SUCCESS STORY: Prestatyn Sports unveil new home thanks to six-figure investment
Off-field facilities at Tier 4 club Prestatyn Sports have undergone a huge transformation thanks to support from the Cymru Football Foundation.
The six-figure investment has seen a brand-new pavilion unveiled at The Meadows, providing their teams with modern, welcoming changing facilities and a multi-purpose community space all under the same roof. An impressive new stand only adds to the marvellous work undertaken.
Together with the club’s fundraising efforts, this investment provides a high-quality facility that will serve the 170 current players as well as future generations in years to come.
The completion of this project at Prestatyn Sports takes the total investment by the CFF into Denbighshire to over £1.6million since 2022 with financial support also given to the likes of Meliden FC and Denbigh Town.
John Hargreaves, Chair at Prestatyn Sports said: “After of changing in cabins and years spent away, we finally have our own facilities at the Meadows. We’re so glad that we found the partners who believed and shared our vision, we can’t thank you enough.”
Aled Lewis, Director at the Cymru Football Foundation said: “The new facilities at Prestatyn Sports will provide a massive boost to football in the local area – we’re proud to be investing into high-quality facilities just like this one in communities across Cymru.
“A huge thank you to U.K Government, the Football Association of Wales and the Premier League for their continued support – together we’re working to improve Welsh football on and off the pitch.”
Minister for Sport, Stephanie Peacock MP said: “As a Government, we are absolutely committed to making sure that people all over the UK can enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of sport and physical activity.
“That’s why we’re investing more than £400 million to build and upgrade grassroots facilities in areas across the UK that need them most.
“This £290,000 investment will help Prestatyn Sports provide local people with a high-quality place to play and get active in the heart of their community.”
PRESTATYN SPORTS – THE STORY SO FAR
Formed in 2013-14, Prestatyn Sports were runners-up to Conwy Legion United in their debut season in Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One, but the following campaign saw the Prestatyn club land a unique quadruple.
When the Prestatyn side rounded off the season by defeating Llandudno Albion 2-1 in the Presidents Cup Final at Rhyl, it completed a tremendous four-timer the likes of which had not been done before or will ever be achieved again.
Sports won the Premier Division by a very comfortable 13-point margin, winning 19 out of 20 games and 10 from 10 away, hammered Waunfawr 5-1 in the final of the NWCFA Intermediate Cup and battered Rhyl Rovers 9-2 in the Premier Cup Final.
Goals flowed throughout the season for Mark Hughes and John Hargreaves’s team – 178 in 36 matches in all competitions making it an average of almost five per game. Darren Cassidy was top-goalscorer with 51 and Craig Griffiths notched 45.
The club itself actually celebrated a five-timer in 2014-15 as Prestatyn Sports Reserves won the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy Division One title.
Sports were promoted to the Welsh Alliance in 2015-16 and in their first season finished sixth in Division Two and were Take Stock Van Hire Challenge Cup runners-up.
The following campaign, the Prestatyn side went one better and won the Take Stock Van Hire Challenge Cup, also claiming third spot in Division Two.
The 2017-18 season was an amazing one for Sports as they romped to the Division Two title, ending up eight points clear and recording a perfect home record of 14 straight wins.
In 2018/19, the club finished seventh in tier 3 Welsh Alliance Division One before the shortened 2019/20 saw Sports experience their first disappointing season as they ended up bottom of the league.
In May 2020 the club announced it would move away from its long-term home at Gronant as the facility has failed to meet Tier 3 grading criteria.
Sports subsequently moved to The Meadows, and received funding help from the local council to improve the drainage. They became a member of the newly-formed North Wales Coast East Premier Division in 2021-22 and completed the season in third place.
In 2022-23, Sports had their ups and downs, but still finished a respectable fifth in the NWCE Premier and were runners-up in the Cookson Cup.
However, problems in fielding a team towards the end of the campaign due to injuries and unavailability did mean two games were left unplayed.
With a number of their players moving on summer 2023, it was becoming obvious Sports would struggle to compete to their previous high standard in the coming season and therefore the club has decided to temporarily fold.
After taking 2023-24 off, the first team returned in 2024-25 and last season won the Tier 5 North Wales Coast West Division One title, earning promotion to the Premier for the current campaign.
With a men’s and now Development and women’s teams operating along with a thriving junior section, Prestatyn Sports is a club for the now and the future.
HONOURS LIST
2014/15
Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Premier Division champions
NWCFA Intermediate Cup winners
Premier Cup winners
Presidents Cup winners
Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One champions (reserves)
2016-17
Division Two Take Stock Van Hire Challenge Cup winners
2017-18
Welsh Alliance Division Two champions
2025-26
North Wales Coast East Division One champions