Cymru Premier trophy a whopping ten times and brings a wealth of experience aswell as some much needed creativity and grit to the Lakesiders. Representing the Cymru C squad too, there will be expectation on the Welshman to step up to fill in the void left by Venables and Dave Edwards.
Ryan Rogers – Town’s latest addition, 23 year old Rogers comes in from Sandbach United. A winger who is an exciting talent has appeared for Glossop North End, Northwich Victoria and Macclesfield, he is known for being great in attacking positions and very creative so will be an exciting signing for the Lakesiders.
2023/24 Cymru Premier: Table, Results, and Top Scorers
Iwan Roberts – Liverpool Academy graduate Iwan Roberts is an exciting signing for Bala. A Welsh international at youth levels, he earned himself a scholarship with the team from Merseyside after starting out at Wrexham. 18 year old Roberts has had trials at Burnley but has put pen to paper with Bala and impressed during pre-season.
Joe Malkin – Already with goals under his belt for Bala during the pre-season campaign, Malkin is another player who joins from Connah’s Quay. Spending large parts of last season injured, Malkin will be out to impress this campaign after taking the Northern Premier Division Young Player of the Year accolade for Nantwich Town the previous season. With three goals netted in eight appearances last year, he is an out and out goalscorer who is incredibly quick.
With three trialists on show against Bootle last Saturday, don’t be surprised to see another couple of additions before the close of the transfer window.
Bala Town begin their campaign away at Ruthin Town on Friday evening in the Nathaniel MG Cup.
