Merthyr Town F.C.

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This article is about the original football club from Merthyr Tydfil established in 1909 and re-established in 2010. For the club which existed between 1945 and 2010, see Merthyr Tydfil F.C.

Merthyr Town
File:MerthyrTownFC Logo.png
Full nameMerthyr Town Football Club
Nickname(s)The Martyrs, The Romans, Red & Greens
Founded1909 (as Merthyr Town A.F.C.)
Reformed 2010
GroundPenydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil
Capacity8,000 (1,500 seated)
ManagerGavin Williams
LeagueSouthern League Premier Division South
2023–24Southern League Premier Division South, 6th of 22

Merthyr Town Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Tref Merthyr) is a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Merthyr Tydfil, currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division South, in the seventh tier of the English football league system.

Merthyr Town were founded in 1909 and played in the Football League from 1920 to 1930, but the club folded in 1934 and were replaced by new formed Merthyr Tydfil F.C. in 1945. In 2010, the club reformed again after Merthyr Tydfil F.C. was liquidated. Both versions of the club played at Penydarren Park.

Merthyr Town Football Club is now managed by Gavin Williams after his appointment in 2016.

History

Early years

The Merthyr Town team of 1909

In 1909, Merthyr Town joined the second division of the Southern League, which despite being primarily an English league, contained several other Welsh clubs, notably Cardiff City, Newport County and Swansea Town. After finishing third in 1911–12 the club were promoted to the first division, though they were relegated back to the second division in 1913–14. The Southern League did not operate during the First World War, and when it resumed for the 1919–20 season Merthyr were placed back in the top division.

In the summer of 1920 the Football League expanded with the creation of a new Third Division, which was made up entirely of the First Division of the Southern League from the previous season. Despite having finished second bottom in season before, usually a relegation place, Merthyr became a new member of the Football League.

In their first season in the Football League, the club had a much better season and finished 8th. This, however, proved to be their most successful league season, and it was followed by a gradual decline: 11th in 1921–2 and 17th in 1922–3. The 1923–4 season saw a slight improvement in league form as they finished 13th, but the major news was their appearance in the final of the Welsh Cup, though they lost 1–0 to Wrexham in a replay after a 2–2 draw.

From then on the club declined further, and finished bottom of the Third Division in 1924–5. Although they finished 14th in 1925–6, in the following seasons the club finished 17th, 21st, 20th and then bottom again, and were eventually voted out of the Football League in 1930.[1] They were replaced by the ill-fated Thames. During their penultimate season in the Football League the club had their best season in the FA Cup, getting past the first round for the only time, before losing to Watford in the second round.

The club dropped back into the Southern League, but lasted only four seasons, before ceasing to play in 1934.

Penydarren Park, home of Merthyr Town Football Club.

The new club

In 2010, Merthyr Tydfil F.C. of the Southern Football League Premier Division were liquidated. The club was reformed under the name of Merthyr Town and consequently were required to drop three divisions to begin the 2010–11 season in the Western Football League Division One. The club was also forced to switch grounds, and left Penydarren Park to take Rhiw Dda’r, the home of Taff's Well A.F.C. as their new home ground. In their first season they won Division One and were promoted to the Western League Premier Division.[2]

The newly promoted club once again called Penydarren Park home. Their first match back at their spiritual ground was a 1–9 defeat to Welsh Premier League side Llanelli in a pre-season friendly in July 2011.[3] However Merthyr went on to secure a second consecutive championship and with it promotion to the Southern League.

On 6 April 2015, Merthyr Town were promoted back to the Southern League Premier Division only five years after being expelled, following a 9–0 home win against Bishops Cleeve.[4] The club is fully owned by the supporters' trust.[5]

During the 2017-18 season, the Martyrs came into financial difficulties due to mismanagement of the club's finances. This led to a team of youth players and office staff making up a squad of eleven to take on Chesham United in the league. The Martyrs lost 13-1 to Chesham United, which helped raise funds within a JustGiving page that was set up by the group of supporters at the football club.

Season-by-season

Season League Level Pld W D L F A GD Pts Pos Manager
2010–11 Western League Division One 10 36 29 3 4 118 33 85 90 1/22
2011–12 Western League Premier Division 9 34 22 9 3 96 32 64 75 1/22
2012–13 Southern League Division One South & West 8 42 24 11 7 84 38 46 83 3/22
2013–14 Southern League Division One South & West 8 42 28 5 9 111 58 53 89 2/22
2014–15 Southern League Division One South & West 8 42 32 6 4 122 34 88 102 1/22 Steve Jenkins
2015–16 Southern League Premier Division 7 46 19 9 18 69 58 11 66 10/22 Steve Jenkins
2016–17 Southern League Premier Division 7 46 25 14 7 92 49 43 89 3/22 Gavin Williams
2017–18 Southern League Premier Division 7 46 13 14 19 76 98 -22 33 17/22 Gavin Williams
2018–19 Southern League Premier Division South 7 42 15 9 18 68 67 1 54 13/22 Gavin Williams
2019–20 Southern League Premier Division South 7 10 4 1 5 12 12 0 13 10/22 Gavin Williams
Source: FCHD

Current squad

As of 18 June 2019

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Wales WAL Kelland Absalom
— DF Wales WAL Adam Davies
— DF Wales WAL Lee Hartshorn
— DF Nigeria NGA Ismail Yakubu
— DF England ENG Lewis Binns
— DF Wales WAL Daniel Summerfield
— MF Wales WAL Eliot Richards
— MF Wales WAL Jarrad Welch
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Wales WAL Ben Swallow
— MF Wales WAL Elias Youssef
— MF Wales WAL Camden Duncan
— FW Wales WAL Thomas Hillman
— FW Wales WAL Eli Phipps
— FW Wales WAL Kerry Morgan
— FW Wales WAL Corey Jenkins

Management

Position Name
Director of Football Les Barlow
Manager Wales Gavin Williams
Assistant Manager Wales Dean Clarke
First Team Coach Ashley Thomas
Physiotherapist Alex Ryan
Kit Manager Barrie Thomas
Academy Manager Philip Llewellyn
Football Secretary Jack Hodgkins
Media Officer Mackenzie Thomas

Honours

See also

References

  1. ^ "Merthyr Town". Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  2. ^ Merthyr Town promoted
  3. ^ Match Report: Merthyr Town 1 – 9 Llanelli[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Merthyr Town beat Bishops Cleeve 9–0 for promotion
  5. ^ Official website: History of Merthyr Town[permanent dead link]

External links

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