A PLAN to build a football ground near a recently closed creamery could be a game-changer for an ambitious village football club.

Welsh Alliance club Llandyrnog United hopes the plan, which it has made in response to the Football Association of Wales’ (FAW) changes to ground regulations, will not only prevent it from relegation but enable it to set up a youth academy and Women’s team.

The second division team has played its home matches at the Cae Nant Playing Fields in the village near Denbigh since it was founded in 1975, however it has been told by the FAW that it must be based at a site that is not a public community park under new regulations to improve grassroots football.

The club has also been told it must play on a bigger pitch – the playing fields pitch is 18 metres short and cannot be extended because it is shared with two other Llandyrnog teams.

But Llandyrnog United secretary Matt Lewis believes the chance to move to a new site is a fantastic opportunity and expressed his excitement after Arla Foods, who owns the field neighbouring the creamery which closed last year, offered the club a 15-year contract.

He said: “Everyone at the club is very excited about the prospect of a new ground, from the players right through the club to our hard-working match day kitchen volunteers. With us being a small village side it's always tough to attract new supporters but, when results improve, viewing numbers do too so it's hoped things will work hand in hand.

“It's always nice to see new faces at Cae Nant and especially 'groundhoppers', so with a new ground that will be one more they'll need to tick off their list!”

As well as the pitch, the creamery field, which is improved grassland habitat, would see the construction of steel portable cabins for players and referees, a committee room, public toilets and a car park.

It would also become home to the club’s junior boys and girls practice sessions and - if there is enough interest - a Women’s team.

“With an ever-growing interest in Women's football it would be great if any of our junior players wanted to continue that we would then be in a position to offer those,” Mr Lewis said.

The club hopes the pitch will be ready as soon as the start of next season. Mr Lewis said: “If all goes well we'd be keen to start work as soon as we can with the aim to play football there from August.

“We've been in contact with Ruthin-based companies IT Williams Ruthin for the portable containers and GJ Teeson for all groundworks and levelling of surface. St Asaph-based 360 Groundcare has also been doing a fantastic job on a lot of pitches throughout North Wales.

“Thankfully, the way in which we've designed and planned the pitch the access to the new proposed ground will be through the fencing just inside Arla's entrance so wont affect the highways.”

Joel Walley, ecology officer for Denbighshire County Council, said the site has “fairly low ecological value” and that there is no need for an ecology survey as floodlights have not been proposed.

Meanwhile, the existing security measures at the creamery will be maintained.

The plan has full backing from the Llandyrnog community who reeled from the closure of the creamery, which caused 97 job losses across North Wales - the new ground could offer a silver lining.

The Llandyrnog Sports Association & Football Club said it is “more than willing" to support Llandyrnog United’s planning application.

Mr Lewis added: “We're very lucky in Llandyrnog as we have a strong community support especially from the Golden Lion Llandyrnog which has been our sponsor since we were founded and all the other businesses support us throughout the season, but we're always looking for volunteers so it would be great to see more people become involved with us because of this.

“The better the facilities we can provide it is hoped the better players we can attract and develop and with a stronger team who knows what can happen and how far the club can progress.”