Football Club Signs New Sponsorship Deal

The oldest football club in Wales has signed a sponsorship deal worth £2,000 with a fire safety firm to help budding young footballers get the best possible training.

Cefn Druids Youth Academy football team, which trains eight to 16-years-old has teamed up with Shires Fire and Safety. The firm sponsor the Under 16, Under 14 and Under 12 teams.

Cefn Druids AFC, whose home ground is at The Rock, in Rhosymedre, plays in the Huws Gray Alliance League, the second tier of domestic football in north and mid Wales.

Chairman Brian Mackie said: “For a small club like us, we are always looking for funding. We run a very successful academy program and Shires do our fire appliances here.

“We approached them and they have come in and supported us financially and we are very pleased.”

“With so many teams, we have to rent facilities as we cannot always use our own ground so the money goes towards that and towards coaches.”

Mr Mackie said the academy received funding when the club was in the Welsh Premiership League.

“But we got relegated three years ago and there’s no funding now. We only just missed getting promoted this season as we finished second.

“It’s a competitive league and the only way we can compete with some of the bigger clubs is by having home-grown players through our academy system.”

Barry Mould, Shires Fire and Safety managing director, said it is important for the company to give back to the communities it serves.

He said: “The Cefn Druids story is heart-warming and the grounds are a fascinating place. We felt compelled to help the team raise the funds to support the youth team.”