MERLIN’S Bridge football club have played their last game at The Racecourse after announcing they will play at a new all-weather 4G pitch.
The Racecourse has been their home for 41 years but the club said the move will help them play a full season without having to call any home games off.
Clubs across Pembrokeshire have faced a number of issues over recent years after days of heavy rain have left some pitches unplayable.
Merlin’s Bridge entered the Pembrokeshire league back in 1963/64 when the home ground was in Merlin’s Bridge playing field.
The Bridge had 17 seasons in the playing fields before moving to the lower racecourse in September 1981.
The lower racecourse has brought the club a lot of success over the years, including league titles, cups including the West Wales Cup, senior cups and other division cups. Although it’s a sad time, leaving so many memories behind, there are very exciting times ahead.
This season all senior home games are going to be played at The Pembrokeshire Sports Village. This is the brand new custom built 4G pitch being built at Haverfordwest High and will be ready for the beginning of the season.
The club are absolutely delighted to be able to make use of such a great facility. This offers us a full season of home games not being called off, changing rooms, barrier around the pitch and hard standing for supporters.
The club would like personally thank Pembrokeshire County Council for their help and support during this time and accommodating the clubs needs.
Season 2023/24 all going well the club will be playing all their games back where it all started many a decade ago in Merlin’s Bridge.
To get to this point the club owe a lot of thanks to Councillor John Cole as well as both councils in Merlin’s Bridge for their time, support and funding towards this project. Kelly Ellis for sorting the paperwork side of things. Kevin Thomas our junior chairman / secretary for all his time and effort spent on this project. Kevin and his wife Karen have been running the junior section of this club for many years.
Over the past few seasons the club have produced some very talented footballers at senior level and this comes down to Kevin’s dedication towards junior football.
Once the clubhouse and pitch in Merlin’s Bridge is completed this will offer the club, 4 changing rooms, 2 home, 2 away, referees dressing room and a club room. A fenced in pitch will be laid to a very high standard. This is phase one. Phase two will see a second pitch added.
Chairman Jason Chapman: “As a club we are taking big steps in securing a great future for all our teams, from grassroots football right up to our senior teams. We as a club acknowledge how important our juniors are and can’t thank Kevin Thomas enough for his hard work over the years.
“To everyone involved in the project and making it possible for the club a massive thank you. Our current circumstances see us renting the pitch, changing rooms and looking forward to the day when we go back home and make it a fortress.
“The club will be looking for match day sponsors for this season coming and anybody wishing to sponsor a game please get in contact.”
This Tuesday night (12th) sees the seniors start their pre-season training. Session to be held on the junior pitches at 19.00 (7pm) opposite Travis & Perkins in Portfield, everybody welcome.
