A representative from Manchester United was in attendance at a Cymru Premier fixture on Tuesday night, reportedly keeping a close eye on a rising Welsh goalkeeper.
The Red Devils sent goalkeeper scout Tony Coton to Essity Stadium as Connah’s Quay Nomads fell to a 2-1 defeat against The New Saints.
Despite a modest crowd of 287 spectators, one attendee carried significant weight, representing one of the biggest and most recognisable clubs in world football.
FLINT, WALES - 3RD MARCH 2026: The New Saints' Danny Davies celebrates following the JD Cymru Premier fixture between Connah’s Quay Nomads and The New Saints at the Essity Stadium, Flint. 3rd of March, Flint, Wales
Danny Davies scored late on for The New Saints. (Pic by Nik Mesney/FAW)
The New Saints win 18th Cymru Premier title
The New Saints secured victory thanks to a late winner from Danny Davies.
The visitors had initially taken the lead through Ben Wilson, only for Harry Franklin to respond almost immediately for the Nomads. However, Davies’ decisive strike ensured all three points headed back to Oswestry.
The result confirmed an 18th league title for The New Saints, further cementing their dominance in the Welsh top flight.
Why was someone from Manchester United there?
The primary reason for Tony Coton’s attendance was to assess highly-rated goalkeeper Kit Margetson.
Margetson, 19, is currently on loan at Connah’s Quay Nomads from Swansea City, who compete in the EFL Championship. The youngster is enjoying his first senior loan spell away from South Wales and has gained valuable first-team experience in the Cymru Premier.
His performances have evidently attracted attention beyond Wales. Swansea City fan page Only Swans claim that United aren’t the only club keeping tabs with Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, and Liverpool are also keen.
The presence of the Manchester United scout was confirmed during live commentary by Malcolm Allen, a 14-cap Wales international, speaking on Sgorio. Allen played with Coton at Watford during the mid-1980s.
“I’m going to tell you the truth, he told me he’s watching Kit,” Allen revealed to Nic Parry.
“It’s great to see the Cymru Premier pulling in scouts from the biggest clubs in the world.
“He’s competent in what he’s doing. He’s growing up, and every time I see him play, he’s growing up in front of me.”
Form at Connah’s Quay
The 19-year-old is the son of Martyn Margetson, the current goalkeeping coach for the Wales national football team, and has been a regular starter throughout the campaign.
Margetson has started every Cymru Premier match for Connah’s Quay Nomads this season, recording eight clean sheets in 27 appearances. His performances have helped keep the Nomads firmly on course for a second-place finish in the league table.
If they secure that position, the Deeside club would earn a place in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Conference League this summer.
Margetson’s form at the club level has also earned him recognition internationally. The Swansea City loanee has received two call-ups to the Wales national under-21 football team.
On both occasions, he was named on the bench alongside goalkeepers Lewys Benjamin of Wolverhampton Wanderers and his Swansea City teammate Evan Watts.
While he is yet to make his debut at that level, the call-ups underline his growing reputation as one of Wales’ promising young goalkeepers.
Ex Manchester City and now Manchester United goalkeeper Tony Coton during the JD Cymru Premier fixture between Connah’s Quay Nomads and The New Saints at the Essity Stadium, Flint. 3rd of March, Flint, Wales
Tony Coton watches on at Connah’s Quay Nomads against The New Saints. (Pic by Nik Mesney/FAW)
Coton a key decision maker at Man United
Tony Coton is a highly respected figure at Manchester United and played a key role in advising the club to sign current first-choice goalkeeper, Belgian international Senne Lammens, ahead of Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez. Ruben Amorim’s preference was reportedly to sign the World Cup-winning goalkeeper to the BBC, but Coton pushed for the club to sign the 23-year-old instead, a decision which looks to have been the right one.
The opinion of the Hornets shot-stopper clearly matters, and he is well respected by his peers, so if Margetson have impressed the ex-Manchester City goalkeeper, then it’ll have been of high praise.
Speaking on the Red Devils podcast Talk of the Devils, former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele said: “If I want to know about a goalkeeper anywhere in the world, I call Tony.”