A FOOTBALL club in Wrexham that left their initial home ground due to trouble with vandalism say they are working "tirelessly" to find a new home.

Gresford Athletic FC dealt with several vandalism incidents at their ground on Clappers Lane, including seats being ripped out of stands, dugouts being smashed, and tyre marks being left across the pitch. 

Following a string of incidents in 2022, which the club described as "soul-destroying", they confirmed they were looking at trying to move.

At the end of February 2023, Gresford Athletic announced they had agreed a deal with Cefn Druids to ground-share at The Rock, as part of the club's ambitious plans to reach Tier two requirements. 

However, following 18 months at the ground in Cefn Mawr, the club has now announced it will relocate again after demands at the Rock has made the groundshare "untenable". 

Wrexham AFC Women's side also have a deal with Cefn Druids to use the facilities at the Rock.

In a statement issued today (September 20), the club announced the move to Broughton and also reiterated their desire to find a permanent home in Wrexham. 

A spokesperson for Gresford AFC said: "Gresford Athletic can confirm that they have made an agreement with Airbus UK Broughton to groundshare at The Hollingsworth Group Stadium until at least the end of the 2024/25 season.

"This will mean that the Gresford Athletic First Team will play all of their remaining home matches at The Hollingsworth Group Stadium for the rest of the 2024/25 season, with a potential for this to continue further if required.

"This move comes after the club decided that the changing and increasing criteria demands at The Rock meant that the groundshare agreement made with Cefn Druids in February 2023 had become untenable.

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"The club felt that it needed to look at alternative options to ensure that we could retain our ethos of being a family football club whilst continuing to play in the second tier of Welsh football.

"We have informed Cefn Druids of this decision and thank them for their help at a time when we needed it by allowing us to use the unbelievable facilities at The Rock. We wish them all the best for the future.

"In the meantime, the club are working tirelessly to secure and produce a permanent home ground, back in Wrexham. This is a process that has been ongoing for some time and we hope to find somewhere that is truly our home - somewhere we can finally place our marker down and look to grow from, allowing the club to continue to progress in the way that we all hope for.

"We can assure you that, when appropriate, the club will make an announcement on the progress with securing our permanent home and we hope to bring you this soon."