Club cancels match as cold snap causes flood

Jan 15 2009 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

COLWYN Bay Football Club has suffered thousands of pounds of damage following the freezing New Year weather.

The cold snap has caused pipes to freeze, expand and burst, flooding the changing, floor and board rooms causing damage to the carpets, furniture, ceiling and electrics.

Volunteers are now working round the clock to repair the damage at the Llanelian Road ground, while electricians and plumbers will be called in to rewire and fix damaged pipes. Around 15 pipes burst following the cold weather, with temperatures dropping as low as -10°C in some parts of the county.

Because of the damage the club cancelled a friendly at home against Prestatyn Town on Tuesday night and switched to play at Flint, a game Colwyn Bay won 2-1.

The Seagulls’ managing director Darren Cartwright explained the weather had seriously dented the club’s purse, but hoped the ground could be readied in time for the next home game to Chorley on Saturday.

“The cost of the damage is probably £10,000, there were multiple bursts in the pipes in the roof space of the changing rooms,” he said.

“There is also one burst pipe in the boardroom. The floor and boardroom have had all the carpets taken up. In the changing room we’ll have to replace all the lighting as the ceiling has been soaked through.

“We are hoping to get the changing rooms in a condition to make them safe for Saturday’s home game.”

To find out if the damage will further affect Colwyn Bay FC’s fixture list log onto www.colwynbayfc.co.uk