PRESTATYN Sports announced they have taken the “tough decision” to move away from their long-time base at Gronant playing fields.
The Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division One side confirmed that the facility has failed to meet new Tier 3 criteria being implemented by the Football Association of Wales “on many points”, and they will now seek a new home in order to keep progressing the club.
One of the main areas of concern for the FAW was the length and width of the pitch, and with no room to extend it, Sports’ officials decided that it was best to end their association with a ground that played a significant role in their incredible rise through the Welsh pyramid since their inception.
A statement on Prestatyn Sports’ Facebook page, read: “The club sees this as a perfect time for a new and exciting chapter in the club's short history.
“Gronant was so instrumental in the progression of the club from Vale of Clwyd Leagues to the Welsh Alliance and changed our team from a recreational side to a proper football team.
“Our club went on a 23-game, two-season home unbeaten league run at that ground. Something we were very proud of.
“We won the Alliance Division Two League Cup 2016-17 and then the League 2017-18 playing there. And we are very proud to have been part of that history.
“We have made so many memories there it's very sad as a club to leave but we must push this club forward again.
“Maybe a step backwards will prove two steps forward. Only time will tell.
“The club would like to go on record to thank everyone that came to support us there, the people of Gronant for all their support and Flintshire Council for letting us hire the ground.”
Their time at Gronant was not without incident. The club were denied a landmark JD Welsh Cup home tie against Caersws following a complaint about the facilities. And Welsh Alliance officials expelled them from the league due to the sit being 0.2 miles outside of Denbighshire, something that was later quashed on appeal.
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