Sport
Clarbeston Road unveil ground improvements
FOLLOWING a programme of work carried out over the summer months, Clarbeston Road AFC have today (Sept 29) unveiled a package of improvements to their facilities at Knock Field, Clarbeston Road.
The work has been delivered as the first stage of a long-term development plan for the site and follows a feasibility study commissioned from W A Spees Architects in 2015 with funding from the Solafields Community Fund.
“Back in 2015, we realised that we needed to do something to cope with the growing membership of our club and the increased demand on our facilities” said Clarbeston Road AFC Chairman, Steve Brown.
“We have grown year on year as a club and for the current season we are fielding 15 teams, as well as supporting the Cleddau Warriors Disability Football club. We needed to take action to provide suitable facilities to cater for this growing demand and today marks the completion of the first stage.”
Funding for our current project has been provided by the Welsh Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. Contributory match funding has been provided through the Landfill Community Fund, with the support of local landfill operator, Potters Waste Management.
Both pitches at the site have been improved. The first choice senior pitch has been extended and a new ball stop net system has been installed at each end. This pitch now has purpose built coach shelters and pitch-side bench seating for around 120 spectators.
The mini/junior pitch has been extended to provide the footprint for a future floodlit artificial surface for mini and junior football and training. It is also now large enough to be divided into 2 separate mini pitches.
The work has been designed to provide essential services, such as 3 phase power and sewage treatment, and to create the footprint for the next development stage. This has involved considerable excavation work at the site and has included improvement to the access to the site from the highway, improved site drainage and reconfiguration of car parking.
“We believe users of the site will notice a big difference and the experience for both players and supporters should be much improved. Our focus will now turn to planning and fundraising for a new building to be constructed on the site to house changing rooms and a clubroom.
“Our club is already an important part of the local rural community and once the proposed building is complete we plan to make it available for wider community uses, as identified in our community consultation.”
Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Our Rural Development Programme is designed to boost rural communities and this project achieves these aims by tackling poverty and supporting economic priorities, whilst helping the community to thrive.
“I am pleased we have been able to assist in improving Clarbeston Road AFC. The work carried out to improve the pitches will support football in the community, promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas.”
Sport
The stage is set – Senior Cup Final
It’s the time of the year again, Saturday see’s Bridge Meadow host the senior cup final. The sun has been shining and both teams will be dying to get on the pitch. This year the final will be contested by Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road.
League champions Goodwick will go into the final as favourites, and most around the county expect a Goodwick win. It has been an outstanding season for Goodwick however cup success has evaded them so far. Clarbeston Road have impressed everyone this season and really deserve their place in this years final.
Neill Crawshaw will referee the game, with Tudor Walters and Stefan Jenkins running the line.
There will be a unique contest on the pitch as brothers Will Haworth and Laurie Haworth come face to face on opposing teams. Adrian their father was a great player in the county, and played in many cup finals himself.
The stage is set, Clarby will feel less pressure than Goodwick and will be a threat with Haworth, John and Davies in attack. Meanwhile Goodwick are also blessed with quality players in every department, there is no weak link in O’Sullivans team. Cup football and finals in particular never go as people predict. On paper Goodwick are firm favourites, Clarbeston Road will be happy the game will be played on grass though and not paper, anything can happen! Hopefully it’ll be a good crowd down at the Meadow for the show piece of Pembrokeshire football.
News
70 Pembrokeshire clubs benefit from Sport Wales funding
SEVENTY Pembrokeshire clubs have been successful in receiving grants from the Be Active Wales Fund over the last financial year.
In total the clubs received more than £407,800 from the grants scheme from Sport Wales in 2023/24.
The fund backed 25 different sports, ranging from archery, basketball and cricket to sailing, short mat bowls and weightlifting and everything in between.
The Be Active Wales Fund is open to applications from not for profit community clubs and groups to help develop and sustain their activities.
Grants range from a minimum of £300 up to a maximum of £50,000.
The scheme will support coach education courses, the purchase of essential items of equipment right up to larger projects such as floodlighting and boats for sailing clubs.
For advice and support with your application contact Alan Jones or Lois Hilling at Pembrokeshire County Council’s Sports Development department, Sport Pembrokeshire on [email protected]
The Be Active Wales Fund is always open for applications.
More information is available on the Sport Wales website.
Sport
Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double
Two thrilling semi finals last weekend has meant Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road will meet in the senior cup final this coming Saturday.
Goodwick faced Pennar Robins in their semi final who pushed the champions very hard. Carl Vincent will be disappointed but proud of the Robins as they gave a great account of themselves. However in the end Goodwick’s quality and experience just was too much for Vincent’s team.
The other semi was an absolute thriller, and after a nail biting game Matthew Fox’ Clarby progressed to the final. A offside call has sparked a lot of debate around the county. However it seems that linesman Jenkins made an absolute perfect call so credit to him for that.
Both teams would have wanted a nice week of preparation for the final, maybe without any games to play. Unfortunately this hasn’t been possible due to the fixture backlog and both outfits have played already this week.
Goodwick will be favourites of course, however if anyone can upset the apple cart Saturday it’s this Clarbeston Road team. Fox’ outfit have impressed over and over this season. Without too much pressure on them, they are in a good place going into the final.
The double at one staged looked like the minimum Goodwick would be aiming for this season. However losses in other cup competitions, means its Senior Cup success or just the league title for the outstanding team of the season. Oddly becoming champions with no cup success maybe seen as a huge disappointment considering their dominance this season. A unique pressure. However if anyone can handle that pressure it’s O’Sullivans outfit.
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