ST ASAPH City can look to the future with a great sense of excitement after a strong season in Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division One.

The Saints were quietly fancied to do very well under new manager Daniel Brewerton, who joined the club with a big reputation from Rhyl FC’s Youth side.

The popular figure did not disappoint, forming a talented squad with the right mix of youth and experience and setting up an impressive structure and ethos throughout the set-up that is going to stand them in extremely good stead in the years to come.

There were spells within the season that proved City are more than capable of mixing it with any side in the third tier, and although there were some heavy defeats along the way to a ninth placed finish, it was a testament to the team spirit within the squad that they bounced back in fine style to end on a high note.

Success for the Saints was not going to happen overnight, and Brewerton would have known this was a long-term project when he took on the role, but with a few quality additions this summer there is nothing to suggest they cannot make further progress next time around and push for the top five in what is going to be another very competitive season within the division.

Brother Jamie Brewerton really caught the eye with a series of impressive display throughout the campaign, and his experience has done wonders for those around him in the process.

The likes Duncan Midgley, Corey Brewerton and Paul Fleming have all performed well as they looked to fill the void left by top scorer Jake Walker, with Mike Hargreave and Simon Fawcett also providing a valuable presence at the business end of the field that benefitted the team considerably.

Another that can be pleased with his contribution is Jason Foulkes, who showed his ability on the ball in the middle of the park, with Matt Murray proving to be a huge acquisition from Brewerton and a shrewd move to get him back involved.

With a number of teenagers making their first team debuts during the season, the future of the club is extremely bright, and with the Reserve side entering the Welsh Alliance League next season it is only going to improve their progression playing against a higher standard of opponent on a regular basis.

The introduction of Denbigh Town and Holyhead Hotspur is going to make a title challenge very difficult for anybody currently in the division, which makes the decisions Brewerton makes on the squad this summer even more important in relation to any immediate success that comes their way.

There is no doubt that the talented young manager has enjoyed his first year at the Saints, and the club has certainly benefitted from having him.