A COLWYN Bay venue will play host to a regional football development centre in association with a prestigious Welsh club.

Sky Bet Championship side Swansea City have commenced the second such initiative in the region at Eirias Park for players aged 12-15, following the initial success of their first centre at the home of Huws Gray Alliance leaders Airbus Broughton in July.

The project is being run in association with Colwyn Bay FC and was instigated by departed manager Alan Morgan and the club’s Academy director Chris Thompson.

Three trial sessions were held for hopefuls in the lead-up to the initiative, with three squads chosen to take part in weekly training programmes at the site.

Lee Jones, Head of North Wales Development and Recruitment, said: “We have set up these Centres in affiliation with Airbus and Colwyn Bay and we are looking to set up more along the North Wales Coast throughout the next few seasons.

“The Centres are here to supplement not replace what players are currently doing with their Grassroots teams and local Academy teams and we will be providing coaching sessions for the selected players that come from our Elite Curriculum.

“We use these Centres as a stepping stone between what the players currently do and Elite football and the Centres have already proved successful with two players already signed for our Elite Academy from North Wales and we are inviting a further four down to our Landore training ground later this month.”

Details of future centres will be advertised on the Swansea City Social media accounts.

A Bay spokesman, added: “Colwyn Bay Football Club would like to thank former manager, Alan Morgan, for instigating the link between the clubs and Academy Director, Chris Thompson for his continued work improving the academy set up.”