Mumbles Rangers unveil further developments at Underhill Park

It’s been quite a few weeks for the Ardal South-West league club after the signing of ex-Swansea City icon Lee Trundle and the completion of the re-development of facilities at Underhill Park.

Trundle is just one part of the jigsaw of the ambitious forward-thinking tier three club who have a clear vision to grow on the footballing side entwined with providing a real community hub off the pitch with its modern infrastructure that can be enjoyed by all.

Next month will see Mumbles officially open its newly refurbished changing rooms, toilets and facilities. A long overdue improvement to cater to the growing numbers of players of all ages and gender at the club, which is now close to a thousand members.

After entering into the club’s inaugural season in the Ardal league last season, finishing in a credible ninth position, the exciting new developments off the pitch will certainly match the ambition of the side on the field with club chairman Mike Parkin tireless in his efforts to grow the club.

Parkin, a man who clearly cares dearly about Mumbles as a community has been associated with the club for forty years, whilst his father, the prior chair, even longer with the family overseeing a large part of Mumbles’ history since its formation in 1950.

After a period of disruption over Covid times, things are starting to come together for the club that can count none other than Swansea City legend Alan Curtis as one of the former players to have worn the colours of red and gold, with Mumbles returning to its home at Underhill Park for the 2023/24 season after spending the last year at Swansea University whilst building work had been in process.

“The park is a recreation ground, not just a park as such so I feel it is important that the facilities have been improved,” explained Parkin.

“Our brand-new changing rooms will be officially opened in July. It will be amazing to see with the full opening. We will have a number of new dressing rooms then and also there will be facilities built for changing at our 3G development which just started last Monday and is proposed to be ready at the back end of the year. 

“That will be the most significant part of the build having the 3G facility to let the children play and adults alike to train on. It is a huge step forward in progressing football, development and talent.

“We have such a strong infrastructure with the kids and the junior section on the boy’s side of things. It is absolutely the pathway we want, so they stay within Mumbles Rangers and develop here too.

“From a girl’s perspective it has just exploded, every year we have taken on more. We have an extra 60 for next season at five and six years of age. It is so pleasing to see. 

“Our numbers are now in total around 250/300 for the girls and 800 in total then for the club. We are the largest amateur club in numbers in Wales.

“What we are looking to do then in situe is to bring our first team back to the ground onto the grass pitch with a small stand. 

“We have had planning permission from Swansea City council. It is though just in its first steps, and we have lots of hurdles to get everything built and all in place for the first team. I envisage the stand to be a two-year thing. If we can do it before then that will be great. Ultimately, that is the plan for us and the vision for the club.

“It is important to bring them back with the revenue that is associated with the football in bringing them back to playing on the park. Putting it back into the local facility is really key for the local area.

Community is everything in Mumbles 

“I do think as a community it is important. From a shop’s point of view in Mumbles, to see them turnover too regularly is not a good thing, they need security. All this activity in the centre at Underhill Park will breed that throughout. 

“People come into Mumbles and spend money and have a day out. I think the whole community will benefit from the development rather than looking at it from just a club point of view.

“It is so important for us to get it right. I am asked about the community so much and ultimately our scope is that we have over 800 members in our club alone and with rugby too there are well over 1000 people between us. That is most of the community there when you add in all the families.

“Times have been really tough with Covid and everything. I think football, rugby and sport in general have been such a great outlet for people in terms of mental health, so it is so important to grow these facilities as well.

“It’s really important as we’re considering Mumbles football and Rugby as both playing down there and there’s over a 1000 people in membership only. If you times that by two or three people of their family that come to watch, it is a must. 

“We’ve just had a meeting this week and the aim simply across the room is to win the league and progress. I love the objective of trying to win the league. 

“We’ve had a really solid year. At halfway we were nearly at the top and knocking on that door. We then had injuries and lots of suspensions and we will learn from that this year. If we can keep that kind of thing off, I think we have a good enough squad to go and finish somewhere near the top.

“I don’t think it is an unrealistic objective to have and our manager [Kurtis Marsh] certainly believes in that as well, which is fantastic. It will be great to see us progress. All our plans have come back down the park so we could carry that out in tier two. Our ambitions and plans will carry on.

(Lead image: Go Underhill)