Lee Trundle is preparing to make his Cwmbran Town derby in the third-tier of Welsh football. The first meeting between Cwmbran Celtic and Cwmbran Town in 16 years is set for Tuesday evening and could be the shortest distance between two home grounds in British football.
They have been separated for more than a decade by just 40 metres.
Now two clubs in south Wales believe they may finally have the most local rivalry in British football.
Nottingham Forest and Notts County, divided only by the River Trent, are the closest senior professional rivals in England.
Even less space - only 0.17 miles (272m) - separates Dundee's Dens Park and Dundee United's Tannadice Park.
But when Cwmbran Celtic host Cwmbran Town on Tuesday evening for their first meeting in 16 years - in the third tier of Welsh football - it could be the shortest distance of the lot separating their home grounds.
"We think it's the closest derby in the UK and one of the closest in the world," said Celtic fan Steve Fry.
"It makes that distance between the Dundee grounds feel like a real treck!
"I don't know if Town are putting on a coach for their players but they'll get a warm welcome. Everyone is buzzing for this game. What better way to start the season."
Just a line of trees separate Cwmbran Town's Halo Stadium and Cwmbran Celtic's Motazone Arena.
Despite being located next door to each other, the clubs have spent years apart until Cwmbran Celtic were relegated from the second-tier of Welsh football last season to the Ardal South-East League.
Under the competition rules, visitors Cwmbran Town must travel to Celtic's recently renamed Motazone Arena, rather than use their own changing rooms.
"A lot of the players know each other because they're from the same town but until now, our paths have not crossed on the pitch," said Fry.
One new face to the derby is veteran former Swansea City and Wrexham striker Lee Trundle who joined Cwmbran Town this summer.
"My 16-year-old lad is playing for Celtic, I've had to dig out You Tube videos to show him who he is up against," said Fry.
"But it's fantastic for the league to have someone of that level playing here. Hopefully we'll get double our usual crowd."
Whether it is a world record remains to be seen with a reported 40m separating Parc des Princess of Paris St Germain and Stade Jean-Bouin of Paris FC.
But while the all-Cwmbran contest may not be able to beat Paris derby for glamour, it could be about to challenge those giants as the most local derby in football.
How close are the two grounds?
The two clubs are separated by just a line of trees, with Cwmbran Town's Halo Stadium and Cwmbran Celtic's Motazone Arena only 40 metres apart.
That proximity has helped fuel the claim that the fixture could be the closest derby in the UK and among the closest in the world.
Why are they meeting now?
The clubs have spent years apart because Cwmbran Celtic were relegated from the second-tier of Welsh football last season to the Ardal South-East League. Their first meeting in 16 years will now take place on Tuesday evening in the third tier of Welsh football.
What makes this derby notable?
Local interest has been heightened by the presence of veteran former Swansea City and Wrexham striker Lee Trundle, who joined Cwmbran Town this summer. Steve Fry said the game should attract extra attention and may double the usual crowd.
The fixture also stands out because players from both sides know each other from the same town, even though they have not met on the pitch until now.
Key Facts
- Cwmbran Celtic host Cwmbran Town on Tuesday evening.
- The clubs' grounds are separated by 40 metres and a line of trees.
- The match is their first meeting in 16 years.
- Cwmbran Celtic were relegated from the second-tier of Welsh football last season.
- Lee Trundle joined Cwmbran Town this summer.
