Cwmbran Celtic and Cwmbran Town, separated by 40 meters, to play UK's closest derby after 16 years

Image caption: Lee Trundle is preparing to make his Cwmbran Town debut in the third tier of Welsh football

They have been separated for more than a decade by just 40 metres.

Now two clubs in south Wales believe they may finally have the most local rivalry in British football.

Nottingham Forest and Notts County, divided only by the River Trent, are the closest senior professional rivals in England. Even less space — only 0.17 miles (272m) — separates Dundee's Dens Park and Dundee United's Tannadice Park.

But when Cwmbran Celtic host Cwmbran Town on Tuesday for their first meeting in 16 years — in the third tier of Welsh football — it could be the shortest distance of the lot separating their home grounds.

"We think it's the closest derby in the UK and one of the closest in the world," said Celtic fan Steve Fry. "It makes that distance between the Dundee grounds feel like a real trek!

"I don't know if Town are putting on a coach for their players but they'll get a warm welcome. Everyone is buzzing for this game. What better way to start the season."

Image caption: Just a line of trees separate Cwmbran Town's Halo Stadium and Cwmbran Celtic's Motazone Arena.

Despite being located next door to each other, the clubs have spent years apart until Cwmbran Celtic were relegated from the second tier of Welsh football last season to the Ardal South-East League.

Under the competition rules, visitors Cwmbran Town must travel to Celtic's recently renamed Motazone Arena, rather than use their own changing rooms.

"A lot of the players know each other because they're from the same town but until now, our paths have not crossed on the pitch," said Fry.

Image caption: Dens Park, home of Dundee FC, and Tannadice Park, home of Dundee United FC, separated by 200 metres

One new face to the derby is veteran former Swansea City and Wrexham striker Lee Trundle, who joined Cwmbran Town this summer.

"My 16-year-old lad is playing for Celtic, I've had to dig out YouTube videos to show him who he is up against," said Fry. "But it's fantastic for the league to have someone of that level playing here. Hopefully we'll get double our usual crowd."

Whether it is a world record remains to be seen, with a reported 40m separating Parc des Princes of Paris St Germain and Stade Jean-Bouin of Paris FC.

But while the all-Cwmbran contest may not be able to beat the Paris derby for glamour, it could be about to challenge those giants as the most local derby in football.

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