Merthyr Town Football Club () is a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Merthyr Tydfil, currently playing in the , the Sixth tier of the English football league system.
The football club was originally founded as 'Merthyr Town' in 1908 and 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, until 2010 when the club liquidated and re-established back to its original 'Merthyr Town' name. The club was then accepted into Division One of the Western League.
The club played in the fifth tier of English football for five years, from 1988âÂÂ89 to 1994âÂÂ95. In 1991âÂÂ92 they finished fourth in the Football Conference (now National League), the club's highest ever placing in the English football pyramid. They were relegated in 1994âÂÂ95. Merthyr have reached the second round of the FA Cup on five occasions, in 1946âÂÂ47, 1954âÂÂ55, 1973âÂÂ74, 1979âÂÂ80 and 1990âÂÂ91. Most recently they reached the competition's first round in 2022âÂÂ23.
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 1911âÂÂ12 the club were promoted to the first division, though they were relegated back to the second division in 1913âÂÂ14. The Southern League did not operate during the First World War, and when it resumed for the 1919âÂÂ20 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 1921âÂÂ22 and 17th in 1922âÂÂ23. The 1923âÂÂ24 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 1âÂÂ0 to Wrexham in a replay after a 2âÂÂ2 draw.
From then on the club declined further, and finished bottom of the Third Division in 1924âÂÂ25. Although they finished 14th in 1925âÂÂ26, 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. 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.
The club re-emerged as Merthyr Tydfil F.C., formed in 1945, and joined the Welsh League. In their first season, they finished as runners-up and joined the Southern League. The club were immensely successful in their first few seasons, winning the championship in 1947âÂÂ48, 1949âÂÂ50, 1950âÂÂ51, 1951âÂÂ52 and 1953âÂÂ54. In the 1947âÂÂ48 championship-winning season, Merthyr only dropped one point at home (against Colchester United) and only lost four games all season. However, despite their success, the club failed to be elected to the English Football League. The 1950âÂÂ51 season ended with Merthyr winning the Southern League, the Welsh Cup, the Southern League Cup and the Welsh Challenge Cup.
After bouncing between the various Southern League divisions during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the club finally won their sixth championship in 1988âÂÂ89, making them joint Southern League title record-holders together with Southampton. This time, winning the championship meant promotion to the Football Conference, the fifth level of English football. The club finished ninth in their first two seasons, and then fourth. However, they then went into decline, and were relegated back to the Southern League in 1995, where they remained until reforming in 2010. They should have been relegated a season earlier, but were reprieved when Northern Premier League champions Marine failed to meet the stadium criteria for the league.
The club's best FA Cup performance was reaching the second round, which they managed in 1946âÂÂ47 (losing 3âÂÂ1 to Reading), 1954âÂÂ55 (losing 7âÂÂ1 to Bradford City), 1973âÂÂ74 (losing 3âÂÂ0 to Hendon), 1979âÂÂ80 (losing 3âÂÂ1 in a replay with Chesham United) and 1990âÂÂ91 (losing 5âÂÂ1 to Woking). The only time the club managed to defeat a Football League club in the FA Cup was in the first round of the 1946âÂÂ47 cup, when they beat Bristol Rovers 3âÂÂ1. The club were considerably more successful in the Welsh Cup, which they won on three occasions: 1949 (beating Swansea Town 2âÂÂ0), 1951 (beating Cardiff City 3âÂÂ2 in a replay) and 1987 (beating Newport County 1âÂÂ0 in a replay). In addition, the club finished as runners-up in 1947 and 1952.
After winning the final in 1987, the club were allowed to enter the European Cup Winners' Cup, at a time when English clubs were banned from European competition. In the first round, they were drawn against the Italian club Atalanta. The club managed a win in the first leg at home, beating the Italians 2âÂÂ1. However, the return leg was lost 2âÂÂ0, and the club was eliminated from the competition. Historically, the club's biggest rivals are Gloucester City. The two clubs played over 120 times in their history, making it one of the most played Anglo-Welsh derbies in football. In the late 1990s and early 2000s Newport County were local rivals but the teams have not met in the same league for many years.
In 2010, Merthyr Tydfil F.C. of the Southern Football League was liquidated. A new club under the name of Merthyr Town was formed and joined the Western Football League. The club used Rhiw'r Ddar, shared with Taff's Well A.F.C., as its home ground. Promotion from the First Division to the Premier Division of the Western League was achieved in the first season and the club moved to Penydarren Park for the 2011âÂÂ12 season. Promotion to the Southern League was achieved in 2012.
The team reached the first round proper of the 2022âÂÂ23 FA Cup, where they lost 2âÂÂ0 to Buxton. The 2024âÂÂ25 season saw the club promoted to the National League system as Southern League Premier Division South champions after 9 years in the division.
They are currently playing in the National League North, the sixth tier of the English football league system.
Throughout Merthyr Town's history, their home venue has been Penydarren Park. The site was once used by the Romans for their local military encampment and during the industrial revolution it became part of the Penydarren House estate. In the latter half of the nineteenth century Penydarren Park was used by the locals as an open recreational for walks, athletic competitions and team sports. It was redeveloped in the 1890s with a cinder running track and a cycling track added to cater for the fad in foot and cycle racing. An early attempt to bring rugby league to Wales, saw local team Merthyr Tydfil RLFC set up at the rival College Ground. This in turn led to the larger Penydarren Park being host to the first touring Australian rugby league side where they faced a Wales XIII in front of a crowd of 6,000.
There were plans for Merthyr to move to a new stadium on the edge of the town. The stadium would have been part of the new 'Merthyr Village' development and have a capacity of around 12,000. These plans were thrown into doubt by the Welsh Government's rejection of the project in 2007. In July 2011, the newly promoted Merthyr Town FC hosted Welsh Premier League side Llanelli in a pre-season friendly at Penydarren Park, and thereafter took up full-time residency.
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