Spearing sets sights on more success for Nomads Women

As Connah’s Quay Nomads Women prepare for their 2025/26 domestic campaign, Natasha Spearing has shared her thoughts on what will be key to more success following the team’s Genero Adran North title win last season.

Spearing, who is still only 20 years old, played a pivotal role last season as she started every league game in the Nomads’ perfect record which saw them register 14 wins from 14 matches.

The Nomads will have every focus on retaining the title and pushing towards promotion to the Genero Adran Premier, but Spearing and the whole squad know they will have to maintain to those high standards due to the fierce competition across the division.

“For me, this league is at its best now with all the teams strengthening,” said Spearing. “We have prepared well over a busy and tough pre-season, and we know there will be pressure on us as champions, but our mindset has always stayed the same.

“We all share the same ambitions at this club, and the togetherness is what gets us through some tough games. We take each game as it comes and our full focus is the second cup game against Llandudno.”

Although the Nomads stormed to the league title last season, areas of improvement can be achieved in almost every football team.

Manager Jordan Parry set out a tough and grueling pre-season schedule for his side in order to prepare them for high-quality games and for what to expect at a top level.

The Nomads enjoyed an exciting tour of Crystal Palace last month, which Spearing described as one of her highlights of pre-season and during her time at the club so far.

“We have worked so hard and learned so much throughout this pre-season,” she said. “Yes, the Palace trip was definitely a highlight for me…it has made us go from strength to strength, and we all cannot wait to get started again.”
Although the title celebrations gave us all some wholesome moments and wild celebrations, the Adran Leagues Promotion Play-Off final defeat to Pontypridd United did cause some pain.

However, fast forward to the beginning of pre-season and it was pleasing to see the majority of the squad had committed for the new season - something Parry and his staff take notice of regularly.

There have also been some exciting additions as Megan Galeandro, Libby Mackenzie and Paris Schofield have all signed, with their prior Welsh football experience bound to be a key part of the new campaign.

Spearing now states the Play-Off is “fully behind us”, meaning she and her teammates will be raring to go once again.

“If anything, that defeat to Pontypridd has definitely fuelled us,” she said. “Yes, of course it was a frustrating day for us all, but football always comes with its highs and lows, and we have to accept that.

“We had our time to reflect…we now understand what needs to be done better this season and we are ready to put what we have learned to the test.”

While the Nomads do not regularly get to test themselves against Genero Adran Premier opposition, it is important to note how well Parry’s side have done against top-flight teams in the Genero Adran Trophy in recent years.

To face a Genero Adran Premier team in the Genero Adran Trophy knockout stage, the Nomads must progress from their group stage, which is something they have achieved every year since the competition was introduced.

In 2022/23, the Nomads pulled off one of their most memorable results to date by triumphing 3-2 away to Barry Town United, while last season saw the girls push domestic treble winners Cardiff City to the limit in a narrow defeat.

Those performances have shown the Nomads are certainly capable of competition amongst Wales’ elite clubs, and that is why promotion would be such a fitting reward, according to Spearing.

“Promotion is obviously the main goal at this club,” the attacker told club media. “We were so close last season, but now teams are strengthening and we have to be wary of that because every team wants this as much as we do.”

Spearing has had previous top-flight experience with former club Wrexham, so she is hoping to one day be back at that level, but knows the whole squad’s feet will have to be kept firmly on the ground.

“On a personal note, I would love to play in the Adran Premier again,” she added. “The feeling I had at Wrexham when we got promoted there was unreal, and I am hoping we can retain this title and avenge ourselves in the Play-Off, so me and this great group of girls can all share a special moment together.”

With Spearing shining in almost every match for the Nomads last season, she has become a role model for those in the Girls Player Development Centre.

With our mini and youth phase PDC teams growing each season - emphasised by our newly former U13s and U16s who now compete in official leagues - all girls involved now have the vision of following the pathway up to the senior squad.

Having been involved in girls grassroots football for the majority of her life, Spearing told us what advice she would give to those thriving in the academy: “Firstly, I would say keep working hard and believe in yourself, but most importantly always have fun!

“The set up at Connah’s Quay is constantly growing and it is nice to see the PDC evolving so quickly. It is a great club and a great environment with experienced and supportive coaches to help you along the way.

“There is a lot of talent in our younger groups as I have seen first hand with Sophie Rowlands, who has come up from the U16s and produced some amazing performances in a few of our pre-season games!

“The pathway to the senior women’s team is evident and it is so exciting to see women’s football grow and develop within the club!”

Date Published: Monday, 8th September, 2025 - 6:51am by Adam Angerer