TREDEGAR TOWN FC V CHEPSTOW TOWN FC 191121

T.T.A.F.C HISTORY
Tredegar Town was formed over 40 years ago in 1968 by the late Cliff Bethel, to provide a
recreation for those young men who preferred playing association football to Rugby Union.
Cliff had originally been chairman of Troedrhiwgwair from 1961-65 but formed a new team
with the help of his brother Dai. The team was originally known as the Rhyd Boys Club and
was known throughout Wales for sending players to represent Wales at Schoolboy and
Boys Club of Wales level.
The clubs first success came in 1982-83, when they won the Gwent Amateur Cup and won
the Gwent Youth Cup in 1988. By this time the club had changed its name to Tredegar Town
and moved on to senior level plying their trade in the North Gwent League Division 1, rising
to a Premier Division place. With the introduction of the pyramid system, Tredegar gained a
place in the more challenging Gwent County League in 1990-91 and played their games at
the Recreation ground.
The team steadily gained credibility throughout the 90s winning promotion from Division
3 and winning the Division 2 title in 1992-93. Life in Division 1 was short-lived, but after
relegation the club bounced instantly back with the Division 2 title again in 1994-95, while
the Gwent County Motors Cup was won in 1997.
In 1997-98 Tredegar won the Gwent County Division 1 title and were successful in
applying for membership to the Welsh Football League. The club found instant success at
this level, finishing as runners up to Caerleon in its debut season in Welsh League Division 3,
winning 24 and draws 4 out of 32 league games with a mammoth 101 goals scored. The club
also had its best success in the Welsh Cup, reaching the last 32 before falling to Llanelli (2-
1) after wins over Pontlottyn Blast Furnace (3-0) and Taffs Well (2-1). The club was
managed during this success by Riley Gray who stepped down in 2002 but would go on to
become club Secretary until 2018.
Tredegar would stay in Division 2 for 11 seasons, their best finish being in 2004-05 when
they just missed out on promotion by 3 points to Bryntirion Athletic. This season had seen
the club move from the Recreation Ground where they had played for 36 years to a
purpose-built ground at Tredegar Leisure Centre.
However, in 2009-10 the club suffered relegation to Division 3 along with Maesteg Park
and Porthcawl Town. This is where the club would stay until the end of 2018-19 when
pyramid restructuring saw them play the last ever Welsh League season in Division 2,
finishing in 10th position on a points per game average due to the pandemic. During this time
the club had been mainly mid to lower table, but narrowly failed to gained promotion in
2014-15, missing out to Ammanford.
Two notable players have been involved with the club, first Andrew York became player
manager in 2007 after captaining Barry Town to a host of trophies in the early 90s and
having European success. Later Cohen Griffith would join the management team, having
played 234 games for Cardiff City.
During this time the club had been mainly mid to lower table, but narrowly failed to
gained promotion in 2014-15, missing out by just two wins to Ammanford.
THE CLUB HAVING GAINED TIER 3 CRITERIA, NOW TAKE THEIR PLACE IN THE ARDAL
SOUTHERN LEAGUE, SOUTH EAST DIVISION UNDER MANAGER GARETH HARBORD.