Caernarfon Town legend Darren Thomas has decided to terminate his contract and leave the club. The 39-year-old attacking midfielder, who has made 435 appearances and scored 148 goals for the club, will depart after a new contract signed in the summer.
A Career Spanning Two Decades
Thomas joined Caernarfon Town in 2005 from local side Bontnewydd. Over the next twenty years he left the Oval twice, returning each time to become a key player. He returned for a third spell in 2015 after a stint with Aberystwyth Town. Despite signing a new contract in the summer, the opportunities he has received in the opening weeks of the season have been limited, prompting him to seek regular football elsewhere as he enters the final years of his playing career.
The Welsh Cup Dream Fulfilled
Last season Thomas realised a long-standing dream when he came off the bench to lift the Welsh Cup as Caernarfon Town defeated Flint Town United 3-0 at Rodney Parade. It was his first major trophy with the club and the first time the club had won the Welsh Cup. He has been captain of the side in European competition and has been named Player of the Season in three consecutive campaigns between 2017 and 2019. In 2014/15 he claimed Sgorio’s ‘Goal of the Decade’ for a superb strike against The New Saints in the Welsh Cup.
Legacy and Farewell
Thomas, often referred to as the ‘Cofi Messi’, will leave the Oval with an impressive record of 435 appearances and 148 goals. He has been a local hero, playing an integral role in establishing Caernarfon Town as a leading club in the Novira Cymru Premier. In his statement he said, “I just want to play a bit more than I have been recently. So I think it’s the right time to leave.” He praised the support of the Cofi Army and said he would return to the club to cheer the boys whenever he can.
The club will remember Thomas as one of its greatest players and a legend of the Novira Cymru Premier. His departure marks the end of an era for Caernarfon Town, but his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of players and fans alike.
