Those around Denbigh Town FC and followers of ladies football especially will know Ellen Lawson who has been a consistent player with the ladies team for many years. She is a volunteer with the club too helping out with the cafe occasionally and has now started managing and coaching a girls teams.

Ellen originates from Liverpool but how long has she been living in Denbigh ? " We have lived in Denbigh for twenty five years. " she told us " although for four of them I was in America. I went over on Camp America to Oklahoma where I taught horse riding and then I travelled round for a bit with my mates. We ended up in California where we got nanny jobs."

She has a 17 yr old son, Rob and a 9 yr old daughter Tess and works as a teaching assistant at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn school for autism. It can be a very challenging job and Ellen had this to say " Yes, it can be challenging at times but also the most rewarding job ever. I love my job completely and work with some amazing kids "

How did Ellen get involved with Denbigh Town ? " My brother Sam played for Denbigh years ago before he went into the army. My son Rob has been playing with Denbigh Town Juniors since he was 8 yrs of age and is now with Denbigh Town Reserves and daughter Jess has just started with Denbigh Girls Juniors development. My 17 yr old nephew David Lawson-Cooke has been with Denbigh too. He has come on off the bench for the first team and was a regular with the reserves. He is currently with St. Asaph and Bala u19yrs Academy. I have played for Denbigh Ladies for eight years now. Played all over the pitch but right back is probably my best and preferred position."

Ellen played football a lot growing up in Liverpool but Denbigh Ladies is her first proper team. She was always into sport telling us " I was a runner as a kid. I ran for Merseyside and represented Great Britain in Belgium when I was 15 yrs "

The ladies team was established in 2008 by John and Sharon Clayton and quickly established themselves as one of the best ladies teams in North Wales last winning the league title in 2015. The team are a close bunch and we wondered what was her best moment " There have been so many good times. It is difficult to pick one out but if I had to I would say the Welsh Cup quarter final in Cardiff was the best. We had a ball both on and off the pitch. It is a great team to play for and I think a lot of the players and the management."

What about coaching? That is something new. " I coach Denbigh Girls u14s and oversee the development players with the help of Clare Hughes and Eluned Evans and Matty Jenkins who has come along to help out this season too. They play in the North Wales Girls league and are doing OK. We had a good start to the season but lost some integral players which did not help. It is a difficult age and not easy to stay really committed. I first got involved by helping out really with two other girls from Denbigh Ladies but unfortunately they left. I had a couple of parents who helped then but they left because their girls were selected to play for Wrexham. It was a bit scary when they went as there is a lot of work for one person. Without Clare's help I am not sure if I could have carried on so am very grateful for her help. "

Nice one Ellen and good luck with Denbigh Ladies and the girls' team.

Thanks for being part of Denbigh Town F.C. !

The picture shows Ellen with Rob