Merthyr Town Football Club, nicknamed “The Martyrs,” is a non-league football club based in Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan.
Established in 2010, they currently compete in the Pitching In Southern Football League Premier South, which is part of the seventh tier of English football. The team calls Pen-y-Darren Park their home ground.
In 2009, Merthyr Tydfil Football Club faced severe financial difficulties, with media coverage highlighting the club’s struggle to pay its bills. This situation led to a community effort to support the club, including a notable instance where a young boy donated his pocket money. Amidst this crisis, the Merthyr Tydfil FC Supporters Trust saw an opportunity to take a more active role in the club’s administration. The community’s support was strong, with many expressing a desire to see football continue at Penydarren Park, despite not all being actively involved.
John Strand, who had been a supporter for over 30 years, became involved with the club in 2007 as the match day programme editor. Despite his and other volunteers’ efforts, the club’s financial troubles continued, leading to unpaid wages and utility threats. The Supporters Trust, formed in 2006 with the goal of influencing the club’s administration and securing a shareholding, began raising funds through a lottery called SOCCALOT. Despite these efforts, by 2008 the club was nearing a winding-up order, prompting the Trust to step in with crucial financial assistance, eventually leading to the club entering administration.
In 2009, the Supporters Trust reformed the club as Merthyr Town FC and found a temporary home at Taffs Well. Despite the setbacks, including the liquidation of Merthyr Tydfil FC Ltd, the new club secured a return to Penydarren Park in 2010 as champions of the Western League Division One. Since then, Merthyr Town FC has achieved multiple promotions and significant redevelopment at their historic ground, including installing a 3G pitch and undergoing a £1.8m redevelopment.