The shortlist for January’s Player and Manager of the Month awards in the JD Cymru Leagues has been confirmed.
The fans’ vote will be combined with a league and independent voting panel to determine the winners.
JD Cymru Premier
Manager of the Month
Craig Harrison – The New Saints
It was a case of new year, same TNS as Craig Harrison’s side continued their march towards the JD Cymru Premier title with two wins from two games in January. After thrashing Cardiff Met 8-0, the Saints finished phase one with a 3-1 win over Newtown to ensure they reached the split still unbeaten and 15 points clear at the top of the table.
Steve Jenkins – Barry Town United
Barry Town United ended phase two on a high by securing back-to-back league wins for the first time this season. Following a stunning 4-0 win over top half side Newtown at Jenner Park, Steve Jenkins led his team to a 4-2 away win at relegation rivals Aberystwyth Town to tee the Linnets up for a possible play-off push in phase two.
Anthony Williams – Aberystwyth Town
It has been a tricky campaign so far for Aberystwyth Town so far, but January saw them move out of the JD Cymru Premier relegation zone for the first time since August. Anthony Williams’ team secured a vital 1-0 home win over relegation rivals Colwyn Bay to leapfrog the Seagulls in the table.
Player of the Month
Louis Bradford – Aberystwyth Town
If Aberystwyth Town are to be successful in their survival bid, their defence will undoubtedly play a key part. Louis Bradford sits at the heart of their backline and was the star man as the Seasiders earned a crucial 1-0 win over Colwyn Bay, before also keeping Barry Town United at bay for the first 45 minutes a week later.
Ryan Brobbel – The New Saints
Ryan Brobbel reinforced his status as one of the attacking threats in the JD Cymru Premier with a pair of excellent performances in January. He scored twice and also contributed an assist in The New Saints’ 8-0 win against Cardiff Met, before a perfect pass set up Brad Young’s goal against Newtown.
Ollie Hulbert – Barry Town United
Ollie Hulbert has proved to be a crucial figure in Barry Town United’s attack since signing from Yeovil Town last summer and he took his league goal tally for the season into double figures with two in January. After netting in the 4-0 thrashing of Newtown, he completed the scoring in the 4-2 away win at Aberystwyth Town.
Brad Young – The New Saints
You need to be a special player to be keeping Declan McManus out of the TNS team, but Brad Young has proved impossible to drop with a fine run of goalscoring form. The 21-year-old netted a hat-trick in the 8-0 win over Cardiff Met before opening the scoring in the 3-1 win over Newtown to take his tally to 15 league goals for the season.
JD Cymru North
Manager of the Month
Mark Allen – Airbus UK Broughton
JD Cymru North leaders Airbus UK Broughton extended their unbeaten league streak to 13 games with three wins and a draw from four games in January. After beating Gresford Athletic and Bangor 1876, the most impressive victory for Mark Allen’s side was a 3-0 triumph over title rivals Flint Town United, who were previously unbeaten in the league this season.
Johnny Haseldin – Holywell Town
No team in the JD Cymru North earned more points in January than Holywell Town, as Johnny Haseldin guided his team to four consecutive wins while scoring 13 goals and conceding just two. The Wellmen overcame Gresford Athletic twice, Chirk AAA and Bangor 1876 to move within two points of top spot.
Steve Monk – Mold Alexandra
It was a perfect start to 2024 for Mold Alexandra, who won all three of their JD Cymru North matches in January to cement their place in the top four. After scoring a 94th-minute winner to triumph 2-1 away at Llandudno, Steve Monk’s side came from behind to defeat Llanidloes Town 4-1 and were 2-1 winners away at Porthmadog.
Player of the Month
Corrig McGonigle – Bangor 1876
Of the nine goals which Bangor 1876 scored in January, Corrig McGonigle was involved in seven of them – proving vital in three wins that his side picked up. After scoring twice and assisting once in the 4-1 victory over Porthmadog, he registered another goal and two assists to defeat Chirk AAA before netting the only goal in the 1-0 win against the same opposition in the reverse fixture.
Tyler McManus – Airbus UK Broughton
An ever-present in January as his side picked up 10 points from a possible 12, Tyler McManus continued his fine form at the base of Airbus’ midfield since establishing himself in the side. Defensively solid, he adding attacking contributions to his game last month by providing an assist against Gresford Athletic before scoring his first senior goal in the crucial win over Flint Town United.
Elliott Reeves – Flint Town United
It has been a stellar first campaign at Flint Town United for Elliott Reeves and January was his best month yet as he contributed five goals and three assists in just four matches. Perhaps it was no surprise that the first league game of the campaign he missed proved Flint’s first defeat, against Airbus.
Danny Warren – Mold Alexandra
Danny Warren continues to be the jewel in Mold Alexandra’s attack as they compete at the top end of the table. After scoring against both Llandudno and Llanidloes Town, also providing an assist against the latter, Warren’s most decisive contribution in January came away at Porthmadog as he struck the winning goal with just seven minutes left on the clock.
JD Cymru South
Manager of the Month
Carl Clement – Baglan Dragons
It was not the easiest of starts to January for Baglan Dragons as they suffered back-to-back defeats to Briton Ferry Llansawel and Cambrian & Clydach Vale, but Carl Clement’s side bounced back brilliantly with three consecutive wins to climb to sixth in the table. After an impressive 2-0 away win at high-flying Afan Lido, they also got the better of Caerau Ely and Goytre United.
Andy Hill – Trefelin
Andy Hill has transformed Trefelin since taking charge in October and they enjoyed their best run of form this season with three wins from three games in January to rise from 13th place to seventh in the JD Cymru South table. Hill led his team to victories against Caerau Ely, Taffs Well and Abergavenny Town while bolstering the squad with exciting new signings.
Ben Stait – Llantwit Major
January appeared to be a daunting month for relegation-threatened Llantwit Major, with fixtures against Briton Ferry Llansawel, Ammanford and Afan Lido – all sides in the top five. However, they remarkably claimed victories against all three teams and kept clean sheets against Ammanford and Lido. In the process, Ben Stait’s men moved from being nine points adrift of safety to just three.
Player of the Month
Richard Crees – Abertillery Bluebirds
It has been a difficult first season in the JD Cymru South for Abertillery Bluebirds, but they showed undoubted signs of improvement in January – led by captain Richard Crees. His solid displays in the backline helped to earn 1-1 draws against Taffs Well and title contenders Llanelli Town, before he provided an assist in the 2-1 away win at Cwmbran Celtic.
Jordan Evans – Baglan Dragons
After only netting once in the first half of the season, Jordan Evans started 2024 on fire as he scored in three consecutive games against Afan Lido, Caerau Ely and Goytre United – netting the decisive winning goal against the latter – to help Baglan Dragons climb into the top half of the JD Cymru South table.
Brandon Griffiths – Caerau Ely
Only Briton Ferry Llansawel and Llanelli Town have scored more goals in the JD Cymru South this season than Caerau Ely, with Brandon Griffiths the most prolific in the Young Guns’ attack. He contributed four goals and one assist in January, including a quick-fire brace that proved crucial in the 4-2 win over Cwmbran Celtic.
Joel Woodington – Llantwit Major
It was a memorable month for Llantwit Major as they secured three successive wins against teams in the top five and Joel Woodington led the line expertly throughout. His strike against Briton Ferry Llansawel gave the Major a two-goal cushion over the league leaders, while he bagged the decisive goal in the 1-0 victory over Afan Lido.
