A TEAM of council employees who started a five-a-side football team in 1982 is still going strong, with four original members still taking to the “field”.

It all started as a kick-about between a few council employees during their lunchtime in one of the large Nissen huts at the old army barracks at Kinmel Park in Bodelwyddan.

It quickly became hugely popular and it was decided to find a more suitable facility to accommodate all who wanted to play.

After three years of temporary accommodation at leisure centres in St Asaph and Colwyn Bay, the Clwyd Highways’ team made its first booking at Coleg Llandrillo’s then newly-opened Institute of Sport on its Rhos-on-Sea campus in 1985, and has played there every week since, up until the pandemic struck.

Some members have seen their own children – and even one grandchild - grow up and join the team.

College tutor Paul Murray said: “What a remarkable achievement, especially for the four stalwarts who are still playing to this day.

“The team was due to celebrate an extraordinary 35 years of continuous bookings at the college in September 2020, but obviously, that wasn’t to be because of the pandemic.

“But the good news is, that members of the team have finally started playing again and it will be the 40th anniversary since the original conception of the team later this year.”