CPD Glantraeth FC - Wales
So far this
year we have witnessed some of the strangest fixture lists known to man. We’ve
seen FC United go down to London to play AFC Wimbledon then Oldham Boro, Hearts play Dinamo
Bucharest at Leigh Sports Village and today I have witnessed my Non-League
team, Atherton Collieries, travel to the North West of Wales.
Yes! Wales!
It was during
the drama of Colls last game of the season (Colls vs Ashton Town) Gibbo
mentioned the possibility of going to Wales during pre-season to face CPD
Glantraeth and since this was conformed my place on the players/fans coach was immediately
booked. For just £10 return, how could you refuse?
There was a
big bunch of us ground hoppers joining Colls to Wales, 9 to be precise
(including myself). We had, Aaron Flanagan, Joe Lawton, Matt Harrison, Sean
Blaney, Rob Clarke, Gibbo, Lucy Mackenal and of course, The Colls Crazy Gang,
Emil, Vincent etc. We all were excited at the prospect of this mouth-watering
fixture.
The coach was
due to depart from Alder Street at 10:30 so in order for me to reach Atherton
at that time I had to wake up at 7:00 am, yay! But, it was certainly worth it!
I had plenty
of time to get ready and stroll over to Bromley Cross train station as my train
didn’t get in till twenty past nine. I changed at Salford Crescent were I met
up with Matt and we caught out train to Atherton.
Several
tweets later, we discorved Buxton fan Alex was on the train with us so he
walked over and joined us. Like I said, several tweets later. (Look at the
photo.)
Arrival at
Atherton train station soon came and that saw we meet up with Gibbo, Lucy, Joe
and Sean, you can call us Ground hoppers United. We all then made our way to
Alder Street.
True to secretary’s
Emil’s word we departed Alder Street at 10:30am. Only after Gibbo and the coach
driver having a disagreement over picking up Aaron and Rob up in Warrington.
The driver insisted it would be going out the way but Gibbo soon put him
straight and everything was sorted.
Everything
was running smoothly, we had no problems! No holdups, clear roads and conversation
was flowing, we were all looking forward to what was a cracking day. As
planned, we picked Aaron and Rob up in Warrington.
It was
literally as we crossed the border things very slowly started going downhill.
Two words, traffic jam. Wales decided to welcome us with a monster traffic jam.
I can stand a little jam, but this, this wasn’t little, this was sent by the
devil himself.
The jam
lasted from the border all the way to the far side of Colwyn Bay. The coach was
getting heating up, Joe and Aaron were debating on who should referee the world
cup final in eight years and I was starving.
The world’s
biggest cheer was recorded when we eventually saw a sign that read “Welcome to
the island of Anglesey”. Boy was I happy! That jam put at least a good forty
minutes onto out journey so we were all relived when we found out we were
almost there.
But the
journey was far from over!
We, well the
driver, now faced the challenge of getting a rather large coach through the
rather *cough* small streets of Anglesey.
Trees were
smashing against the window which every passenger on the coach reacted with an “ooo”
or an “arrr”. It was summed up best when Emil shouted, “Well, this is character
building”.
Several swear
words from the driver later we arrived, finally!
So, the
question I know you all being to ask me is: Where exactly is CDP Glantraeth?
Well, I and all the others hadn’t a clue! The ground is literally trenched in
the middle of a field, which is in the middle of nowhere. The only sign of civilisation
was about 6 sheep behind one of the goals.
Glantraeth FC
was formed in 1984 and named after the Glantraeth restraint. In the clubs first
ever season in existence they finished runners up in the Anglesey League
Division 2, the following season they were promoted to the first division.
A few league
title later Glantraeth gained promotion and entry into the Gwynedd Football
League, this is the first step along the pyramid system in Wales.
In the
1993/94 season they won the Gwynedd championship and achieved promotion to the
Welsh Alliance League, in that same season they won the Gwynedd cup and were
finalists in the Eryi Shield.
1996/97 saw
Glantraeth win promotion and play with Welsh’s big boys! Glantraeth were
crowned champions of The Welsh Alliance League gaining promotion to the Cymru
Alliance League, which is Division 2 in Welsh football.
It was in
2009 the club made a rather shocking decison. The desision to resign from the
Cymru Alliance and withdraw from playing football for a season.
In that
season a lot of work was done and the Glantraeth we all know and love today was
born.
Anyway, the
ground. Well, there’s only one word you can use to describe it, beautiful! It
really is! The best scenery at a football match I have seen in a while.
On a normal
match day, you would enter the ground via ‘the bridge’ (the turnstile), there
will be a man with a bucket; you walk over the bridge, pay the man and you’re
in. I think it’s a wonderful little touch!
The ground is
simple. As you walk along ‘the bridge’ you are standing in what I am going to
call ‘The Hell End’ (don’t be rude), this is behind the goal. I called it this
because of Glantraeth’s canteen is called ‘Hell’s Kitchen. In this stand you’ll
find the players entrance/tunnel, the canteen, hard standing, and sheltered
standing. The choice is yours.
To the left
is what I’m calling ‘High Bank’ this is just sheltered standing with a grass
banking giving it the height. Some people sat on the banking during the match,
I did, eventually. We’ll come back to that later!
To the right
is ‘The Main Stand’ this is a little three row deep, green seated stand which
runs 1/5 of the pitch.
There is no
option to sit or to stand behind the opposite goal.
After
purchasing a well recommended sausage barm the two teams emerged onto the
pitch. We Colls Ultras located ourselves on the embankment on ‘The High Bank’; I
decided to stand against the pitch barrier.
Colls came
out wearing their traditional black ‘n’ white.
With kick off
being delayed by 7 minutes because of our longer than expected journey,
Glantraeth had the first attempt of the game. Joe Brobbin’s kick was
intercepted by Glantraeth’s Parc Rowlands who controlled the ball but just
fired wide.
It was around
15 minutes into the game I was peer pressured into sitting n the grass banking
with the rest of the Colls Ultras, when I eventually did they l went “oooooohhhhhhh”
and “wayyyyyy” when I sat down. Top class banter at Colls ladies and gents, top
class! Now, I am glad I did, superb view!
Colls took
the game to the home side with great percentages of possession but never got
the chance to test keeper Elliot Smith.
The referees
whistle bought an end to proceedings in the first half. I was on the search for
a team sheet but on the pitch something more serious was happening. It was
Glantraeth FC supporter’s vs Atherton Collieries supporters’ penalty shootout.
Oh, it was thrilling! Colls ran out winning we all ran on the pitch to jump on
Rob who scored our winning penalty.
The first
chance of the second half was on 61 minutes, Colls Charlie Stein passed a
superb ball across the Glantraeth box for Ben Conway to collect, control and
just fire left of the post.
The most
notable attempt of the half was just five minutes later, Colls substitute James
Halpin received the ball on the halfway line, Halpin noticed the keeper was off
his line, he fired a shot which hit the bar at a number of knots and left the
bar shaking for several minutes.
Colls should have
snatched a last minute winner in stoppage time. Left Back Gaz Peat powers past
the Glantraeth back four; Peet crosses the ball in for Colls winger Charlie
Stien to place the ball wide with one touch.
The referee
blew his whistle to ring an end to all things football.
As we were
sharing a coach with the players, we had about a 20/25 minute wait before we
set off. What better thing to do than have a kick about.
The kick
about lasted a while but inevitably we got bored, so what did we do, chase
after sheep. Don’t worry no sheep were harmed in this process, I hope!
A shout from
Emil signalled it was time to get back on the coach and begin our journey home.
We stopped
off at the village next to the ground (which was three miles away) for the
players to have a drink and chill out after a hard thought game. I went to the
chippy with Sean. This chippy was great, a proper, English ah no Welsh, traditional
chippy. Everything was a bit pricey though, so I went for the cheapest thing a
chip barm which was beautiful. The best chips I’ve ever tasted!
The journey
home resumed after the chippy/pub stop and we were home much quicker than we
got there. Whilst on that coach journey it gave me a chance to reflect on what
a beautiful little place Glantraeth is. I know it’s quite far away, but if ever
you get the opportunity you should definitely
take it and go!
Being dropped
off at Alder Street me, Matt, Alex and Shaun realised the train was due in in
five minutes. Sean pegged it and left us. Me, Matt and Alex just strolled to
the station and hoped for the best. Yes, we were in time, and we grabbed a seat
with the surprisingly not breathless Sean.
The train we
got on was heading to Manchester, I jumped off with Matt at Salford Crescent,
Matt left me and on my own, I caught the packed train back to Bromley Cross.
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