Clwb Pêl Droed Y Rhyl 1879 (English: The Rhyl 1879 Football Club) is a Welsh football club based in Rhyl in Denbighshire, Wales. The team currently play in the Ardal NW League. They are a phoenix club, continuing the legacy of Rhyl FC's following its dissolution in April 2020.
 | |
| Full name | Clwb Pêl Droed Y Rhyl 1879 |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Lilywhites |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Ground | Belle Vue[1] |
| Capacity | 3,000 (1,720 seated)[2] |
| Chairman | Tom Jamieson |
| Manager | Paul Moore [3] |
| League | Ardal NW League |
| 2023–24 | Ardal NW League, 3rd of 16 |
History
editA week after the announcement that Rhyl would be liquidated, a group was formed to take forward the idea of a replacement club in Rhyl. Former Rhyl FC board members Adam Roche and Tom Jamieson agreed to work alongside the Rhyl Fans Association, with Jamieson taking the role of interim chairman.[4] RFA members were balloted and overwhelmingly endorsed the approach.[5]
Rhyl Fans Association ran an online poll for supporters to choose a name for the new club. The unanimous choice was Rhyl FC which fans believed would be acceptable as the former full name of the closed club was Rhyl Football Club Belle Vue Limited. On advice from the Football Association of Wales the club were told a new name would be required.[6] RFA members were again balloted again with 82% voting. CPD Y Rhyl 1879 received 54.6% of the vote and AFC Rhyl received 45.4%.[7]
The club announced it had officially submitted its application to the North Wales Coast FA to play tier four football in 2020–21.[8]
In July 2020 it was confirmed that the club had been placed in the tier four Premier Division of the newly formed North Wales Coast East Football League.[9]
The 2020–21 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club's first competitive game was in the 2021–22 Welsh Cup, with a 10–0 home victory over Rhyl Dragons in the first qualifying round.[10] The team progressed through the second qualifying round, beating Prestatyn Sports 2–0 and in the first round, beating Rhydymwyn 1–0. The second round saw them come up against Cymru Premier champions Connah's Quay Nomads, losing 5–0.[11]
The club finished the 2021–22 as league champions and on 9 June 2022, it was announced that the club had been promoted to the tier 3 Ardal NW League for the 2022–23 season.[12]
Ground
editIn May 2020 it was announced that the club had reached an agreement with David Butters, owner of Belle Vue to use the facilities for the upcoming season, with an exclusive option to purchase the ground.[13] In May 2021 the club signed a two-year lease extension to play at Belle Vue, whilst negotiations to purchase the stadium continued.[14]
In October 2024, the club bought the ground outright.[15]
Records
editHonours
edit- North Wales Coast East Football League Premier Division – Champions: 2021–22
- North Wales Coast FA Cookson Cup – Winners 2021–22[16]
Club officials
editThe club's management committee members are as follows:[17]
- Chairman: Tom Jamieson
- Managing Director & Club Secretary: Adam Roche
- Club Treasurer: Paul Senior
- Media & Comms Officer: Ryan Desmond
- Welsh Community & Safeguarding Officer: John Hughes-Jones
- RFA liaison: Kevin Williams
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "CPD Y Rhyl 1879: Rhyl FC phoenix club to play at same Belle Vue stadium". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Rhyl FC - Belle Vue Stadium". Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ https://www.rhylfc.co.uk/news/Paul-Moore-joins-CPD-Y-Rhyl-1879-as-Mens-First-Team-Manager
- ^ Jones, Jordan (27 April 2020). "Phoenix club set to emerge from the ashes of Rhyl". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Jones, Dave (27 April 2020). "New Rhyl phoenix football club to be formed". Grassroots North Wales. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Jones, Dean (17 May 2020). "New phoenix club re-named CPD Y Rhyl 1879 following FAW advice". Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Jones, Dave (15 May 2020). "Rhyl FC's new name is….CPD Y Rhyl 1879". Grassroots North Wales. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Jones, Dave (26 May 2020). "CPD Y Rhyl 1879 apply to start at lower tier of the Welsh football pyramid". Grassroots North Wales. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ Jones, Dean (19 July 2020). "Football: NWCFA East League structure confirmed". Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Rhyl Dragons humble in defeat after heavy Welsh Cup loss to CPD Y Rhyl 1879". Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Welsh Cup: Bala put 17 goals past Brymbo in Welsh Cup". BBC Sport. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "Ardal Leagues: A geographical look at the teams competing in the 2022/23 season". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
- ^ Jones, Jordan (18 May 2020). "Phoenix club CPD Y Rhyl 1879 to play home games at Belle Vue". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "CPD Y Rhyl 1879 signs two-year lease extension at Belle Vue". Rhyl, Prestatyn & Abergele Journal. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Rhyl purchases its Belle Vue ground from landlord in 'monumental achievement'". Rhyl Journal. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "North Wales Coast FA Cookson Cup". All Wales Sport. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "Who's Who". CPD Y Rhyl 1879. Retrieved 2 September 2021.