Plaid Cymru Statement on Football in Llanelli (Llanelli AFC)

The future of football in Llanelli following the demise of Llanelli AFC has been put under the spotlight following questions by a Plaid Cymru Assembly Member and Member of Parliament.

Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas said:

“I have raised the issue of football locally in Llanelli following concerns raised with me. Welsh Premiership football is important for the area and needs to thrive for the good of Welsh football. Llanelli AFC has a proud history in representing Wales in Europe and flying the flag for our nation, it is disappointing therefore to see the club’s difficulty. I hope a fresh start can be found in Llanelli for football.”

Plaid Cymru Carmarthenshire MP Jonathan Edwards has also brought forward an Early Day Motion (EDM) on the issue.

“I tabled a Parliamentary motion to acknowledge the importance of Llanelli and Barry Town to Welsh sport, and the importance of the clubs to their respective communities.

“As a fan of Welsh football, I believe the decision of the FAW Council is disproportionate to the penalties which have been placed upon other clubs across the UK. I also believe the FAW Council has not justified the reasoning behind its decision – which is a great insult to the loyal supporters of both teams.

“Clubs such as Llanelli have a proud history and play a vital role in the development of Welsh football.

“My hope is that with the pressure of the fans, and the acknowledgment that this matter has been raised in Parliament, the FAW Council would reconsider its decision and reinstate Llanelli AFC and Barry Town AFC into their rightful place within the competitive football league”.

Early Day Motion 262

Date: 17.06.13

Primary Sponsor: Jonathan Edwards MP

• That this House notes the contribution made to Welsh football and community life by Barry Town AFC and Llanelli AFC;
• further notes that Barry Town AFC was maliciously withdrawn from the Welsh League by the club owner despite facing no financial or player recruitment difficulties, illustrating a lack of safeguards in the Welsh League’s rules for club withdrawal;
• further notes that the National Assembly for Wales’ Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee report into the Welsh Premier League and feeder leagues noted that the Football Association of Wales’ (FAW) strategies were not successfully implemented and that there was a need for an improved relationship between the FAW and the clubs who can successfully implement the association’s strategic plan;
• believes that both Barry Town AFC and Llanelli AFC have been successful in representing Wales internationally and developing youth and grassroots football;
• further believes that the grounds of both clubs are regularly used by the FAW for international level football; further notes that both towns have substantial potential for developing football within the community;
• deplores the decision of the FAW Council to refuse FAW membership to Barry Town United and Llanelli AFC, meaning that neither town will have representation within the top four divisions of Welsh football; and calls on the FAW Council to reconsider this decision in keeping with its own strategic plan for Welsh football.