PORT TALBOT TOWN FC v LLANELLI TOWN AFC by RGM-MEDIA

Full name

Port Talbot Town Football Club

Nickname(s) The Steelmen Founded

1901; 120 years ago (as Port Talbot Athletic)

Ground

Victoria Road, Port Talbot

Capacity

1,000 seated plus standing room

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PROGRAMME EDITORS RUSSELL GWILYM MORRIS BEN DAVIES

PORT TALBOT TOWN FC ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THEIR NEW MANAGERIAL TEAM OF

GRANT KALAHAR—TECHNICAL DIRECTOR BEN ADAMS—MANAGER CONOR McGAHARAN—COACH SAM O’SULLIVAN—PLAYER / HEAD COACH

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to Victoria Road for our second JD Cymru South home fixture in the space of 5 days. Today our visitors are Llanelli Town and again we extend a very warm welcome to everyone associated with the 'The Reds.' Given the limited time since our match on Tuesday against Undy Athletic, there is little in the way of update save that we are continuing to bring in new players before the transfer window closes this week. As in situations such as this, gelling the squad together will take time as players get to know each other but the building blocks are slowly being put in place for the future. Welcome to those who have joined us in the last few days and we wish you every success.

While Tuesday was another difficult night for all those associated with the club, we cannot thank enough the endeavours of the players, management and of course our loyal supporters who sang their hearts out throughout the match. If spirit and commitment could be translated into points, we would be sitting far prettier in the table. Thank you for sticking with us and hopefully better times will soon be on their way.

Today also gives me an opportunity to remind supporters that our Women's team will be beginning their Welsh Premier League campaign tomorrow at home to Cardiff City. Kick-off is 2:00 and admission is free. Please come along and support Hayley and the girls if you can, the clubhouse will also be open as usual.

Enjoy the game.

Ben Davies

UNBELIEVEABLE PTT

Early Days Formed initially in 1901, Port Talbot spent their early years playing in the Swansea Senior League – starting at the bottom end of the Welsh pyramid. Early records show that one of the club’s biggest wins came in 1909/10, when they beat Llanelli 10-0. After the First World War, it is assumed that the club again played in the Swansea League until 1926, when they became founder members of the Port Talbot and District Association Football League. In the 1928/29 season a team sporting the name Seaside Athletic were competing in the Welsh League Division 2 Western Section, and sources say this was the same club that formed in 1901. Port Talbot continued to ply their trade in the Second Division until 1956/57, when they won promotion to the top flight. They were never comfortable, and it was no surprise when they were relegated after just one season. After a rebuilding programme, they were soon back in action in the first division after becoming champions of Division 2 West at the end of 1961/62. However, once again they suffered relegation just twelve months later. Season 1964/65 saw the re-organisation of the league, and Port Talbot found themselves in the new Division One. However, relegation to the second division came in 1970/71, a major setback for the club.

A long hard slog in the lower echelons ended in 1982/83 when they finished as runners up to Tondu Robins, and won promotion to the first division. Port Talbot were included in the prestigious new National Division of the Welsh League in 1984/85, and stayed there until 1990/91 when they were relegated after a lamentable season. The club missed out on a place in the inaugural League of Wales, and worse was to follow when they were relegated to the present Division 2 in 1993/94. Better times arrived under the leadership of Steve Llewellyn and Alan Meacham, and the club won back their place in the top division with a last day promotion at local rivals Goytre United in 1995/96. After a period of consolidation, they finished 5th in 1997/98 under David Rees and Craig Duggan during their first season in the managerial hot seat. Since then, the club has been transformed off the field, with Andrew Edwards taking over as Chairman at the start of the 1998/99 season. At this point a three-year master plan was put into operation, which included taking the club to the League of Wales by its centenary year in 2001/02 and establishing a youth/ junior system from under-7s right up through to under-18s.

Promotion to the League of Wales The success of the 1999/2000 season saw the club promoted to the League of Wales a year ahead of schedule and the introduction of two junior teams and a youth team in the MacWhirter Youth League. Many improvements were carried out to the Victoria Road Ground with refurbished dressing rooms, a new 260- seater stand, floodlights, television camera gantry, turnstiles and a hard standing around the pitch. The club made a satisfactory start in the League of Wales gaining six victories before Christmas 2000. Unfortunately, some of the work was undone by a disappointing end to the campaign. Nevertheless, in Kevin Bartley they had the league’s third top goal-scorer, his tally of 23 including successive hat-tricks at Connah’s Quay and Rhyl. To mark their centenary year, the club’s title was changed from Port Talbot Athletic to Port Talbot Town at the start of the 2001/2002 season. The club reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup in 2003/4 for the first time in their history, but hopes of a foray into Europe were dashed in a 1-0 defeat by TNS at Park Avenue. Following the departure of manager Mark Jones to Carmarthen, the Steelmen found it difficult to replicate their success in 2004/5 and spent much of the season battling relegation, although they eventually finished a relatively comfortable 13th under manager Wayne Davies. During the season, chairman Edwards proposed a merger with local rivals Afan Lido, who play less than a mile away from Talbot’s Victoria Road ground, in the belief that it would produce a stronger and more commercially viable club for the town. But Lido rejected the move, despite some senior officials being in favour. Off the field the club have continued to progress as much as they have on the field, the Victoria Road ground has been renamed The RE/MAX Stadium following a major sponsorship deal and the seating capacity has been boosted to 1,000 with the construction of the 750 seater Gerald McCreesh Stand.

ospitality facilities have been improved with the building of the Gerald McCreesh Suite overlooking the ground while the heavy investment into the playing surface has made it one of the best grounds in the Welsh Premier League.

On the field manager Wayne Davies stepped down from his position at the end of the 2006-007 season but claimed a memorable scalp in defeating Swansea City in the FAW Premier Cup while also taking the club to another Welsh Cup semi-final and also the Challenge Cup Final. Tony Pennock was appointed manager for 2007-2008 as the club look to further build on their continued successes but an unsuccessful start to his managerial career saw the former Newport County and Yeovil Town goalkeeper resign in November. Nicky Tucker was appointed to replace Pennock after impressing at Welsh League side Dinas Powys and made an immediate impact on the side as Port Talbot claimed a fourth place finish in the 2007-2008 Principality Welsh Premier League. Off the field the club made further Improvements with the formation of a new Board of Directors together with a three-year stadium sponsorship deal with local company GenQuip to further consolidate their place as one of the leading clubs in the league. In December 2008 Mark Jones was re-appointed as manager to replace Nicky Tucker who was sacked after a disappointing start to the season and quickly turned-around the clubs fortunes by achieving a fifth place finish despite the side being in the bottom half of the table on his arrival.

Welsh Cup final and Europa League qualification Jones has been busy in the transfer market ahead of the 2009-2010 season bringing in six new players while off the field the club continue to expand its commercial ventures to sustain its place in the domestic topflight ahead of the reduction of the Welsh Premier League in 2010-2011. A superb season in 2009-2010 saw the club qualify for the UEFA Europa League for the first time with a 3rd place finish. Playing Finnish outfit FC Turku over two legs. The club also reached the Welsh Cup Final for the first time but narrowly lost 3-2 to Bangor City at Parc-yScarlets. Off the field the club once again earned both the FAW Domestic Licence and the UEFA Licence to confirm their place in the reduced Principality Welsh Premier League and also their place in Europe. There was additional success for the clubs academy as the Under-16 side lifted the FAW Academy Cup which was a fitting reward for the years of hard work from the clubs junior section.

New League format 2010/11 would become a significant year in the development of the Welsh Premier League after its clubs had unanimously decided to reduce the league to 12 clubs and to introduce a new play-off format. The new format would bring little joy to Port Talbot however, who despite making the top-six cut by a single point in January, were eliminated in their first play-off game away to Prestatyn Town, after seeing a one goal lead slip away, conceding twice in the final ten minutes.

A distinctly average season in the newly-named Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League would follow in 2011/12, as the Port Talbot failed to reach the top-six and missed out on the play-offs altogether, in a season typified by a dismal exit in the Welsh Cup third round to rivals Afan Lido.

A busy off-season for the club saw a host of new signings arrive at the GenQuip Stadium – including the high-profile arrival of Rhys Griffiths. His unexpected signing was cut just short just a few weeks later however, when he was offered professional terms with League Two outfit Plymouth Argyle. When the 2012/13 season finally kicked off, it brought with it an uninspiring start and by December, the decision was to taken to end manager Mark Jones’ four-year tenure at the club. Former Cardiff City player Scott Young and Marc Cahill, who’d joined the club’s coaching staff in the summer were shortly appointed as manager and first-team coach respectively. A influx of new players and a mini exodus – to Australia – saw Young virtually rebuild the team mid-season and the side – inspired by the goals of David Brooks – flourished in the second-half of the season, comfortably securing a top-six finish. A play-off semi-final victory over Carmarthen Town put Port Talbot within grasp of qualifying for Europe, with home advantage in the play-off final against Bala Town. But a bumper crowd at the GenQuip Stadium were left heart-broken when a late goal saw Bala victorious and Port Talbot empty-handed.

Return to the Welsh Football Leagues The 2015/2016 Welsh Premier League season saw Andy Dyer’s Blues make it to the semi-final stage of the Welsh Cup, bowing out to Airbus with a 7-0 drubbing. Just weeks later, the club was relegated from the Welsh Premier League, despite finishing above the relegation places – with a 10th placed finish. The club had been refused an FAW Domestic License by the FAW on financial grounds, the club appealed but it was rejected. The club then underwent a major overhaul of its internal structure, with a new chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer being appointed, and a committee consisting of staff and fans alike being formed. The wage bill for the 2016/2017 was cut massively in order to keep the club sustainable going forward, with the club looking to Academy and proven Welsh League players to play in the first-team. Current first team manager Mark Pike assembled a squad of local players in his first full season in charge at the football club and despite working with a playing budget that was the lowest at the club in near two decades, relegation was avoided in the 2018/19 season. It was a case of déjà vu though as the club was demoted to tier 3 of the pyrmaid due to licencing reasons. Despite a second demotion in recent years and a further change of personnel behind the scenes, the football club continue to operate under a sustainable model with the aim of footballing success to be delivered back to Victoria Road in years to come.

LLANELLI TOWN AFC Full name Llanelli Town Association Football Club Nickname(s) The Reds Founded

1896 (Reformed 2013)

Ground Stebonheath Park Llanelli Capacity 3700 ( 1005 seated ) Chairman David Cradock Manager Andy Legg

Photo By David Luther Thomas

LLANELLI TOWN AFC BACKGROUND The team is based at Stebonheath Park from 1920, having previously playing at the Halfway athletics ground. Formed in 1896, the club's first honour was the Welsh League division one title claimed in 1913–14 with further wins coming in 1929–30 and 1932–33. Llanelli made several attempts to join The Football League, in 1922, 1923, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1950 and 1951. Despite making an effort to turn professional, the club was not elected. The closest they came was in 1933, where the club received 20 votes compared to 26 for Newport County and 45 for Swindon Town who were re-elected to the Football League Third Division South. Llanelli was a founder member of the Welsh Premier League in 1992, but after only four seasons suffered relegation. Promotion back to the top division was achieved in 1998–99, but 2002–03 saw the team demoted only to return to the top-flight for the 2004–05 season. In 2005 a wealthy business man and his consortium, The Jesco group bought the club. Since then, the club's fortunes have transformed remarkably on the pitch. They have played in Europe for 7 consecutive seasons, they won the Welsh premier league and Loosemores challenge cup in 2008 and won the Welsh Cup in 2011. 2012–13 was difficult financially with three petitions to wind the club up presented by HM Revenue and Customs. The club was wound up on 22 April 2013 at the High Court in London following a petition presented by HM Revenue and Customs. The formation of a 'phoenix club' of Llanelli Town AFC meant the town of Llanelli was still represented in Welsh football. The new team started in the Welsh Third Division for the 201314 season. In 2014-15 they were crowned Third Division champions and as such gained promotion to the Welsh Second Division. In April 2018 the club was crowned champions of the Second Division. After an appeal to the Football Association of Wales against a decision not the grant the club a Tier 1 licence, the club returned to the Welsh Premier League for the 2018-19 season.

LLANELLI TOWN AFC HISTORY The game of Association Football was introduced to the town's people of Llanelli when workers from Staffordshire migrated to the town to work in the 'newest' of the town industries – the Pottery works from 1892 to 1920. Finding the game of rugby Football Union alien to their natural habitat whilst domiciled in the town, workers founded a team to play friendlies versus other teams from the various pottery works industry which had been set up in Swansea and Neath. However, by 1896 interest had waned due in the main to those initial workers returning to their homesteads having successfully instructed their local co-workers into the intricacies of the pottery world. The first playing area had been at 'Cae Blake' in the Furnace area of the town, but when the new Peoples Park in the middle of the town was opened as a recreation area for the town's populace the team had transferred to this new ground. By 1904 with more and more clubs being formed in the south of the principality ardent soccerities decided to resurrect the club under the astute managership of Bert Andrews, a man from Ironbridge who had remained in the town working in an administrative post at the Llanelli Pottery. The club entered into the Swansea and District League and played their home matches firstly at Tunnel Road and thence to Penyfan Fields. The Pre-War Era In season 1911–12 after seven years of consolidation Llanelli AFC became League champions and were also losing finalists in the League Cup. This was the spur that was needed to progress even further and led by another immigrant to the town, W T Morris who hailed from Llanidloes and was a leading entrepreneur in the commercial world of Llanelli the club decided to become fully professional and applied for membership in both the Southern League and the Welsh League. A further move was necessary to entertain the professional game and Halfway Park some two miles from the town centre was chosen as the new venue. This former cycle stadium was the ideal velodrome for Association Football boasting a grand stand and natural banking, and this was the catalyst, which both league structures sought when sanctioning the club's inclusion in the two participating Leagues. Their first season 1912–13 was an immediate success finishing in 6th position of the Southern League and joint 3rd with Swansea Town in the Welsh League. They were also invited to participate in the FA Cup for the first time, reaching the 3rd Qualifying Round before being beaten by Cardiff City at home. The following season they entered also into the Welsh Senior Cup competition and reached the final at the first time of asking, before losing to Wrexham, the eventual winners in the replay at Oswestry after a 0–0 draw at Pontypridd. It was also during this season that the club achieved its best win to date beating Treharris 17–0 at home in a League game.

LLANELLI TOWN AFC THE INTER WAR PERIOD In the 1919–20 season the reformed club's formats of pre-war years when the 1st team squad contested in both leagues and the team's reserve side participated in the Swansea Senior League. By 1922 it was obvious that to further their ambitions of achieving Football League status a new stadium near the town centre would have to be sought. A piece of ground in the Stebonheath area of the town was purchased and plans were afoot to move the club lock stock and barrel from Halfway. This was achieved just in time for the 1922 –23 season, when Bridgend Town were the first visitors. Later on in the season to mark the period of the club's history although proving successful was fraught with financial problems, and at the end of this official opening of the ground the FA Cup holders of the previous season Tottenham Hotspur were invited to participate and were given a rude awakening when the Reds defeated them on the day by 2–1. Later on Burnley and Charlton Athletic were invited to participate in this inaugural season at Stebonheath Park running out winners. At the end of the season which had been a merited success from a playing point of view the club made its first application with Pontypridd Town for inclusion in Football League, Third Division (South), but just failed in their bids when both the member clubs up for re-election Southend United and Exeter City were both re-elected. For the next three years Llanelli AFC built up a reputation as one of the leading non-league clubs in the country and in 1925 became the only club to contest every round in the FA Cup from Preliminary to Qualifying and on to the equivalent Third round of today, when they met Fulham at Craven Cottage before losing by the odd goal in a highly emotional game. This period of the club's history although proving successful was fraught with financial problems, and at the end of this emotional season the club terribly in debt and failing to meet their obligations to their players and the two respective management committees of both leagues were forced to resign and the club went into voluntary suspended animation. By 1928 after three years in the wilderness football enthusiasts in the town including the groundsman/ caretaker of Stebonheath Park Jack Goldsborough who had joined the club in 1922 as a player/trainer resolved the resurrect the club once more and fate decreed that they were able to succeed when they took over the fixtures of Aberdare Athletic in the Welsh League, another club by this time who were in dire straits and themselves had had to resign from the Welsh League for the same reason as Llanelli. Their first season was naturally one of consolidation but at the season's end once more they made overtures to the Southern League hierarchy and gained a place for the following season in this prestigious league. For the next five seasons the club were once again on a high, winning trophies once more and just failing on three other occasions in cementing a place in the Football League playing centelating football to the joy of their supporters and it was a golden era for the club, but the bubble was to burst once more. Falling attendances, high outlay of cash on imported players and escalating costs all played their part and first their withdrawal from the Southern League was implemented for the 1934–35 season with the club plying their trade only in the Welsh League 1st Division, where they remained until the outbreak of World War II suffering many defeats including their record defeat of 0–12 at Rexville home of now defunct Lovells Athletic on Boxing Day 1934.

LLANELLI TOWN AFC POST WAR At the end of World War II with league football returning to normality, Llanelli AFC returned to the 1st Division of the Welsh League for 1945–46 season and continued in this vain until the 1950 season when with the boom of returning fixtures to a nation starved of highly charged competitive football Llanelli AFC once again gained a place in the prestigious Southern League, together with an influx of Scottish League footballers including one John (Jock) Stein who was to find fame with Glasgow Celtic as a player and manager and a respected manager of both Leeds United and the Scottish National team. Their immediate impact was again one of success gaining FA Cup prowess verses Bristol Rovers in a Third round tie replay in 1950–51 season and before losing in a second replay and a Second Round encounter with Colchester United in 1952 –53 season and Northampton Town in the next, but as ever problems were to beset the club once more. Falling gates, indifferent seasons meant fewer people through the turnstiles and by 1958 they had to seek re-election to both the Southern and Welsh League. They were granted a stay in the Southern League whilst had to be relegated in the Welsh League Division II (West). But a shock to the system was to be suffered when the Welsh FA refused to sanction their stay in the Southern League and they were left in limbo with an all-time low for their future for the 1958–59 season. Under the astute managership of Wilf Grant an England B International, promotion was gained in that season and at least they were back in the higher echelon of Welsh League football. Despite their achievements and an upsurge in their finances and an open door to Southern League once again the Welsh FA spurned their pleas after being accepted and they remained 'in situ' in this league until the advent of the League of Wales in 1992–93 season when they became founder members.

League of Wales Era

After an initial successful season the club fell away once more, again due to financial constraints and by the end of the 1995–96 season were relegated once again to the Welsh League. It took a further four years for them to achieve promotion, gaining a place in the League of Wales as runners-up to Ton Pentre who had spurned their right as champions in season 1999–2000. Following their return to the League of Wales the club had a see-saw existence. In 2003, the club lost its league status, but a successful campaign back in the Welsh League brought a prompt return of Premiership football to Steboneath Park. Disagreements over the playing budget led to the resignation of promotion-winning manager, Neil O'Brien and chairman Robert Jones turned to former Cardiff boss Eddie May. But a disastrous nine-match losing start to the campaign saw Nick Tucker arrive from Taffs Well to take over in mid-October 2004. The Reds gained their first win of the season at the 11th attempt and by the end of the season had hauled themselves into 14th position, a remarkable recovery.

LLANELLI TOWN AFC Summer 2005 saw the first full-time footballer at Stebonheath since the Jock Stein era of the 1950s, with eight professionals under Spanish director of football, Lucas Cazorla Luque. Although the Spaniard parted company midway through the season, the Reds went on to finish runners-up and clinch a first-ever place in Europe under manager Peter Nicholas. They became one of the few Welsh clubs to progress past the first round in Europe, beating Swedish outfit Gefle IF, going out bravely in the next round to Danish giants, Odense BK 6–1 on aggregate. Their European exertions affected their league campaign, but despite a midseason slump, they rallied in the closing stages to clinch third place and an InterToto Cup spot. The Reds then enjoyed a superb season in 2007/8, clinching their first-ever Welsh Premier title with three games to go and a first appearance in the UEFA Champions League, where they lost to Latvian champions FK Ventspils 4–1 on aggregate, after winning the home leg 1–0. Failure to repeat the feat in the following campaign resulted in the dismissal of manager Nicholas after four years at the helm, he was replaced by veteran defender Andy Legg. Legg's first game in charge was the 1–0 victory over Scottish Premier League side, Motherwell. The Reds lost the return leg 3–0. Legg guided Llanelli to their first ever Welsh cup win by beating Bangor City 4–1 at Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.

Reformation The club were wound up in April 2013 over an unpaid tax debt amounting to £21,000. They were reformed as Llanelli Town later that year and were placed in the Welsh Football League Division Three for the start of the 2013/14 season.[8] They are considered by the FAW to be a direct continuation of the same club.

Stadium The club's home ground is Stebonheath Park, which has a capacity of 3,700. In recent years, The Reds have played numerous European games away from their home ground due to the limited seating capacity. Games have been played at Stradey Park, the former home of the Llanelli Scarlets rugby team, The Liberty Stadium in Swansea, Richmond Park, Carmarthen and Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli. The first ground improvement started in the summer of 2008 by building a seated stand to accommodate 300 supporters. This takes the Stebonheath Park seated capacity to 1,003 – therefore making it a UEFA-compliant stadium for European football.

LLANELLI TOWN AFC IN EUROPE UEFA Cup 2006–07 Llanelli first ever game in Europe was against Swedish team Gefle IF. Going a goal down early on in the game at the Swedish national stadium, Llanelli rallied and won the game 2–1 thanks to a debut goal from Rhys Griffiths and a goal from Jacob Mingorance. The return leg was played at Stradey Park in front of a crowd of 5,000, it finished 0–0. The draw for the second qualifying round put them up against Danish side Odense Boldklub. The Reds lost the away leg 1–0. The home leg was played at Swansea's Liberty stadium, Antonio Corbishierio put the Reds 1–0 up on the night to bring the aggregate scores level, Odense destroyed Llanelli's hopes of progression by running out 5–1 winners on the night and 6–1 on aggregate.

UEFA Intertoto Cup 2007–08 Llanelli qualified for the Intertoto Cup after finishing third in the Welsh Premier League behind The New Saints and Rhyl. The Reds travelled to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius for the first leg of the first-round game against FK Vėtra. Llanelli started the game well, even with a severely depleted squad they managed to take the lead with a fine volley by Andrew Mummford, the brave Reds side went on to lose the game 3–1. A magnificent return leg played at Carmarthen's Richmond Park, saw Llanelli come agonizingly close to qualifying. They took the game from 3–2 down at half time to score a last minute goal to make it 5–3, unfortunately there was not enough time for Llanelli to grab a winner, they went out on away goals with an aggregate score of 6–6. Talismanic striker, Rhys Griffiths bagged a hat trick, Wyn Thomas and Andy Legg got the other two goals.

UEFA Champions League 2008–09 Llanelli qualified for the UEFA Champions League after winning the Welsh Premier League. The Reds were drawn against FK Ventspils of Latvia in the first qualifying round. In a close match at a sell out Stebonheath Park, Llanelli ran out 1–0 winners thanks to a goal from defender, Stuart Jones. The Reds then went to Latvia to try to defend this slender lead. Llanelli could not repeat their heroics of the previous week and lost the game 4–0 to bow out 4–1 on aggregate.

LLANELLI TOWN AFC IN EUROPE UEFA Europa League 2009–10 Llanelli's first appearance in the newly formatted Europa League saw them drawn against Scottish Premier League side, Motherwell. The game was played at Airdrie's stadium with a strong contingent making the long journey north from South Wales. The Red's pulled off a major shock by beating the SPL side 1–0 with a first half goal by Stuart Jones. The return leg, which was played at Parc Y Scarlets was a different story. Motherwell, backed by 3000 travelling fans defeated the Reds comfortably, 3–0.

UEFA Europa League 2010–11 A second-placed finish in Andy Legg's first season as manager saw Llanelli play European football for the 5th consecutive season. They were drawn against Lithuanian minnows FK Tauras Tauragein the first qualifying round. The first leg, which was played in front of a sell out Steboneath Park crowd finished 2–2, centre backs Wyn Thomas and Stuart Jones got Llanelli's goals, Chris Holloway was also sent off and handed a 2 match ban. The second leg was played at the Lithuanian national football stadium, Tauras took the lead due to some poor defending only for Chris Llewellyn to equalise. Llanelli again conceded from some poor defending, this time from a corner. The battling Reds side equalised once again, a ball over the top led to Jason Bowen beating the offside trap, he raced clear and neatly slid the ball past the Tauras keeper. With extra time fast approaching, Llanelli had Rhys Griffiths and Craig Moses sent off, somewhat controversially. The Tauras players seemed to make a meal with every challenge. Extra time proved too much for the tired Reds side as Tauras ran out 3–2 winners on the night and 5–4 on aggregate.

UEFA Europa League 2011–12 Llanelli were drawn against Dinamo Tbilisi. The first leg was played at Parc Y Scarlets. Llanelli, who were missing 5 key players, stunned the Georgians by taking the game 2–1, with a brace coming from Jordan Follows. Tbilisi pulled a goal back in stoppage time with a penalty. The Reds approached the second leg in with confidence, key players returning and a 2–1 advantage. Hopes of progressing were quickly dashed as a rampant Tbilisi side knocked in 5 goals without reply. Llanelli went out 6–2 on aggregate.

LLANELLI TOWN AFC EUROPEAN RECORD

Season

2006–07

Competition

Round

Opponents

Home leg

Away leg

Aggregate

Gefle IF

0–0

2–1

OB Odense

1–5

0–1

1–6

UEFA Cup

2007

UEFA Intertoto Cup

FK Vetra

5–3

1–3

6–6

2008–09

UEFA Champions League

FK Ventspils

1–0

0–4

1–4

2009–10

UEFA Europa League

Motherwell

0–3

1–0

1–3

2010–11

UEFA Europa League

Tauras

2–2

2–3

4–5

2011–12

UEFA Europa League

Dinamo Tbilisi

2–1

0–5

2–6

2012–13

UEFA Europa League

KuPS

1–1

1–2

2–3

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LLANELLI TOWN AFC HONOURS League of Wales / Welsh Premier League (Step 1) Winners 2007–08 Runners-up 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10

Welsh League Division 1 / (Step 1) Winners 1913–14, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1970– 71, 1976–77, 1977–78, 2003–04 Runners-up 1930–31, 1933–34, 1959–60, 1972 –73, 1996–97, 1998–99

Welsh League Cup

Winners 2007–08 Runners-up 2010–11

Welsh Cup Winners 2010–11

Welsh League Division 2 West (Step 2) Winners 1957–58

Welsh League Division 3 (Step 4) Winners 2014–2015

Runners-up 1913–14, 2007–08 Welsh League Cup FAW Premier Cup Runners-up 2007–08

Southern League (as a top division) Best ever finish Fifth in 1950–51

Southern League Division 2 Best ever finish Third in 1919–20

Southern League (Western Division) Runners-up 1930–31

Winners 1929–30, 1931–32, 1974–75 Runners-up 1930–31, 1933–34, 1948–49, 1959 –60, 1960–61, 1989–90, 2003–04

West Wales Senior Cup Winners 1930–31, 1947–48, 1950–51, 1952– 53, 1963–64, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1999–00, 2008/09 Runners-up 1924–25, 1931–32, 1934–35, 1938 –39, 1948–49, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1964–65, 1965– 66, 1966–67, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1998–99 Shared 1962–63 (with Swansea Town)

OUR RESERVES OPENED THEIR CAMPAIGN WITH A 0-6 DEFEAT AT HOME TO CWMAMMAN UNITED RESERVES . IT WAS ONLY THE FIRST MATCH AND THE SEASON HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN , SO PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE AMMENDS . DESPITE THE LOSS COACH AMIR WILL TAKE A LOT OF POSITIVES FROM THE MATCH AS PORT TALBOT CREATED A FAIR FEW CHANCES ALSO . A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF THE MATCH

FAW SOUTH WEST RESERVE LEAGUE TABLE TEAM

POINTS

AFAN LIDO

3 4 3 2 3 3 4 1 3 2 0 0 0

3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

0 1 1 0 1 2 3 0 2 2 0 1 0

13 14 14 7 6 4 9 5 4 2 0 0 0

4 7 6 2 10 10 8 1 13 9 0 6 0

9 7 8 5 -4 -6 1 4 -9 -7 0 -6 0

9 9 6 6 4 3 3 3 1 0 0 0 0

AMMANFORD BRITON FERRY LLANSAWEL PONTARDAWE TOWN LLANELLI TOWN CARMARTHEN TOWN CWMAMMAN UNITED GOYTRE UNITED YNYSYGERWYN GARDEN VILLAGE PENYDARREN BGC PORT TALBOT TOWN TREFELIN BGC

MINIS & JUNIORS During the tricky period of covid and lockdown the minis section has managed to grow with the club now having age groups from under 4's to under 9's. The club would like to welcome the new coaches Paul Jones, Ryan Lowe and Lee Spencer. While we were all in lockdown and not able to play the minis were allowed and the under 8's managed to play quite a number of games in this time. They themselves have seen numbers rise from having 15 players increase to 25. The boys are looking forward to the new season ahead and developing with the club.

WALKING FOOTBALL The draw got made on Sunday 8th August for the over 50's Welsh Open to be held at Caldicot leisure centre on the 22nd August 2021 starting at 10am. Lots of strong teams entered . Two groups was drawn with PORT TALBOT TOWN WALKING FOOTBALL in group A . Stanford Strollers Port Talbot Town WF Shewsbury 99ers Caldicot

Keynsham Barry Town Carmarthen Town Llandarcy Merthyr Police Vets Newport County

GROUP B Clevedon Tenby Wiltshire's WF Abercwmboi Cardiff Henllan Llanelli Alltudion WF Neath

POS.

CLUB

PLAYED WON DRAWN LOST GF GA GD

PTS.

Briton Ferry Llansawel

–

Pontypridd Town

–

Llantwit Major

–

Goytre United

–

Cambrian and Clydach Vale

–

Trefelin BGC

–

Ammanford AFC

–

Swansea University

-1

–

Llanelli Town

-4

–

Taffs Well

-2

–

Afan Lido

-8

–

Cwmbran Celtic

-11

–

Undy Athletic

-9

–

Risca United

-9

–

Port Talbot Town

0 33 -33

–

Carmarthen Town

–

-1

TOP SCORER

CLUB

GOALS

T . JENKINS

AMMANFORD AFC

C . BATEMAN GOYTRE UNITED

M . JONES

4 5

-6

PLAYER

CLUB

ASSISTS

G . BEDDARD

PONTYPRIDD TOWN

C . MORGAN

CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH

BRITON FERRY LLANSAWEL

J . LOVERIDGE

LLANELLI TOWN

L . BOWEN

BRITON FERRY LLANSAWEL

J . THOMAS

CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH

L . GULLICK

PONTYPRIDD TOWN

S . JOHNSON

PONTYPRIDD TOWN

PORT TALBOT TOWN

Technical Director—GRANT KALAHER Manager—BEN ADAMS Coach—CONOR McGAHARAN

LLANELLI TOWN AFC

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Player / Head Coach—Sam O’Sullivan

MANAGEMENT TEAM

MANAGER— BEN ADAMS

Coaches Paul Barrow , Morrys Scott Physio. Tiegan Embling-Jones

SQUAD PLAYER

JAMES DONNELLY GK

E. Dimonekene

TOM WESTALL GK

M. John

CARWYN HOPKINS GK

R. Thomas

OWEN WILSON GK

S. Parsons

SAM WADE

J. Loveridge

JAKE BARROW

M. Morgan

CRISHIMBA CHISESA

K. Copp

JOSH JONES

R. Kerr

ADAM LLEWELLYN

R. Jones

NAT MORGAN

C. Saunders

DARYL HUGHES

C. Thomas

LEWIS ROBINSON

K. Rees

MANNY MALONEY

L. Logan

JENSON COREY

O. Phillips Taylor

RHYS CLARKE

Z. Brown

BLESS KIM

S. Williams

A . LEGG G LLOYD S THOMAS

BAILEY EMBLING-JONES TOM EVANS DAN HOWELLS RONAN WHALLEY ALEX ALDRICH JAKE ISAAC

REFEREE : JORDAN HARMAN

1ST ASSISTANT REFEREE :

2ND ASSISTANT REFEREE :

OBSERVER :

JAMES YOUNG

DARREN ROBER HALES

CLARK CAMPBELL