Cefn Albion have to play outside home village until end of next season at least

Cefn Albion Football Club will play outside its home village of Cefn Mawr for the rest of this and the whole of next season.

Albion will ground share with fellow tier 3 Ardal Northern club Brickfield Rangers at Clywedog Park in Wrexham.

The Albion had played its home matches at Cefn Druids’ home ground The Rock since 2017.

However, a long-running dispute between the two clubs has led to the sharing agreement being terminated.

The situation has meant Albion having to play home games at Brickfield, Brymbo and TNS at different stages this season.

Albion have released a full and detailed statement about the issue on their social media and official website.

The tier 3 club formerly played at The MUGA in the heart of Cefn Mawr and would be happy to return there, but the ground does not meet Ardal North East criteria.

Formed in 2014, Cefn Albion have risen from tier 5 and 3, winning two league titles and two league cups, as well as the national FAW Trophy in their eight-season history (including two uncompleted campaigns due to Covid).

They are enjoying a promising first season in the Ardal North East, currently lying fourth and are still in with a title chance.

A club statement said: “Cefn Albion Football Club would like to formally announce that an agreement has been reached with Brickfield Rangers Football Club and accepted by the Ardal Northern East League/Football Association of Wales for CAFC to complete the remainder of its 2021/22 home league fixtures at Clywedog Park and also the entirety of the 2022/23 season at the Wrexham based venue.
“This new agreement means that our time and contract at The Rock, the home of Cefn Druids Football Club, terminates with immediate effect.

“CAFC would like to place on record its sincere thanks to everyone involved at BRFC for the professional and prompt manner in which negotiations were overseen and for the warm welcome that the club, its players, management, committee, and supporters have received in the games so far this season.

“Our extended thanks must go to representatives of the Ardal Northern East League and the FAW for all their support and understanding during difficult circumstances for the club. “Also, we would like to show our full appreciation and say a huge thank you to both Brymbo FC and TNS FC for their support in assisting with hosting some of Albion`s home fixtures this season.

“Finally, CAFC is incredibly grateful to our fellow Ardal Northern East League clubs and our fantastic supporters who have adjusted to these imposed changes without any fuss.”

The statement concluded:
“As a community-based football club with local people and charity at the very centre of our club ethos, it goes without saying that everyone involved is extremely disappointed that we have to temporarily move away from our village.

“Our spiritual home at the MUGA, in the heart of Cefn Mawr, would be our preference to stage our home games, but in its current state it does not meet the criteria as set out by the FAW in order to represent at Tier 3 or indeed Tier 2, should the first team achieve promotion.

“Needless to say, everyone involved at CAFC hopes we can return here in the future.”