AMMAN Valley goalkeeping legend Dai Davies has thrown his weight behind the campaign to bring the National Eisteddfod back to Ammanford in 2014.

Glanaman-born Davies, who was initiated into the Gorsedd of bards in 1978, believes the celebrated cultural festival would be a huge boost for the area.

“I’d just left college when Ammanford last held the Eisteddfod on the Rec back in 1970,” the former Swansea and Everton footballer, who was capped 52 times by Wales, told the Guardian. “I have nothing but warm memories of that time.

“Bringing the National back to Ammanford would be great for the Welsh language and great for an area that will always remain very close to my heart.

“Welsh was my first language and I didn’t speak a word of English until I was seven.

“There’s a lot going on down in Ammanford, so to anyone who questions why we shouldn’t be given the National again, I say: ‘Why not?’”

Davies’ views are borne out by independent research suggesting that £6million to £8million would be generated for the local economy.

“We would expect it to draw over 160,000 visitors,” said National Eisteddfod spokeswoman Gwenllian Carr. “In addition to day visitors we would also expect to see vast numbers of caravanners. If you have four or five people in each, that would generate enormous sums of money for the local economy.”

Eisteddfod chiefs are looking at possible sites in the Amman Valley and Tycroes areas.

Tycroes businessman Alun Richards, who owns the former opencast site at Penrhiw Farm between Capel Hendre and Tycroes, believes it would be an ideal venue.