AN MS has called for more investment for elite sports facilities in “left behind” North Wales.

Sam Rowlands, shadow minister for local government, said he remains frustrated that Wrexham Football Club is the only professional team in the region and facilities that help young players to develop are concentrated in the south.

“There is a gap in elite facilities and support, in particular, the access for young people from the north of Wales versus what is available in the south,” Mr Rowlands said during a virtual plenary session last week.

“We do have Wrexham Football Club in North Wales, but that is the only professional sports team in my region. Looking at rugby as another example, there are four professional regional teams in the south of Wales, but there’s yet to be a professional team in North Wales.

“It frustrates me that such concentration of that elite facility and support is, sadly, four or five hours away for many people in the north of Wales.”

The former Conwy County Borough Council leader said the lack of facilities also extends to spectating sports and that Wales’ friendly games ahead of Euro 2020 could have been hosted at the Racecourse in Wrexham.

He said: “North Wales is also, at times, left behind when it comes to access for spectators and fans. Just recently, we had the football friendlies before the European championships. However, none of those were played in North Wales.

“A lot more work and co-operation is needed between the responsible organisations, this includes governments, to ensure that sport in Wales does not become too centralised in South Wales.”