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SportsCwmbran Celtic and Cwmbran Town, 40m apart, set for UK's closest derby after 16 years
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Cwmbran Celtic and Cwmbran Town, two football clubs in south Wales separated by just 40 metres, are set to face each other for the first time in 16 years on Tuesday. The match, in the third tier of Welsh football (Ardal South-East League), is believed to be the closest local derby in the UK, surpassing the distance between Dundee's Dens Park and Tannadice Park (272m) and Nottingham's rivals (separated by the River Trent). Cwmbran Celtic were relegated from the second tier last season, bringing them into the same league as their neighbours. Veteran striker Lee Trundle, who joined Cwmbran Town this summer, is expected to make his debut. Under competition rules, visitors Cwmbran Town must use Celtic's Motazone Arena changing rooms. Local fan Steve Fry expressed excitement, noting many players know each other from the same town. The article notes that while Paris' Parc des Princes and Stade Jean-Bouin are also 40m apart, the Cwmbran derby may be the most local in football.
Source report
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 two separate 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. This does not include teams such as Inter and AC Milan who share the same ground.
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.
Related Topics
- Football
- Wales Sport
- Welsh Football
Source
BBC SportWestern
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Cwmbran Celtic and Cwmbran Town Set for UK's Closest Football Derby After 16 Years