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The New Saints

Ground: Park Hall Stadium

Visits: 1

Date: 30th December 2019

Match: The New Saints - Cefn Druids  2-1  (Welsh Premier League)

Attendance: 391

At first I was planning to fly back home on Monday morning but once I realized there was a full round of matches in the Welsh Premier League I decided to stay in England until 2 January. At 19.45 on Monday evening TNS were hosting Cefn Druids meaning I had an easy start to my day. The New Saints were founded in 1959 as Llantastffraid FC and in 2003 Llantastffraid merged with Oswestry Town FC. Between 1997 and 2006 the club was known as Total Network Solutions and the club has won eight consecutive league titles in Wales. In 2007 the club moved from the Recreation ground in Llantastffraid to Park Hall Stadium in Oswestry. An interesting fact is Oswestry is actually located in England. The nearest train station to Park Hall is Gobowen and having to change trains in Chester anyway I decided to set off earlier than originally planned. Chester was founded in 79 AD by the Romans and is one of the oldest cities in the UK. Arriving around 2pm I spent more than an hour with sightseeing in this historic city and I have to say Chester was a very nice place to visit. Once back at the train station I had something to eat before boarding my second train of the day. 30 minutes after leaving Chester I arrived in Gobowen and once there my German friend Andreas was waiting for me. It takes 35 minutes by foot to get from the station to Park Hall I was of course grateful he was able to pick me up. He had actually brought his car all the way from southern Germany and that was helpful tonight. Before heading to the city centre of Oswestry we stopped by the ground to take a few pictures while there was still some daylight. Once in Oswestry we found a nice pub where rump steak with potatoes and drinks were consumed. 50 minutes prior to kick-off we were back at Park Hall and entrance was only £8. In the lounge are inside The Venue I spotted a few other German groundhoppers (what a surprise!) and 1860 fan Phillip is of course someone I have met a few times before.

Cefn Druids hosted TNS on Boxing Day and the league leaders from Oswestry won 5-0. Most of the 391 fans present at Park Hall this evening probably expected an easy ride for the home team. That was not to be the case though. Against the run of play Cefn Druids made it 0-1 in the 65th minute. TNS then threw the kitchen sink at Cefn Druid and in the 89th minute they equalized. Four minutes into stoppage time TNS scored again to win 2-1. What an end to this game! Some of the Germans I met had to catch the last train back to Birmingham (at 21.50) and ordered a taxi for 21.30. As they left it was still 0-1 and as Andreas later dropped me off at Gobowen station the three Germans were still there. Their train was 20 minutes delayed! My train was on time and at 00.25 I was back in Manchester.

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Gobowen station

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Welcome to Oswestry

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Oswestry

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The Venue at Park Hall

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Club badges

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Welcome to the New Saints

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Inside The Venue

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Welsh Premier League trophy

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Helsingborgs IF, pennant

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West End

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TV-tower

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West Stand

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South Stand

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South Stand

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Kick-off

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East Stand

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View of play

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South Stand

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South Stand

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Dug-outs

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Pano