Aberystwyth Town F.C.
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| Full name | Aberystwyth Town Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Seasiders | ||
| Founded | 1884 | ||
| Ground | Park Avenue Aberystwyth | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 (1,002 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Tony Bates | ||
| Manager | Tomi Morgan | ||
| League | Welsh Premier League | ||
| 2012–13 | Welsh Premier League, 10th | ||
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| Manager | Emyr Jones |
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| Manager | Ray Hughes |
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| League | Womens Welsh Premier League |
| 2011–12 | 2nd |
Aberystwyth Town F.C. (Welsh: Clwb Pêl Droed Aberystwyth) is a football team, playing in the Welsh Premier League.
The club was founded in 1884, and plays at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, where their ground accommodates 5,000 spectators with 1,002 of that capacity seated.
The team's first choice strip is green shirts with black and white trim, black shorts and socks. The second choice strip is white shirts with green trim, green shorts and socks.
History
The club was founded by Arthur Hughes, son of a local solicitor, and his brothers Jack and Hugh. Although football had been played in the town since at least the early 1870s, it was in October 1884 that Arthur Hughes placed an advertisement in the local press:
Aberystwyth Football Club
Gentlemen wishing to join the above club are requested to attend a meeting to be held at the Belle Vue Hotel on Saturday, the 4th inst., at 4pm. Members' subscriptions to be paid in advance, 2s. 6d.[1]
The club's early days were limited to friendly matches, as the club did not join a league until 1896. It joined the Welsh League for a year, before reverting to playing friendlies again.[2] They were members of the Montgomeryshire and District League in 1904, winning several championships. With the creation of the Welsh National League in 1921, Aberystwyth Town joined the Central Section, where they won the title six times in the 1920s, and the Mid-Wales League title in 1933 and 1950. Aberystwyth won the Welsh Amateur Cup in 1931 and 1933, and were losing finalists in 1935 and 1972.
The club joined the Welsh League (South) in 1951, although they continued to also field a team in the Mid-Wales League, and for a while in the Cambrian Coast League. Aberystwyth returned to the Mid-Wales competition in 1963 but did not win the league championship until 1984, after having finished as runners-up six times. They retained the title in 1985. Aberystwyth were firmly established as one of premier clubs in Mid-Wales and in 1987 they returned to the Welsh League (South). They were three times runners-up before they became founder members of the League of Wales in 1992. Aberystwyth achieved their best Welsh Premier League position – 3rd – in their first season. Aberystwyth Town are one of only three teams that have taken part in each season of the Welsh Premier League, the other teams being Bangor City and Newtown.
The reserve team currently plays in the Cambrian Tyres League and the Welsh Premier League Under 19's, whilst the Ladies team, managed by Ray Hughes, play in the Welsh Women's Premier League, making Aberystwyth Town the only team to have a side in the Welsh Premier League and the Women's Welsh Premier League.
Rivalries
The club has traditionally held friendly rivalries with Bangor City and fellow town-dwellers Aberystwyth University. However, the club's biggest rivalries are with Newtown and Carmarthen Town.
Biggest victories and losses
- Biggest win: 21–1 v. Machynlleth in 1934.
- Biggest defeat: 1–20 v. Caersws in 1962.
- Biggest League of Wales win: 6–0 v. Briton Ferry Athletic and Llanidloes Town, both in 1993.
- Biggest League of Wales defeat: 1–8 v. Barry Town in 1997.
Current squad
- As of 16 July 2012
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.
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Tom Bradshaw, who currently plays for Shrewsbury Town in Football League Two.- Andy Parkinson, played for numerous Football League clubs, including for Tranmere Rovers in the Football League Cup.
Conall Murtagh, played for Wrexham when they were in League 2.
Christian Edwards, played for 6 Football League clubs, including Nottingham Forest, Swansea City and Bristol Rovers.- Jack Edwards, capped by Wales.
- John Hughes, capped twice by Wales, played for Aberystwyth 1873–79.
- Marc Lloyd-Williams, the Welsh Premier League's all-time top scorer, with over 300 career goals.
- Dr Robert Mills-Roberts, Welsh international goalkeeper in the 1880/90s.
- Grenville Morris, capped by Wales whilst at the club, moved to play for Swindon Town and Nottingham Forest.
- Charlie Parry, capped 13 times by Wales prior to joining the club in 1899, won Welsh Cup with Aberystwyth in 1900.
- Ernest Peake, Welsh international who subsequently played for Liverpool.
- Leigh Richmond Roose, the noted goalkeeper, was selected to represent Wales while playing for Aberystwyth in 1900.
Managers
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Angus McLean (Player/Manager) (1951–??)- Meirion Appleton (1980's)
- Tomi Morgan (1992–94)
- Meirion Appleton (1994–99)
- Barry Powell (1999–01)
- Frank Gregan (2001)
- Gary Finley (2001–04)
- David Burrows (2004–05)
- Brian Coyne[3] (2005–09)
- Christian Edwards (interim)[4] (2009)
- Alan Morgan[5] (2009–12)
- Tomi Morgan[6] (Feb 2012–May 13)
References
- ^ "Arthur Hughes". The History of Aberystwyth Town FC. "The Old Black & Green". Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ "Early History". Aberystwyth Town FC. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ "Coyne made new Aberystwyth boss". BBC. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "Christian Edwards appointed as Aberystwyth Town's new manager". South Wales Echo. WalesOnline. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "Morgan appointed Aberystwyth boss". BBC. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "Tomi Morgan appointed Aberystwyth Town manager". BBC. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
