On Wednesday night Pontypridd FC welcome Welsh Football League Division Two side AFC Porth to the Maritime Recreational Ground to contest the 2nd annual Kinsman-Hacker Cup. AFC Porth are the current holders, but what is this pre-season contest all about?
The Kinsman-Hacker Cup is a special challenge match commemorating the fraternity between Pontypridd Football Club and AFC Porth. The name of the trophy tributes historical personalities of importance in the history of football in Pontypridd and Porth. Mr J.W. Kinsman was the first secretary of the professional Pontypridd AFC that played in the Southern League and Welsh League during the 1910s and 1920s – the club that provided the inspiration when Pontypridd FC were formed a year ago – and Mr Ray Hacker is credited with forming the club Beatus United in the 1950s, the club that today is known as AFC Porth.
While at present the gulf in level between the clubs is very wide (Porth triumphed 7-0 last season after overcoming a game first 30 minutes from Pontypridd), ultimately this fixture is about marking the bond between two grassroots football clubs in RCT that aim to provide football in their community for their community. As well as playing this annual challenge match, the kinship between the clubs is reflected in the claret and blue home colours of AFC Porth being chosen as the ‘change or away colours’ of Pontypridd FC.
This year’s Kinsman-Hacker Cup takes place on Wednesday 10th July at the Maritime Recreation Ground, kick-off is 6.30pm. Admission is free to all.
