CROESYCEILIOG HISTORY

Croesyceiliog formed in the year of 1964 by the fifth form pupils at Croesyceiliog School when they came to an agreement with the youth warden that the club could use the school facilities. The club immediately joined the Newport & District Under 18 League with the first competitive fixture in September 1964 against Beechwood.

From the 1965-66 season Cwmbran Wanderers players joined Croesyceiliog which resulted in the club entering two teams into the Newport & District Youth League under the Croesyceiliog name and a senior team entered in the Newport & District League. In 1967/68 the senior side finished runners-up in Division 2B and entered the Gwent Premier League when it was formed in 1969. Croesyceiliog then joined the Gwent County League in 1980 as founder members and would go on to win the league on four occasions in 1983-84, 1994-95, 2001-02 & 2003-04, the latter success going unbeaten the whole season with 22 wins and 4 draws out of 26 games

Since formation the club had also won the Gwent Amateur Cup in 1976, the Gwent County Challenge Cup and the Newport & District Senior Bowl in 1983, the Gwent Senior Cup in 1986 & 1987 and the Newport & District 2B League in 1974.

The Welsh League story had a great start in 2004-05, with consecutive promotions under the management of Neil Gilmore and Chris Evans as runners up to Troedyrhiw and Pontypridd Town respectively to spend three seasons in Division 1. Following relegation in 2008-09 Croesyceiliog would play the next ten seasons in Division 2, before the league restructuring saw them play the last season of Welsh League football in Division 1, finishing in 12th position on a points per game average. The club also won the 2010 Welsh League Cup beating Goytre United 3-1 at Coychurch Road in Bridgend, Jody Jenkins, Richard Perry and Rhys Carr scoring.

Other successes including David Harris who in 1968 won a Welsh Youth cap while with the club and two years later Mike Lewis joined the club playing at centre half. He was later to have a career in Football Administration at Newport County and have roles at Reading, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Swansea City & Exeter. Four Croesyceiliog players have also progressed to play in the Football League. In 1965 Croesyceiliog born Terry Cooper joined the club and went on to play 434 games for Newport County, Notts County, Lincoln City, Scunthorpe United, Bradford City, and Rochdale.

13 years later goalkeeper Andrew Dibble joined and went on to play 397 games for Cardiff, Luton, Manchester City, Glasgow Rangers, Wrexham and various other clubs. Andy also won 3 caps for Wales.

Another goalkeeper followed Glyn Garner who went on to play 257 games for Bury, Leyton Orient and Shrewsbury, also winning one cap for Wales in a game against Trinidad & Tobago in Graz the same day a certain Gareth Bale made his bow. While more recently in 2010-11 Christian Doidge played for the club before going on to play for Dagenham & Redbridge, Forest Green Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and currently Hibernian. The club now kick off in the inaugural Ardal Southern League, South East Division, playing at their home ground of Woodland Road.

Thanks to Paul White @PMW94485907 for his continuing support and a great write up.