Club History

Pontypridd FC (circa 1921) (image source: www.tonpentreafc.co.uk)

The Original Pontypridd AFC – who were they and what happened to them?

The precise roots of the original Pontypridd Association Football Club are unclear, although it is believed a club was established some time around 1908. There is a report in the Evening Express in August 1908 that Pontypridd Football Club had applied to join the Glamorgan League (the precursor to the Welsh Football League). In May 1911 The Rhondda Leader reported the prospectus of a newly formed company, The Pontypridd Association Football Club (Limited). The prospectus pledged the club had been established to “promote first-class Association Football in the Pontypridd district”.

The 1911 report listed Pontypridd AFC’s directors as five local businessmen, consisting of two publicans in David Williams (Greyhound Hotel) and Edgar Powell (White Hart Hotel), an ironmonger named Williams Roberts, Frank Thomas, a hosier, and lastly William Harold Gower, described as an “organiser”. The 1908 report also named Edgar Powell as club treasurer, which would suggest a common heritage between the amateur outfit and the professional club formed in 1911.

Aerial of Trefforest (date unknown) with Taff Vale Park visible to the centre-left (image source: coflein.gov.uk)

The professional club had secured a lease to play at the former sports stadium at Taff Vale Park in Trefforest, a facility the Rhondda Leader editorial (in the same edition) states was capable of accommodating 25,000 spectators. With no financial outlay required on the ground, the directors were free to invest all funds in building a team they hoped would be capable of advancing through the English football pyramid as it existed then (there was no such equivalent in Wales at the time).

This was a period in which football was beginning to thrive in the industrialised areas of south Wales, with a number of clubs drawing large crowds. Such was the appetite for “association” football, the Southern League had turned to Wales as part of its expansion plans. The 1908/9 season saw the election of the first Welsh clubs to the League with Ton Pentre, Merthyr Town and Aberdare joining the Second Division. Further admissions meant by the time Pontypridd AFC (nicknamed ‘The Dragons’) formed as a professional outfit and joined the League for the 1911/12 season, of the 14 sides comprising the Southern League Second Division eight were south Wales-based. By 1919 the Second Division was comprised entirely of Welsh clubs, leading to the abolition of the Second Division and the formation of the Southern League Division One (Welsh Section) for the start of the 1920/21 season.

Pontypridd AFC’s first season in the Southern League was a promising one, finishing 5th with 13 wins from their 26 matches. Newspaper reports from the time were complimentary of the style of football the new team played and such was the local enthusiasm, crowds in the thousands were drawn to Taff Vale Park to watch Pontypridd. The Dragons also entered the Welsh Cup and their debut season in the competition produced a memorable run to the final, eventually defeated by Cardiff City in a replay at Aberdare. Pontypridd AFC also entered a team in the Glamorgan League. At the time of writing the final standings for the season are unknown, but the club’s record was 4 wins, 1 draw and 6 defeats.

The Dragons’ second season saw them maintain their reputation as one of the best football sides in Wales at the time. The club remained competitive in the Southern League, although 11 draws (from 24 matches) meant a slightly lower finish in 7th. However, in the Welsh Cup Pontypridd enjoyed another run to the final, this time to face Swansea Town. It was another goalless draw in Cardiff, which led to a replay at Tonypandy; a game the Swans edged 1-0. The Welsh League campaign saw Pontypridd collect 12 wins, 8 draws and 3 losses.

The final two Southern League campaigns before the First World War brought further erosion of league performance. The 1913/14 season appears, from the league table, to have been an inconsistent campaign with 14 wins and 11 losses en route to an 8th place finish. The 2014/15 season saw Pontypridd finish 11th in a league of thirteen, managed just 5 wins from their 24 fixtures. In the Welsh Cup Pontypridd continued to enjoy better performances, reaching the semi-finals in 2013/14 and the quarter finals a year later. The 1913/14 Welsh League campaign saw 7 wins, 4 draws and 7 defeats.

Pontypridd FC supporters (date unknown) (image link: https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/500148)

Following a four-year break due to the First World War Pontypridd resumed competition in the Southern League in the 1919/20 season. This campaign saw Pontypridd show some of their earlier promise, finishing 4th in a Division Two comprised entirely of Welsh clubs. With the exception of Caerphilly (who left the Southern League) it meant all ten clubs were promoted with the formation of the Southern League Division One (Welsh Section) for the following season. In the Welsh Cup Pontypridd joined at the third round but progressed no further following a 1-0 home loss to Barry. Pontypridd also continued in the Welsh League, their first campaign after the Great War resulting in a 6th place finish.

The 1920/21 season was another excellent campaign for Pontypridd FC, arguably their best in their existence up to this point; although it would once again prove a nearly season. Another 4th place finish in the Southern League was supplemented with a 2nd place finish in the Welsh League, losing out to Aberdare on goal average despite scoring 109 goals in their 42 matches. In the Welsh Cup there was another run to the final but for a third time The Dragons were defeated in a replay; Wrexham the opponents on this occasion.

The 1921/22 season saw a 5th placed finish in the Southern League and 8th place in the Welsh League. There was another tilt at the Welsh Cup, but Pontypridd’s hopes were dashed in the semi-finals with a 3-0 defeat by Cardiff City (who were by then playing in the top flight of English football).

Taff Vale Park grandstand (1923) (image link: https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/500136)

The next season 1922/23 saw a raft of teams resign from the Southern League due to financial problems. With results involving these sides declared void it meant a very tight seven-team Southern League Welsh Division. Pontypridd finished 4th, a mere three points behind champions Ebbw Vale. There was a slight improvement in the Welsh League as The Dragons finished 6th, but the Welsh Cup campaign ended in the last 16 with a 4-1 thrashing at Newport County.

In the 1923/24 season Pontypridd would finally bring some silverware back to Taff Vale Park by winning the Welsh League. A superb campaign saw the Dragons win 24 of their 30 matches and score 110 goals over the course of that season. In the Southern League there was more re-organisation with the Welsh Section now becoming a ‘Western Section’ and a return to competitive matches against English opposition. The Dragons held their own in a much stronger division, finishing 3rd behind champions Yeovil & Petters and Plymouth Argyle Reserves, meaning The Dragons were the highest placed Welsh side in the Southern League that season. In the Welsh Cup it was another exit at the final 16 stage.

Basking in the gleam of Welsh League silverware, Pontypridd sniffed more glory in the 1924/5 campaign. Another 3rd place finish in the Southern League was obtained, just two points behind champions Swansea Town Reserves. Pontypridd’s defence of the Welsh League title was modest as the club finished 6th. The Dragons advanced to the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup but a trip to the north of Wales ended with a 3-0 defeat at Mold Town.

Sadly, things would turn sour at Taff Vale Park very quickly. The economic hardships during the mid-1920s saw Pontypridd’s income from gate revenue tumble. By 1926 mounting financial problems had got the better of Pontypridd AFC. Despite completing their Southern League fixtures, a dramatic to drop to 13th place out 14 suggests a purge of the players that had brought the club admirable results in recent seasons. The Dragons’ Welsh League form suffered too; finishing 15th out of 16. In the Welsh Cup Pontypridd registered their worst performance in years, knocked out by Ebbw Vale in the round of 32.

That was it for Pontypridd Association Football Club, dissolved in 1926 due a lack of financial viability. Pontypridd did not have a club representing the town in name in the Welsh League again until 1991 when Ynysybwl AFC merged with Pontypridd Sports & Social to form Ynysybwl-Pontypridd, which was then re-branded Pontypridd Town in 1992.

The Modern Day Pontypridd Association Football Club – who are we and what are our ambitions?

The decision to resurrect Pontypridd AFC was taken by the management and players that comprised the reserve team of Pontypridd Town AFC (of the Welsh Football League) in May 2018.

Playing in the Taff Ely Rhymney Valley (TERV) Football League under the Pontypridd Town banner the team was denied promotion at the end of the 2017/18 campaign because league rules do not permit reserve teams to compete in the top flight of the TERV League.

The team decided then to breakaway from the then Welsh League club with the aspiration to try and establish their own club in the Welsh football pyramid. The club’s goal is to represent the town of Pontypridd positively and promote football in the town while remaining based within the immediate area of Pontypridd.

Early Years – establishing the club

The first couple of seasons were very much about the new Pontypridd club establishing themselves in the local leagues. Despite losing some key players, the bulk of the previous squad was retained and the club’s debut season saw a respectable 4th placed finish in the 2018/19 TERV League Division One, although the target to achieve promotion was missed.

The following campaign was curtailed due to the COVID-19 campaign. At the point when the season was suspended, Pontypridd FC (having adopted the nickname “The Black Sheep”) were very much in the promotion mix. When football did resume for the 2021/22 season, a re-structuring of the TERV League saw Ponty promoted to the Premier Division along with Cefn Hengoed and Rhydyfelin Non-Pol FC.

Three seasons in the Premier Division followed but it was always a challenge for the Black Sheep to stay competitive, eventually succumbing to relegation in the 2023/24 season when they managed just two league wins from 18 fixtures.

Remarkably, the Black Sheep came close to their first ever silverware in that campaign, with an end of season cup run saw Ponty charge to the final of the Bernard Martin Cup (one of two TERV League cups). After defeating Cascade and Llanbradach on their way to the final, TERV champions Talbot Green awaited in the final at Rhydyfelin Dog Track. In a tight final, a single goal decided it but unfortunately for Pontypridd it went to the league champions.

Growing The Club

Starting out with a senior men’s team and an under 13s boys team, the ambition at Pontypridd AFC has always been to grow into a club for all the local community.

Following the return of football after the COVID-19 pandemic, Pontypridd FC fielded two senior men’s teams and have done this every season since 2021, providing further opportunities for local players to participate in grassroots football. The original under 13s boys team has graduated into a youth team, with more than 20 players growing from u16s and youth football into competitive senior football by September 2024.

In 2023, Pontypridd FC became Pontypridd AFC, adopting the full name of the original club. In that same summer, Pontypridd AFC minis was launched. Starting with a handful of children, by the start of the 2024/25 season Pontypridd AFC minis had grown to include over 30 players across U6/U7/U8 age groups, playing regular Saturday morning fixtures in TERV League organised small sided football.

During the summer of 2024, Pontypridd Ladies FC merged with Pontypridd AFC to turn out as the club’s first ever senior women’s team. Plans are now afoot to provide football provision exclusively for girls as part of the club’s commitment to offer playing opportunities for all children in the local community and play our part in promoting girls and women’s football.

Season Reviews

Season Review 2018/19
Season Review 2019/20
Season Review 2021/22
Season Review 2022/23
Season Review 2023/24
 

Sources used

Online
www.peoplescollection.wales
www.tonpentreafc.co.uk
www.coflein.gov.uk
newspapers.library.wales
http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html
www.fchd.info
www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk

In Print
Harris, G. (2004). Pontypridd AFC (The Dragons): The Glory Years at Taff Vale Park, Seasons 1911-12, 12-13, 13-14. Coalopolis Publishing (Pontypridd)