TWO Montgomeryshire villages football clubs bid to embark on brave new chapters in their short histories next month.

Forden United and Trewern United have both applied for promotion to the MMP-NL Mid Wales League along with Knighton Town of the Watson Financial Mid Wales League (South).

Both clubs have risen through the ranks of the JT Hughes Montgomeryshire League having reformed in the past few years and each with ambitions to join the Mid Wales League.

Forden United were reformed in 2017 after a previous phoenix of the original disbanded club folded with Jonny Roberts taking the helm of his home village club.

Roberts said: “I couldn’t turn down my home club, especially with the exciting, ambitious programme the club was looking to implement.”

Since the club has not looked back with a series of ground improvements, including widening the pitch and improving drainage as part of ongoing project.

“Hopefully by reaching the Mid Wales League we’ll be able to tap into some sources of funding to enable us to continue to improve our pitch,” added Roberts. “The goal was always the Mid Wales League. We’ve got brilliant facilities that passed inspection years ago and everything about the club is set up to play at that standard

“It’ll be a new challenge and a new era for the club but it’s one we’ve been preparing for and are looking forward to.”

Trewern United will also break new ground in the Mid Wales League next season.

The Caradog Park club was reformed two years ago after the original long standing Montgomeryshire League club folded.

The new club has adopted the same colours and nickname as the previous Tigers and set about making their own history.

Manager Nathan Jones said: “We reformed the club for a kick about for our group of friends on a Saturday but we managed to achieve promotion in our first season so went from there.”

The club is also confident of passing ground criteria but will also be seeking grant aid for further improvements.

Meanwhile the future looks bright with several of the club’s personnel undertaking Football Association of Wales (FAW) coaching courses.

Jones said: “Preparations are going well. We are in a decent position in the league and have two coaches close to completing their C License with the FAW.

“We now have a number of young players so the future looks good.”

Jones accepted the pending Welsh pyramid restructure would affect the club like all Mid Wales football.

“ We don’t know how the restructure will affect us at the moment but our goal will always be to play at the highest level we can,” added Jones.

Forden manager Roberts is also keeping an eye on developments regarding the restructure.

Roberts said: “We’re on the fence a bit in regards to the restructure but are keeping a keen eye on how it’s unfolding.

“We were pleased when it got postponed for a year as at least that gives us the chance to bridge the gap between amateur and Mid Wales League.

“What happens the season after I can only say will be interesting.

“If it ends up with us being brought back into the amateur system hopefully the change in the structure will at least benefit the amateur league and strengthen the calibre of teams playing it.”