Dial M for Merthyr

We’re not leaving. It’s been a constant thread on social media from within the Welsh domestic football  community as to why Merthyr Town are wasting our time in what is effectively Division 7  of the English pyramid. Firstly, none of them seem to understand that we love pottering around the various  Southern League grounds of England. It’s what we’ve done for over 100 years so why  would we change? They say travel broadens the mind and visits to all points east will  always bring more joy, memories and tall tales than repeated calls to university  campuses and deserted grounds for us. Secondly and more salient to this article is that the FAW has never actually reached out  to the Martyrs since our successful appeal to the initial invite to join the League of  Wales in 1992. There is always social media chatter that we should start at the bottom  of the pyramid or in Cymru South (Tier 2) but there was never clarity from the governing  bod...

Penydrarren Park can boast that it has the largest covered terrace in Welsh Football. Its an imposing, beautiful piece of theatre. Its one of the best places to watch a game of football, as the people that stand on there are witty, caring, dry and knowledgeable. Fitting that we now know it as “The Anthony Hughes Stand”. When I first started watching Merthyr as a regular in the late 80s, I’d stand centre of that stand. Halfway down it on the halfway line. I’d stand with Terry O’Keefe, Martin Lewis, Robert Davies, Mel Jenkins, Mark Horrigan and Anthony. All a few years older than me, but were all ‘LIFERS’ by that time, never missing a game and they all knew everything there was about MTFC. All of them were keen pisstakers and I had to be on my toes not to get ripped to bits. I’d known Anthony from school days – well more from St Illtyd’s church in Dowlais, where he was one of the senior Alter boys (along with Bryan James – who we also lost last year) when I first donned the red and white...