Wrexham AFC Women are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Mari Gibbard from Llandudno.
Gibbard arrives to bolster Wrexham’s title challenge, as the Club look to earn a Tier 1 License and promotion to the top flight – which would enable the playing squad to turn semi-professional.
A highly-rated midfielder, Gibbard was one of the league’s stand-out performers in 2021/22 while with Bethel Ladies, scoring 16 goals and contributing 19 assists in all competitions.
She was nominated for the Genero Adran North Player of the Season award – won by new Wrexham team-mate Rosie Hughes – and was named in the Team of the Season.
The midfielder opted to move to Llandudno in the summer, and has scored 14 goals so far this season and made nine assists. She played a key part in their run to the Adran Trophy quarter-finals, which included victory against top-flight giants Swansea City.
And she now makes the move to Wrexham, with paperwork completed in time for her to go straight into the squad for today’s match at home to Llanfair United.
On signing for Wrexham, Gibbard said: “I’m excited to sign for this Club. I love what they’re about and their ambitions to push women’s football forward.
“I hope to play my part in driving us forward towards winning the league, and hope to push on further into the Adran Premier.”
Gibbard arrives after two spells with both Bethel and Llandudno. She originally made her name as a schoolgirl – scoring a hat-trick in the Welsh Schools Cup final to help her school lift the title, and also tasting BUCS League success at Bangor while at university.
Her first spell with Bethel in the North Wales League ended with a move to Welsh Premier side Llandudno, where she finished top scorer in her first full season – the 2018/19 campaign – with 15 in all competitions.
After studying in America, Gibbard returned to Bethel to help them to a third-place finish in the Genero Adran North last time out before returning to Llandudno and now making the move east to join Wrexham.
On her capture, manager Steve Dale said: “We are delighted to welcome Mari to Wrexham. She is a player we have admired and hoped to bring in for some time.
“She arrives as one of the Genero Adran North’s stand-out players, and has proved her quality in the top flight before too.
“Mari has the talent and experience to become a key player for Wrexham, not just in the title run-in this season, but long term too as we look to build the team in line with our long-stated ambitions.
“After the boost of the news last week that, should we get promoted, the playing squad will turn semi-professional, the signing is another big statement of our ambitions.”