PICTURE by Cemaes Bay FC

WHEN it comes to talking about Anglesey-based footballers, Steven Whittaker’s name often crops up as being considered as one of the best.

‘Tyco’ as he’s known, is a cult hero at Cemaes Bay for the things he’s achieved at the club over the years. A club he once again returned to during the summer in search of even further glory.

The feared striker is strong on the ball and has been one of the island’s most consistent goalscorers over the last decade or so. His greatest ever season to date came in 2014-15 whilst playing for The Bay.

During that campaign he hit 42 goals in the Anglesey League, helping Cemaes finish second in the table as club captain. In the same year, Whittaker was also crowned the Alwyn Rowlands Player of the Season and handed the Carwyn Williams Top Goalscorer award.

Add to that the Top Scorer, Players’ Player and Supporters’ Goal of the Season awards he picked up at Cemaes Bay’s presentation night and it’s fair to say that he enjoyed quite the season that year.

In 2016/17, Whittaker grabbed 25 more goals for Cemaes Bay, who were in Welsh Alliance Two at the time.

Whittaker, who has also played for the likes of Bro Goronwy and Amlwch Town in the past, then went on to play for Welsh Alliance side Bodedern Athletic – where he continued to impress under manager Ricky Williams.

In a team full of hard-working and talented individuals, Tyco was one of the best. In 2017/18, he netted 38 goals, 30 of which were in the league (Welsh Alliance Two) to help Boded earn promotion to Welsh Alliance One – their second successive promotion.

Last season, the club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Cymru North division after Llangefni Town pipped them to the WA1 title.

This summer, Whittaker returned to Cemaes Bay to play in the Anglesey League. Whilst it’s fair to say the League of Wales (Cymru Premier) days the club once enjoyed at its School Lane home ground are long gone, the talent on show there this season is phenomenal.

A number of other players have returned alongside Whittaker – including Keenan Downey (Bodedern Athletic) and Lewis Connor (Llanderchymedd) who were both playing in higher leagues last season. Add to that the likes of Andy Williams (Bro Goronwy), Luke McKittrick (Caergybi) and the young talents such as Sol Williams and Daniel Jones and you have yourself a great squad.

They’re the favourites to win the division this season but Mountain Rangers are Hotspur Reserves are hot on their heels – so can they come out on top come May time? I think it would be a real shock to everyone if they didn’t win AT LEAST one piece of silverware this season.

And I’m sure Whittaker will be a huge part of any success they might enjoy.