Vaughan Gething visits Penarth club to recognise lockdown efforts

Mr Gething, whose son regularly attended football training in the junior section at the football club tied to the social club prior to the pandemic, stopped by to talk about the challenges that will face the club in the near future as a result of Covid-19, and members explained how they have used the closure to make an even better go of life after lockdown.

Dean Ford, a committee member at the club, who initially contacted Mr Gething to help mark the reopening, spoke about life during lockdown, and the challenges ahead.

“It’s been a really difficult and worrying time, and there is little doubt we’d have closed without the support of the business grant we received,” he said.

The social club (also a football club) is home to more than 350 junior footballers alone, making it the biggest footballing institution in the Vale.

Dean Ford and Lee Williams

It is also now home to the only pub in Cogan, following the closure of The Station during lockdown.

Close friends with tenants Natasha and Gareth, Mr Ford and fellow committee member Lee Williams said it compounded their concerns for the industry.

“It’s a real shame because they’re great people and we were always in there,” Mr Ford said. “It’s a worrying time for pubs, but we’ve got through the worst of it hopefully, thanks I think to how cautious the Welsh Government has been."

Over the past ten weeks, a group of eight volunteers have teamed up to refurbish the social club ready for Monday and beyond.

The club was busy on Monday after the club asked for support on social media

“We had no beer garden and all our events were cancelled, so we really would have been closed for good without the grant we received,” said Mr Williams.

“The only people that have been in here since March are the maintenance guys, and they’ve done a great job. We’ve also really tried to push the reopening on social media and it seems to have worked.”

A few new faces were in on Monday afternoon, while some older friends returned to support the club too.

“It’s brilliant to see and is something we really need at the moment,” Mr Williams added.

Vaughan Gething speaking with members

As a trial, the club will be opening from 2pm Monday to Thursday, and will continue operating from 12pm on Fridays and weekends.

On Vaughan Gething visiting the club, Mr Ford added: “It’s nice to have the recognition and for him to recognise we’ve suffered. It’s so important for the message to support local businesses.”

On the challenges of social distancing and avoiding new cases after lockdown, Mr Ford said: “It’s difficult but we’ve done everything we can in terms of people signing in, not standing at the bar, we’ve implemented a one-way system.

“Hopefully things will get a bit more relaxed soon. It feels like Wales is in the best place to start doing that.”

Mr Gething said it had been “really difficult to see the club struggle” and praised them for their resilience.

“The refurb here is fantastic and I felt it was so important to come here and recognise the work that has been put in,” he said.

“For the sake of clubs like this, it is so important people follow the guidance to avoid a repeat of lockdown, which could be really difficult for businesses to respond to.

“I appreciate it’s difficult because these are social environments, but I would urge caution – especially come the autumn and winter when we expect new cases may occur.

“I’m confident the test and trace process will improve and work to mitigate those concerns, and ensure we don’t see what we’re now seeing in places like Australia and Spain.”