FLINT’S Essity Stadium will be the mecca for fast-flowing football next season.

Home club Flint Town United will join renting neighbours Connah’s Quay Nomads in Welsh football’s top flight on the shores of the Dee Estuary with up-and-coming Flint Mountain bridging the gap into what promises to be another highly competitive Cymru North.

Flint scored 52 goals in their 15 home league games and their 4G pitch at Flint has been labelled the best in Wales by Silkmen chairman Darryl Williams, who is proud that the ground will host a high standard of football next season.

“It’s going to be the hot-bed of North Wales football,” said Williams, who saw his Flint side - managed by former Wrexham captain Lee Fowler - promoted back to the Cymru Premier after one season away.

Another ex-Red and Wales international, Steve Evans, has also come in as Fowler’s right-hand man after Danny Harrison left to team up with ex-Nomads and Flint striker Michael Wilde at Colwyn Bay.

“We are going to give the Cymru Prem a right good go this season.

“I believe that Lee and Steve Evans is the strongest management duo in the league.”

Neil Gibson and Lee Jones may have an opinion on that down the coast road at Connah’s Quay, who will be challenging The New Saints for the title again next season as well as preparing for another Europa League excursion.

Looking ahead to the return to the top flight, Flint boss Fowler said: “We know we have to do things a lot differently to teams that bring in money. It’s not we won’t be competitive.

“It’s getting to that top end of the Welsh Premier League. I think we can have a good go at those teams.”

Flint Mountain boss Aden Shannon believes his side have benefitted from using The Essity Stadium as their home ground.

“It’s been great for me using Flint’s ground - and it was my home for 10 years before having been with Flint Town,” said Shannon (pictured below).

“The pitch is great for teams who want to play football; it’s a top playing surface.

“We’re looking forward to playing our Cymru North home games there next season and we’re going to give it a good go next season.

“About 95 per cent of the team have agreed to stay for next season and we’ll see what happens in the summer.”

A top five finish would not be beyond Flint Mountain, who beat Flintshire rivals Mold Alex, Buckley Town and Cymru North champions Holywell Town in the North East Wales FA Cup last season.

Holywell, who were refused entry to the Cymru Premier, will be favourites to win the league again although Airbus and Colwyn Bay will also be in the title picture.

Llay Welfare will join Gresford Athletic as the Wrexham-based competitors; there’s Denbigh Town and Ruthin Town from the Vale of Clwyd while the mid-Wales threat comes from Caersws, Guilsfield and Ardal North East League champions Penrhyncoch.