PORT TALBOT TOWN FC V RISCA UNITED

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

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to Victoria Road for the visit of Risca United in the penultimate home game of the season.

A warm welcome to all the players, staff and supporters from our visitors today and we hope you enjoy your stay with us this afternoon. Today's game is set to be another tough one for the boys with our visitors fighting to avoid relegation. We hope it will be an entertaining game.

Last week saw us narrowly defeated at cwmbran who have been on a great run. On another day we would of come away with something with the chances we created but it just wasn't to be.

Hopefully this week we will be able to put that right. Conor and the boys haven't stopped working tirelessly on the training ground to try and give the supporters something to cheer for this season as they have stuck by us all season through thick and thin.

We hope to hear you singing loud today and backing the boys the way you have to get that first win which would be extra special with us being home, especially with the double header games against the lido not to far away. There's live football on in the club after the game so why not come in and have a chat with the players and staff.

Rhodri Reynolds Chairman

FAW Fair Play in association with NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY

The FAW is continuing to promote the Fair Play initiative by organising the 'FAW Fair Play Fortnight' in partnership with Nationwide Building Society for all National League clubs starting on Friday 1st April 2022 until Friday 15th April 2022.

The FAW has already organised this for all divisions within the National Leagues in previous seasons, which involved players and match officials wearing the FAW Fair Play patches on their kit, having articles in programmes, PA announcements etc. to raise the profile of this worthwhile initiative, where the winners of each award from the National Leagues receives £1000 prize money to put towards their club.

This season the FAW intend to launch the largest Fair Play initiative ever with all National League clubs taking part. The FAW will provide FAW Fair Play patches as they have done in the past which are temporary stick on patches and we would be grateful if you could stick on your player kits for this round of fixtures.

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.

RISCA UNITED

A BRIEF HISTORY OF RISCA UNITED A.F.C. “The Cuckoos” The club came into being in 1946 when a few local sides UNITED to form the new club, they played at Ty-Isaf Park in the Monmouthshire Senior League, where after early success they joined the Welsh Football League in the 1951 playing in the 2nd. Division East until 1961 before having to drop back into County Football due to financial reasons. Their highest position during those 10 years was 5th. in the 2nd. Division East. The club have always been known as “The Cuckoos”, in keeping with the legend of the town.

In the summer of 1965, the club almost folded due to a lack of funds & volunteers but was ‘taken over’ at the 11th hour by Fernlea A.F.C., a Risca based, Newport & District League side, who shared Ty-Isaf Park with “The Cuckoos”. For a few seasons, the “new” club struggled but gradually we strengthened on and off the field before Risca United began its “Golden Era” in the early 70`s.

RISCA UNITED

During that decade “The Cuckoos” strung together an incredible 13 honours including 3 consecutive League and Cup doubles, 3 Championships, and were Challenge Cup Winners for 5 consecutive seasons. The 3 consecutive League & Cup doubles had never been achieved previously and was recognized by the Mon. Senior League in presenting the club with a one-off trophy that still proudly sits in the trophy cabinet.

The “Golden Era” continued into the `80`s as more silverware was added including the Gwent Senior Cup, The Gwent Amateur Cup and yet another League and Cup double in 1988/89, besides twice being runners-up in the league and the Gwent Amateur Cup. Following these achievements, the club strived to fulfil its motto, “Progress” and were eventually accepted back into the Welsh Football League in 1990/91. They were Division 3 runnersup in that first season, followed by three seasons in the 2nd Division before gaining promotion in 1994/95 to the Welsh League 1st Division. The club had two seasons in the topflight before slipping back down through the divisions. Their highest placing in the 1st Division during this time being 11th in 1995/96.

RISCA UNITED

In February 1995 whilst a 2nd Division side Risca United reached the 4th round of the Welsh Cup and played at Ninian Park against a full-strength Cardiff City in front of 1,200 spectators, for an hour the score remained 0-0 but eventually the “Bluebirds” ran out 4-0 winners. In 2003/2004 Risca United were on the small screen as BBC Wales filmed their historic 2-1 defeat of Barry Town at Jenner Park in the Welsh Cup, at the time Barry Town were the Welsh Cup holders and reigning Champions of the Welsh Premier League.

Under the guidance of Player/Manager Paul Michael a 3rd place finish in 2013/14 secured promotion to the 2nd Division after a spell of 13 seasons in the 3rd Division. That was followed in 2014/15 with a second successive promotion when 3rd place in Division 2 was achieved on the last day of the season with a 5-1 defeat of A.F.C. Llwydcoed, the last game in an incredible 13 match unbeaten run.

RISCA UNITED

In 2014/15 the club set up an Academy for young players between 10 and 16 years and were granted F.A.W. Accredited Academy status. That first year was a huge success at all age levels but pride of place went to our under 12`s who completed their F.A.W. Academy League (South) Fixtures unbeaten and finished top. In the National Final we beat Bala Town 5-1 to become Welsh Champions in our very first season. The Academy goes from strength to strength and bodes well for the clubs’ future. Several today’s squad have come through our Academy programme.

The consecutive promotions in 2013/14 and 2014/15 saw “The Cuckoos” back in the topflight of the Welsh Football League after 18 years but with the F.A.W. determined that all clubs in the 1st Division meet Tier Two regulations by the end of 2018 it meant that we had to move from our humble surroundings in Risca to the new Council owned, Centre for Sporting Excellence (The C.S.E. Stadium) at Ystrad Mynach. It meant that 1st. Division/Cymru Premier Development/Academy games would be played there whilst the club`s other sides would continue to use Ty-Isaf Park in Risca.

RISCA UNITED

Season 2019-20 will long be remembered for reasons other than football with the Covid-19 virus bringing the season to an early finish in March. We`ll also remember it for football reasons. A great start saw us in the top three places from August until the abrupt end in March. The unbeaten start saw Simon Berry being awarded Manager of the Month for August, September, and October and Risca United picked up Club of the Month in the same three months. When the Covid put a stop to football we was 3rd behind Trefelin B&GC and Port Talbot Town.

After a couple of nervy months in limbo we found ourselves placed 2nd behind Champions Trefelin because of the points per game system being employed. We were duly promoted as Runners-Up in the last ever season of the Welsh Football Leagues 111-year history. A fitting finale to Risca United`s history with the now defunct Welsh Football League. More honours followed when the F.A.W. crowned our best season with the Fair Play award in Welsh Football League Division One, the second such award in the last few seasons.

Risca Utd Player Pen Pics Joe MASSARO: 24 yr. old Goalkeeper: Recently signed, Joe has been out of the game for a season or two. A promising youngster who was capped as a youth by Wales, he has spent time with Barry Town Utd, Goytre and Ton Pentre.

Arthur FURNESS: 27 yr. old Full Back: A native of Brighton, Arthur started in Welsh football with Cardiff Met. Signing for us in Nov. 2018 before having a spell back in England with Reading City. He absolutely loves playing for the Cuckoos and re-signed Sept. 2020.

Totally committed on and off the pitch.

Callum HODGES: 23 yr. old Centre Back: Cwmbran boy Callum is a towering central defender who takes great pride in trying to stop opponents from getting shots away. In his second spell with us having played in the unbeatable Monmouth Town Youth side of 2016 before joining our Cymru Development side, also played for Croesyceiliog. Re-signed for us sept. 2020.

Ricky HODGE: 35 yr. old Centre Back: A native of Western -Super-Mare who started his Welsh football playing career at Cardiff Met. and later had spells with Cwmbran Town, Taffs Well & Penybont before signing for us in July 2019. Ricky`s experience and know how was and still is a big influence in our team. He had a huge part to play in our promotion to the Cymru South.

Tom REES: 24 yr. old Full Back: “Squeak” from Treharris is another with a great engine.

After junior football he joined us 7 years ago and played in our Cymru Development side before a short spell with Aberdare Town and then a couple of seasons at Cardiff Met. A popular squad member who re-joined us in August 2019.

Callum PORTER: 23 yr. old Midfield: Local boy Callum is not just a Mid-Fielder he`s another player who can play well in other positions. As a 16 year old was at Newport County and was later a member of the Monmouth Town Youth team that were unbeaten Welsh League Youth Champions in 2016. Has been a regular with us since signing in August 2016.

Connor HANFORD: 22 yr. old Defender: Caerphilly boy who was at Newport County as a junior, an out and out defender who loves keeping clean sheets. Has had spells at Cambrian & Clydach, Merthyr Town and Pontypridd Town before signing for us in Jan. 2020.

Josh CLAYTON: 30 yr. old Midfield & Club Captain: Vastly experienced who has a great engine and is a super fit box to box player but like others in the squad does a very good job elsewhere when the need arises. Totally committed to the Cuckoos having been with us since 2010, bleeds Black & White.

Risca Utd Player Pen Pics Lewis ELLIS: 29 yr. old Midfield: A very experienced and cultured player who was at Barry Town as a 16 year old before moving onto Penybont via a short move to play in Sweden. In his second spell with us following a season in 2026/17. He also counts spells with Cinderford Town, Taffs Well, Cwmbran Celtic & Pontypridd Town as former clubs. Returned to us in July this year.

Sam PALMER: 34 year old Midfield: There`s no substitute for experience and Hereford born Sam has loads of that gained from 10 years with Monmouth Town, Where he was a Welsh League Division 1 winner, before moving to Caerphilly in 2017 when he signed for us. This likeable bloke has been a regular since and pops up with the odd goal or two.

Tom GAMESON: 23 year old Midfield: Blackwood boy Tom is a new signing in June this year. A tall elegant player with a great range of passing and great close control who enjoys a good physical battle as well. His previous clubs include Treowen Stars, Aberbargoed Buds and Taffs Well.

Sean FEELEY: 25 yr old. Forward: New signing Sean has joined us from Abergavenny Town where he played for the last 5 seasons. Prior to that Sean has played at Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran Celtic and Penybont.

Ryan WHEELER: 21 yr. old Midfield: Local boy “Naught” played Gwent County football for A.C. Pontymister until finally making the step up to us in July 2019. He made an impact from day one, we regret him not joining us sooner. He has great close control and a great engine with a never say die attitude and was another who had a big say in our promotion to the Cymru South.

Jason BERTORELLI: 35 yr old. Forward: New signing, Jason has joined us from Pontyclun on transfer deadline day. An experienced forward whose previous clubs include Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC, Taffs Well and Port Talbot Town. We are looking forward to seeing Jason in action.

Leon THOMAS: 20 year old Forward: Caerphilly boy Leon signed for our Academy in 2015 where he quickly progressed and went on to be an important member of our Cymru Development team as well as breaking into the senior side a couple of seasons ago. Great first touch and loves drifting past defenders.

Tom BERRY: 24 yr. old Forward: Newport boy Tom has a stocky build but don`t be fooled, he has great ball control, is physically very strong and combines it with a powerful shot. Spent time with Newport County as a youngster and was another member of the unbeatable Monmouth Town Youth champions of 2016. Has been with us since and is another who helped us secure promotion to this level.

Matthew THOMAS: 28 yr. old Forward: Local boy “Tuna” played Gwent County football for home town Abercarn before joining us in Jan. 2015 before moving onto a short spell with Cinderford Town inbetween a couple of seasons in the Cymru Premier for Carmarthen Town. He returned to us in 2017 to pick up where he left off. He may be a striker but is often our first line of defence, his work rate in every game is a great example to his team mates.

Jake MORRIS: 16 yr. old. Forward: This well built young striker hails from Bargoed and spent two seasons with Swansea City from the age of 11. He joined our Academy in 2018 where he has continued to catch the eye. At such a young age to be included at this level of football shows he has the Managers trust. We look forward to seeing how far he can advance.

Ethan EDWARDS: 18 yr. old. Forward: Ethan started with our Academy in 2015 in the U12s where he quickly progressed and was a key member of the National Academy Championship winning squad. After a few seasons away he has become an important member of our Cymru Development team and has recently broken into the senior side. Electric pace, a nightmare for defenders and has an eye for goal.

PORT TALBOT TOWN V CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH VALE

PORT TALBOT TOWN V CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH VALE

PORT TALBOT TOWN V CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH VALE

PORT TALBOT TOWN V CAMBRIAN & CLYDACH VALE

PORT TALBOT TOWN V PONTYPRIDD

PORT TALBOT TOWN V PONTYPRIDD

PORT TALBOT TOWN V PONTYPRIDD

PHOTO BY LEWIS MITCHELL

POS.

CLUB

PLAYED WON

DRAWN LOST GF

GA

GD

PD

PTS.

1

Llantwit Major

24

18

2

4

56

27

29

–

56

2

Pontypridd Town

25

16

6

3

67

26

41

–

54

3

Briton Ferry Llansawel

25

14

5

6

66

30

36

–

47

4

Goytre United

24

14

4

6

47

25

22

–

46

5

Cambrian and Clydach Vale

25

13

6

6

63

35

28

–

45

6

Carmarthen Town

25

12

8

5

40

21

19

–

41

7

Taffs Well

25

11

6

8

49

43

6

–

39

8

Llanelli Town

26

10

7

9

41

41

0

–

37

9

Swansea University

25

10

6

9

37

33

4

–

36

10

Cwmbran Celtic

25

10

2

13

37

58

-21

–

32

11

Afan Lido

26

9

3

14

39

65

-26

–

30

12

Trefelin BGC

25

7

8

10

50

47

3

–

29

13

Ammanford AFC

25

8

3

14

51

49

2

–

27

14

Risca United

25

6

7

12

36

44

-8

–

25

15

Undy Athletic

25

5

1

19

39

71

-32

–

16

16

Port Talbot Town

25

0

0

25

7

110

-103

–

0

TOP SCORER

CLUB

GOALS

PORT TALBOT TOWN TOP SCORER GOALS

1

T. WALTERS

LLANTWIT MAJOR

20

1

D. HUGHES

3

2

T. JENKINS

AMMANFORD AFC

20

2

S. WILLIAMS

2

3

S. JOHNSON

PONTYPRIDD TOWN

17

3

J. BARROW

1

4

L. THOMAS

CARMARTHEN TOWN

17

4

A.BRAYLEY

1

5

D. LYON

TAFFS WELL FC

15

5

F. JONES

1

PORT TALBOT TOWN MANAGEMENT TEAM

Technical Director—GRANT KALAHAR MANAGER- CONOR McGAHARAN COACH- BEN ADAMS Coach- Paul Barrow

JAMES DONNELLY GK HENRI PHILLIPS GK ELISANGELO QUENI GK JOEL QUENI LOGAN BOWKETT ALEX BRAYLEY BEN COLE ARRON GARRETT RYAN GARLAND SAM WADE LEWIS REED LEWIS DAVIES NAT MORGAN LEWIS ROBINSON MANNY MALONEY JENSON CORY BLESS KIM IVAN MBIKA MANGUE SION WILLIAMS JAKE BARROW EVANS-BRIGHT ATAYI ALEX ALDRICH JORDAN MAJOR RYAN LEA

P

Management Team Coach - Marc INGLES

S.BERRY

MANAGER— CONOR McGAHARAN

SQUAD PLAYER

RISCA UNITED

Coach - Jeff REYNOLDS

SQUAD PLAYER

P

Joe MASSARO Ricky HODGE Callum HODGES Arthur FURNESS Paul PARRY Connor HANFORD Dan SPENCER Jack ALDERDICE Josh CLAYTON (C) Callum PORTER Ryan WHEELER Lewis ELLIS Tom GAMESON Sam PALMER Morgan STEAD Harvey SELLWAY Will BEVAN Sean FEELEY Camden DUNCAN Leon THOMAS Matthew THOMAS Tom BERRY Ethan EDWARDS Jake MORRIS

REFEREE :

1ST ASSISTANT REFEREE :

2ND ASSISTANT REFEREE :

Joshua Lewis Howells

Lewys Theo Wyn Evans

Darren Robert Hales