Field of dreams

Club's £1m stadium vision takes shape ahead of Euro toumament

- David Powell

Mike Clishem, Harlech Foodservice financial director (left), with Paul Evans, Caernarfon Town FC chairman (Mandy Jones)

AN historic £1 million stadium transformation is taking shape as Caernarfon Town FC prepares to host Under 19 European Championship matches next summer.

The club is temporarily playing at Llandudno 's Go Goodwin Stadium.

The Oval in Caernarfon is being overhauled to meet Uefa standards for the tournament a moment chairman Paul Evans says marks a "new era" for the Cofis.

Support from long-term backers Harlech Foodservice is proving crucial during the temporary move, helping offset lost match-day revenue and keeping the club on steady ground throughout the redevelopment.

Paul says the opportunity to stage European championship fixtures has given fresh momentum to the club during their enforced exile. Paul, who has been chairman for six years, explained: "The FAW is hosting the Under 19s European Championships next summer and they asked us if we would like to be a part of it.

"Obviously we did, but the problem was that the field was not up to the standard required. The main problem was that there was a nine-foot slope in the field and that would not have passed Uefa standards, while the away dressing room was not big enough.

"So they are levelling the pitch for us, extending the away dressing rooms and also giving us a new match officials room, new doping and physio rooms.