Football Leaguers

Andy Cooke [left] joined Burnley while Mark Delaney [right] left Carmarthen Town for Cardiff City and then Aston Villa.

QUITE a few players have gone on from the Welsh Premier to play in the football league, notably Mark Delaney. The former Carmarthen Town captain moved to Cardiff City and then to Aston Villa, where he secured a regular place in the Premiership and played for Wales.

Another player to make the grade was Steve Evans, who moved from The New Saints to Wrexham in the summer of 2006 and quickly won his first full Welsh cap. He was joined a season later by Conall Murtagh from Rhyl.

One of the most enduring exports from the Welsh Premier has been Gary Roberts, who played with Bala and Denbigh before scoring 10 goals from 42 appearances for Bangor and Welshpool Town.

Roberts moved to Accrington Stanley in March 2005 and has enjoyed a successful career with Ipswich Town, Crewe and Huddersfield Town. 

He helped the Terriers reach the Championship via the play-offs in 2012 but was not offered a new contract by manager Simon Grayson.

Chris King of The New Saints was also recruited by Accrington Stanley in 2008, while Danny Holmes, a product of the Tranmere Rovers youth system, established himself in the first team at Prenton Park in 2011/12 after spending two seasons with TNS.

Former Aberystwyth, Bangor City and Rhyl striker Jamie Reed reached the Football League with York City via the play-offs in 2012 having moved to the Conference side from Bangor 18 months earlier.

Photo: Gary Roberts helped Huddersfield Town reach the Championship in May 2012.