We started the year 2024 in 8th place in the table with every expectation of maintaining or even improving this position. However, in their next 12 games we disappointed winning only 3 and drawing 3. The one high spot during that spell was a 3-1 win against league leaders Llanelli Town. Celtic’s last 3 games of the season were all at Celtic Park and they suddenly came to life with 3 wins scoring 14 goals of which Alex Bonthron bagged 8. He ended the season in spectacular fashion scoring with the last kick of the game against Goytre United to snatch the Cymru South Golden Boot award to bring James Kinsella’s 4-year tenure as manager to a successful conclusion.
New manager Simon Berry inherited all of the end-of-season Celtic squad except defender Harrison Lewis and striker Lewis Iles. Harrison was a huge loss because Callum Hodges missed 7 games in the early season and Tyler Broom broke down after just one game. These set-backs were partly offset by the return of Jordan Meaney but both he and Josh Rippon quit at the end of September. Worse still Kian Bodenham suffered a ligament injury which put him out for the season in October. Andrew Larcombe and Shaun Moss stepped up to manfully fill the breach in central defence alongside the returning Hodges.
We bwere knocked out of all 3 cups but held their own in the opening 8 league games thanks mainly to the continuing goal exploits of Alex Bonthron and Tom Meechan. However, Alex was in the shop window with the Wales Cymru representative side and it was inevitable that he would be poached – by Cinderford Town in September – a consequence of the ridiculous transfer system which allows English clubs to sign players whilst the Welsh tier 1 and 2 rules prevent its clubs from signing a replacement until January. After a 3-2 win against Caerau (Ely), Celtic’s season fell apart and 6 defeats on the bounce have left the club anchored at the bottom of the league.
On the back of the aforementioned injuries and departures, Simon Berry can be excused for feeling that fate has dealt him a cruel pack of cards. Only 3 of the team that ended last season were in the starting line-up in the last game of 2024 against Newport City. Simon has been forced to introduce youth players sooner than he might have liked. It’s been a tough baptism for the likes of Jamie Pring, Oliver Berry, Jude Bull, Jack Prosser, Gabriel Howells plus the 5 other youngsters who have all acquitted themselves well.
Stats: Most appearances in 2024: Josh Hinwood 30, Dominic Connor 29, Tom Meechan 29, Alex McDowell 28, Andrew Larcombe 28 Top Goalscorers: Alex Bonthron 35, Tom Meechan 17
