By James Dow

Ahead of today’s JD Cymru Premier encounter at LHP Stadium, we’ve taken a closer look at Flint Town United with Meet the Opposition!

The history

Founded in 1886 as Flint FC, the club played at Strand Park which was located on the banks of the Dee Estuary. The Silkmen were founding members of the North Wales Coast League, which they won during the 1893-94 season. Flint then decided to join the newly-formed Flintshire League two years later, and by the turn of the century the town of Flint had three teams: Flint Town, Flint Athletic and Flint UAC (United Alkali Company). In 1905, Flint UAC and Flint Town amalgamated, keeping the name of Flint Town. In 1924, the club left Strand Park to move into a new ground at Holywell Road, which became their home until 1993.

Throughout the 1920s, Flint featured in the Welsh National League (North) before playing in the newly-formed Welsh League between 1930-35 and then participating in the West Cheshire League over 1937-1949, apart from the war years. Following the Second World War, both Flint Town and Flint Athletic amalgamated, becoming Flint Town United Football Club which enterered the Welsh League (North) for the 1949-50 season. Flint enjoyed a very successful period in the 50s, winning the Welsh Senior Cup defeating First Division side Cardiff City in the semi-final before defeating Third Division side Chester City in the final, both of which were held at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. During this successful five-year period, The Silkmen won three consecutive league titles, and finished runners-up on two occasions.

Flint’s fortunes seemed to run out, and they found themselves relegated at the end of the 1961-62 season. Flint moved between the leagues for the next 30 years before the transformation of Welsh football in 1990. The club were founding members of the Cymru Alliance and won the league in its first season. Flint then became founders of the League of Wales, where they spent five seasons before being relegated due to the league reducing the number of places in the league under UEFA rules. The club stabilised during this period, with a number of mid table places in the Cymru Alliance before the league became the Cymru North in 2019. They were then promoted during this season as runners-up, with the league being decided on a points-per-game basis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Silkmen spent three seasons in the top flight of Welsh football before being relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season, with the side bouncing straight back into the Cymru Premier after finishing runners-up behind Holywell Town, who were unable to be promoted due to licensing difficulties.

The form

The Silkmen have had a mixed start to their Cymru Premier campaign, losing their first five league matches before a 2-0 win away at Aberystwyth Town in September. This result followed a 1-0 win at home to the Bluebirds, but since then the side have only picked up one league win, losing their last two matches and conceding seven goals. Flint currently find themselves in 10^th place with 11 points after 14 matches, with a four-point gap between themselves and Aberystwyth and a six-point gap with bottom place Briton Ferry Llansawel, although the Ferry do have two games in hand over the Silkmen.

The manager

Former Wales under-21 midfielder Lee Fowler took over the Silkmen in 2022, replacing Neil Gibson. Fowler had a long playing career which included spells at EFL sides Coventry City, Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers and Wrexham amongst others. The 41-year-old moved into coaching after hanging up his boots, starting his career as assistant manager with Nuneaton Borough, while taking head coach roles at Ilkeston Town and Radcliffe before moving to north Wales in 2022. Fowler has been at the helm for 88 games so far, winning 43 of those, with a points-per-game of 1.61.

The captain

Harry Owen joined the Silkmen this summer from neighbours Connah’s Quay Nomads. The defender initially started his development at Flint before moving to the Nomads and captaining their development team to the Cymru Development North title. Owen made five senior appearances for the Nomads, which included a substitute appearance on his 18^th birthday, in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Armenian side Alashkert Yerevan. The 21-year-old had four loan spells over his Nomads career, with Ruthin Town, before moving back to Flint during Lee Fowler’s first season at the club, while also having spells at Aberystwyth and Colwyn Bay last season before re-joining the Silkmen. Owen has made 48 appearances over two spells with Flint, with five goals to his name. The defender has played in all but one league match this season, missing out in Flint’s 5-0 defeat away to The New Saints.

Key Player

Elliott Reeves has had a great start to his first season in the Cymru Prem, with five goals in seven league appearances for the Silkmen, including a brace in their first league win of the season against Aberystwyth. The 27-year old has had spells at Alfreton Town, Margate, Ilkeston Town and Heanor Town before joining Flint from English non-league side Mickleover Sports at the start of last season. The forward had a great first season in Welsh football, finishing as top goalscorer in the Cymru North with 33 goals and six assists in 29 games, while also winning Cymru North Player of the Season as he helped the Silkmen gain promotion to the Cymru Premier.