CPD Gronant’s sad farewell…
CPD Gronant’s farewell to the North East Wales Football League tonight was not the happiest of occasions.
The Flintshire village side’s 10-0 home loss to high-flying Lex XI meant they finished bottom of the Premier Division.
Before the match, Gronant announced it would be leaving the North East Wales League after a season of frustration.
It is believed the club still want to join the North Wales Coast East League, but face resistance as it is not based within the Denbighshire boundary.
Formerly known as Llanelwy Athletic, the club was crowned undefeated Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One champions in their debut campaign of 2018-19, but finished next-to-bottom of the Premier the season after, which was shortened due to Covid.
In 2021-22, still as Llanelwy, they competed in the new North Wales Coast East League Division One, finishing up fourth.
The club changed associations to the North East Wales FA for 2022-23, saying the move was forced upon them over the right to use the name Gronant. The village of Gronant is located just outside the NWCFA attachment area.
As CPD Gronant, the club won the Two Counties Cup in 2022-23 and last season finished runners-up in the Championship to gain promotion to the Premier.
However, this season has not gone well and the club announced the following on its social media prior to the Lex game:
“Tomorrow marks our last game of the 2024/25 season — and our farewell to the NEWFA/NEWFL leagues.
“It’s been a tough but rewarding three years: cup silverware, league runners-up, and plenty of memories that’ll stay with us for a long time, including the hardships we have encountered and still have to burden ourselves with due to circumstances.
“We’re proud to have made it through this season and even more excited about the fresh rebuild and plans ahead. Fostering more Growth and Participation with Football and Sport in General. Something we have been restricted on.
“Thank you to everyone who’s supported us, whether you’ve watched a game, chased a stray ball (👀 you know who you are! because we’ve only ever seen you from afar 😂)But thank you. Cheered us on during those warm summer evenings, thank you.
“The good weather games were always well attended, with football lovers, families, mums, dads all supporting their loved ones or local clubs.
“To all the clubs we’ve played, thank you for the battles, the laughs, the hospitality, the passion, the heartache and the football friendships we’ve built along the way. Late goals, backs-to-the-wall moments, proper drama! it’s been real.”