And so to Maesdu Park, or The Giant Hospitality Stadium, in Llandudno as the Seasiders take on Connah's Quay Nomads in the Welsh Premier League - second playing first at this early stage of the season.
Football dates back to 1878 in Llandudno, with the club originally known as Gloddaeth Rovers and formed for the purpose of providing activity for cricketers in the close season. The club was a founder member of the Welsh National League (North) in 1921 and were crowned champions in 1923.
Controversy struck in 1931 when the FAW instructed them to play in East Wales - the club refused and were suspended. In 1935 Llandudno FC became founder members of the Welsh League (North) where they stayed until 1974, winning the league in its first two seasons.
The Seasiders were reformed in 1988, and moved to Maesdu Park in 1991. Chris Coleman officially opened the new 3G pitch on 31 July 2014 ahead of a successful Cymru Alliance campaign that saw promotion to the Welsh Premier League.
Llandudno finished third in their first season in the top flight, earning a Europa League tie against IFK Goteborg, with the Swedes winning 7-1 on aggregate. Last term the Seasiders finished a disappointing ninth, and their strategic partnership with MBi Consulting, with the team rebranded MBi Llandudno FC, came to an end.
Before the Nomads, Connah's Quay FC was founded
in 1890 and disbanded after a second Welsh Cup final loss in 1911.
Connah's Quay & Shotton FC was then formed in 1920 and beat Cardiff,
featuring several players from the team that beat Arsenal in the 1927
FA Cup Final, in the 1929 Welsh Cup Final. Six months later the club
went bust....
The existing club was formed in July 1946 as Connah's Quay Juniors, and a senior team was formed and joined the Flintshire League in 1948. Prior to the 1952/53 season the club's suffix changed to Nomads; the Nomads joined the Welsh League (North) and, despite returning to local leagues for 7 years, rejoined it in 1966. In 1974 the club joined the newly formed Clwyd League and, following 3 successful seasons in the Welsh Alliance, became founder members of the Cymru Alliance in 1990 then the League of Wales two seasons later.
The Nomads, an odd name for a club that had spent 51 seasons at the Halfway Ground, moved after a season of groundsharing at Rhyl to its current home, the Deeside Stadium in 1998. After bereavements and retirements the club was taken over by gap personnel in June 2008 to become gap Connah's Quay Nomads.
2010 saw the club narrowly miss out on the cut off for the Super 12 League - thus the club began the 2010/11 season in the Cymru Alliance which they won the following season but were deprived of promotion after failing to gain a domestic license. Notwithstanding this setback the Nomads were again crowned Cymru Alliance champions in 2013 and this time the ascent to the Welsh Premier League was granted.
2015/16 saw the Nomads qualify for the Europa League - and a giantkilling as the club beat Norwegian team Stabaek over two legs before bowing out to Vojvodina from Serbia. A second place finish last term, a mere 27 points adrift of The New Saints, brought about another Europa League adventure. A surprise 1-0 'home' win over HJK Helsinki in Bangor was overturned 3-0 in Finland. The club also removed gap from its name in the close season.
And so on a glorious Saturday, a prelude
hopefully to the forthcoming Bank Holiday, it's a detour to Warrington
then back to the M56, passing Revolution Scooters and joining at the
Stretton Fox. Creamfields traffic is light and Stanlow is hardly
belching, although the wind turbines are at full throttle.
Then, after Queensferry, onto the A55, past a van decorated as Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine, and beyond Bodelwyddan to Colwyn Bay and its condemned pier. A quick walk past The Picture House brings us to the town's well kept railway station - colourful flower boxes and vibrant paintings providing an attractive backdrop.
Change at Llandudno Junction, Gateway to the Conwy Valley and Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri), and then the pretty marina at Deganwy on one side of the water, Conwy Castle on t'other. Into Llandudno and, passing the Stag & Dagger tattoo studio, down to the West Shore with its miniature railway. Back into town and lunch is at the Palladium, the Wetherspoons offering in Llandudno.
Llandudno, the resort, exudes quality with the busy town centre merging seamlessly into the seafront area. A long pier stretches out to sea whilst inland the two Ormes tower over, high headlands at the tips of the horseshoe coast.
Maesdu Park is hidden in the middle of an industrial estate next to a big coach depot. Inside the Big Hospitality Stadium, the near end is open terrace with the Celtic Pie Co doing good business. The far side hosts three separate covered seating areas - a hospitality area, the main stand named after the ground sponsor and next to it a smaller version. The other two sides have covered stands too, one with a tea bar, and there's the ubiquitous TV gantry and rather pleasant views of the Welsh hills.
The Seasiders are in black and white stripes,
the Nomads in red. A rather turgid first half produces only one major
incident and talking point. On 21 minutes the pacy Toby Jones latches
onto a through ball and gets just ahead of Nomads' Mike Pearson, who
trips him inside the box. Red card and penalty - but Seasiders' Sam Hart
rolls the ball wide, and the rest of the half sees Llandudno fail to
break down a well drilled Nomads defence.
It takes just over an hour before we see a well constructed chance; great work from Danny Hughes plays in Jones who sets up Marc Williams, and his shot is saved at point blank range by Nomads keeper John Danby. Nomads come very close soon after as Michael Wilde thrashes the ball against the crossbar from a cutback.
Sixty seconds later Mike Williams' prodigious headed clearance is hunted down by Jones as George Horan and Danby get themselves in a mess. Danby misses the ball and Jones takes it around him and sidefoots home. He has a second opportunity within minutes but this time it's straight at Danby.
Nomads throw men forward in the final few moments but the Seasiders' defence stands firm. Short at the back, Llandudno sub Sam Ilesanmi muscles through and draws another great save from Danby, but it matters little as the game finishes 1-0 and the Seasiders go top, maintaining their 100% win and clean sheet records.
