DARTS LEGEND Phil Taylor was on hand to cut the ribbon to a new sports academy in Flintshire this week.

John Jones founded Ace of Sports eight years ago after an injury put an end to his own football career.

Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength offering a range of sessions to young people across north Wales and beyond.

It has also become well-known for its huge darts events - which this year included a face-off between legends Michael Van Gerwen and Taylor at Chester Racecourse earlier this year.

John has always been keen to give back to the area he grew up in and that took another huge step forward this week.

On Tuesday (June 11), darts great Phil 'The Power' Taylor cut the ribbon to officially launch the Ace of Sports training academy and live sport venue in John's hometown of Mold.

The Leader was given a sneak peek of the centre, located at Bromfield Commercial Park on Stephen Gray Road, back in March.

The 8,000 sq. ft site includes a state-of-the art 4G pitch, weights, exercise bikes and so much more to give some of north Wales' future sports stars a place to shine.

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Sixteen-time world champion Taylor was in attendance to officially unveil the site this week and around 300 people turned up to witness the big moment.

Ace of Sports founder John Jones said that seeing the site become what it has has made him feel a 'special sense of achievement'.

He added: "I'm an ambitious guy, however even when I stood in that empty unit before work commenced and hoped we could achieve something special - I never thought it could be anything remotely close to this!

"Every single inch of the 8,000 sq ft facility has been transformed into a state of the art training complex for the local community and most importantly children to enjoy.

"The level of finish we have managed to achieve truly is incredible. From the pitches we have had driven over from Germany to building from scratch to an on-site gym stocked with some of the best equipment in the world.

"I rarely get proud but when I stood in this building just before doors opened, to see the training complex it’s been turned into, it really did fill me with a special sense of achievement I’ve not felt before.

"Knowing that children of all shapes and sizes can come and utilise this fantastic facility through 1-2-1s and group sessions to help them on their road to achieving their sporting dreams makes all the hard work worth every second. 

"Then to open the new Ace Of Sports site with one of Britain's greatest ever sportsmen just made everything even more surreal. It was truly a night I will not forget for as long as I live!"

(Image: Ace of Sp) Ace of Sports' John Jones with Phil 'The Power' Taylor.

Speaking on the night, Phil Taylor himself said: "‘Ive never seen anything like this. The work John and the Ace Of Sports team have done here is mind blowing. 

"The passion John has for the kids is second to none and when he told me about the project I wanted to come and support.

"With John, the Ace Of Sports team and this new facility, the children have everything they need here to achieve their dreams."