TREHARRIS ATHLETIC WESTERN (The Athletic Ground)

WELSH LEAGUE DIVISION THREE, TREHARRIS ATHLETIC WESTERN 0-2 CWM WELFARE, ATTENDANCE: 47 (h/c)

The seeds of today's trip were sown when a posting appeared last month on a very popular non-league forum. It was posted by someone who had made the trip to South Wales previously and had picked up a copy of the Treharris programme.

The poster then went on to quote a line from the club secretary's introductory notes "Whilst this has been our home for the past century, we know we are running out of time at this venue"   I know quite a few groundhoppers who speak very, very highly of Treharris' Athletic Ground, so this meant a trip to South Wales needed to be made sooner rather than later.

Treharris is a small town in the Taff Bargoed Valley, just south of Merthyr Tydfil. Like most communities in this part of the world it was once dominated by the coal industry but the local pit closed in 1991.

The football ground certainly fits the description of a proper old fashioned ground. I am of the old school that believes grounds like these should be cherished, not condemned. The ground is basically one-sided, with a large covered stand dominating the ground.

The stand has no seats, which is a bone of contention with the Welsh FA, and is packed right up against a tight narrow football pitch, which is another bone of contention.  There is a viewing balcony which you cross to get to the tea bar but the club politely ask you not to stand on said balcony. As someone at the ground said to me "yes, this ground is a sh*thole, but it is OUR sh*thole" before giving a passionate defence of the Athletic Ground. Absolutely no need to convince me!

There is a lot of hostility towards the ground, from both the Welsh FA and opposition teams, probably because they don't like the tight compact pitch and the fans being right on top of you, or even next to them as players have to walk up the steps next to the stand in order to reach the changing rooms. All this has led the club to the decision to seek pastures new. 

There are plans to move to Parc Taff Bargoed, the former home of the now defunct Trelewis Welfare, though this still could be a while off as the ground needs bringing up to Welsh League standards. Speaking to someone at the club, they are still in process of securing funding to complete all the necessary work.

The club have had a long and illustrious history. Indeed the club call themselves "the pioneers of South Wales football" and the club programme proudly highlights some of the clubs achievements over the past 125 years. Here is a brief overview;

The village was formed around the Harris Navigation Colliery, which began mining in 1873. Football was brought to the village by members of the workforce. The club were founder members of the South Wales League, wining the first ever championship in 1891. The club dominated the South Wales League around the turn of the century and this led them to being one of the first clubs to play over the border in England when they joined the Western League in 1906. The club won the Western League in 1910 and, along with Cardiff City, entered the Southern League.

In 1905, a new league, the Rhymney Valley League, was set up of which Treharris were also founder members. This league became The Welsh Football League in 1912 and fast forward 110 years and Treharris were seeking to maintain their unbroken membership of this league.

This was Treharris's last home game after a season of disappointing results which have left them hovering near the foot of the table. After a 4-0 win in midweek, they followed that up today with a 2-0 defeat to their visitors from the Rhondda Valley, Cwm Welfare. Both goals came in the first half and were scored by Lewis Jenkins and Rhys Williams. 

As it happens, this result may not matter in the grand scheme of things as it is looking increasing unlikely that there will any relegation from the Welsh League this season due to clubs folding and/or not willing to make the step up from the county leagues.

It was an enjoyable afternoon and one of Wales' most iconic football grounds. I implore anyone with a love of proper old historic grounds to put a visit to Treharris on your groundhopping bucket list post-haste.

I will leave the last words to ex-Treharris player, and record goalscorer, Kevin Bounds who in an article in the match day programme says the following "wherever we go we will eventually call home, but it won't be The Athletic Ground and it won't make your spine tingle"