Port Talbot Town F.C.

Port Talbot Town
Full name Port Talbot Town Football Club
Nickname(s) The Steelmen
Founded 1901
(as Port Talbot Athletic)
Ground Victoria Road, Port Talbot
Capacity 3,000 (1,000 seated)[1]
Chairman Dr.Colin Hancock
Manager Andy Dyer
League Welsh Premier League
2013–14 Welsh Premier League, 9th

Port Talbot Town F.C. (Welsh: Clwb Pêl Droed Port Talbot) is a football club from Port Talbot in Wales and was founded in 1901, making Port Talbot Athletic as they were then one of the first association football clubs to be founded in Wales. The club plays in the Welsh Premier League, and is based at Victoria Road. Victoria Road is also known officially as the Genquip Stadium for sponsorship purposes.

History

Formed in 1901, Port Talbot began life as a member of the Swansea Senior League and continued playing following a hiatus due to World War One. Although records are sparse, the club are thought to have played in the Swansea Senior League until 1926, when they became founder members of the Port Talbot and District Association Football League.

The club are thought to have competed in the Welsh League Division 2 Western from the 1928/29 season onwards, competing under the name Seaside Athletic.

Although the club can trace rather tenuous roots back to 1901, the modern club was founded shortly after World War II as Port Talbot Athletic.[2]

Promotion to the top-flight of Welsh football was gained in 1956–57, but the club were subject to relegation after one season. Port Talbot regained promotion as Division 2 West champions in 1961–62 but were relegated again after one season in the top-flight. The club followed a similar path in 1970–71.

They were promoted into the League of Wales in 2000, and changed their name to Port Talbot Town in 2001. Port Talbot's biggest rivals are considered to be Afan Lido, located less than half a mile away, the rivalry is one of the fiercest in South Wales.

A 3rd place finish in the 2009–10 season provided Port Talbot with a berth in the Europa League, their first appearance in European Competition.

Support

Average crowd attendances at Port Talbot Town, taken from attendances between 1994 and 2010 is 207 although attendances regularly exceed that figure. High attendances at the Victoria Road based Stadium include the 2,640 people who watched Port Talbot beat Football League side Swansea City 2–1 in an FAW Premier Cup quarter final in 2007, the Swans' run-away promotion year.[3]

A notable attendance was also the estimated 400 Port Talbot fans in attendance at the 2010 Welsh Cup final in Llanelli against three time winners Bangor City. Port Talbot have become renowned for their vocal following in recent years.

European record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2010–11 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round Finland TPS Turku 0–4 1–3 1–7

Records

Current squad

As of 18 January 2015

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

No. Position Player
2 Wales DF Corey Thomas
3 Wales DF James Parry
4 Wales MF Ashley Evans
5 Wales MF Carl Evans
6 Wales DF Lee Surman
8 Wales MF Liam McCreesh
9 England FW Martin Rose
10 Wales FW Luke Bowen
12 Wales DF Leigh De-Vulgt
13 Wales GK Steven Cann
No. Position Player
14 Wales MF Kieran Lewis
16 Wales FW Casey Thomas
17 Wales FW Luke Borrelli
18 Wales MF Chad Bond
19 Wales MF Laurent Mondo
22 Wales DF Daniel Sheehan
26 Wales FW Rhys Griffiths
33 Wales GK Connor McFenton
Wales MF Chris Jones
Wales MF Jake Parry

Current Staff

Notable Legends

Managers

References

  1. "Welsh Football Ground Guide - Port Talbot Town FC". footballgroundguide.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  2. "Club History". Port Talbot Town Official Website. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  3. "Football:Bring on the Semi". Wales Online. Retrieved 23 January 2015.

External links