Caernarfon Town legend Darren Thomas has penned an emotional goodbye following his decision to terminate his contract with the club.
“When I was young, I could hear the crowd at the Oval from my home,” explained Thomas in a statement. “As a Cofi, all I ever wanted was to play for Caernarfon Town.”
The 39-year-old ‘Cofi Messi’ will be remembered as a true local hero having played an integral role in Caernarfon Town establishing themselves as a leading club in the Novira Cymru Premier, winning the Welsh Cup last season and captaining the side in European competition.
Thomas initially arrived at Caernarfon Town from local side Bontnewydd in 2005. Over the course of the next two decades, the attacking midfield has departed twice but returned to the Oval and has been a key player for the side since returning for a third time from Aberystwyth Town in 2015.
Despite signing a new contract with the club in the summer, opportunities have been limited in the opening weeks of the season and Thomas has now made the decision to seek regular football elsewhere as he enters the final years of his playing career.
“The team and the club is in a really good place and I just want to play a bit more than I have been recently,” he added. “So I think it’s the right time to leave.”
Last season Thomas realised a long-standing dream as he came off the bench to lift the Welsh Cup as his side defeated Flint Town United 3-0 at Rodney Parade. It was his first major trophy with Caernarfon Town and the first time that the club had won the Welsh Cup.
“I have been really proud to be captain these past few years and playing in Europe and winning the Welsh Cup for the first time have been the highlights,” Thomas explained. “I joined the club because I wanted to win the Welsh Cup so that was a dream come true!
“I’m not one to share my emotions but to pull on the shirt, walk out in front of the fans at the Oval and represent Caernarfon has meant everything to me.”
During his time at the club, Thomas was named Player of the Season in three consecutive campaigns between 2017 and 2019, and also claimed Sgorio’s ‘Goal of the Decade’ for his superb individual strike against The New Saints in the Welsh Cup in 2014/15.
Thomas departs the Oval having made an incredible 435 appearances for the club, scoring 148 goals. Although he has only featured as a late substitute in recent games, his legacy will see him remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the club, and a legend of the Novira Cymru Premier.
“The fans have been amazing,” he added. “The Cofi Army has always supported me and playing in front of them has meant a lot. I’ve got lots of friends who follow the team and I’ll be back here to join them whenever I can to shout the boys on!”
