RHYL FC SQUAD PLAYER PROFILES 2008/09 SEASON

LEE KENDALL (GOALKEEPER)
Born: Newport, Jan 8, 1981
Son of the late former Tottenham and Wolves goalkeeper Mark, Lee joined Rhyl from Haverfordwest County at the start of the 2007/08 season. A Welsh Under-21 and semi-professional international, Lee began his pro career at Crystal Palace in the late 1990s before joining Cardiff City for £50,000 in December 2000. He then had a spell with Barry Town before spending five seasons at Haverfordwest, then switching ranks to the Lilywhites.
Total Welsh Premier appearances: 181; Rhyl WPL apps: 31.

CHRIS ROBERTS (DEFENDER)
Born: Wrexham, Aug 14, 1985
Joined the Lilywhites in November 2006 and has progressed into one of the finest left-sided defenders in the Welsh Premier. Chris first featured in the WPL in 2005/06 for NEWI Cefn Druids having joined them from Colwyn Bay. Has very rarely had a poor game for the Lilywhites, his ability as a solid defender and ball carrier making him worth his weight in gold.
Total WPL apps: 60 (7) Goals: 2; Rhyl WPL apps: 36 (5) Goals: 2.

GEORGE HORAN (DEFENDER)
Born: Chester, Feb 18, 1982
Very strong and experienced central defender who was with Connah's Quay Nomads for five seasons before signing for Rhyl at the start of the 2005/06 campaign. Was a member of Rhyl's Welsh Cup winning team in his first season at Belle Vue and took over as first team captain from the departing Timmy Edwards the following term.
Equally adept in the air and on the deck, Horan is the joint second highest appearance maker for the Lilies in Europe and is regularly named in Welsh Premier dream teams.
Total WPL apps: 243 (1) Goals: 20; Rhyl WPL apps: 94 (1) Goals: 6.

PAUL O'NEILL (DEFENDER)
Born: Farnworth, June 17, 1982
Paul was a pro at Macclesfield Town between 1999-2003 - fitting in a brief loan spell at Bangor City - and made 36 league appearances for the Silkmen before switching to Scottish League side Gretna in 2003-04. His career also including two loan stints with Northwich Victoria and Scarborough, Paul joined Bangor in 2004/05 and spent three seasons at Farrar Road before signing for Rhyl at the start of last term. A very versatile player, he can play anywhere across the defence.
Total WPL apps: 94 (3) Goals: 7; Rhyl WPL apps: 29 (1) Goals: 2.

GREG STRONG (DEFENDER)
Born: Bolton, September 5, 1975
Rhyl is the 17th club this much-travelled defender has played for in a distinguished career. He started out at Wigan Athletic (1992-95) before moving to Bolton Wanderers (1995-2000) where he made his Premiership debut. After loan moves to Blackpool and Stoke City, Strong signed for Scottish League club Motherwell for £150,000 in July 2000. He returned to England in 2002 to join Hull City and subsequently went out on loan to Cheltenham Town, Scunthorpe United, Bury, Boston United and Macclesfield Town before moving north of the border again to sign for Livingston in 2005. He moved on to Dundee but was released in late 2006 and dropped into non-league with Halifax, Northwich and Droylsden before committing himself to Rhyl in July 2008. Football League appearances: 89 (11) Goals: 6; Scottish League appearances: 121 (8) Goals: 5.
Total WPL apps: 0.

MARK CONNOLLY (DEFENCE/MIDFIELD)
Born: Birkenhead, July 2, 1984
Although Rhyl's Intertoto Cup hopes ended in disappointment at the hands of Bohemian in June, the shining light for the Lilywhites was midfielder Mark Connolly who scored both goals in a 4-2 home defeat at Belle Vue and had fair claim to the one the Lilies netted in Dublin too.
"Conno" has been an outstanding success for Rhyl since signing in 2005 from Bangor City. His tremendous engine, superb crossing ability and lethalness from dead-ball situations make him the Lilies' very own answer to Steven Gerrard.
Total WPL apps: 103 (23) Goals: 18. Rhyl WPL apps: 77 (11) Goals: 14.

GREG STONES (DEFENCE/MIDFIELD)
Born: Birkenhead, May 4, 1982
Stones is in his second spell at Belle Vue, having been initially brought into the Welsh Premier in 2004/05 when he signed from West Cheshire League side Poulton Vics. After two seasons under John Hulse, Greg went full-time with TNS in July 2006. He left the Saints at the end of 2006/07 for a trial with Crewe Alexandra, then played for Stafford Rangers and Cammell Laird before making a surprise return to Rhyl in January 2008. Originally signed as a defender, Stones now more often than not operates in midfield although this season he could return to the back again.
Total WPL apps: 89 (8) Goals 9. Rhyl WPL apps: 67 (3) Goals: 5.

GARETH WILSON (MIDFIELD)
Born: St Asaph, May 23, 1978
Recently signed a new one-year deal with Rhyl making this his ninth successive season at Belle Vue. Willo is set to break the club's all-time appearance record in the Welsh Premier this term. A former Wales U16 and U18 international, he won the FAW Youth Cup with Wrexham before first joining Rhyl in 1997/98. He then spent two seasons at TNS, winning the WPL title in 1999/2000, before returning to Belle Vue in 1999/2000. Is now the only remaining member of the 2003/04 treble-winning squad at the club in regular first team contention.
Total WPL apps: 252 (63) Goals 30. Rhyl WPL apps: 219 (32) Goals: 22.

GARETH OWEN (MIDFIELD)
Born: Connah's Quay, October 21, 1971
Signed professional forms for Wrexham in 1990 and went on to make 350 appearances for the Robins, netting 36 goals. He left the Racecourse in 2001 to join Doncaster Rovers. Won eight Under-21 and one B cap for Wales and returned to his home town club Connah's Quay Nomads in the summer of 2003 after helping Rovers back into the Football League. Appointed player/manager of Airbus UK in the 2005 close season, but made a surprise move to Rhyl as a player in summer 2008.
Total WPL apps: 152 (2) Goals 23. Rhyl WPL apps: 0.

JIMMY KELLY (MIDFIELD)
Born: Liverpool, Feb 14, 1973
Signed for Rhyl at the start of last season but after some outstanding early displays a knee injury ruined his campaign. Is now back as a key member of the midfield under Allan Bickerstaff. Kelly began his career as an apprentice at Wrexham, making his Football League debut in 1990/91. After 21 appearances for the Robins he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in an exchange deal. His spell at Molineux included stints back at Wrexham and Walsall. He returned to playing in 1998 with a short stay at Bury and he has since worn the colours of several top non-league clubs including Hednesford Town, Doncaster Rovers and Chester City (both then Conference sides), Scarborough, Morecambe, Lancaster City and Droylsden, whom he helped win the Conference North title in 2006/07 season.
Total WPL/Rhyl apps: 6 Goals: 1.

DANNY WILLIAMS (MIDFIELD)
Born: Wrexham, July 12, 1979
Started his career at the age of 18 as a trainee at Liverpool. Was at Anfield between 1997-99 before joining hometown club Wrexham where he made 39 (3) appearances from 1999-2001. He was released by then manager Brian Flynn and had a loan spell at Doncaster before beginning a three-year stay at Kidderminster Harriers where he featured in 111 first team games. Loan stints at Chester and Bristol Rovers followed prior to his return to Wrexham where he spent another four years, making 121 appearances, before being released in summer 2008 and Rhyl was his next port of call. Has nine Wales under-21 caps.
Total WPL/Rhyl apps: 0.

JOSH JOHNSON (MIDFIELD)
Born: Carenage, April 16, 1981
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Josh Johnson played for San Juan Jabloteh in his native country for six years.
He represented his nation at the FIFA U-20 world qualifying tournament in 2001 and the 2004 Olympic qualifying series in Mexico before Denis Smith signed him for Wrexham in August 2006.
Johnson featured in 35 first team games for the Robins (22 of them as substitute) before he was released in May.
Total WPL/Rhyl apps: 0.

CRAIG JONES (MIDFIELD)
Born: Chester, March 20, 1987
Wales semi-professional international who scored a hat-trick against Gibraltar this year, Craig joined Rhyl in summer 2007 from Abersytwyth Town and his pace down the right and ability to score vital goals made him an instant hit at Belle Vue. Has also played for Buckley Town and Airbus UK. Craig has to rate as one of the best signings of the John Hulse era.
Total WPL apps: 96 (14) Goals: 22. Rhyl WPL apps: 31 Goals: 8.

NEIL ROBERTS (STRIKER)
Born: Wrexham, April 7, 1978
Full Wales international Roberts signed for Wrexham in 1994 and made 75 appearances, scoring 17 goals before a big money move to Wigan Athletic in 2000. He played in 125 matches for the Latics, netting 19 times, then followed loan stints at Hull City and Bradford City before he joined Doncaster Rovers in 2004. Roberts returned to Wrexham in 2006 and spent two years at the Racecourse before being released in summer 2008. In 227 full Football League appearances he scored 56 goals. He won the last of his four Wales caps against Norway in 2004.
Total WPL apps: 0.

JAMIE REED (STRIKER)
Born: Chester, Aug 13, 1987
Promising young goal getter who while at Wrexham was loaned to Aberystwyth for half a season after previous temporary spells at Glentoran and Colwyn Bay. Returned to Racecourse in January 2008 after netting nine Welsh Premier goals and made seven substitute appearances for the Robins, but, after a further loan period at Tamworth, was released by Wrexham and signed a one-year deal at Rhyl. Looked very impressive in pre-season matches for the Lilywhites.
Total WPL apps: 19 (1) Goals: 9. Rhyl WPL apps: 0.

MATTHEW WILLIAMS (STRIKER)
Born: St Asaph, November 5, 1982
Wales Under-21 international who began his football career as a schoolboy at Manchester United where he was a regular in the reserves and also played in the youth team alongside the likes of Darren Fletcher and Kieran Richardson. After spending six years at Old Trafford, Denbigh-based Matthew joined Notts County in 2004 where he made 26 appearances, but did not have the best of luck with injuries. Spells at Tamworth and Burton Albion followed, going close to helping Nigel Clough's side reach the Football League, before he joined Rhyl in the summer.
Total WPL apps: 0.

CARL OWEN (STRIKER)
Born: Bangor, April 9, 1980
Joined Bangor City as a teenager and spent the 1997/98 season at Farrar Road before later switching to Cymru Alliance Glantraeth. Rejoined the Citizens in 2000, but found his opportunities limited and he signed for Porthmadog in 2003. He spent five seasons at Y Traeth, regularly finishing top marksman, and overall he netted 47 goals in 121 full WPL appearances for Port. Was signed by Rhyl in July 2008 and impressed in pre-season. Tall target man with a goalscorer's instinct, he is a Welsh semi-pro cap.
Total WPL apps: 128 (29) Goals: 49. Rhyl WPL apps: 0.

PAUL PRITCHARD (GOALKEEPER)
Born: May 26, 1984.
Played for top Anglesey clubs Holyhead Hotspur, Glantraeth, Llangefni Town and Llanfairpwll before joining Caernarfon Town in 2004/05. Became first choice keeper at The Oval prior to switching to Connah's Quay Nomads in 2007/08. A former Wales Under-18 international, he has represented Anglesey in the World Island Games and earned a call up to the Wales semi-pro squad in the summer. Paul was signed as cover for Lee Kendall in August 2008 but is expected to get a few run outs in the first team this season.
Total WPL apps: 100. Rhyl WPL apps: 0.

All data complete up to start of the 2008/09 season.