Dial M for Merthyr

The idea to name the roundabouts in Merthyr Tydfil after Welsh football heroes from the town is a great idea and we hope that the Borough Council will support the idea emanating from the football club. Whoever thought up the idea deserves a medal for grasping the opportunity of celebrating the Welsh football team in this their greatest year but also twisting it to promote the local players who have worn that red (and not grey) shirt that represents our nation on the worldwide stage. So who should be commemorated on the thoroughfares of the Pearl and also where? Gordon Davies (Penydarren) Dai Astley (Gwernllwyn) Steve Jenkins (the roundabout outside Trefechan shops of course) Rhys Williams (Abercanaid) Moses Russell (Dowlais Top A465) Bryn Jones (Dowlais flats) Ivor Jones (Penyard) Charlie Jones (Troedyrhiw) Gavin Williams (Pentrebach/Hoovers) Jason Bowen (Gurnos) Kath Morgan (Twynyrodyn slip road) Brian Law (the new bus station?) Mark Pemb

The Hospital Cup used to be a big deal in Merthyr Tydfil between the wars. I’m not really sure of the rationale behind the tournament or even the teams that competed but it was a fine trophy that Merthyr Town won on a few occasions. I got to thinking about this old competition during a recent weekend break in Cornwall where a few of the local clubs play in a pre-season charity tournament called the Brian Biggin Cup which last season raised over £1,000 for Help for Heroes. I watched Newquay win 5-1 at Perranporth’s ground in the competition which was well supported whilst the game itself was competitive. So could we do the same in the Taff valley? A pre-season competition based on our artificial surface at Penydarren Park over the duration or perhaps a week in mid-July to raise money for Prince Charles Hospital. 8 teams; 2 groups of 4, culminating in a Final. As for clubs to join Merthyr Town, well the obvious ones would be Penydarren BC, Merthyr Saints, Aberfan SDC and Trehar

Amberleigh House has finally been demolished. It was an island of decay in our sea of revitalised commerce for a while but now the final remnants of that mythical pleasure palace Strikers have disappeared into history. Many of you will remember the place as the Jubilee Club, one of the first commercial avenues explored by the good burghers of Park Terrace back in the 70s. It was part of my youth, cans of Top Deck and bags of crisps after home games with my Dad who probably had an Allbright. The clubhouse was basic but it belonged to us and it was the Football Club, the darts teams have kept that moniker ever since those early days, after all it does what it says on the tin. This is about football. Pop and crisps post-match and if I was lucky then we’d still be there when the Football Echo was delivered which gave me a chance to analyse the day’s results and update the league tables for my Dad. It was a safe environment but in the old sense that everyone knew each other so the la