Ambitious plans to develop the football club in Corwen were unveiled at the emotional official opening of the clubhouse named after local legend Huw \u2018Chick\u2019 Jones.<\/p>\n
With the Dee Park ground bathed in early evening sunshine, the ceremonial ribbon was cut by Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes, who said he was humbled and honoured to be asked to perform the task.<\/p>\n
The aim is to amalgamate the men\u2019s, women\u2019s and junior clubs to create a Community Interest Organisation that will become Corwen Community Football Club.<\/p>\n
Alongside the footballing activities, the plan is for the club to work with another local social enterprise, the South Denbighshire Community Partnership, and St Mael and St Sulien’s Church to provide additional support for children, young people and families in the town.<\/p>\n
Plans to improve the ground itself include hooking up to mains utilities, improved access, new toilets, future installation of floodlights and a 250-seater stand.<\/p>\n
The new clubhouse commemorates the man known simply as Mr Corwen who passed away aged 62 in February last year.<\/p>\n
Huw \u2018Chick\u2019, who represented the town on Denbighshire County Council, served football in the town as a goalkeeper, manager, committee member, secretary, president and loyal supporter over many years.<\/p>\n
The official opening of the clubhouse, sponsored by locally based Ifor Williams Trailers, also marked the rebirth of the club whose facilities were devastated by catastrophic flooding two and a half years ago.<\/p>\n
It will help the club to kickstart its conveyor belt of talent that\u2019s produced Welsh internationals Andy Jones, of Charlton Athletic, and former Liverpool defender Gareth Roberts.<\/p>\n
The latest off that production line is left winger Harry Wilson, and at the event there was great pride that he had made his debut at Euro 2020 playing in the famous 2-0 win against Turkey.<\/p>\n
Huw\u2019s sister, Kathryn Roberts, said the official opening was an evening of mixed emotions, with feelings of sadness and immense pride.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to see so many people here tonight on this very special occasion, opening this clubhouse in memory of our brother Huw \u2018Chick\u2019 Jones.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s already had the town\u2019s leisure centre named after him.\u00a0 There\u2019s only one thing left and that\u2019s to name the whole town after him – Huwtown instead of Corwen,\u201d she joked<\/p>\n
Brother Llion, a retired shift leader who worked at Ifor Williams Trailers for 45 years, added: \u201cI would say that he thought of Corwen Football Club as his family. But if he was still with us, he wouldn\u2019t be anywhere near here tonight. He\u2019d be in Baku and preparing to make his way to Rome for the game against Italy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe family still support the club and I have two grandchildren who play for the club, Harvey who plays in the Under 10 side and Rosie, who\u2019s five, has just started with the small ones. Huw would be delighted to see them play.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn a personal note, I am delighted to see Ifor Williams Trailers sponsoring the clubhouse after working with them for so long. It\u2019s good to see them supporting Corwen and other local communities.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Simon Baynes paid tribute to the long-standing support provided by the Rhug Estate who own Dee Park and clubhouse sponsors Ifor Williams Trailers.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThis is a brilliant facility for the whole of the community, and I\u2019ve been talking to quite a lot of people here this evening and heard how it\u2019s really building up.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past two years the number of committee members has expanded from a limited number, with 250 registered supporters and over 200 registered players.\u201d<\/p>\n
Club chairman Martin Lyons said: \u201cThis club is all about the community and we are really keen to further develop this facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have men\u2019s, ladies\u2019 and junior teams with players ranging in age from around six to over 40.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur juniors are the lifeblood of the club, and we have 60 youngsters training here tonight.\u00a0 It\u2019s all about building for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe benchmark has been set by Harry Wilson who is still closely involved with the club and people do aspire to that.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis grandad, Peter Edwards, is still heavily involved with the club after the famous bet when he put money on Harry being the youngest Welsh International which came true.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also very grateful for the support of the like of Ifor Williams Trailers and the Rhug Estate because they are community-focused just like us.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was hugely appropriate that the clubhouse was named after Huw \u2018Chick\u2019. It was him who actually got me involved in the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look around and I think if Huw could see this now, he would be incredibly proud.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis legacy will live on and we are building on what Huw started.<\/p>\n
It was sentiment shared by Llyr Gruffydd, a North Wales Member of the Senedd, whose 12-year-old daughter, Anest, plays for the club.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe community focus of the club represents what Huw embodied.<\/p>\n
\u201cSport was so much a part of his life as was the community and, both things come together perfectly here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samantha Williams, Management Support Specialist at Ifor Williams Trailers, said: \u201cHuw \u2018Chick\u2019 Jones was a genuine and much-loved local hero in Corwen and we were delighted to have the opportunity to play our part in honouring his memory.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis legacy will live on through generations of young footballers eager to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Harry Wilson, Andy Jones and Gareth Roberts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIfor Williams Trailers is deeply rooted in the community and many of our employees have close connections with the club which is a vitally important part of the fabric of the town.\u201d<\/p>\n