Pontypridd F.C. is an
amateur
An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, autodidacticism, self-taught, user-generated, do it yourself, DI ...
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
football team based in
Pontypridd
() (colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Geography
comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest (). The ...
, formed in 2018 and inspired by the former professional club Pontypridd AFC that existed between 1911 and 1926. The club was reformed in May 2018 by former members of the
Pontypridd Town
() (colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Geography
comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest (). The ...
reserve team.
History of Pontypridd AFC
Pontypridd AFC (known also as "The Dragons") was founded as a professional football club in 1911 to "promote first class association football in the Pontypridd District". The club were based at
Taff Vale Park
Taff Vale Park is a rugby union ground and former greyhound racing track in Treforest, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Taff Vale Park is situated on the River Taff at the end of Nile Street in Treforest. It was originally fields adjacent ...
in the nearby community
Trefforest
Treforest ( cy, Trefforest) is a village in the south-east of Pontypridd, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It is situated in the Treforest electoral ward, along with the village of Glyntaff (or Glyn-Taf). It is part of the Pon ...
. Pontypridd AFC played in the
Southern League between 1911 and 1926. The club also played in the
Welsh League
The Welsh League was the first club rugby league competition in Wales.Lush (1998), pg. 19 Its inaugural season was in 1908/09 when four additional teams were formed to join Ebbw Vale RLFC and Merthyr Tydfil RLFC, which allowed a league tournamen ...
and were champions in the 1923–24 season. Pontypridd AFC were
Welsh Cup
The FAW Welsh Cup ( cy, Cwpan Cymdeithas Pêl-droed Cymru), currently known as the JD Welsh Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams in the Welsh football league system. It is considered the most ...
finalists in 1912, 1913 and 1921. The Dragons won the South Wales FA Senior Cup in 1925.
The Reformed Club
At the end of the 2017–18 season the players and coaches of
Pontypridd Town
() (colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Geography
comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest (). The ...
reserves decided to form their own club based in the town. There were several reasons for the split, including frustrations at being unable to progress further up the Welsh football pyramid as a reserve team, lack of opportunities for the players to progress within the
Pontypridd Town
() (colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Geography
comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest (). The ...
set-up and a desire to keep a football club representing Pontypridd in the town following
Pontypridd Town
() (colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Geography
comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest (). The ...
's move to Cardiff (and later Aberdare).
Pontypridd FC currently play in the
Taff Ely Rhymney Valley League and play their home matches at the Maritime Recreation Ground, a
3G pitch
Artificial turf is a surface of synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commerc ...
on the site of the former Pontypridd/Maritime Colliery though they are due to move to the vacant Ynysangharad Park for the 2021–22 season with Pontypridd Town due to make their home at the USW fields a permanent one.
League Record
References
Sport in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley Alliance League clubs
Association football clubs established in 2018
Association football clubs established in 1911
Welsh Football League clubs
Southern Football League clubs
{{Wales-footyclub-stub
Welsh football clubs formerly in English leagues