PICTURE by NCM Media.
I’M kicking off a new series here on AFE by taking a look at a player who is undoubtedly one of the Welsh top flight’s best defenders.
Priestley Farquharson may have only been with Connah’s Quay Nomads since January 2019, but he’s certainly already made a huge impact on the club and the league itself too – even helping the Nomads onto their first ever JD Cymru Premier title just last season with some impressive defensive displays.
Having transferred to Andy Morrison’s side back then from Bostik League South Central club Hayes and Yeading United, the towering centre back has established himself as one of the best players in the JD Cymru Premier. Farquharson made 45 starts for the club over his three seasons with United and previously turned out for Bishop’s Stortford, Hitchin Town and Billericay Town before that.
The 23-year-old, previously a captain of a Brunel University side and an England international for the national beach soccer team, penned a new deal with the Nomads in the summer – despite interest from the likes of Belgian side KV Oostende.
Farquharson made his debut for the club in a massive 6-2 victory away at Caernarfon Town in February 2019 and went on to make a further 23 starts in all competitions.
Following a phenomenal debut season in the JD Cymru Premier, the defender was named in the division’s team of the season and also crowned the Young Player of the Season. However, the highlight for him of course will have been helping the Nomads onto winning their first ever top-flight title. At the end of a season cut short by Coronavirus, the club pipped the all-conquering TNS side to the prize on Points Per Game (PPG) to be crowned champions.
Farquharson was also a pivotal part of that side that made it a double last season by winning the Nathaniel MG Cup for the second time in their history after beating STM Sports in the final. And his form has continued into the 2020/21 campaign as the Nomads attempt to reclaim the JD Cymru Premier title.
He has everything you need in a player to be a great defender. He’s tall, commanding and physical and has made playing in Wales’ top flight effortless at times. But his attacking prowess has also been clear to see this season – he’s scored 3 goals in 14 matches so far this season, already beating the 2 in 19 he picked up last year.
In my opinion, at 23, he’s got plenty of potential to fulfil and should have a bright future ahead should he continue in the same form. When he penned that new deal in the summer, Farquharson’s manager Morrison said he was ‘looking forward to continuing to work with’ the player and watching him ‘become the player I believe he can be.’
He certainly seems to have the right attitude and, coupled with his abilities, I’m sure he’ll go far. I see him as a very similar player in both stature and leadership to fellow CB Connell Rawlinson, who greatly impressed during his time with The New Saints between 2010 and 2018 and has since gone on to play in the English Football League with Port Vale and is now with National League side Notts County.
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