Tag: Football

Merthyr Tydfil vs. Atalanta: The story of an unforgettable upset – part 1

by Richard Hinman

Wales is a country where the oval ball dominates, yet there is one town in Mid-Glamorgan where football is a religion and eclipses everything else. Merthyr Tydfil does not roll off the tongue and will mean nothing to most fans, but they have a pedigree to match any non-league side.

Formed in the summer of 1908, the side donned their famous red and green shirts for the first time and never looked back. Just 12 years later and the club was elected into the newly formed Football League. Yet it was in the aftermath of the Second World War when Merthyr really made a name for themselves. By the end of the 1940s, they had won both the Southern League title and the Welsh Cup for the first time.

Four consecutive titles followed between 1950 and 1954 as well as another cup triumph, this time with a dramatic 3-2 final victory over Cardiff City. But, just as everything appeared to be going so well for the Glamorgan club, they were dealt a blow which would take decades to recover from.

Given their success around the time, Merthyr were one of the best non-league sides in the UK. Inevitably calls for their inclusion in the revamped Football League grew and grew. However, despite a proud tradition, the club were unable to gain election.

It is still unclear exactly why the Welsh club were refused entry but many believe the greyhound track around their home at Penydarren Park ultimately cost them. Ran like a Football League club, Merthyr struggle to cope with playing at the lower level. A period of decline took hold.

Summing up the mess that followed at Merthyr, chairman Maldwyn Davies declared himself manager in the early part of the 1970s, even though he had never played football. Unsurprisingly results slumped and gates fell to as low as 196. It looked as if the glory days at Penydarren Park had gone forever.

What Merthyr needed was strong leadership and in John Reddy they found a saviour. He took over the club at its lowest ebb in the early 1980s. Debts had mounted up and the club lacked any kind of infrastructure. But under Reddy, Merthyr re-found its identity. Crucial to this was the continued role played by club legend Ken Tucker. Having played and managed the club before, in his new position as club secretary Tucker was the man on the ground Reddy needed to implement his masterplan.

The revival was underway and a clear plan was in place. What was missing was a man on the sidelines to oversee an upturn in the fortunes on the pitch. The brief for new manager Lyn Jones in April 1985 was therefore simple: improve team performances.

A 3-1 win in the South Wales Cup final against Barry Town was a fitting start for the new man in charge and in Jones’ first full season Merthyr narrowly missed out on promotion having finished third. The following campaign saw more success at the club as they won the Southern League Merit Cup, awarded to the side who scored the most goals in the three leagues below the conference, due mainly to the goals scoring ability of Dai Webley, who netted 59 in all competitions.

A season of highs was capped by an appearance in the Welsh Cup final, following a dramatic penalty shootout triumph in the semi-final against Bangor City. “We’ve had a good side at the Park for a number of seasons, but now we have the right balance,” captain Chris Holvey, who was a lifelong Merthyr fan, said of the team Jones had put together.

After the first match at Ninian Park in Cardiff had finished 2-2, Newport County and Merthyr faced off again days later in the replay. “It was a real battle, the replay. Newport were scared of us for sure,” Holvey reminisced about his finest hour. A true captain’s display would inspire his side to a 1-0 win and the picture of Holvey lifting the trophy with a bulging black eye remains one of the most iconic images in the club’s history.

To be continued…..

Article courtesy of ‘The Gentleman Ultra’. To view the original please follow the link below.

Merthyr Tydfil vs. Atalanta: The story of an unforgettable upset

Charlie Jones

by John Simkin

Charles (Charlie) Jones was born in Troedyrhiw 120 years ago today, on 12 December 1899. He joined Cardiff City in 1920 but after playing in only one first-team game he moved to Stockport County. In his first season with the club he helped them win the Third Division North championship (1921-22).

In March 1923 Jones joined Oldham Athletic in the First Division. However, he failed to prevent them being relegated at the end of the 1922-23 season. Jones scored 5 goals in 56 games before joining Nottingham Forest in 1925.

Jones had developed into a skilful winger and was selected to play for Wales against England on 1st March 1926. Jones had a great game in his country’s 3-1 victory.

In May 1928 Herbert Chapman paid a four-figure sum for Jones. Soon afterwards Chapman signed David Jack, Cliff Bastin and Alex James. They joined a team that included Herbert Roberts, Eddie Hapgood, Tom Parker, Bob John, Alf Baker, Dan Lewis, George Male, Jimmy Brain, Joe Hulme and Jack Lambert.

Herbert Chapman gradually adapted the “WM” formation that he had introduced when he first came to the club. Herbert Roberts was the centre-half who stayed in the penalty area to break down opposing attacks. Chapman used his full-backs, Eddie Hapgood and Tom Parker, to mark the wingers. This job had previously been done by the wing-halves, who now concentrated on looking after the inside-forwards. Bob John and Alf Baker were the men he used in these positions. Dan Lewis was the goalkeeper in what became known as “defence-in-depth”. The young George Male was often used if any of the full-backs or wing-halves were injured.

Pulling the centre-half back left a gap in midfield and so Chapman needed a link man to pick up the ball from defence and to pass it on quickly to the attackers. This was the job of Alex James, who had the ability to make accurate long low passes to goalscoring forwards like Charlie Jones, David Jack, Jimmy Brain, Joe Hulme, Cliff Bastin and Jack Lambert. Chapman told the other forwards to go fast, like “flying columns” and if possible to make for goal direct.

Success was not immediate and Arsenal finished in 14th place in the 1929-30 season. Jones missed only three league games that season. They did much better in the FA Cup. Arsenal beat Birmingham City (1-0), Middlesbrough (2-0), West Ham United (3-0) and Hull City (1-0) to reach the final against Chapman’s old club, Huddersfield Town. Unfortunately, he was not selected for this game.

Herbert Chapman decided to move Jones to right-half for the 1930-31 season. Arsenal won their first five matches and did not lose until the tenth game. Aston Villa took a narrow lead but in November, 1930, Arsenal beat them 5-2 at Highbury with Cliff Bastin and David Jack scoring twice and Jack Lambert once. Sheffield Wednesday now went on a good run and for a while had a narrow lead over Arsenal. However, a 2-0 win over Wednesday in March took them to the top of the league. This was followed by victories over Grimsby Town (9-1) and Leicester City (7-2).

When Arsenal beat Liverpool 3-1 at Highbury they became the first southern club to win the First Division title. The Gunners won 28 games and lost only four and obtained 66 points, six more than the previous best total and seven more than their nearest rivals, Aston Villa.

Jones won a second First Division championship medal when playing in 16 games in the 1932-33 season. Jones was even more important in the 1933-34 season when he played in 29 league games to win his third championship medal.

Charlie Jones retired from football in the summer of 1934. He had scored seven goals in 71 league games for Arsenal. He was briefly manager of Notts County before becoming a successful businessman.

Charlie Jones died in April 1966.

To read more of John Simkin’s excellent essays, please visit:
http://spartacus-educational.com

The Jones Boys

by Trev Jones

I’m Trev Jones from Birmingham, UK and now living in Wales. Together with my wife Debbie, we spent many years researching my Jones genealogy.

This is the story of my Grandfather, his four brothers from Penyard, Merthyr Tydfil and their sons who played professional football from 1918 to 1970. One family who sent player after player to grace the teams of the football league for over 50 years. Even today, the family have members still involved in the game.

Will John (Shoni) Jones:

The eldest of 5 brothers, my Grandfather. No more than an average player, but this was the beginning and no one was to know that his brothers would go on to achieve greater things at football. Shoni turned out for Aberdare and Ton Pentre when these teams were part of the football league.

He is pictured here with Ton Pentre from the 1921/22 season when they were beaten in the Welsh cup final by Cardiff.

Ivor Jones:

Ivor began to show the same skills as his elder brother Shoni. He was signed to Merthyr Tydfil FC and it wasn’t long before he was on his way to Swansea Town. From there his talents were spotted by West Bromwich Albion where he transferred in 1921.

He was the first of the family to gain international recognition, being selected to play for Wales 10 times during his career.

Emlyn Jones:

Signed for Merthyr Town in 1933. After six weeks he was transferred to Everton, playing alongside the likes of Dixie Dean. Moved on to Southend, playing over 500 games and becoming a firm favourite with the fans. Finished his career at Barrow after which he continued playing amateur football with Shirley Town in Birmingham.

Brynmor Jones:

Bryn started his career at Merthyr Town but soon moved over to Ireland playing with Glenavon. On his return to Wales, he played for Aberaman where he was quickly signed up by Wolverhampton Wanderers. A real favourite with the Molineaux crowd who nearly rioted when he was transferred for a record £14,000 in August 1938 to Arsenal. It was front page news, knocking talk of the impending world war that was facing the UK.

Bryn was selected to play for Wales no less than 17 times. He was in the side at Cardiff that beat England 4-2 in the 1930’s. He scored that day, along with another Merthyr lad, Dai Astley.

Bertrand Jones:

Aston Villa were after the talented Bert. However, with the outbreak of World War 2, Bert was sent to Burma with the South Wales Borderers. Unfortunately, he never returned, being killed in action against the Japanese.

Ken Jones:

Ken is the son of Emlyn. He played professionally at Swansea, Southend and Gravesend, but injury put him out of the game. He wasn’t finished with the game though, and became a sports journalist with the Daily Mirror. Following on from there he became sports writer at the Sunday Mirror and then the Independent.

Has written many books on sport including boxing and of course football.

Cliff Jones:

Perhaps the most famous of the Joneses. Signed to Swansea Town in the early 1950’s, Cliff was a wizard of the wing. In 1958 he was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for another record fee, this time £35,000. He became a regular member of the Spurs first team, partnering Jimmy Greaves. The 60’s were known as the glory glory days at Tottenham, where the side were unbeatable. He was part of the double winning team of 1961 and 1962, and in the side that won the first European cup winners cup in England. Cliff was capped 58 times for Wales and collected three F.A. cup winners medals and the European cup winners medal. In 1970, after over 10 years at Spurs, he signed for Fulham where he retired from the game. He went on to teaching P.E.

Bryn Jones:

The elder brother of Cliff. He started his career as a forward but settled down to become a resolute defender. After playing at Swansea then Bournmouth he went on to captain Watford where he finished his playing career. Bill McGarry, the manager at Bournmouth says, “No player ever gave more for me, and he’s still the best full back I ever managed.”

Ivor Jones:

The youngest son of Shoni. This is my father seen here 2nd from the right back row with the England Schoolboys team at Ninian Park Cardiff in 1939. He was considered to be a full international of the future but with the war intervening and being of a somewhat shy nature declined to take up the sport as a professional.

To read the original article, please click the following link. http://joneshistory.com/the-jones-boys/

Dai Richards

110 years ago today, Dai Richards the famous Merthyr footballer was born. To mark the occasion here is another piece courtesy of John Simkin.

David (Dai) Richards was born in Abercanaid on 31 October 1908. He played football for Merthyr Town before being signed by Major Frank Buckley, the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, in 1927. Richards, who played at left-half, established himself in a first-team that included Noel George, Reg Hollingsworth, Billy Wrigglesworth, Tom Galley, Billy Hartill, Billy Barraclough, Tom Smalley and Charlie Phillips.

In the 1929-30 season Billy Hartill scored 33 goals in 36 games. Despite these goals Wolves could only finish in 9th place in the league. The following season Wolves finished 4th in the Second Division. Once again Hartill was again top scorer with 30 goals in 39 appearances. Richards was in great form and was selected to play for Wales. It was the first of 21 international caps for his country.

Billy Hartill scored 30 goals with hat-tricks against Plymouth Argyle, Bristol City, Southampton and Oldham Athletic, in the 1931-32 season and helped the club win the Second Division championship. Charlie Phillips was also in great form adding 18. The club scored 118 goals that season.

In August, 1933, Frank Buckley purchased Bryn Jones from Aberaman for a fee of £1,500. In his first season at Wolves he scored 10 goals in 27 appearances. Although very popular with the fans, Jones was unable to immediately turn Wolves into a successful side. Billy Hartill remained in good form scoring 33 goals. In the 1933-34 season they finished in 15th place in the First Division.

Richards was sold to Brentford in 1935. He had scored 5 goals in 219 games for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Over the next two seasons he played 55 games for his new club. He also played for Birmingham City (1936-38) and Walsall (1939).

Dai Richards died in 1969.

To read more of John Simkin’s excellent essays, please visit:
http://spartacus-educational.com