Merthyr Town F.C.

Merthyr Town
Full name	Merthyr Town Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Martyrs, The Romans, Red & Greens
Founded	1909 (as Merthyr Town A.F.C.); Reformed 2010
Ground	Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil
Manager	Dean Clarke
League	Southern League Premier Division South
2020–21	Southern League Premier Division South (season curtailed)
Home colours	Away colours

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.

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 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.

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 28 August 2021

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	Steve Cann
—	DF	WAL	Adam Davies
—	DF	NGA	Ismail Yakubu
—	DF	WAL	Dan Barnard
—	DF	WAL	Connor Davies
—	DF	WAL	Cameron Keetch
—	DF	ENG	Toby Raison (on loan from Hereford F.C.)
—	MF	ENG	Matthew Harris
—	MF	WAL	Alex John


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	WAL	Morgan Clarke
—	MF	WAL	Elias Youssef
—	MF	SDN	Omar Behaldeen
—	FW	WAL	Thomas Hillman
—	FW	WAL	Eli Phipps
—	FW	WAL	Kerry Morgan
—	FW	WAL	Ian Traylor
—	FW	WAL	Frazer Thomas
—	FW	WAL	Owen Evans

Management[]

Position	Name
Director of Football	Les Barlow
Manager	Dean Clarke
Assistant Manager	Steve Williams
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[]

League

Welsh Football League
Winners (1): 1930–31
Southern Football League Division Two
Winners (1): 1912
Southern Football League Division One South & West
Winners (1): 2014–15
Western Football League Premier Division
Winners (1): 2011–12
Western Football League Division One
Winners (1): 2010–11
Glamorgan League
Winners (1): 1910–11

Cups

Southern League Cup
Winners (1): 2015–16
Welsh Cup
Runners-up: (1) 1924
Welsh Football League Cup
Winners (1): 1926
South Wales Cup
Winners (1): 1931

References[]

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

External links[]

Official site

[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]}

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

show v t Welsh football clubs in the English football league system
Current and former members
Premier League	None
EFL Championship	Cardiff City Swansea City
EFL League One	None
EFL League Two	Newport County
National League	Wrexham
Southern Football League	Merthyr Town
Defunct	Aberdare Athletic Merthyr Tydfil
Former*	Bangor City Barry Town United Caernarfon Town Colwyn Bay Newtown Rhyl
*Currently playing in the Welsh football league system

show v t Former English Football League clubs
English Football League
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Third tier (1920–present) North/South (1921–1958)	Aberdare Athletic (1921–27) Ashington (1921–29) Bury (1894–2019) Durham City (1921–28) Merthyr Town (1920–30) Nelson (1921–31) New Brighton (1923–51) Rotherham County (1919–25) South Shields (1919–30) Stalybridge Celtic (1921–23) Thames (1930–32) Wigan Borough (1921–31)
Fourth tier (by election, 1958–1987)	Accrington Stanley (1921–62) Bradford (Park Avenue) (1908–70) Gateshead (1930–60) Southport (1921–78) Workington (1951–77)
Fourth tier (relegated since 1987)	Aldershot (1932–92) Aldershot Town (2008–13) Barnet (1991–2001, 2005–13, 2015–18) Boston United (2002–07) Chester City (1931–2000, 2004–09) Chesterfield, second (1921–2018) Dagenham & Redbridge (2007–16) Darlington (1921–89, 1990–2010) Grimsby Town (1892–1910, 1911–2010, 2016–21) Halifax Town (1921–93, 1998–2002) Hereford United (1972–97, 2006–12) Kidderminster Harriers (2000–05) Macclesfield Town (1997–2012, 2018–20) Maidstone United (1989–92) Notts County (1888–2019) Rushden & Diamonds (2001–06) Scarborough (1987–99) Southend United (1920–2021) Stockport County (1900–04, 1905–2011) Torquay United (1927–2007, 2009–14) Wrexham (1921–2008) Yeovil Town (2003–19) York City (1929–2004, 2012–16)
Listed according to division last performed in. Defunct clubs in italics

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