As our first fixture draws closer we’re taking a trip back through the mists of time to the Pontypridd FC of yesteryear.
The professional Pontypridd Football Club was inaugurated in 1911 by five ambitious, local businessmen who believed there was a market in sports-mad Pontypridd for ‘soccer’, which was becoming increasingly popular across the south Wales coalfield in the first decade of the Twentieth Century.
In May 1911 the limited company was set-up and the famous ‘Prospectus’ published in the local press with it’s aim to bring ‘first-class association football’ to the area. The new club had successfully applied to join the Southern League with a squad of professional footballers from across the UK assembled for the 1911/12 season. There were genuine aspirations for an immediate promotion at Pontypridd FC and to showcase the team ahead of the campaign, a showpiece friendly was secured by the board against Queens Park Rangers.
The Londoners (who would go on to win the Southern League title that season) arrived in south Wales in early September and on the 4th the sides met at Taff Vale Park in front of a 4,000 strong crowd in “the best of humour” according to the Glamorgan Free Press.
The Pontypridd FC XI representing the club for the first ever time that day was: Bob Turner (in goal); Ted Dalton & Charlie Murray (full backs); Beren, Len Shelley & Marr (halves); Barlow, Wood, Archie Walker, Dave Christie, McCall (forwards).
The match itself was reported to have been a close affair, with Pontypridd holding their own against their more illustrious opponents. The home side eventually lost the fixture 2-1, but the Glamorgan Free Press generally commended the performance of Pontypridd against reportedly a full-strength QPR side, reflecting on the basis of this match that the prospects for ‘soccer’ in Pontypridd were optimistic. Below is an excerpt from the Glamorgan Free Press report:
…the attendance eventually reached 4,000…[and] the unrest in the labour world was for once forgotten, domestic troubles were relegated to oblivion and everyone’s fancy was full of – football…
The Rangers were more businesslike in the first half-hour, and the home defenders were given plenty of opportunities to display the ‘stuff’ that is in them. Ted Dalton, the home right back, proved himself a safe kicker and fearless tackler. His partner, Charlie Murray, backed up his efforts in tireless style, and Bob Turner, was a masterful goalkeeper.
The home custodian had no chance of saving the only goal scored in the first half. Barnes, placed a corner kick well in and Mackee deflected the ball with his head into the distant corner of the Pontypridd goal, well out of Turner’s reach, and when there was a staggering mass of players in front of him. Turner ‘double-fisted’ dangerous dropping shots in approved style, and the quick manner in which he dealt with stinging straight drives from Mackee evoked cheers.
Len Shelley, the Pontypridd centre-half, was good in defence and also in his forward passing. He had the build of a footballer and his movements were marked by the coolness of a veteran. This is an important position, and Shelley could fit in with credit. The wing-halves, Beren and Marr, were both workers of the never-say-die type.
Taking the game all through, the Rangers halves were too bustling in their methods to enable the home quintet to settle down into an effective combination. They advanced best when the wing-men were served long, swinging passes, but only when the inside men took it into their heads to follow up with ‘straight lines through’ runs instead of indulging in close inter-passing. They were met, however, by two stubborn backs, who were powerful enough physically to charge the light home forwards off the ball whenever danger threatened. Our men were too slender to return the compliment with robust shoulder charges.
The Rangers defenders did not hesitate to resort to questionable tactics when hard pressed. Considering that it was an exhibition match they were often unnecessarily rough. Wood, the home inside-right, had to be carried off in the second half, and was absent for about fifteen minutes. He was going through in great style and was about to shoot when he was deliberately tripped.
Soon after half-time Walker was deliberately brought down in the Rangers penalty area. Christie took the kick and made no mistake. After this both teams strove hard to obtain the winning goal, and eventually Turner was beaten by a smart shot. The players must have found the weather very tiring, and they are to be congratulated in keeping up such a pace under the circumstances. Final score: PONTYPRIDD 1 QPR 2.
http://www.thenationalfootballcollection.org.uk (Thanks to Mark ‘Pasti’ Jones for drawing attention to the existence of this image)
