Groundhoppers are ‘go’!

It could be a Sunday evening kick off at Llanandras Park
It could be a Sunday evening kick off at Llanandras Park

The Spar Mid Wales League Annual General Meeting confirmed the proposed Groundhoppers weekend is still very much on and plans are now well underway.

For the benefit of those who don’t know, the Groundhoppers are a dedicated group of people who like nothing better than to seek out football matches at all levels so they can effectively chalk up another ground they have visited.

From what I gather, once or twice a year they choose a league and ask them to arrange their matches over the course of a weekend so that their members can then attend all of the games.  I know that in the past they have done this with the Hellenic League as Pegasus Juniors have been involved and now it is the Spar Mid Wales League’s turn.

Accommodation in Mid Wales was proving something of an issue – not least because it is the Victorian Festival in Llandrindod Wells on the same weekend, but it is now thought the Groundhoppers are going to base themselves in Newtown.

Presteigne chairman Alan Randell said there was widespread support for the Groundhoppers weekend as it was felt club’s gate takings would benefit from the experience.

“The Groundhoppers is going to happen on Bank Holiday weekend although the only problem with that is that is the second qualifying round of the Welsh Cup that weekend,” he said.

“So it will all depend on where they can go and when – I believe they are planning to have a game on the Friday night, four games on the Saturday, three on the Sunday and three on the Monday.

“Presteigne are due to have a home game at 7.00pm on the Sunday night although that is only provisional as it will be dependent on our Welsh Cup commitments on the Saturday.

“The only way we could do this is if we were to play our Welsh Cup tie on the Friday night and then a league game on the Sunday, but that will clearly be dependent on the cup draw,” he added.

Presteigne St Andrews should receive a bye in the first qualifying round of the Welsh Cup as they are a Spar Mid Wales League first division club.

The chairman has also asked to have no fixtures on Saturday 14 August due to his and Paula’s wedding and the fact the majority of those who would normally be doing the work at the Football Club are likely to be invited to the wedding.