Cymru North: Ex-Wrexham goalkeeper transfers to Buckley as Bala sign former Notts County forward
Bryn Owen will get the chance to play first-team football at Buckley Town. (Pic by Lewis Mitchell/FAW)
The Cymru North continues to see a flurry of transfer activity as Buckley Town, Bala Town, Bangor City, and others begin shaping their squad for the new season.
The transfer window officially opened on June 15, and clubs across the league are now revealing their summer business. While some deals had already been announced, a wave of new signings is now being made public, offering a clearer picture of how squads are taking shape ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Buckley enter the new season under new management, with Dave Evans arriving from Gresford Athletic. The club has already confirmed the signing of six new players, including a former Wrexham goalkeeper, as preparations gather pace.
They have swooped to sign goalkeeper Bryn Owen on loan from The New Saints. Owen left the Racecourse Ground in 2025 and moved to Park Hall, where he largely served as understudy to Nathan Shepperd and Jack Edwards.
The 19-year-old made one senior appearance for TNS, coming off the bench in a 2-0 defeat to Colwyn Bay in March. He will now have the opportunity to gain regular first-team football for the first time in his career and is expected to challenge for the number one shirt.
Speaking on his move, he said: “Delighted to have joined on loan for the season, Exciting year ahead for the club and buzzing to be apart of it. Up the bucks.”
Manager Dave Evans has also raided his former club, Gresford Athletic, to bring in brothers Billy and Reagan Nicholas.
Reagan joined Gresford in January after making a mid-season switch from Bala Town. The 19-year-old defender went on to make five appearances and is already familiar with Owen from their time together at Wrexham.
Older brother Billy is also a centre-back and was previously on Wrexham’s books before leaving in 2021. The 23-year-old made 31 appearances in all competitions last season and has previous Cymru North experience with Llandudno and Airbus UK Broughton.
Gresford captain Paul Johnson has also made the move to The Globe after making 26 appearances in all competitions last season. The 31-year-old midfielder scored six goals and brings a wealth of experience at tier-two level, having made more than 100 appearances. Prestatyn Town is among his former clubs.
Scott McHarrie has arrived from league rivals Denbigh Town, returning to Buckley after a year away. The 26-year-old midfielder made 30 appearances in all competitions last season, contributing one goal and three assists.
Completing the club’s confirmed arrivals is Josh Harris-James, who joins after a spell in the Czech Republic with SK Slovan Kunratice. The midfielder, who has built a social media following of more than 9,100, has also previously played for Redditch United and Worcester City.
Denbigh Town Add Four New Faces to Squad
Denbigh Town have confirmed the arrival of four new signings as manager and staff continue to reshape the squad for the upcoming Cymru North season.
The Reds have secured the services of Harry Martin from Ruthin Town, Toby Gallagher-Keenan and Elliot Orton from Gresford Athletic, alongside Hugh Holland from Buckley Town.
Gallagher-Keenan arrives at Central Park following an impressive four-year spell with Gresford Athletic. The attacking midfielder made over 100 appearances for the Colliers, with 94 coming in the Cymru North.
During his time at Gresford, he contributed 22 goals and 12 assists, underlining his attacking influence. Last season alone, he registered four goals and two assists, finding the net against Newtown, Airbus UK Broughton, Holywell Town and ironically, his new club Denbigh Town.
Former Bala Town player Harry Martin joins after spending the last three seasons with Ruthin Town.
Martin has accumulated 75 Cymru North appearances, scoring 15 goals and providing seven assists. His eye for goal was evident last season when he scored against both Buckley Town and Denbigh Town, showcasing the attacking threat he can offer from midfield.
Hugh Holland arrives from Buckley Town after making 22 appearances last season.
The midfielder contributed three goals and two assists during the campaign, creating goals against Flint Mountain and Holyhead Hotspur. Holland also brings valuable experience from previous spells with Airbus UK Broughton and Colwyn Bay, adding further depth and versatility to Denbigh’s squad.
Defender Elliot Orton is the fourth player through the door after departing Gresford Athletic.
Orton previously played for Airbus UK Broughton and was part of their promotion-winning squad before featuring in the Cymru Premier. Following Airbus’ relegation, he joined Gresford Athletic, where he went on to make 56 appearances.
Speaking after completing the move, Orton said:
“I’m looking forward to getting the shirt on and representing Denbigh and playing in front of the fantastic support we have here.”
Bangor City Land Gresford Athletic Talisman Ozlu
Bangor City’s impressive summer recruitment continued with the signing of Gresford Athletic forward Ozlu.
The Citizens have been one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market and have now secured one of the Cymru North’s most proven attacking players.
Despite Gresford’s struggles near the foot of the table last season, Ozlu still managed to register 10 league goals and four assists.
The 25-year-old brings extensive experience to Nantporth, sitting just four appearances short of reaching 100 Cymru North appearances. Across his career in the division, he has contributed 31 goals and 12 assists, making him a significant addition to Bangor City’s attacking options.
Craig Lindfield Heads to Bala Town
Experienced striker Craig Lindfield has joined Bala Town following his departure from newly promoted Holywell Town.
Lindfield arrives with a reputation as one of North Wales football’s most reliable goalscorers and boasts an outstanding scoring record across recent Cymru North campaigns.
The veteran forward scored:
- 15 goals in 26 appearances for Airbus UK Broughton during the 2023/24 season
- 20 goals in 28 appearances for Colwyn Bay during their title-winning 2024/25 campaign
- 21 goals in 29 appearances for Holywell Town last season
His goals played a crucial role in helping Holywell secure promotion to the Cymru Premier, and Bala will hope his experience and finishing ability can help drive their own ambitions.
The 37-year-old’s career has also included spells with Liverpool, Notts County, Chester, AFC Bournemouth, Accrington Stanley, FC United of Manchester and Marine, making him one of the most experienced players currently operating in Welsh football.
Porthmadog Secure Permanent Return for Gruff John
Porthmadog have completed the signing of defender Gruff John from Caernarfon Town following a successful loan spell last season.
John played a key role in helping Porthmadog secure promotion from the Ardal North West, including their play-off final victory against Knighton Town.
The defender also featured prominently during the club’s memorable Welsh Cup run. One of the standout moments came when he scored a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser against Denbigh Town before Porthmadog eventually progressed on penalties.
The move marks a return to familiar surroundings, with John having previously represented Porthmadog during the 2018/19 season before establishing himself at Caernarfon Town.
After six seasons with the Cofis, he departs having made more than 140 Cymru Premier appearances, gaining valuable experience in both domestic and European competition.
