FOOTBALL clubs throughout Anglesey are urged to turn out in force for a special open meeting ahead of the 2019 Island Games.

Fresh from the unveiling of former Holyhead Hotspur boss Campbell Harrison as manager of the Ynys Môn Men’s Football team ahead of the tournament, a meeting has been announced to “to plot the way forward and put the groundwork in place for a strong legacy that will benefit Anglesey’s young footballers for years to come”.

The meeting will take place at Tafarn-y-Rhos on Thursday, June 28 from 7pm, and every club operating in the region is invited to attend.

Harrison, said: “It’s vital that we bring the whole island together behind a collective vision that can benefit everyone, and that vision has to be to develop a footballing structure that can give the island’s boys and girls fantastic opportunities to thrive and succeed in football.

“When you go back through the years and look at the sides which went to the Island Games and were winning medals, we had players from all over the island in those teams. Llangefni, Gwalchmai, Cemaes, Holyhead, lads from everywhere, and what’s great about next summer’s tournament is it’s another real opportunity to bring Ynys Mon together for the benefit of everyone on the island.

“We need the whole island to pitch in over the next 12 months, we need to adopt a collective attitude that is focussed on enabling Ynys Mon and its footballers playing at the highest possible standard.”

Among the topics expected to be discussed at the meeting include the possible formation of an Ynys Môn Football Academy, in addition to sharing ideas that could aide the development of players from the area to enhance their skills for future competitions.

Gareth Parry, Ynys Môn 2019 Project Manager, added: “Getting everyone in a room together to discuss the way forward at this early stage is hugely important so that we can all come together and develop a coherent strategy. There is so much desire and passion for football on Ynys Môn and it would be brilliant to see that represented in its entirety.”