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The
histories
of
Aberdare
Town
and
Aberaman
Athletic,
clubs
separately
formed
in
1892,
have
been
intertwined for over 90 years.
In
the
early
years,
Aberdare
were
the
most
successful,
dominating
the
then
Glamorgan
leagues
and
in
the
new
domestic
format,
winning the Welsh League in its inaugural season of 1905 with further success in 1909, 1912 and 1921.
We were also finalists in the Welsh Cup on three occasions during that period.
Aberaman
Athletic
also
reached
a
Welsh
Cup
final
in
1903
and
won
three
South
Wales
and
Monmouthshire
Cup
finals
before
the outbreak of the First World War.
In
1920
Aberdare
Town
re-formed
as
Aberdare
Athletic
and
the
fledgling
club
entered
both
the
Southern
league
and
Welsh
League
finishing
runners
up
and
champions
respectively.
It
is
interesting
to
note
that
the
local
Welsh
League
derby
with
Aberaman in that season attracted a crowd of 8,000.
The
summer
of
1921
produced
an
extraordinary
chapter
in
our
history
when
we
were
elected
to
the
Football
League
–
one
of
only six Welsh clubs to do so – the others being Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County and Merthyr Town.
With
a
population
of
75,000
and
a
ground
capacity
of
23,000
at
the
Ynys
Stadium
allied
with
a
strong
“marketing”
campaign,
we
topped the poll for election to the Third division being joined by Charlton Athletic.
We
spent
the
years,
1921-1927
in
Division
3
(South),
for
younger
readers
the
equivalent
to
League
1,
with
a
best
finishing
position
of
8th
and
a
highest
home
gate
recorded
at
16,000
against
the
then
mighty
Preston
North
End
for
a
third
round
FA
Cup
tie in 1923.
On
7
November
1923
fire
destroyed
the
main
stand
and
offices
along
with
all
the
players'
kit.
An
appeal
for
help
led
to
the
donation
of
boots
from
all
over
the
district
and
for
their
next
home
game
against
Brighton,
the
team
wore
amber
and
black
striped tops, possibly given to them by Newport County.
Alas,
with
the
beginning
of
the
Great
Depression
bringing
severe
unemployment
to
the
area
and
the
knock
on
effect
of
lower
crowds
and
thereby
income
to
sustain
a
Football
League
club,
our
days
were
numbered
and
we
were
replaced
at
the
end
of
1927 by Torquay United.
A controversial merger followed with who had become the junior club, Aberaman Athletic.
The
sale
of
the
Ynys
Stadium
in
the
town
centre
and
a
move
to
Aberaman
Park,
saw
the
name
changed
to
Aberaman
Athletic
who happily more than held their own in the Welsh League.
As
an
acknowledgement
of
the
brand
of
football
exhibited,
we
were
invited
to
be
members
of
the
Football
League
Western
Division during the war years of 1939-45.
A record crowd at the Park of 2,500 attended a Cup match against Bristol City whilst participating in the league.
The
club
produced
two
stars
of
that
era
in
Welsh
international,
Bryn
Jones
who
was
sold
to
Wolves
and
then
moved
to
Arsenal
for what was at the time a transfer record between English clubs of £14,000.
From
the
neighbouring
village
of
Abercwmboi
came
Alf
Sherwood
(pictured
right)
who
was
regarded
at
his
peak
as
the
finest
left
back
in
the
British
Isles
and
who
represented
Cardiff
City
and
Wales
with
great
distinction.
One
of
Alf’s
caps
is
now
proudly
on
display in the Club house thanks to his son Robert.
Another
former
player
Jack
Smith
(who
had
played
for
both
Aberaman
and
Aberdare
went
on
to
become
the
first
ever
manager
of West Bromwich Albion in 1948.
In the late 1940’s Aberdare and Aberaman again merged for a short while before the Aberaman Athletic name was restored.
Highlights
of
that
period
included
being
runners
up
in
the
Welsh
League
to
Barry
Town
before
the
advent
of
the
Welsh
Premier,
reaching
the
final
of
the
FAW
Trophy,
and
winning
the
Welsh
League
in
2009
under
the
sponsorship
of
ENTO
and
managed
by
David Morgan.
In
2012
we
decided
for
commercial
reasons
to
rename
the
club
Aberdare
Town
and
we
can
all
look
back
with
pride
on
the
125
years of football and to a future based on our well founded ambitions to reach the Welsh Premier League.
Over
the
last
few
years
Aberdare
have
expanded
considerably,
now
having
a
Welsh
League
Division
Two
side,
a
womens
side
as well as our hugely successful mini and junior sections for both boys and girls.
Season
2017/18
was
a
difficult
one
for
the
Club
on
and
off
the
pitch
and
over
the
summer
it
was
decided
that
a
new
direction
would
be
taken
and
trying
to
get
the
Club
back
into
the
community.
As
much
as
the
change
was
needed
and
the
future
is
looking
promising
on
the
pitch
the
team
were
relegated
and
with
the
COVID-19
pandemic
hitting
in
early
2019
the
season
was
eventually
ended
by
the
Welsh
FA
on
a
points
per
game
basis
(although
the
team
still
had
11
of
their
15
home
matches
left
to
play!)
leaving
Aberdare
one
from
bottom
in
the
division
and
were
relegated
out
of
the
top
tiers
of
the
Welsh
game
for
the
first
time.
A new era is set to dawn!
Welsh League Champions
(1907, 1909, 1912, 1921)
Aberdare Valley Football League Div 2 Champions
(2017)
Gilbert Morgan Cup Winners
(2018)
Welsh Cup Runners Up
(1904, 1905, 1923)
Southern League Runners Up
(1923)
Members of Football League 3rd Division
(1921-1927)
Aberdare & Rhondda Junior Football League Champions (U12)
(2017)
Aberdare & Rhondda Junior Football League Champions (U13)
(2018)
Aberdare & Rhondda Junior Football League Cup Winners (U13)
(2018)
Aberdare & Rhondda Junior Football Mini League Bowl Winners (U13)
(2018)
South Wales Women’s & Girls League Division Three Winners (U12)
(2020)
As Aberaman…
Welsh League Champions
(2009)
Welsh League Runners Up
(1936)
Welsh League Division One Runners Up
(1990)
Welsh League Division Two Champions
(1978)
Welsh League Division Two Runners Up
(1972)
Welsh Cup Runners Up
(1903)
FAW Trophy Runners Up
(1994)
Welsh Challenge Cup Runners Up
(1939)
Welsh Amateur Cup Runners Up
(1913)
South Wales & Mon. Senior Cup
Winners
(1903)
South Wales & Mon. Amateur Cup Winners
(1912, 1913)
Abacus Youth Cup Winners
(1991, 1993, 1994)
Abacus Youth League Runners Up
(1994)
McWhirter NYL Cup Runners Up
(1994, 1995, 1996)
Astoria Youth Cup Runners Up
(1996)
Aberdare League Millenium Tournament Winners
(2000)
Aberdare Valley Under 16’s League Champions
(2007)
Tom Pugsley Under 16’s Cup Winners
(2007, 2011)
Members of the Football League Western (War Years)
(1939-1945)
Our honours
ABERDARE TOWN
FOOTBALL CLUB
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