City left homeless after giving up lease to stadium
BANGOR City FC has surrendered the lease on its Nantporth Stadium.
The news is the latest blow for the historic North Wales football club who have not entered a league for the forthcoming season.
Situated on the Menai Strait, just outside the city, the Nantporth complex consists of the football ground as well as a 3G pitch. The Citizens had played at the ground since 2012.
Previously, the club played at the Farrar Road ground since the 1920s before the site was sold-off to make way for an Asda supermarket. The Nantporth complex will now be under the control of Nantporth CIC – a community interest company.
Fellow city club Arriva Bangor FC will use Nantporth as their home ground for their upcoming North Wales Coast Division One West campaign. It is understood that the city’s highest ranked side Bangor 1876, a breakaway club set up by former supporters of Bangor City FC, will continue to play at nearby Treborth for this season rather than relocate to Nantporth.
Bangor City FC were suspended from all footballing activities by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) in November of last year due to a dispute with staff over unpaid salaries. However, the club vowed to return to senior football this season after securing “new players and investment”.
Nantporth CIC director Dilwyn Jones said: “We take this opportunity to confirm that Bangor City
Football Club Ltd have surrendered the lease of the entire Nantporth complex back to Nantporth CIC. This means that Nantporth CIC have now taken full control of the stadium and the 3G pitch.
“Working with Bangor City Council, Nantporth CIC plan to develop the complex into a regional football and local community hub, in particular grassroots football available to all.
“An expression of interest has been received by Arriva Bangor to use the stadium and agreed for the upcoming season. A ground inspection to confirm a stadium certificate for Tier 1 is expected in the next few weeks allowing CPDM Bangor 1876 WFC to use the stadium as their home ground – we hope to finalise these arrangements very shortly.
“Maintenance of the complex is ongoing with the groundsman and local volunteers, and we hope to host our first matches in the stadium mid to late August.”
Arriva Bangor FC chairman Kevin Jones is looking forward to his side playing at the stadium this season.
He said: “We’re looking forward to playing at the facility, it was an offer we couldn’t refuse and we’re really looking forward to it. Hopefully it will help us to improve and grow as a club.
“We’re very grateful to our sponsors Kwik Save Bangor and Beran Garage for their help in us moving to Nantporth and supplying the kit. It wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Bangor City FC owner Domenico Serafino has been approached for comment.