PICTURE by Mike Bayly shows Llandegfan FC goalkeeper Duane Hunt taking a goal kick with Cae Eurfryn’s picturesque setting in the background.

THIS is a hard one to write from my perspective. But it’s a story which has to be written.

Llandegfan Football Club – the team I have been manager of for the last two and a half years – has decided to pull out of the North Wales Coast West Division One’s 21/22 season.

The reason for doing so was down to the lack of facilities to match the requirements set by the North Wales Coast FA and the Football Association of Wales.

Llandeg, who won their first match in two-and-a-half years with a 2-1 victory at Pentraeth Reserves last season, we’re re-formed in the Anglesey League in 2017 following a three-year absence.

Now, it’s time for the Cae Eurfryn outfit, who have a proud and successful history to take a break once more.

A statement from the club read: “Sad news for us as a club tonight as we have decided to fold the club for the time being following a meeting of the committee.

“As we don’t have the facilities required to play in tier five next season we will be unable to carry on as a club at this moment in time.
We have exhausted every avenue to try and get things back up and running in Llandegfan, but unfortunately the requirements for the league for 2021/22 are beyond what we can achieve in less than two months time.

“Gone are the days when you can just rock up on a weekend and play football now – the FAW are putting more and more pressure on clubs to get facilities up to scratch and we can’t meet their demands in a sustainable way.

“I am absolutely devastated to be writing this as this club means the absolute world and more to me and I and so many others have overcome every obstacle which has stood in our way since 2017. However, this is one obstacle we can’t pass through and we can’t keep being in denial about it.

“I want to thank each and every player and volunteer for their efforts up to now (whether they have only been with us a few months or been here for years), their commitment cannot be faulted at all.
We would also like to thank anyone from the community who has helped the club also, from sponsors to volunteers on match day – it’s all been massively appreciated.

“It would have been easy to throw in the towel years ago, but we didn’t. We kept going and kept fighting and I’m extremely proud of that.
It was our belief as a club that we would have our facilities done last year but we were let down by a member of our community who unfortunately did not follow through with a promise he had made to us.

“Maybe someday we’ll be back, who knows? But for the time being this is where the story ends for Llandeg.
And it’s been a great one – giving some lads who wouldn’t have otherwise had a chance to play the opportunity and watch them grow into great players has been wonderful to witness.
That first win in two-and-a-half years last season will never be forgotten and was a testament to the hard work put in by all.

“Manager Arron Evans would like to thank the club for the opportunity to climb onto the coaching ladder also – something he will always be grateful for. That’s us signing out for now!”

Despite having a tough time of late, Llandegfan has a long and proud history in the game.

The club has won two Anglesey League titles (1937/38 and 1973/74), as well as the Dargie Cup twice, Megan Cup four times, Elias Cup four times and won the prestigious NWCFA Junior Cup back in 1974/75.

Llandeg also hold the record for what is believed to be the biggest win in Anglesey football history (and possibly North Wales too). The club beat Holyhead Town Reserves 37-1 in 1972-73 – win which even surpasses Arbroath’s famous 36-0 bashing of Bon Accord in 1885 – still the highest ever recorded win in professional football.