Merthyr Town F.C.
| Full name | Merthyr Town Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1909 (as Merthyr Town A.F.C.) |
| Ground | Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil |
Merthyr Town Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Tref Merthyr) was a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Merthyr Tydfil, which played in the Football League from 1920 to 1930, but the club folded in 1934 and were replaced by newly formed Merthyr Tydfil F.C. in 1945.
History
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 the 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.
Honours
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See also
References
- ^ "Merthyr Town". Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Merthyr Town F.C.
- Football clubs in Wales
- Former English Football League clubs
- Southern Football League clubs
- Sport in Merthyr Tydfil
- Welsh football clubs in English leagues
- Association football clubs established in 1909
- Association football clubs disestablished in 1934
- 1909 establishments in Wales
- 1934 disestablishments in Wales