Caerau F.C.

Caerau
Full name	Caerau Football Club
Founded	1901
Ground	Caerau Athletic Ground (Riverboat)
Chairman	Steve Williams
Coach	Adrian Shearan
League	Welsh Football League Division Two
2015-16	Welsh Football League Division Two, 5th
Home colours	Away colours

Caerau F.C. are a Welsh football club from Maesteg. They were promoted to the Welsh Football League Division Three for the 2010-11 season from the South Wales Amateur League. They play in Welsh Football League Division Two since 2014.

History^[1]

Association Football was first played on an organised basis at Caerau in the year 1901. The first Secretary was Mr Charlie Holloway, and the earliest recorded game was against a team from Plasmarl, Swansea on a field where Brynglas Terrace now stands. In approximately 1912 the Club commenced playing on its present ground at Humphries Terrace. After the 1914—1918 war the Club reformed and the pavilion was erected in 1920. Caerau won the first Welsh Amateur Cup in 1920. During the period 1920—27 many internationals played for Caerau, including Jock Hume and Kenny McDonald. In 1929 Club was disbanded and a year later a new committee reformed the Club and continued until 1939 when Caerau won the Welsh Amateur Cup for the second time. During the Second World War there was a permanent search light based at the ground to track enemy bombers on their way to and from Swansea. After the war the Club signed ex Cardiff and Hull player Jack Prescott. In 1946 and 1950 Caerau won the Welsh Amateur Cup with Owen Davies who played for Wales and Leicester and Glyn Williams (JJ) who later played for Cardiff City and was chosen to play for Wales against Switzerland in 1952. It has been said that the players were earning more playing for Caerau than the miners who were putting in a full shift down the pit. During the 50's Caerau played the English FA Champions, Willington of County Durham, the match was played at Maesteg RFC where Caerau ran out convincing winners 5 — 2. Caerau also won the Welsh League Cup and were runners up on three occasions. Caerau have won the Welsh League twice, 1969 and 1977 and have been runners up once. Caerau won the Corinthian Cup in 1963 and were runners up in 1979. Caerau also ran a team in The South Wales Amateur League. They were Div. 1 Champions in 1979 and Div. 2 Champions in 1963 and 1976. In 1992 Alan Curtis asked to play for Caerau as his father Alby had done before him in the 50's. Alan scored twice in his debut game against Skewen. By the new millennium it appeared as if the writing was on the wall for Caerau, having had a few reprieves from relegation.

Then in 2003 Caerau left its long relationship with the Welsh League and were relegated to The South Wales Amateur League. A new committee was formed and with the help of one or two of the original committee settled into life in the feeder leagues. The 2008/2009 season saw Caerau coming close to promotion only to finish runners up in the League and in the Senior Cup. Fully galvanised the Club started 2009/2010 season in full swing and ended the season as South Wales Amateur League Champions and W. John Owen Cup Winners. The club's first season back in the Welsh League has been astonishing, all hinging on the last game of the season where we needed to win by 11 clear goals to secure a third position finish to guarantee a promotion spot. The final score was an incredible 13 - 0, equalling the club scoring record. The all important 11th goal coming courtesy of Andrew Williams. We now look forward to life in Division Two. 2011/2012 season started brightly and things were looking up until Christmas when the Club went through a bad patch, however the team rallied and finished a very creditable 10th in our first time in Division 2. After a rocky start to the 2012- 2013 season, current manager Martin Hood took over in February 2013 and steadied the ship before embarking on a miraculous run that almost materialsied in Caerau being promoted, however we fell just short and finished a very respectable 5th place. After a turbulent summer before the start of the 2013-2014 season which seen the club extremely close to folding due to financial issues, a player walkout and a lack of committee men, Caerau FC were saved thanks to a remarkable 11th hour meeting with fellow village team Caerau Sports FC. Caerau Sports FC agreed to help the club by giving several players. With the two clubs working in partnership, Caerau FC are now running under a new committee, with previous Chairman Neil Ball returning and former Mini, Junior and Youth Secretary Alun Wines taking over as General Club Secretary. With the support of Steve Williams from Caerau Sports FC, the club is looking forward to a prosperous future and are hoping that after the turbulent summer which they had, matters will return to those on the field only and not what happens behind the scenes.