Gaerwen

 

Ground name: Lon Groes
By car: Google Maps – Maes Merddyn Gaerwen
Parking: On-street outside the ground
Nearest train station: Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch – 3.2 miles away
Pitch: Grass
Floodlights: No

 

Gaerwen currently ply their trade in the fourth tier of Welsh football in the Welsh Alliance Division 2. On entering the ground you will firstly come across the side of the ground that houses the changing rooms of the home and visiting teams and match officials. Also on this side is Cath’s Cafe which serves burgers, chips, as well as hot drinks and soft drinks.

Walking around the ground you will next find yourself behind one of the goals that has a flat area of standing on top of some slate chippings, which at least isn’t grass that can get muddy as you quite often see at this level and even the one above.

Down the opposite side of the ground to the changing rooms and cafe, the dugouts and three fans shelters protect spectators from the elements, that seem to have been strategically placed to shelter you from the prevailing wind, and rain!

Finally behind the other goal is a flat grass area behind the pitch railings that I have as yet failed to see any spectators choose to place themselves to watch a game. I would expect this area can get quite muddy after rain so unsurprisingly the fans tend to avoid this end.

The locals are very welcoming here at Gaerwen and will often strike up a conversation, one gentleman even buying me a hot drink on a particularly cold, wet evening. The ground itself is more than adequate for this level of football and is adorned throughout in Gaerwen’s home colours of red and black.