BANGOR 1876 have announced details of invitational sessions ahead of the formal start of their Development Centre.

The Gwynedd League leaders welcome aspiring stars from the region on Monday, March 23 from 6-7pm at their Treborth base, and the coaching clinics will run until the end of May.

Once the centre officially begins, they will be based at a new 4G facility currently being constructed at Plas Ffrancon, Bethesda, with Bangor University’s Canolfan Brailsford kindly supporting the club when necessary From July 23, the sessions will take place on Thursday evenings between 6 and 8pm.

Other grassroots clubs from across the region have been told not to participate in any friendlies with 1876 and will face sanctions from the North Wales Coast Football Association if they do not abide by this ruling.

Director of football Iwan Williams, who is heading the project, said: “This is actually precisely what we wanted for our Development Centre. We intend to continue this strategy until it is possible to develop further into an accredited academy.

Our message is that we are not trying to work against local grassroots teams and be elitist. Instead, what we want to do is to work with local grassroots teams.

“We have implemented a 'One Player, Two Clubs' ruling which means that the children can still train and play for their grassroots sides say on a Tuesday and a Saturday. This approach will allow children to come to our Centre for added Development and play against academy sides on a Thursday and Sunday, should they wish.”

Sixteen coaches have been appointed to the centre so far, including five from the current first team squad.

The club’s recent evening with former Wales international James Collins raised some much-needed funds for the project, with discussions ongoing with potential sponsors.

“Our mission as a club and long term goal is to create a pathway that will enable young aspiring talent to progress all the way to first team level”, added Williams.

“We are grateful to our first team coaching staff for their support. In the long term, we aspire to turn this youth structure into one of the best, if not the best, in Welsh domestic football.”