Our Story
MENS
Port Talbot Town Football Club was founded in 1901 as Port Talbot Athletic, one of the first clubs in Wales.
When formed in 1901, the name was Port Talbot Athletic, and they spent their early years playing in the Swansea Senior League - starting at the bottom of the Welsh pyramid. Early records show that one of the club’s biggest wins came in the 1909/10 season when they beat Llanelli 10-0. After World War 1 it is believed the club again played in the Swansea league until 1926, when they became a founding member of the Port Talbot & District Association Football League.
In the 1928/29 season a team sporting the name Seaside Athletic were competing in the Welsh League Division 2 Western Section and sources say this was the same club that formed in 1901.
They continued to ply their trade in the second division until 1956/57 when they won promotion to the topflight. However, they were never comfortable in this division and it was no surprise when they were relegated after just one season.
After a rebuilding programme, they again gained promotion finishing the 1961/62 season as champions, however, once again they suffered relegation after just one season. Following a re-organisation of the league in the 1964/65 season, Port Talbot found themselves in Division 1 West and remained there until 1970/71 when again they had to face relegation, a major set-back for the club.
The club remained in Division 2 West until 1982/83 when they finished runners up to Tondu Robins and won promotion back to the first division.
Port Talbot were included in the new National Division of the Welsh League in 1984/85 and stayed there until 1990/91.
Having missed out on a place in the inaugural League of Wales for the 1992/93 season, worse was to follow when they were relegated to the present-day division 2 in 1993/94. Better times were to follow though under the leadership of Steve Llewellyn and Alan Meacham and the club won a place in the first division on the last day of the season at local rivals Goytre Utd in 1995/96.
After a period of consolidation, the team finished 5th in 1997/98 under David Rees and Craig Duggan who were in their first season in the managerial hot seat.
This became a turning point, with Andrew Edwards taking over as chairman in 1998/99 and beginning on off field transformation of the club. A three-year plan was put into operation which included winning promotion to the League of Wales and establishing a youth system from U7's right up to U18's.
The 1999/2000 saw the club achieve promotion to the League of Wales and the introduction of two junior teams and a youth team in the MacWhirter Youth League.
Many improvements were carried out around the ground, which included refurbishment of the dressing rooms, a new 260-seater stand, floodlights, a television camera gantry, turnstiles and a hard standing around the ground. The team made a satisfactory start in the League of Wales, winning six games before Christmas, but this was followed by a disappointing end to the campaign. Nonetheless, Kevin Bartley was the league's third top goal scorer with an impressive 23 goals in the season.
To mark their centenary year, the club changed its name from Port Talbot Athletic to Port Talbot Town at the start of the 2001/02 season.
The 2003/04 season saw the team reach the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup for the first time but lost to TNS 1-0 at Park Avenue.
The Steelmen found themselves battling relegation for much of the 2004/05 season, but they eventually finished a comfortable 13th under new manager, Wayne Davies.
Off the field, the club progressed further and boosted it's seating capacity with the construction of the 750 seater Gerald McCreesh stand. A further building was also named after Gerald - The Gerald McCreesh Suite, with the introduction of the new and improved hospitality facilities. This was followed up with heavy investment into the playing surface making it one of the best grounds in the Welsh Premier League.
The end of the 2006/07 season saw Wayne Davies step down as manager after claiming a memorable scalp in defeating Swansea City in the FAW Premier Cup with a 2-1 win, in front of a record crowd of 2,640, with Andrew Mumford scoring the winner in the last five minutes of extra time, which took the club to another Welsh Cup semi-final and also the Challenge Cup Final. Tony Pennock was appointed as manager as the club looked to build further on their on-field success but an unsuccessful start to his campaign saw the former Newport County and Yeovil Town goalkeeper resign in November. Nicky Tucker was appointed to replace Pennock after impressing at Welsh League side Dinas Powys and made an immediate impact with the team finishing 4th.
December 2008 saw the re-appointment of Mark Jones as manager following the sacking of Nicky Tucker. Mark quickly turned around the fortunes of the team and saw a fifth-place finish. Jones was busy in the transfer market ahead of the 2009/10 season bringing in 6 new players. This contributed to a superb season which saw the club attain their highest league finish in their history, and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League for the first time with a 3rd place finish. This gave the team a first qualifying round fixture against Finnish side TPS Turku over two legs at the start of the 2010/11 campaign. However, having lost 4-0 at home they did register a goal in the away leg although losing 3-1. During the season, the club also reached the final of the Welsh Cup for the first time but lost 3-2 to Bangor City at Parc-Y-Scarlets.
This season also saw success for the U16's academy as they lifted the FAW Academy Cup.
2010/11 became a significant year in their development as the Welsh Premier League voted to reduce the league to 12 clubs and to introduce a new play-off format. The new format would bring little joy to Port Talbot however, who despite making the top six cut, were eliminated in their first play-off game away to Prestatyn Town.
The season that followed saw Port Talbot fail to reach the top six cut and lose in the Welsh Cup to local rivals Afan Lido.
A busy off-season saw a host of signings, including the high-profile arrival of Rhys Griffiths. His time was cut shot however, following his departure for a professional contract at Plymouth Argyle.
After an uninspiring start to the 2012/13 season, December saw the sacking of Mark Jones bringing an end to his four-year tenure as manager. Former Cardiff City player Scott Young was shortly appointed as manager with Marc Cahill moving to 1st team coach and with an influx of new players, this brought about a comfortable top six finish.
In 2015/16 Andy Dyer was first team manager and his team reached the semi-final of the Welsh Cup bowing out to Airbus with a 7-0 loss. Just weeks later the club was relegated from the Welsh Premier League, despite finishing above the relegation zone in 10th place. The club had been refused a FAW Domestic Licence and lost its subsequent appeal.
This saw the club undergo a massive overhaul of its internal structure. A new chairman, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer were appointed and formed a committee of staff and fans alike. The wage bill for the 2016/17 season was drastically reduced and newly appointed first team manager Mark Pike, formed a squad of local players to take the club forward. Despite working with one of the lowest playing budgets at the club in nearly two decades, relegation was avoided in the 2018/19 season when the club finished one place above the relegation spot in 13th.
It was however a case of deja vu as the club was refused the FAW Tier 2 Licence in order to complete in the newly formed Cymru South league and was demoted to tier 3, now known as the Welsh Football League Division 1.
Despite this second demotion in recent years the club continued to operate under a sustainable model. Although the 2019/20 was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic, the club achieved promotion back to the Cymru South league with a 3rd place finish after the league was settled on the unweighted points per game method.
Another change in personnel and committee saw the club have a renewed boost of effort and enthusiasm behind the scenes but this was short lived following the coronavirus pandemic when Mark Pike resigned days before the start of the 2021/22 season.
The committee worked tirelessly to form a new coaching team and brought in Grant Kalahar, Conor McGaharan and Sam O'Sullivan. However, it was to much of an ask over the course of the season and another relegation to tier 3 occurred, now called the Ardal South West.
This saw the introduction of Johnny Davies as manager for the 2022/23 season, and he quickly began to rebuild the team in preparation for the season ahead. As we now sit in the same league in the 2023/24 season, an inexperienced team is starting to show signs of improvement on the pitch and we are hopeful of a consolidation this current season while we continue our ambitions to solidify and expand our club both on the pitch and behind the scenes.
Our Story
WOMENS
After setting up our ladies team in 2009, they quickly became a force in Welsh football and became one of the founder members of the single division Welsh Premier Women’s League upon it’s inauguration for the 2012/13 season.
With coach Chris Rees in charge of the team there were a number of talented players at the club, with Natalie Ashford a Wales international and Courtney Thomas, Rachel Ball and Bethan Ellis part of the Welsh squad. Jessica Wadey was also part of the under 19’s. They ended the season in 6th place out of 12.
The following season they bettered their first season finish and came 5th, also getting to the semi final of the League Cup, but narrowly lost 1-0 against Llanidloes.
The 2014/15 season saw them equal their finish in the previous season, a 5th place finish and another semi final loss, this time to PILCS 4-3, who went on to lift the trophy with a 3-2 win over Swansea City.
Then highlight of the next few seasons was another semi final loss in the 2016/17 season, 4-0 at the hands of Abergavenny.
The 2018/19 season saw them register their highest place finish coming 4th, in a season that included their record league win of 7-0 against Rhyl.
When the 2019/20 season was terminated in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team were in 4th position with 2 games to play, and there was the mathematical possibility that they could have finished second. Once again, a semi final loss to Swansea City saw them bow out of the cup.
Although another respectable mid table finish ended their 2020/21 season, there was much turmoil in Welsh womens football after the decision to restructure led to three of the teams being ‘relegated’ from the division, neither of any who had finished in bottom place, and two new teams being fast-tracked in to take their place. After many arguments, claims and appeals, no changes were made and the start of the 2021/22 season would see a new and more competitive eight team league in place.
Unfortunately, the 2021/22 season would sadly be the final time the team played in the top tier 1 level of Welsh womens football. A 4-0 loss on the final day of the season to The New Saints, saw them lose out on goal difference with Barry Town United, with both teams level on 18 points.
However, instead of dropping a division into the Adran South division, a decision was taken by the management and team to fold and resign from the Genero Adran Leagues with immediate effect in May 22, little over a month after their final game.
During these 13 years some notable mentions to former players who have moved on to pastures new with international honours.
Beth McGowan who played with us shortly before the Covid pandemic, moved to Arsenal and is now with West Bromwich Albion, has also played for Wales under 15’s, 17’s and 19’s, and captained her country.
Jessie Taylor came through our younger age groups before playing in our seniors whilst only 15. She left to continue playing Adran Premier football with Cardiff Met before joining Manchester City, she is now with Cheltenham Town. Another player to play for Wales under 17’s and 19’s.
Emily Roberts had also featured for Wales under 19’s before moving to Cardiff City Ladies.
With no ladies football at the club for the 2022/23 season, a new chapter was written when in the summer of 2023, the local female only club Afan Fire LFC, decided to merge with Port Talbot Town, bringing not just their ladies team but also their many junior and mini teams too.
Afan Fire had been in existence since 2019 and had grown to having over 100 women and girls registered with the club, and played in the South Wales Womens & Girls League. Their ladies were runners up after the coronavirus pandemic impacted 2019/20 season, having been top when the league was suspended and losing out on becoming champions by the unweighted points per game method.
In the following season more silverware came to the club when their under 12’s won the SWWGL League Cup.
Currently our ladies play in the SWWGL Division 1 under the guidance of Carly Thomas, having previously played for the club until retiring at the beginning of the season.
We did recently spend time in the SWWGL Combined league in 2021/22, one step below the Adran South division.
We are now the only senior ladies football team in Port Talbot and have ambitions to progress through the leagues again to hopefully be placed back in tier 1 in the not too distant future.