Llanfair: It’s good to be back!

After three decades of playing in the lower leagues of local football, Llanfair United are enjoying being back on the Mid Wales scene and 2011 is set to be a big year for the club.

Since making the ambitious decision to step up to the newly formed Spar Division Two this season, the club has not looked back and it has been supported by the Football Association of Wales which has awarded the club £6,700 towards ground improvements.

“There is a real buzz around the club at the moment both on and off the pitch,” said manager Daryl Griffiths (right). “Things are moving on very well and a big thank you should go to Mark Bowen and Huw Ellis for putting in an excellent presentation to secure the grant money for the pitch improvements.”

Llanfair’s pitch is too small for them to advance any further up the leagues so the club has started working on rotating the pitch 90 degrees to gain the extra length required. It could be ready as early as next season although they may take extra time to let it settle.

On the pitch, Llanfair pulled off a shock 2-1 win at high flying Four Crosses to start the year on a winning note despite it being only their third match in nine weeks.

“It was nice to get back playing again,” said Griffiths. “We had only played two games since October and had not trained for the last four weeks so it was hard work but the lads played well. Four Crosses are a good team lying third in the league so we knew it was going to be a hard game and we had to play well to get any result and that is exactly what the lads did, they played well going forward and defending.

“Hopefully we can build on the win and get a couple of results together because that’s all it takes to climb up the league with it being so tight.”