By Robert Stock
January 12 2003

Our latest ground review is of the Runtech Stadium, home of Intertoto-Cup qualifiers, Afan Lido. Thanks to Richard Taylor for kindly writing the review- if you'd like to do one for your club, please feel free to send them in!

 

 

       AFAN LIDO FC  

  THE RUNTECH STADIUM

By Richard Taylor

Club History

Formed in 1967 by the effervescent Phil Robinson, Afan Lido was driven forward by a team of local men that included Phil Robinson and current club patron Ken Williams.

The club played its first season in the Port Talbot and District League in 1967/68 and worked its way up the divisions until it became one of the founder members of the League Of Wales in its inaugural season.

After winning the League Of Wales Cup twice in a row, the club emulated that achievement by finishing League runner-up in 1994/95, earning European qualification, and a trip to Latvia.

Despite losing 1-0 away to RAF Riga, they earned an excellent result at home with a credible 2-2 draw.

Since then the club, which boasts an unrivalled youth system,  has suffered relegation but won promotion back to the League in 1997/98 and under the guidance of management team Mark Robinson and Stephen Llewellyn, qualified for the first round of this year’s FAW Premier Cup, a tremendous success.

 

How To Get To The Runtech Stadium

I haven’t a clue but you could follow signs to Port Talbot, find the Beach and then look for an imposing leisure centre, the Aquadome, on the seafront. Our ground is situated just behind that. Good luck…

 

The Ground

This is a proper football ground in its own right. There are two stands, the smaller older Afan Lido stand and the more expansive Main Stand on the left hand side of the ground. As you walk through the Red Gates, the cosy clubhouse sits on your immediate left, inside the Stadium itself. This offers a whole host of refreshments, including a lovely pint of Carling Cold.

Perimeter hard standing exists all around the ground. There are excellent training facilities adjacent to the ground, including a floodlit Astroturf pitch and a sportscentre. There are also excellent changing room facilities for both sets of players inside the ground, adjacent to the club offices.

The hardcore crop of Lido fans, aka the Lido Kop, are situated standing to the right of the Main Stand.

 

Capacity

Seating: around 400.

Standing: approximately 4,000.

 

Cost

Adults: £4

Minors: £2

Concessions: £2

 

Programme

£1 up from 50p for the 2002/03 season.

 

Toilets

Situated in the clubhouse itself. Very clean, possibly the best ever witnessed at a football ground. They speak volumes for the club’s overall attitude.

 

Food And Drink

The club offers free post-match hospitality for visiting players and supporters but for those who can’t resist the half-time refreshments, visit the club shop situated to the right of the main entrance. The pasties rank amongst the best in Wales, and the hot chocolate is also a must. Hot Dogs and Pasties are the main available refreshments, along with all hot and cold drinks. Very welcoming club shop.

 

Main Rivals

Port Talbot who are our down-the-road neighbours. The close vicinity in which the Blues are located makes for an intense but fun rivalry. The local derbies are usually heated and packed affairs. Elsewhere we’re not really too keen on Llanelli or Cardiff City.

 

Websites

Two websites, one official and one unofficial, both run by the same webmaster, Mr Mike Brown. http://www.afanlidofc.co.uk is the official site, whilst the unofficial one attracts a lot of banter between ourselves and Port Talbot supporters, http://www.afanlido.cjb.net. Contact Mike at: mike@afanlido.cjb.net

 

 

Supporters Club

Soon to be involving many of the club’s growing legion of fans. Run by Richard Taylor: rich@crocodyle.co.uk.

 

Media

Three local newspapers – The South Wales Evening Post, The Port Talbot Guardian, and the Port Talbot Tribune, all of which give fleeting coverage to the League Of Wales clubs in the town.

           FLEXSYS CEFN DRUIDS

                     

 

CLUB HISTORY: The club was formed in 1992 after the amalgamation of village clubs Druids United and Cefn Albion. After making the step up to the Cymru Alliance the club was further boosted by the backing of local chemical factory Flexsys, who signed a five year sponsorship which included the installation of floodlights in 1998, meaning Plaskynaston Lane would meet LofW ground criteria. The following year Druids were crowned Cymru Alliance champions and have competed in the League of Wales since 1999.

A new manager heralded the start of last season, Steve O'Shaughnessy as player-manager. It was a difficult first season with the club finsihing 14th.

However the future looks bright with a promising youth scheme and ambitious ground plans.

HOW TO GET THERE: From A483 Oswestry- Wrexham bypass take A539 Llangollen turn. Take B5605 after first roudabout follwing signposts for Cefn-Mawr. After about a mile turn right in Rhos-y-medre on B5609 Cefn-Mawr. After a few hundred yards you will see Kwik-Save and immediately after a narrow road forks left down to the ground. Car parking at ground and kwik-save.

THE GROUND: There's a lovely feel to the ground even if it isn't the best in the LofW. There are currently two stands, both of which are seated and covered. The Main stand covers about a third of the pitch along the one touchline by the centre circle. The other stand, the Brain Mackie Stand is adjacent to the social club, is smaller and is quite far from the pitch, although future plans aim to move it forward and extend it. The rest of the ground is open terracing around the perimiter, with Druids having the advantage of having plenty of room to expand. There is a small area of concreted terracing by Changing rooms on same touchline as Main Stand where most of the 'hard-core' can be found, and the funniest comments!

CAPACITY: 2000 (300 Seats)

COST-SEASON 2002/03: Adult (£4.50) Concession (£2.50) Child (£1)

PROGRAMME: £1- Season's 2001/2 came 3rd in LofW programme awards.

TOILETS: Not the best unfortunately! Path goes round side of fod hut which seems to lead to a prehistoric age of toilets, but that is of course part of the fun of lower division grounds!

FOOD AND DRINK: Excellent! Good things certainly come to those who wait, and for the bigger games expect to face a lenghty queue. However don't be put off the food is of great quality and very cheap, highlights being tea/coffee 40p in proper mug. For something stronger the social club which is open throughout the game serves a wide range of alcholic beverages.

MAIN RIVALS: Oswestry Town, especially as former town manager Steve O'Shaughnessy brought many town players to Druids when he took over druids last summer.
Many wrexham fans take an interest in Druids and you'll find many down PK Lane when fixtures don't clash.

FANZINES: The excellent 'Ancient Druid'. Priced at £1 last season it comes complete with glossy cover, editorial, letters, news and match reports. Definitely worth a pound of anyone's money!

WEBSITE: www.cefndruids.co.uk- worth a visit, this new site has already become one of the top LofW websites complete with messageboard, club history, pen pics, commercial news,fixtures/results and youth reports.

MEDIA: Best coverage in Wrexham Evening Leader published every weekday