Ground-share agreement struck between Cymru North clubs Cefn Druids and Gresford Athletic

Cymru North clubs Gresford Athletic and Cefn Druids have agreed a multi-year ground-share deal.

The agreement, starting from February 2023, means the Gresford first team will leave current base Clappers Lane and play their home games at The Rock, sharing the ground with landlords Druids, who moved there in August 2010.

Gresford’s remaining home matches for this season will all be switched to The Rock, where they will stay from 2023/24 onwards.

The exciting move has been agreed in consideration of the increasing restrictions within the JD Cymru Leagues, improving the standard of Welsh domestic football, which would soon result in difficulties to meet the minimum criteria for JD Cymru North games to be played at Clappers Lane.

Clappers has been the home of Athletic for decades, shared with Gresford Cricket Club. The ground has seen a number of developments and improvements, most recently a brand-new 200-seater stand, named after the club’s former player Jonnie Ratcliffe, which opened in 2018.

Located next to Gresford Lake in the heart of the village, there have been some superb footballing memories at Clappers Lane and the relocation is a big moment in the club’s history.

The Rock, based in Rhosymedre, is one of the most impressive grounds in Welsh domestic football and has been Cefn Druids’ home for 13 years.

The JD Cymru Premier standard ground has a capacity of 3,500, with a 500-seater stand opposite a TV gantry, which sits in front of a sheer rock wall, as well as a refreshments window and a modern clubhouse bar.

The Rock also features a 3G pitch and eight floodlights to allow use for evening games. The arrangements will see Gresford share all facilities with Cefn Druids for their home games in all competitions.

Fellow JD Cymru North club Cefn are considered to be one of the oldest football clubs in Welsh domestic football, being able to trace their ancestry back to 1872, although the Druids name was gained in 1992.

As one of the most successful clubs in Wales, the Ancients have won the JD Welsh Cup eight times in their history, as well as six NEWFA Challenge Cups and are two-time champions of the Cymru Alliance. The club have also competed in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds twice during their time in the Welsh top-flight.

The two clubs have now come together to share the facilities, with both having ambitious plans for the future of their now joint home of The Rock.

Whilst the Gresford first team will move to The Rock, the club’s reserves will continue to operate out of Clappers Lane. Gresford Athletic Juniors will also remain based in Gresford.

Gresford Athletic’s first home game at The Rock will be against Prestatyn Town on matchday 26 of the 2022/23 JD Cymru North on March 4, with kick off at 2 pm.

Address is:

The Rock,
Rock Road,
Rhosymedre,
Wrexham,
LL14 3YF