Former Welsh international footballer Danny Gabbidon visited Cwmbran Celtic FC last Friday to officially open the club’s new dugouts.
The TV and radio pundit now works as a pundit and co-commentator across TV, radio and podcasts. He grew up in Cwmbran and attended Brookfield Primary School and Llantarnam Comprehensive School.
Danny made his football debut for Court Farm FC. He said it felt “very nostalgic” to be at Celtic, a club he jokingly recalled being “my kryptonite, a bit of the arch enemy”.
Danny said his work with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and Cymru Football Foundation (the FAW’s charitable partner) helped him see “firsthand” how investment in grassroots football is making a difference.
The two dugouts were funded by the Cymru Football Foundation (CFF).
In September 2024, Danny officially opened their new community space and refurbished changing rooms at Ponthir Sports and Community Club. It was a partnership project with the CFF, the UK Government, the Welsh Government, and Cricket Wales.
And in July 2025, he officially opened the 3G pitch at Llantarnam Primary School. This project was funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, Sport Wales, and the CFF.
He added: “Grassroots football is the foundation of everything. but often think it’s a level that is kind of not spoken about enough or forgotten, so I think it’s really nice to see the FAW kind of recognising that…I don’t become a professional footballer without the help and the support of my community and my local club that I play for.”