It’s been 33 years in the making, but Welshpool’s two football clubs – Welshpool Town and Waterloo Rovers – clash for the first time in a league meeting tonight at Maesydre.
The Spar Mid Wales Division One match will highlight the different plights of the two sides, with Welshpool falling from the top echelons of Welsh football and Rovers climbing from the bottom, but there will be no love lost between the two big rivals come 7.30pm.
Waterloo club stalwart Dave Proctor has been involved since their inception in 1978 and knows more than most the importance of tonight’s battle.
“It’s a huge match for both clubs,” he said: “We’ve always accepted being the ‘junior’ club of the town with Welshpool playing in the higher leagues but tonight we’ll be on a level playing field for the first time.
“I am sure there will be a lot of interest generated in the town and should be a big crowd. We did play them once a few years ago in the Central Wales Cup and lost. The reserve sides have played a few times as well but this is the first time the senior teams have clashed in a league game. We’re all looking forward to it at the club.”
Waterloo Rovers will go into the match as strong favourites following a good run of form, while Welshpool have shown signs of improvement after a tough start but only have four points to show for their efforts to date.
They have been boosted however by the signing of Guilsfield’s Graeme McGill who has switched following 10 seasons three miles down the road.
“Graeme’s signing has given the club another lift and has come at a good time before the Waterloo game,” said Town manager Dave Jones. “I am really looking forward to the game tonight. There’s no love lost between the two sides so I expect a hard fought affair and a big crowd. No one wants to lose a local derby and we have to make sure we come out on top.”
Meanwhile, McGill has paid tribute to his former club as he opens a new chapter in his playing career at his home town club.
“I would like to thank the Guilsfield committee for all their hard work over the years,” he said. It was a very tough decision but I want to wish the lads in both the first team and reserves well for the season.”