Merthyr Town F.C.

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.

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
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)
ManagerDean Clarke
LeagueSouthern League Premier Division South
2019–20Southern League Premier Division South (season abandoned)

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.

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
SeasonLeagueLevelPldWDLFAGDPtsPosManager
2010–11Western League Division One103629341183385901/22
2011–12Western League Premier Division9342293963264751/22
2012–13Southern League Division One South & West84224117843846833/22
2013–14Southern League Division One South & West84228591115853892/22
2014–15Southern League Division One South & West842326412234881021/22Steve Jenkins
2015–16Southern League Premier Division746199186958116610/22Steve Jenkins
2016–17Southern League Premier Division74625147924943893/22Gavin Williams
2017–18Southern League Premier Division7461314197698-223317/22Gavin Williams
2018–19Southern League Premier Division South74215918686715413/22Gavin Williams
2019–20Southern League Premier Division South710415121201310/22Gavin 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  WAL Kelland Absalom
— DF  WAL Adam Davies
— DF  WAL Lee Hartshorn
— DF  ENG Lewis Binns
— DF  WAL Daniel Summerfield
— MF  WAL Eliot Richards
— MF  WAL Jarrad Welch
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  WAL Ben Swallow
— MF  WAL Elias Youssef
— MF  WAL Camden Duncan
— FW  WAL Thomas Hillman
— FW  WAL Eli Phipps
— FW  WAL Kerry Morgan
— FW  WAL Corey Jenkins

Management
PositionName
Director of FootballLes Barlow
Manager Dean Clarke
Assistant ManagerVacant
First Team CoachAshley Thomas
PhysiotherapistAlex Ryan
Kit ManagerBarrie Thomas
Academy ManagerPhilip Llewellyn
Football SecretaryJack Hodgkins
Media OfficerMackenzie Thomas

Honours

See also
  • Category:Merthyr Town F.C. players

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
  4. Merthyr Town beat Bishops Cleeve 9–0 for promotion
  5. Official website: History of Merthyr Town
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