History
The ground was opened in 1893 as the home of Aberdare Town, who later became Aberdare Athletic.Paul Smith & Shirley Smith (2005) ''The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds Second Edition 1888–2005'', Yore Publications, p17, On 1 January 1908 the Athletic Ground the venue of the first rugby league international involving a team from outside the British Isles when Wales national rugby league team, Wales played New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand as part of the 1907–1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain, 1907–08 tour, with Wales winning 9–8. The match attracted approximately 15,000 fans By 1920 the ground was still quite basic, with a narrow grandstand on the southern touchline and a cycle track around the pitch. With Aberdare attempting to gain entry to the Football League, the stand was rebuilt, the cycle track removed, and banking installed at each end of the pitch. The following year saw the ground's record attendance of 22,584 set for a schoolboy international between Wales and England national under-16 football team, England on 14 May. In the same year Aberdare were elected to the Football League, and the first League match was played at the ground on 27 August 1921, with Aberdare and Portsmouth F.C., Portsmouth drawing 0–0 in front of 9,722 spectators. In 1927 Aberdare were voted out of the Football League.Greyhound racing
The greyhound racing at Ynys Stadium started on Boxing Day 1932. The stadium was east of Aberdare, south of the Cwmbach Road and directly south of the railway track. The stadium was independent (unaffiliated to a governing body) and the exact date that the greyhound racing ended is unknown but it was still active in 1950 after being included in the betting licence lists.References
{{Welsh greyhound tracks Aberdare Athletic F.C. Defunct football venues in Wales Defunct rugby league venues in Wales Sports venues completed in 1893 1893 establishments in Wales English Football League venues Aberdare Defunct greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom Greyhound racing in Wales