MERTHYR SAINTS (ICI Rifle Fields)

FAW WELSH CUP 1st QUALIFYING ROUND, MERTHYR SAINTS 0-2 ABERFAN FC, ATTENDANCE: 124 (h/c)

There are always plenty of options when it comes to the very early rounds of the Welsh Cup and today was no exception. Anyhow after much deliberation I headed to South Wales and the Borough of Merthyr Tydfil.

Merthyr Saints were hosting Aberfan in an all South Wales Alliance League clash at the ICI Rifle Field.

The history of Merthyr Saints effectively began in 1995 when, after winning the South Wales Amateur League, Hoover Sports entered the Welsh League, groundsharing at Penydarren Park, before merging with St. Illtyds FC in 2000 and relocating to the ICI Rifle Fields ground in Pant, just off the A465 'Heads of the Valley' road. The club raised £500,000 to upgrade the facilities and they changed their name to Merthyr Saints FC.

The club remained in the Welsh League until 2007 before being relegated back to the South Wales Amateur League. The Hoover factory closed it's doors in 2009.

The club moved pitches in 2020 and installed a seated stand and floodlights. The old pitch is still used by the reserves, and there was a game taking place on there this afternoon - can I count that as a double?

 The old first team pitch at the ICI 

This Welsh Cup tie was a lot more closer and competitive than the one I attended at St Asaph City on Friday night! A close encounter with both teams giving no quarter. In a game of few chances, the difference was a couple of clinical strikes in the second half from Luke Tarr (55) and Josh Powell (70) that saw Aberfan safely through to the next round.