The season was 2004-05 and it was the birth of what would turn out to be one of the most successful teams likely ever to be seen at Aberdare Town. Two of the Aberdare Town Grasshoppers Football Club Committee were creating new offspring. Both were boys……it was the start of a dream. They were both already coaching but had a desire to carry on…..and so starts the story! Four years later the Grasshoppers had the first under 5 section in the Valley, under 7s was unheard of before and many other clubs, and indeed the FAW, were quick to copy and follow us! Several coaches, 40 kids, it was chaos! However, we all learnt from it. From those early days still with the Youth Team today were 11 players, Jenson, Josh, Shay, Cameron, Harri, Evan, Ethan, Brychan, Thomas, Aaron and Dylan. You could see from the first year that this group were a talented bunch and had plenty of praise once they started playing friendly games against local opposition! The 2022/23 seasons Youth captain Brooke joined when he was 8. Forward thinking by the Grasshopper committee and the Club moved us into becoming the Junior section of Aberdare Town and never looked back. Several teams were already interlinked and it made sense to merge, we had a thriving junior section, Aberaman (at the time) had a strong senior section but no juniors! Almost undefeated in mini football over 4 years, they took this success into the under 12s league when for the first time they played teams from the Rhondda where they won the league not losing league a game all season. At under 13s they completed a remarkable treble, winning the League and 2 Cups while for 2 years running we travelled to play Welsh Premier League academy sides in pre season friendlies, beating Newtown and narrowly losing to TNS. Gabe joined the Aber revolution and then came leagues where they were the youngest team in the league and the COVID years. Despite this they were still competitive and regularly beat teams a year older than them. By the time the youth league started the team had managed to sign Finn and Louis with Josh and Jenson rejoining from AFC Llwydcoed and were later joined by Owen, Jack, Lewis, Adam, Nono, Evan and Baz. The first season in Youth football the lads held their own and finished in 4th place, the only teams above them being made up of all 2nd and 3rd year youth boys. They would also have a good run in The FAW Youth Cup losing in the last 16 and narrowly missing out on a place in the quarter finals with a 3-2 loss at home against Garw. The second season (2022/23) Jayden joined and the youth team would go on to have an unbelievable campaign. An opening weekend win over AFC Penrhiwceiber in a local derby was a nice warm up for their entry into the FAW Youth Cup where they drew 1-1 with academy side Pontardawe and eventually losing on penalties. They only dropped two points before the end of the year in a stalemate against fellow title chasers Ynyscynon. The turn of the year saw them start the League Cup with a comprehensive 6-0 win against Ely Rangers before another run of wins in the league saw them hit the summit with those chasing them having several games in hand. Back to the League Cup and a 14-0 home win saw them move into the third round. Another two points were dropped in the return derby with AFC Penrhiwceiber and then a narrow 1-0 win against AFC Bargoed moved them into the quarter finals of the League Cup after several league games had been postponed making for a packed last few weeks of the season. The much anticipated rematch with Ynysycnon would be a title decider and Aberdare ran out 2-0 winners in what was the final game of the season saw them crowned as League Champions and mass celebrations ensued. So with half the job done all attentions then turned to the League Cup and it was an Aberaman Park thriller, in front of a packed stand, that saw them eventually overcome Canton Liberal 4-3 to reach the final. Sunday 28th May 2023 saw a huge turnout of Aberdare supporters make the journey to Rydyfelin for the South Wales Youth League Cup Final where they took on Llantwit Fadre - a 3-1 win completed the remarkable league and cup double and would once again go a season undefeated. They were double winners which, considering 16 of the squad were still eligible to play the next season, is remarkable. Long term coach Dai Lloyd decided to step down and with several players now too old and a few moving to other senior clubs it meant the team finished on that remarkable high. The future is certainly bright and with 7 youth team players already involved with the first team last year it shows how important building foundations are. Hopefully lots of the other mini and junior teams coming through the club at the moment will be as successful, it certainly looks that way at the moment.