Aberystwyth Town F.C.

Aberystwyth Town
Full name Aberystwyth Town Football Club
Nickname(s) The Seasiders
Founded 1884
Ground Park Avenue
Aberystwyth
(Capacity: 5,000 (1,002 seated))
Chairman Donald Kane
Manager Alan Morgan
League Welsh Premier League
2010–11 Welsh Premier League, 7th of 12
Home colours
Away colours
Aberystwyth Town Reserves
Manager Rhys Edwards
League Mid Wales Football League
2008–09 Mid Wales Football League, 4th

Aberystwyth Town F.C. (Welsh: Clwb Pêl Droed Aberystwyth) is a football team, playing in the Welsh Premier League.

The club was founded in 1884, and plays at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, where their ground accommodates 5,000 spectators with 1,002 of that capacity seated.

The team's first choice strip is green shirts with black and white trim, black shorts and socks. The second choice strip is white shirts with green trim, green shorts and socks.

Contents

History

The club was founded by Arthur Hughes, son of a local solicitor, and his brothers Jack and Hugh. Although football had been played in the town since at least the early 1870s, it was in October 1884 that Arthur Hughes placed an advertisement in the local press:

Aberystwyth Football Club

Gentlemen wishing to join the above club are requested to attend a meeting to be held at the Belle Vue Hotel on Saturday, the 4th inst., at 4pm. Members' subscriptions to be paid in advance, 2s. 6d.[1]

The club's early days were marked by friendly matches, as the club did not join a league until 1896. It joined the Welsh League for a year, before reverting to playing friendlies again.[2] They were members of the Montgomeryshire and District League in 1904, winning several championships. With the creation of the Welsh National League in 1921, Aber joined the Central Section, where they were quite successful, winning the title six times in the 1920s, and winning the Mid-Wales League title in 1933 and 1950. Aberystwyth won the Welsh Amateur Cup in 1931 and 1933, and were losing finalists in 1935 and 1972.

The club joined the Welsh League (South) in 1951, although they continued to also field a team in the Mid-Wales League, and for a while in the Cambrian Coast League. Aberystwyth returned to the Mid-Wales competition in 1963 but did not win the league championship until 1984, after having finished as runners-up six times. They retained the title in 1985. Aberystwyth were firmly established as one of premier clubs in Mid-Wales and in 1987 they returned to the Welsh League (South). They were three times runners-up before they became founder members of the League of Wales in 1992. Aberystwyth achieved their best Welsh Premier League position – 3rd – in their first season. The reserve team currently plays in the Mid Wales League.

Rivalries

The club has traditionally held friendly rivalries with Bangor City and fellow town-dwellers Aberystwyth University. However, the club's biggest rivalries are with Newtown and Carmarthen Town.

Biggest victories and losses

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
- GK Steven Cann
- DF Michael Howard
- DF Sion James
- DF James McCarten
- DF Dave Swanick
- DF Aneurin Thomas
- DF Wyn Thomas
- DF Craig Williams
No. Position Player
- MF Anthony Finselbach
- MF Geoff Kellaway
- MF Bari Morgan
- MF Krzysztof Nalborski
- MF Andy Parkinson
- MF Sean Thornton (Captain)
- FW Lewis Codling
- FW Ricky Evans
- FW Alex Samuel

Notable former players

References

  1. ^ "Arthur Hughes". The History of Aberystwyth Town FC. "The Old Black & Green". http://www.history.atfc.org.uk/historylegends%20files/01arthurhughes.htm. Retrieved 21 December 2011. 
  2. ^ "Early History". Aberystwyth Town FC. http://www.atfc.org.uk/page.php?40. Retrieved 21 December 2011. 

External links