Tag: Penydarren Park

The Growth of Football in Merthyr Tydfil – part 2

Transcribed by Phil Sweet

These articles which appeared in three consecutive editions of the Merthyr Express in March 1921 are Harvey Boots’ own reminiscences of the development of three football codes in the town up to that date.  

ARTICLE 1 – MERTHYR EXPRESS 5TH MARCH 1921 (Continued)

THE GROWTH OF FOOTBALL IN MERTHYR

(By Harvey Boots)

About this time most of the veterans had dropped out of the game, and the club were in somewhat low water; Indeed, if my memory serves me well, a new club had arisen Sphinx-like from the ashes of the old one. Merthyr Alexanders, or Alexs, was the name of the new combination, and compatible with the greatly-improved play now general in Wales they possessed one of the finest back divisions that ever played for Merthyr, or, indeed I might add, any club. The following names would be conjured up by the old Rugger fraternity recalling memories of great deeds:- Bill Henry Jones, Bert Jenkins, Phil Thomas, Llew. Treharne, and last, but by no means least, J.C. (Chris) Williams, a youth, who, in the heyday of his play, could make the most strenuous opposition look small. He had the honour of being selected first reserve for Wales with the great Dicky Owen, and although the half selected to play for Wales on this occasion was unable to turn out owing to injuries, the Union Selection Committee with that great distain which no “fellar” can understand picked another player in place of our local boy, who was thus robbed – and I think that is the only word – of this Welsh Cap.

The following little incident with regard to the above-mentioned young man is quite worth repeating. We were touring the West of England one Easter, playing Lydney, Bream and Stroud. I was in charge of the team, and although Chris had retired from active participation in the game (owing to the unfortunate loss of an eye whilst playing football) we pressed him into service to play on the wing while on tour. He ran in with two or three beautiful tries against Stroud on the Easter Monday, which caused the Chairman of the Stroud Club to inquire of me who the prodigy was. On my replying that “he had practically given up football as he only had one eye”, he exclaimed “Good God! I wonder how many he would have scored if he had two!” From the sporting standpoint, and for the utmost fun to be had out of a game of football, the old Merthyr Thursdays were no doubt it. I have many happy memories of days while playing for the old Thursdays. I have a photograph now hanging in my waiting-room taken over twenty-five years ago, and it would be very interesting to recall some of the group. Among others who figure there are Ernest Biddle (now deputy Town Clerk and a director of the Merthyr Association Club), the late Tom Davies (Temple), Major D.C. Harris, Major J. E. C. Partridge (popularly known as “Birdie” who afterwards played for Newport and Blackheath) D. J. Thomas (Hetts), the Brothers Thomas (then known as Thomas the Tea Shop), Percy Ward, the late Gwill and Howell Thomas (the latter of whom it may be truly said, was one of the best sports that ever kicked a Rugby football. He was captain of the Thursday team for more years than I care to remember, and his whole-hearted enthusiasm for the game was wonderful. He was a man who never knew when he was beaten, and a grafter to the very last. Under his leadership we had a very successful leadership, and at that time the team was considered the best mid-week team in Wales.

Our great fixture in those days to which we all made a special effort to get to was with Brecon College. The departure on Thursday morning in Thorney’s four-horse brake – there were no motor charabancs in those days – was sight to behold, and the return (triumphant or otherwise) was an even more wonderful picture. At that time Brecon College team contained boys who were destined to make history in Welsh football. Who hasn’t heard of Teddy Morgan, W.M. Llewellyn and A. F. Harding? Llew Thomas, a Welsh International, was a master there at this time, and always turned out with the boys.

Coming down to more recent history, and the real reason for this article, a new Merthyr Saturday Team had now been created. The Alexs were defunct; many of them had been lured over to the Northern Union game, and so had left the district to play for these Northern Clubs, but the old game was not allowed to flag. A new power had arisen to control the destines of the game. I refer to the late W. T. Jones, known to all and sundry as “Jones of Wales”. A man who worked early and late, in and out of season for the love of the game. I often wonder what “Poor old Bill” would say if it were possible for him to see the fruits of his early labours by taking a peek at Penydarren Park some Saturday afternoon as we see it to-day? But alas! He left us just as the old ship that he steered for so long was just about to make harbour.

We had at this time the best club that probably ever represented the old town. Penydarren Park had been secured permanently for sport, football etc., by a representative body of gentleman comprising, I believe, the late Mr. J. Plews, Mr. H. W. Southey, Mr. Aneurin Jones, Mr. A. J. Howfield, Mr. Gomer Thomas, Mr. D. C. Harris, Dr. Biddle, Mr. W. W. Meredith and others whose names, for the moment, escape me. The club was flourishing as never before, and we were on the high road to obtain fixtures with the leading clubs of the country.

Another body of gentlemen had now sub-let the Park from the afore-mentioned for the purpose of making a ground second to none – Dr Llewellyn Jones, Mr. W. B. Harris, the late Joe Jones (Manchester House), the late Howell Thomas, D. C. Davies, Mr. Sam Dix, of the Tiger Hotel,(which at that time was the headquarters of the football club), the late W. T. Jones (who acted as secretary) and myself (as chairman).

To be continued…..

The Growth of Football in Merthyr Tydfil – part 1

Transcribed by Phil Sweet

These articles which appeared in three consecutive editions of the Merthyr Express in March 1921 are Harvey Boots’ own reminiscences of the development of three football codes in the town up to that date.  

ARTICLE 1 MERTHYR EXPRESS 5TH MARCH 1921

THE GROWTH OF FOOTBALL IN MERTHYR

(By Harvey Boots)

While sitting in the grand stand and gazing around at the sea of faces assembled on Penydarren Park to watch Merthyr and Swansea play some weeks ago, my mind naturally reverted back to know what would be considered the “old days.” Sitting behind me was a personality who, probably, had as much to do with the assembling of that vast crowd as anyone in the history of Merthyr football. The gentleman I refer to is now a successful London businessman known as Mr. J. H. Evans, better known to the football fraternity as “John Ben”. My reasons for opening with this statement will appear later on in a subsequent article. Sitting next to me on the occasion referred to was the genial Editor of the Merthyr Express, who, after hearing our conversation about old times, etc., asked me point blank if I could manage to give him a few lines for the Merthyr Express on Merthyr’s football history as far as I could go. The bait was skilfully laid; I nibbled, and here I am – hooked. As I have no data to go upon, but simply giving a short history of my own recollections, there will obviously be a few inaccuracies which, I trust, will be excused and, at the same time, be non-controversial.

In my early days Rugby was the only code in the district, as a Soccer ball was quite a rare event, and so this portion of my story will be entirely of the Rugby game. My earliest memories recall to mind some of those giants of the past whom I used to see deporting themselves of the old game. Indeed, I have an old photograph before me now (kindly lent me by Mr. E. Beynon, of Abercanaid), and it would be interesting to recall some of the names of the group, vis, J.T. Harrup, Gomer Thomas, Arthur Howfield, the late Major H.H. Southey, J. Beynon, Tom Morgan, Jenkin Williams (Cowbridge), Ivor Thomas, son of Mr. William Rees Thomas (chemist), Claude Biddle, T.T. Fryer, the late Gwilym Thomas and Howell Thomas, Crad Evans (son of the late Roger Evans, draper) Tommy Elliott, W.R Southey and Joe Jones (Manchester House). At that time the playing venue was at the Goitre Field – quite a good walk both before and after, a match. A little later we come to another period when I recall the names of Fred Beddoe, G. Truran, “John Ben”, and Shenkin Davies.

At this period, or it may be prior to this, the playing pitch was Penydarren Park, which was quite a different proposition from what it is to-day. In those days there were numerous trees in the ground then utilised, and often the players, while careering down the field, would come in contact with one of those obstacles and become hors de combat. Indeed, I believe it is on record that several very serious accidents occurred from this source. About this time Mr. W. H. Baker, The Garage, used to bring a team from Newport on Good Friday to play for the benefit of the Railwaymen’s Society, and I believe he, with one or two others, was largely responsible for approaching Major Morgan, Bolgoed, with a view to having the trees removed; which was subsequently done. In those days the various playing pitches were anything but deluxe, and bathing accommodation often consisted of three or four tubs in some back room of whatever hostelry happened to be the headquarters of the team we were playing. On a particularly muddy day the biggest sprint of all was after the game to be one of the first “to tub”. The condition of the water for the last bathers can better be imagined than described. Hot and cold showers, massage, etc. were an unknown luxury in those days. But in spite of those little drawbacks the game was played with a zeal that to-day would be truly refreshing. The fun and good fellowship we used to get out of our football more than compensated for those little inconveniences. I remember one incident en passant which occurred when we were playing Bedford at the latter place. We were getting beaten for possession of the ball in the scrum, and our captain, who was also a forward, and shall be called “X” shouted out, “There is somebody not pushing, who is it?” Promptly, came the reply from poor old Crad Evans (a great wit, now, alas no more!) “I think it’s “X” naming the captain.”

To be continued….

Harvey Boots

by Phil Sweet

“For thirty years Mr. Boots associated himself with every progressive movement in the town and was a zealous and active worker in every good cause.”

This comment, which appeared in the Merthyr Express of November 10th 1923 in an article describing the occasion to honour Mr. Boots that was held three days earlier at the Belle Vue Hotel aptly sums up the contribution to the cultural and civic life of the Borough in the last decade of the Nineteenth and first two decades of the Twentieth Century by H. Harvey Boots.

Born in Aberbeeg and the brother of Welsh Rugby international, George Boots, Boots would embark on a career as a dentist. After being articled to Mr. Gill Williams of Newport Harvey Boots came to Merthyr in 1891 as an assistant to Mr. Musgrove with whom he completed his articles. After gaining further experience as a dentist in Croydon, Southsea and Bristol, Boots returned to Merthyr in 1896 and opened his own dental practice in the High Street.

Aside from his career as a dentist Harvey Boots made a valuable and pioneering contribution to the sporting life of the town. Initially his focus was on the rugby field where he turned out for both Merthyr Thursdays and Merthyr RFC, serving as chairman of the latter organisation whilst still turning out as player.

Boots also served as the first chairman of the Merthyr Athletic Club which had leased Penydarren Park from the Bolgoed Estate and was responsible for converting the site into a sporting arena. With the demise of the rugby union club Boots switched his attention to Merthyr Town AFC becoming their first chairman of directors. A true sporting all-rounder, Boots was also a keen bowls player and golfer being a member of first the Morlais and later the Cilsanws golf clubs, while he was also in great demand as an MC for whist drives.

Away from the sporting sphere Harvey Boots was a keen horticulturalist serving as vice-chairman of the Merthyr Horticultural Society and winning many prizes for his carnations while he also found the time to take an active interest in the Scout Movement in the town.

During the Great War although he was unable to volunteer for the armed forces Boots served as a special constable in the Borough and acted as honorary dentist to the Knighton Red Cross Hospital and travelled to Knighton every week free of charge and at his own expense to attend to wounded soldiers sent home from the front, actions which led to him receiving the diploma of the Red Cross & St. John Society.

In addition to the above Harvey Boots also played a prominent and active part in the public life of the town. After the Great War he was elected as the first chairman of the newly formed Merthyr Ratepayers Association. A lifelong member of the Constitutional Party Boots was one of the original members of the Constitutional Club in Thomastown. Furthermore, he was a devoted churchgoer serving as a sidesman in St. David’s Church and secretary of the Parochial Quota Fund.

A married man with two daughters Boots left Merthyr in the summer of 1923 for Great Yarmouth where he had purchased a large dental practice in the hope that the sea air would prove to be more beneficial for his health.

Over the next few months, various articles written by Harvey Boots will appear in this blog.

Memories of Old Merthyr

We conclude our serialisation of the memories of Merthyr in the 1830’s by an un-named correspondent to the Merthyr Express, courtesy of Michael Donovan.

© William Menelaus (1818-1882); Hagarty, Parker; Cardiff University; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/william-menelaus-18181882-15929

To some it is probable that to say much of Dowlais and leave the name of Mr Wm. Menelaus not prominently mentioned is like enacting the play “Hamlet” and leave out Hamlet himself. To such it is fair to say my knowledge of the place is antecedent to meeting with that gentleman prior to his going there. That he did much to keep up the prestige of the place is truthfully admitted. That he did not accomplish all his desires is also a fact; his intention and actual conversion of some portion of the works to another branch of manufacture can be doubtless recalled by many. Let me bear my humble tribute to his memory. Wishing Dowlais well, I will now part with it, and hope its future will be prosperous.

Instead of returning to Merthyr by the road, let us take a pleasanter way, and, mounting some steps by the roadside at Gellifaelog, cross by the footpath over a field or two, and then take the lane (or maybe paved road) back, passing by Gwaunfarren across the limestone tramroad there (there was also a limekiln close by), and we are close to the Penydarren Park again.

Before making my congé, let me recall some things that are now gone, most probably gone forever. One is the ‘Merched y Wern’ from Neath; they were well known, Their vocation in life some 60 or 70 years ago was to go to Swansea Pottery, and, getting a large crate or basket, in reality of ware, return to Neath upon the next morning loaded with the ware, walk to Merthyr to dispose of it. They were necessarily hardy and masculine. During their walks shoes or boots, as well as stockings, were taken off, only to be put on when entering a populous place. They were generally reputed to be well able to protect themselves. Generally there were two, three or four together, and evil betide any who raised their wrath. There is a tale of a man having said something being induced to accompany them for awhile, when at a suitable place he was denuded of clothing and bound a la Mazeppa – not to a horse but to a tree. Cwm-ynys Minton, not far from the Gelly Tarw junction, is the locus in quo of the episode.

Another class that has passed away are the old butter carriers, who, with their cart and horse, took weekly journeys from various parts of Carmarthenshire. They travelled 36 or even 48 hours at a stretch. Occasionally two or three would be in company; at night, some were thus able to sleep in their carts.

Then again there were the sand girls who earned a livelihood by gathering the stones from the river, calcining them and by ‘pounding’ reduce them to sand for use for domestic purposes. There are some stones far more suitable than others for this purpose – those of the silicious kind being more in request. However clear of them the river might be occasionally, a heavy flood brought down another stock, and so it went on. I am not aware if any such an employment now exists, but formerly the river from Caepantywyll to the bottom of Caedraw was the hunting ground of the sand girls.

The River Taff below Jackson’s Bridge, possibly showing some sand girls collecting stones. Reproduced by permission of The National Library of Wales Creative Archive Licence

The produce of the works, too, has undergone a strange metamorphosis. Not only are there no iron bars now made for tin works, but split rods have ceased to be so, and, while formerly large cargoes of ‘cable iron’ went to the Grecian Archipelago and other places in the Mediterranean, in vain should I look in all of South Wales for a bar bent to the shape of the camel’s back for conveyance across the desert. Advisedly, I say thousands of tons have gone from Merthyr for such a mode of conveyance.

‘Cable’ iron was also made, but if made now cannot be made from similar materials to what it used to be. I do not know of any South Wales works making cold blast all mine iron, but, if there is such it certainly not contiguous to Merthyr, where it was at one time made. Do not, however, suppose I consider Merthyr drawing to the close of its career:

“For I doubt not through the ages an increasing purpose runs,
And the thoughts of men are widened by the process of the suns”

Here for the present do I close but if “The sunset of life gives me mystified life” and coming events cast their shadows before my brain, I may endeavour to say a few words respecting “What of the future?”

Merthyr Town Soccer Team

Following on form the recent article about Penydarren Park, below is an excerpt from the Evening Express 115 years ago today….

Evening Express – 4 August 1909

Top Row:- Edwin C Dow (goal), Sam Wightman (left back), William Davies (right back), Samuel Houshall (half back).

Second Row:- George Churchill (left half), William Bromley (centre half), Peter Kelly (right half)

Bottom Row:- James Whittaker (outside left), Frank Pemberton (inside left), James Wootton (inside right), Alexander Tait (half back).

Merthyr Memories: Penydarren Park – part 2

by Allan ‘Salty’ Jones

It was only when I was thinking about this short article that it dawned on me what a dramatic slump there had been in 1953 and 1954. Crowds of thousands in 1951 fell to a couple of hundred in 1954. I can remember the very successful manager being criticised for letting the all the team grow old together, and how he had failed to introduce some new blood into the team.

In 1954, when I was 10, we had a Welsh Cup replay game in mid-week at the Park against Llanelly. It was an afternoon kick-off because we had no floodlights, and I wanted to go to the game. My mother was adamant that I had to go to school which was just around the corner from my house. We were lining up to go back into school when my teacher, Mr Granville Davies, asked me why I was crying. I explained that Merthyr were playing in the Cup and my mother had insisted that I had to go to school. Being the kind-hearted man he was, he told me to go and tell my mother that it was OK for me to go to the game. I could not be seen for dust.

Neither Merthyr nor Llanelly were at their prime, and even to a young boy, Merthyr were playing badly. The small crowd was getting at our own players because they were losing, and then one of our players, Johnny Reed, who had signed from Gloucester City, broke his leg. The crack was heard all over the ground. This was the final straw for many of our supporters and they dwindled away as a cup exit looked inevitable. As they say, football is a funny game, and Merthyr took the match into extra time. The heroic ten players went on to win 3-2, in what was to me a life-long memorable game.

I continued to support the Martyrs with my brother every game up to about 1963, when I became Secretary and player of Horeb Chapel Youth F.C. in the local league. I held this position for 17 years and, as such, was unable to go to the Park for Saturday games, but I was there without fail for the mid-week fixtures, without doubt one of the most memorable of these for me was the first game under lights in about 1965. Harry Griffiths was the manager and he had gathered together and excellent team. Wimbledon were the visitors and although the game ended 2-2, it was a great game.

Horeb Chapel AFC 1960s. I am middle row, third from left.

I will always remember one funny story of when Harry first came to us. He was introducing the trainer, and he introduced a man involved with the Welsh League side as Mr Billy Marvel. Quite a few present nearly choked as this was Billy’s nickname – his real name was Evans.

There were some dire times for the Club in the late sixties, and I can remember one occasion when we were really scraping the bottom of the barrel for a team to go to Rugby. I was asked if I would go, and I readily agreed although I fully appreciated my shortcomings. I think we were unluck to lose 7-0, but it was my claim to fame that I played Southern League football for the Martyrs. I also played for the Welsh League and I am proud of my record in that I scored in every game. Played one, scored one, and the famous venue was Swansea University.

In the early ‘80s I returned to the Park for all games, even though I had been appointed the Secretary of the Merthyr Tydfil Association Football League in 1984. My appointment was the consequence of the very sudden death of a man I held in the highest esteem. John V Bevan D.F.M. had been secretary of the League for 37 years at the time of his death, and I am certain that this record will never be surpassed.

The great seasons of the mid ‘80s to early ‘90s will always remain with me. Two Championship wins, the Welsh Cup success, and of course European football at the Park. The win over Atalanta must rank with the very best and the trip to Bergamo for the return leg holds unforgettable memories. Since then, there have been more troubled times, but I hope that the wheel of fortune is going to turn our way in the future.

Do you have any memories of Merthyr you would like to share? It doesn’t have to be about sport – it could be about anything you like – school, work, chapel, church, play. Anything you would like to share, please get in touch at merthyr.history@gmail.com

Merthyr Memories: Penydarren Park – part 1

by Allan ‘Salty’ Jones

It was as a seven-year-old boy in 1951 that I first made my way to Penydarren Park to see the Martyrs. Together with my younger brother Grenville and my father, we would either walk the short distance from Penydarren or catch the bus to the Theatre Royal. We would then join the large crowd on the Promenade and gain entry to the ground at the Theatre end.

Sometimes, manning one of the turnstiles would be my uncle, John Rees (right). John, a remarkable man, was also the club’s groundsman. He did his job despite having two artificial legs from just below the knee. Penydarren Park at this time was a very heavy venue and I can picture, even now, my uncle forking the ground to remove the excess water and his artificial legs would be sinking into the mud. To have an uncle who was in the inner sanctum of the Club used to make me feel very proud.

We used to watch the games from the Theatre end, sitting on the wooden fencing behind the goal. My father used to go a little way back into the crowd. The atmosphere was terrific, which was particularly caused by the great success the club had achieved during the late ‘40s and its continued success. I cannot remember seeing the great Bill Hullett play, but the side I can still picture vividly is:- Sellick, Avery, Phillips, Lloyd, Lowe and Richards, Davies, Squires, Reynolds, Jarman, Powell.

Merthyr Town A.F.C. 1952. Photo courtesy of David Watkins

We were always playing football in the streets as there were not many cars around. On home days, Stan Davies the right wing of the above team, used to walk through the street carrying his boots in a small bag, on his way to Penydarren Park. One of our heroes walking through my street! Not long after, another of Merthyr’s famous football sons used to walk through my street to play for the Town. Ronnie Skyrme used to live in the next street, Church Street, and it was always a thrill to see him walking to a game. Ronnie was later transferred to Tonbridge.

On returning home from the match, we would again go out to play football. Some of the players would have a distinctive way of wearing their kit, and in our own innocent way we would try to copy them. We would give ourselves their names and shout for example, “Good shot Dego” (Trevor Reynolds’ nickname) or “Well saved Bert”, for Bert Sellick and “What a goal Shenkin”.

I could go on for quite a while reminiscing about this team but suffice it to say that who can forget the silky skills of Squires, Jarman and Dai Lloyd; the thunderous shot of Shenkin Powell and the sliding tackles of Ralph Avery. Two reserve players also come to mind from this era: Des Jackson, who I believe came from Glynneath, a village in which my father worked for 50 years in the coal mine. The other was Andy Mulgrew, a little Irish winger, and the much bigger Trevor Reynolds used to look after him like a father.

There were some great derby games at that time, for example Hereford United, and I can remember the big Aberfan born and Welsh Amateur international Gwyn Groves playing so well for them in goal. Another famous Merthyr man appeared in the Hereford team at this time – Cyril Beech. Cyril later went on to become a very successful scout, and amongst his discoveries were John Hartson and Mark Pembridge. Gloucester City, Worcester City and Bath City were always hard-fought games, and I can remember on one occasion the great Charlie Fleming turning out for Bath City. What games!

And what about the Welsh teams? Lovells Athletic with Ray Cross in goal and George Lowrie at centre forward; Barry Town and Llanelly were always keenly contested games, and ones which I like to think were never lost.

To be continued…..

They Managed Merthyr Town

by Phil Sweet

BACKGROUND

During the first half of the Twentieth Century, the manager’s job was very different to what it is today. In this era managers were generally given the title of Secretary-Manager and were responsible for signing players and the day-to-day running of the club. Much of the training and ‘tactics’ were generally left to the Trainer who would sometimes consult senior players. Team selection was normally left to the committee or board of directors.

What follows is a series of biographies of those individuals who ‘managed’ Merthyr Town, a job when the club was a member of the Football League in the 1920s, which was widely regarded as being one of the toughest in British football due to the massive financial problems facing the club as unemployment mounted year on year in the Borough.

THE EARLY ‘MANAGERS’

DAVID THOMAS MANTLE

David Thomas Mantle was the first Secretary-Manager of Merthyr Town. He was appointed in June 1908 and was assisted as Trainer by Sam Collins, a local insurance superintendent and trained masseur. Mantle arrived at Penydarren Park with a good pedigree having won the South Wales Cup with Ton Pentre the previous season. However, Mantle’s stay at Penydarren Park was to be a short one as he left in October 1908 to return to Ton Pentre. In 1912 he was banned from football for life having being found guilty by the Football Association of Wales of making illegal payments to players.

Following Mantle’s departure, Sam Collins continued as Trainer and the secretarial duties were taken over by Mr. W.H. Parry a local solicitor. Parry was himself replaced as Secretary for the 1909-10 season by Mr. W.T. Jones, a former Secretary of Merthyr R.F.C. and a member of the committee of Merthyr Athletic Club – the body that controlled Penydarren Park at that time.

ALBERT FISHER

Albert Fisher joined Merthyr Town in 1909 after a lengthy playing career in the Football and Southern Leagues. He was appointed Secretary-Manager in 1910 and the following season led the club to the Glamorgan League championship.

Season 1911-12 saw Fisher’s Merthyr Town team capture the South Wales Cup and pip Portsmouth on goal average to finish champions of the Second Division of the Southern League. Fisher left Penydarren Park in the summer of 1913 to become Notts County’s first Secretary-Manager and he marked his first season in charge by winning the Second Division Championship.

The 1922-23 season saw Fisher’s Nott’s County side reach the F.A. Cup semi-final where they were defeated by Huddersfield Town. In May 1922 Fisher took Nott’s County to Barcelona to play in tournament to mark the opening of Barca’s Les Corts stadium. Nott’s County’s notorious offside tactics didn’t endear themselves to the home crowd as they beat Barcelona by 4 goals to 2. For the second match against their hosts, County dropped their controversial playing style yet still secured a 1-1 draw.

The Notts County team in Barcelona – Fisher is on the far left

Season 1924-25 saw County return to the First Division as Second Division champions. Albert Fisher remained with Nott’s County until the summer of 1927. He never managed again and died in 1937.

DAVID M. BUCHANAN

Former Leyton manager David M. Buchanan joined Merthyr Town in August 1913. However, his first season in charge saw Merthyr Town relegated from the Southern League First Division. The following year Buchanan fared slightly better. He took the team to Highbury for an F.A. Cup tie against Arsenal and narrowly missed out on promotion.

In later years he served as Charlton Athletic’s Assistant-Manager and Trainer (1925-28) and managed Thames F.C. (1928-31). In a bizarre twist of fate Buchanan was succeeded as Charlton manager by Merthyr Town manager Albert Lindon whilst Thames FC was the team who replaced the Martyrs in the Football League.

HARRY HADLEY 

England international Harry Hadley enjoyed a long and distinguished playing career with, amongst others, Aston Villa and W.B.A. before being appointed Merthyr Town Secretary-Manager in May 1919. He was in charge for the first Football League fixture against Crystal Palace and led the club to an eighth-place finish at the end of the 1920-21 season. Hadley resigned in October 1921 following a difference of policy with the board of directors.

In April 1922 Hadley was named as manager of  Chesterfield where he remained until August 1922 before taking up a staff appointment with Manchester United.

In November 1927 Hadley was appointed as manager of Aberdare. This was a very difficult appointment as the club was officially known as Aberdare and Aberaman.

Following the demise of Aberdare in the summer of 1928 Hadley worked as an agent for several Football League clubs.

In late September 1930 Hadley became Secretary-Manager of Merthyr Town for the second time, a post he held until the demise of the club in the summer of 1934.

JAMES McPHERSON

James McPherson joined Merthyr Town as Trainer in the summer of 1921. His background was in athletics having previously been Trainer to the Norwegian Olympic team.

Following the resignation of Harry Hadley, McPherson was given the sole responsibility of looking after the players. A mid-table finish at the end of the 1921-22 season led to the Board appointing McPherson as Manager in April 1922.However, after a challenging 1922-23 season McPherson left Merthyr Town at the end of the campaign

THOMAS DANIEL JONES

A pioneer of the association football code in South Wales, Jones, a native of Aberdare, was a former Welsh International and had served as a Secretary of Aberdare F.C. and a FAW Vice-President.

A solicitor by profession Jones was appointed Merthyr Town Secretary-Manager in July 1923. Despite finishing in a creditable 13th position in the Third Division South, Jones tendered his resignation at the end of the 1923-24 season.

ALBERT LINDON

Albert Lindon was very much ‘Mr. Merthyr Town’ He joined Merthyr Town in the summer of 1920 after spells at Birmingham, Aston Villa, Barnsley and Coventry City. A giant goalkeeper, he made a record 250 Football League appearances for Merthyr Town, scoring 1 goal.

Lindon was appointed Player-Manager in August 1924 for the princely sum of £1 a week on top of his playing contract!

He remained in charge at Penydarren Park until January 1928 when he was appointed Manager of Charlton Athletic. One of the last things Lindon had to do before leaving the town was to get married by special licence.

Lindon served Charlton in a number of capacities until March 1934. He subsequently joined Arsenal where he eventually ended up as chief scout before returning to Penydarren Park in May 1947 to manage Merthyr Tydfil AFC. Lindon remained at Penydarren Park until December 1949 by which time the team had won the Southern League Championship, the Welsh Cup and the Southern League Cup.

He then joined Cardiff City as a scout eventually becoming assistant manager before returning to manage Merthyr Tydfil AFC in the 1957-58 and 1958-59 seasons. He then became a scout for Swindon Town and then Newport County. During his managerial career Lindon reckoned to have discovered around 30 future international players.

THOMAS McKENNA

Tom McKenna began season 1927-28 as Charlton Athletic’s first choice goalkeeper. However, he lost his place following Albert Lindon’s arrival at The Valley and in the summer of 1928, McKenna joined Merthyr Town.

In November 1928 the Board surprisingly offered McKenna the manager’s job. At just 26 he was the youngest manager in the entire Football League. However, McKenna lasted just six months in the hot seat and he left Penydarren Park in the summer of 1929 to join Southend United.

SAM GIBBON

A local grocer Sam Gibbon headed a syndicate that took control of the Club in the summer of 1928 after the old company had gone into liquidation.

Despite enduring a tough 1928-29 season where he was forced to sell his own son to Fulham in order to try and make ends meet, Gibbon, who was the main financial backer, decided to carry on.

However, financial circumstances meant that he was unable to afford the cost of a manager. As a result, Gibbon was forced to supervise the training sessions himself.

The 1929-30 season proved to be disastrous for Merthyr Town. The club finished the campaign rooted to the foot of the table with just 21 points from their 42 matches. Consequently, it came as little surprise when the Club failed to secure re-election to the Football League.

In the light of these circumstances Sam Gibbon severed his connections with the Club. Sam Gibbon’s association with Merthyr Town cost him well over £2,500 (around £200,000 today) – a figure which would have been much higher but for the sale of players.

Memories of Old Merthyr Tydfil

We continue our serialisation of the memories of Merthyr in the 1830’s by an un-named correspondent to the Merthyr Express, courtesy of Michael Donovan.

Bidding goodbye to Plymouth, let us walk up to Penydarren, but to fall into line with what has been previously stated, now imagine ourselves at the old turnpike gate close to the Morlais Castle Inn. The road inclining to the right must now be followed.

After a short time the tramroad from the basin would be crossed, and only a few yards previously, the branch into the works would be seen. The gates, or rather the lower gates of the works are here, and passing through, the works would be virtually surrounding you, at least the rail shed, the brickyard, an the new mill, but persons other than hauliers with their horses etc. were not allowed in that way, so we must keep to the turnpike road for a short distance, having the tramway on the left, when another gate would be come to opposite the entrance to Penydarren Park.

A composite of parts of the 1851 Ordnance Survey Map showing Penydarren House and Gardens (left) and the Penydarren Ironworks (right)

Only a few yards further on the tramway again crosses the road, and over this very crossing the turnpike gate (the Penydarren gate) was hung. The gate house on the left was only recently removed by the District Council.

The clump of buildings on the right from the entrance gate to the works was agents or other employees residences, with the offices of the works in front of them. The tramroad kept to the right, and did not rise as fast as the turnpike road. There were no houses on the right-hand side of the road until the tramroad from the Morlais Limestone Quarries had been crossed.

The first come to was occupied by Mr Morgan, the blast furnace manager, but there were some cottages on the left before coming to the tramroad. There was a brick cistern near the crossing that was made for the use of the locomotives at work on the lower, or basin road, and upon one occasion, while being filled, the boiler exploded.

Before proceeding further, let us glance at the prospect on the right. Immediately in front were the blast furnaces, five in a row and one detached, a little to the right; but before reaching them the Morlais Brook, or dingle in which it ran, would be seen, then a long incline leading up on the left. This was used for the removal of cinders or other refuse, no doubt, after the tip on the riverside had become as large as could well be. On the other side of the incline were the blast furnaces, with a large spherical wrought-iron regulator for the blast between the engine houses.

To the left of the furnace yard are, or were, the hitting shops; to the right, after the blast furnaces, was the refinery, the the smiths shop, a self-acting incline to lower coal forge and mill use; then the rod lathe, the forge (or puddling forge) followed these mills where bars, sheets and slit rods were made. The rail mill was the lowest, and the sheds extended to the gates at the bottom of the works.

Penydarren Irnoworks

To be continued at a later date……