Ex-Bluebirds Player Lee Joins North Wales Wellmen

Cardiff-born Lee Fowler has joined the 22nd club of a professional football career which has covered almost two decades.

The former Wales under-21 international has linked up with title-chasing Huws Gray Alliance club Holywell Town.

Fowler started his playing days with his local club Cardiff City at the age of eight and returned later in his career, but was unable to make an impact with the Bluebirds.

He also had two spells with Wrexham, signed for Newport County in 2007 and spent time with Welsh Premier League clubs The New Saints and Cefn Druids.

Now he has stopped off in North Wales to play for the Wellmen, who are trying to catch one of Fowler’s former clubs, Cymru Alliance leaders Caernarfon Town.

“I was with Cardiff from the age of eight and I wanted to stay and play for the club, but the system wasn’t geared up to helping young players progress,” said Fowler.”We didn’t even get tickets of first team matches.

“All that changed, of course, and youth players are looked after really well.”

Lennie Lawrence was Cardiff City manager when Lee Fowler joined the Bluebirds on loan. Pic: Getty Images.

Fowler returned to Ninian Park when Lennie Lawrence was manager, joining the Bluebirds on loan from Coventry City, but he returned to the Sky Blues and his boyhood dream of playing for Cardiff in the Premier League could not be achieved.

He did, though, enjoy a major triumph in his home city when he helped Huddersfield Town win the Third Division play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, scoring the spot kick which clinched victory in the penalty shootout after a goalies draw against Mansfield Town.

“I’m good mates with the Holywell gaffer (John Haseldin) and we always keep in touch. If I can help the club out in any way from now until the end of the season, I will do.

“My fitness is a lot better and I’m lighter than the back end of last season. I want to bring my experience to the club and it suits us both so it can only be a win-win situation.”

Holywell were without a match on Saturday because their scheduled fixture against Porthmadog was postponed and Fowler could make his debut at Queens Park next weekend.

Alliance leaders Caernarfon Town thumped FC Queens Park 8-0 at Stansky Park. Jamie Breese and Jamie Crowther both netted hat-tricks, while Rhys Roberts and Gareth Evans were their other scorers.

Tomas Bunclark thought he had put Park ahead with a shot from 25 yards, but goalkeeper Alex Ramsey threw himself to push that effort onto the woodwork.

Caernarfon play Guilsford at home next Saturday.

Caernarfon Town: Alex Ramsay, Joe Williams, Gareth Edwards, Rhys Roberts, Clive Williams, Kevin Roberts, Jamie Crowther, Gareth Evans, Jamie Breese, Darren Thomas, Danny Broookwell. Subs used: Kevin Lloyd, Shaun Cavanagh.

Tyn Lon Volvo Garage Man of the Match: Jamie Crowther.

Guilsfield travelled to play Llandudno Junction and won 4-0. They took the lead from the first attack of the match when Jake Cook scored after good work by new signing Jack Harris.

Cook doubled the lead after four minutes when he scored from an Adam Jenkins cross.

The visitors also missed a first half penalty, taken by Harris, when the goalkeeper blocked with his legs.

Andy Ford (83 mins) and Harris (88) completed a convincing away win.

Guilsfield: Wycherley, Bromley, Richards, Rogers, Litchfield (Weetman), James, Cook, Ford, Harris, Cathrall (Leonard), Jenkins (Jones).

Airbus Broughton had a player sent off, but won 1-0 against Ruthin Town at home with Nathan Quirk scoring the winner from a 54th minute penalty at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.

Captain Steve Tomassen was the Airbus player sent off just before half-time when he was adjudged to be the last man when fouling Alliance leading scorer Llyr Morris.

The home team had looked second best for much of the first half, but looked a lot better when they were down to 10 players.

Airbus were awarded their penalty when Lewis Buckley was fouled and Quirk fired into the corner from the spot.

Gareth Partridge scored the only goal of the game for Denbigh Town against Penrhyncoch away after 83 minutes.

Denbigh included two new players signed from Llandudno Junction. Right-back Joel Hewitt and goalkeeper Keighan Jones both started.

Lance Jones netted the Caersws winner after 12 minutes at Flint Town United. Goalkeeper Dave Jones plus centre-backs Paul Grant and Graham Jones were outstanding for Caersws.

Action from Gresford Athletic v Holyhead Hotspur.

Mike Latham scored the only goal of the game for Gresford Athletic in their win against Holyhead Hotspur, who had a player sent off.

Alliance results: Flint Town United 1, Caersws 0; Penrhyncoch 0, Denbigh Town 1; FC Queens Park 0, Caernarfon Town 8; Gresford Athletic 1, Holyhead Hotspur 0; Llandudno Jun action 0, Guilsfield 4; Airbus Broughton 1, Ruthin Town 0.

Lee Fowler factfile:

Born: Cardiff.

Date of birth: June 10, 1983.

Age: 34

Clubs: Cardiff City (from the age of eight to 14), Coventry City, Huddersfield, Scarborough, Burton, Newport County, Forest Green Rovers, Kettering, Oxford United, Cirencester, Halesowen, Wrexham, Fleetwood, Doncaster, Kidderminster, The New Saints, Cefn Druids, Nuneaton, Craeley, Tamworth, Telford, Caernarfon, Holywell Town.

International appearances: 12 (Wales u-21).

Other sports: Wales u-18 baseball international, former scrum-half for Glamorgan Welsh development squad.

HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE TABLE