Club History

The Town of Blaenavon has a well-documented history; a history that has been recorded in books and on web sites so that the people of tomorrow never forget what the people of yesterday did for the town of Blaenavon. But the towns only current football club Blaenavon Blues is an area, which has been neglected by the historians of Blaenavon, and the surrounding areas.

The club set up it’s first ever web site in the winter of 2006 and a gap has remained under the history section. Former player, manager and Secretary Jeff Huybs took on the challenge of trying to piece together the clubs history. From the early post war years in the Pontypool league, to the highs of the Premier division of the Welsh league and back down to the grass roots of the Gwent Central league; today’s equivalent to the Pontypool league and back up to the Gwent County league.

The club has a rich history but until now it has never been published, I’m sure there are many people out there who could add to Jeff’s findings, most of which is from Jeff’s memories and stories that he has been told. Club captain, Steve White, Mr Blaenavon Blues Mike Hall and Matthew Cox have all added to Jeff’s history. If you feel you can add to our history please email Matthew Cox at blaenavonbluesafc@yahoo.co.uk or speak to me in the Forge Side club or around town. I would be more than willing to here your stories and experiences of Blaenavon Blues AFC.

While there were many football clubs within Blaenavon dating back to the 1900’s, most of the clubs were church sides, and not one of the sides made an impact on a national or even a senior level. Some of the clubs that have been documented to who represented the town are Blaenavon Thursday’s, Clapham United from Forge side, The Corinthians, and Garn–y-erw to name but a few. In fact there is evidence of a Blaenavon side competing in the Usk & District league in 1936 to 1939.

Before the Recreation Grounds were built in 1921, the main football pitch of the time was on Cwmavon Road, at Coffee Tavern. The pitch being down in the valley and with the road above it being named ‘The Free grandstand’ as the spectators could watch the game for free from Cwmavon Road.

Even during the Second World War football was being played in Blaenavon as the following picture shows a Blaenavon team captured on film during the 1941/42 season.

Following the end of the Second World War, Blaenavon man Ernest Pugh founded Blaenavon Blues AFC in the summer of 1946. During the early years the club played in the local league without a great deal of success, players of the era included legendary club secretary Lewis Jones, Owen Meredith and Ernie Rogers.

The swinging sixties saw an upturn in the clubs achievements and in 1960 the club won a treble of cups, The Langdon, Benevolent and Peake Cups. Back to back Championship wins in 1960-61 and 1961-62 along with two more Langdon Cup wins and two Benevolent Cup wins saw the club dominate the Pontypool league.

The Probert brothers Cyril, Graham, and Royston along with Maldwin Hopkins, Mike Hall, Gary Davies, Les Williams, Alan Morgan, Colin, Ken and Gary Jones proved to be an outstanding group of players. Centre forward Roger Parrish was top scorer with a phenomenal 290 goals between seasons 63-64 and 67-68, all in the Pontypool league.

After again winning the league in 1966-67 with the backbone of the squad strengthened with the arrival of Tony Fletcher, Stuart Gwyther, Ken Ratcliffe, Colin Roberts and Albert Cox, the club applied for admittance into the Gwent Senior and Welsh leagues and were duly accepted.

At the start of the 1968-69 season and the Blues were playing senior football for the first time in their history. The committee of the time selected both the Welsh and County sides and with the loss through retirement and injury of the senior players, new players John Bowen, Clive Dobbs, Mickey Brown, Bruce Davies, and Billy Morris arrived to strengthen the club.

In 1969 the club took a more professional attitude and a coach, Bert Sharland was appointed, and with much needed work being carried out on the Co-op field, the Blues played these early Welsh league seasons on the Garn-y-erw ground and the Recreation ground.

The Blues returned to the new playing surface of the Co-op field for the start of the 1970 season and for the first time a professional manager in Mel Davies. Mel stayed for two sessions, he brought in players that he had nurtured as youngsters, John Saunders, Brian Morgan and Alwyn Coates joined local boys Brian Huish, Robert Browning and Tony Fletcher to try to achieve success but narrowly failed in his second season finishing in seventh position.

Former Busby babe Ken Morgans arrived in Blaenavon in 1972 to take over the reigns as manager. Bert Sharland returned as coach but the season proved a disappointment and after one season Ken was gone. Keith Morgan, Keith Bingham, Mike Jones and Wyndam Evans were some of the players that played during Ken’s reign.

1973-74 was to be the start of some success for the club, Tony Leighton ex Panteg manager was appointed and brought with him John Havelot, Arthur Hardy, Davis Harris from Croeseceiliog, Robin Matthews, Dickie James, and Brian Beams from Panteg, Tony Preece and Harold (Ossie) Oakley from Pontnewydd Seniors.

In Leighton’s first season the Blues finished third in the division losing out at the death to Afan Lido after a season littered with injuries to key players. 1974-75 and the Blues were Champions, losing just three games, conceding only fifteen goals all season. The defence of Matthews, Dobbs, Harris, Captain James and Browning were outstanding. The midfield of Preece, local boys David Walters and Jeff Huybs, Geoff Miller and utility man Brian Dobbs formed a solid unit, while up front the silky skills of Bingham and the aggressive direct running of Bowen gave Havelot countless opportunities 34 of which he gladly accepted.

The Blues hit the dizzy heights of Welsh league division one football in season 1975-76, but all was not well at the club. Robin Matthews left for Newport County, Harris and Havelot left to join local rivals Cwmbran Town, and James’ studies took him to Switzerland.

To lose four players of this calibre was a huge blow to the club. New recruits to arrive were Malcolm Powell, Phil Walker, Russell Hewkins, Robert Anderson, Martin Oakey, Mike Taylor and Ossie Oakley returned to the club, in November the Blues stunned local football with the signing of ex Cardiff City and Welsh international Tony Villars. That first season in the first division saw the Blues finish a credible sixth position.

The second side became champions of the second division of the Gwent Senior league, the side led by Brian Beames and include former pro Harry Robinson, local boys Carl Bollen, Peter Harris, Gavin Lawrence, strike partners Wayne Parker and Ken Ratcliffe, experienced players Tony Fletcher, Mal Hopkins, Gareth Moody, Brian Dobbs and Gareth Lewis beat neighbours Fairfield United to the title in an exciting finale to the season.

The next three seasons saw the Welsh league side stagnate finishing ninth, seventh and ninth again. At the end of season 78-79 Tony Leighton had left the club after six years in charge. Some of the players who represented the club during Leighton’s time were Paul Young, Steve Davies, Steve Wells, Jeff Gould, Steve Morgan, Peter Prince and Steve Smith.

Leighton was replaced by Crickhowell schoolteacher Tony Jones, and in his first season the club were relegated to division two and in 80-81 ended up in the bottom two of that division. Jones was replaced in 1981 by Newport born Roy Lewis but after an unhappy couple of months he was replaced by John Coles ex Bargoed Town.

John brought to the club experienced players David Humphries, Roger Jones, Vince Farmillo and Colin Williams and a speedy youngster in Darren Dunn. The ship was steadied that season, finishing in eighth position. The following season the club finished sixth and were placed in division one on Welsh league re-organisation.

The following season 83-84 and promotion to the Premier division was achieved, an outstanding side under the captaincy of Roger Jones, and benefiting from Coles’ excellent coaching featured Mickey Hodder, Roy and Terry Hanson, Gary Preece, Paul Young, Della Cheddy, Barry Jeffries, Andy Miles. Colin Williams, Chris Townsend, and the prolific Farmillo.

The club stayed three seasons in the Premier league before being relegated to division one, in Coles final season, finding it difficult to attract players to Blaenavon John decided to “give youth a go”, the side included youngsters Tony Dalton, Tim Edwards Paul Bye, Carl Lewis and Nigel Price.

A valiant battle that season ended in the Blues finishing in sixteenth position and relegation to division one, keeper Mickey Hodder having a magnificent season. The following season 87-88 saw Paul Young take over as player manager, Young was reasonably successful in his first season finishing in eighth position, he brought in Tyrone and Tony Hunt from Cwmtillery, Steve Edwards from Trinant, Ian Richards from Ebbw Vale and Teddy Townsend.

Season 88-89 and the club dropped its second side from the Gwent County league a lack of first team players resulting in veterans Huybs, Parker, Steve Davies and Steve Sherman returning to the first team in an attempt to keep Welsh league football at Blaenavon, with back up from Nigel Price, excellent keeper Phil Saunders and Young himself the side struggled on until November when Young was replaced by Della Cheedy. Cheedy brought a new side to the Blues and was able to guide the club out of the bottom three finishing the season in thirteenth position.

The following season saw Steve Davies reform the second side, playing in the second division of the Gwent Central league, youngsters Steve and Jason White started their Blues Careers and at the end of the season both had Championship medals. The first team had a very satisfactory season finishing just off the promotion places in fourth position. Sean Gibbs, Bob Maund and Jiffer Powell shared the goal scoring while Cheedy and Neil Gilmore created the chances. Paul Gillet and Mike Arnold were strong in the centre of defence.

Welsh League re-organisation resulted in Division one being renamed Division Two for season 90-91 and Cheedy’s side suffered a disappointing season finishing in 11th position. Cheedy left at the end of the season and the decision was taken to leave the Welsh League. With the newly adapted Pyramid system in place it would have been far more sensible to continue with the Welsh league side that season with relegation resulting in dropping down to the Gwent County League.

For six season the Blues fielded two sides in the Gwent Central league. Only 1992-93 did they threaten to brake back into senior football when ex Fairfield United manager Paul Bates guided the club to the first division title and made the county play off. Where they beat old Welsh league adversaries Blaina West Side but lost in the final to East Gwent outfit St Arvans. This side contained a good crop of local players, Chris and Glen Morgan, Brian Challenger, Jeff Webb, and Mark Langford some of the stars of that side.

Three disappointing seasons followed before Wayne Parker took up the challenge, he along with Dale Forward won the 1996-97 Championship and took the club back into County football, the basis of the 93 side was joined by Steve Richards, Ryan Huish, Neil Cox, Robbie John, Jeff Morgan and Chris Mason.

Parker stayed in charge for two more seasons as the club looked to the future in the shape of a very successful youth and junior section. Founded in 1993 by Steve Ward along with other ex players Terry Walters and Jeff Bath, a group of 14 year old boys who played 5 a side football every Friday under the guidance of Bath were entered in the Torfaen under 16 league in the 1993-94 season, the following season saw the under 12s added and to date they now run 11 sides, including girls football.

Products of the junior set up include Lloyd Jenkins, who has won Welsh under 19’s caps whilst with Cardiff City. Rhys Williams, who has been on Swansea City books and currently, captains Welsh league division one side Bryntirion Athletic. Ryan Doble who is signed to Southampton and Lindsay Davies who has played for Wales and scored twice during the Welsh ladies under 17 European Championships during the autumn of 2007.

Of the current players in the senior set up Craig Williams, Matthew Cox, Lee Freeman, Lee Jones, Lee Wathen, Mike Waite, Darren Harris, Marc Browning, Grant Evans, Andrew Johnson, Darryl Brenton, Jamie Brankley, Ben Belli, Ben Penry and Jacob Israel have all progressed through the junior set up. Craig Williams, Matthew Cox, and Lee Freeman the three who have survived from the first under 16 side.

Season 1999-2000 saw senior players Steve White and Chris Mason share the managerial position and their side started to play some attractive football with a passing game from defence. With a side made up of local boys such as Paul Morgan, Shey Watkins, Craig Williams, Simon and Lee Wathen, White and Mason ensured that the club finished in a respectable mid table position in the third division of the Gwent County league.

During the summer of 2000 an influx of local players such as Damian Heward, Ian Weeks, Dean Yemm, Robin Newman, Jason and Richard Guilford ensured that the club could re-form its second side under the guidance of John McCarthy a team was entered in the Gwent Central league’s second division. At the end of season 2000-01 White and Mason has resigned preferring to concentrate on their playing careers with the club.

This triggered the return of Blaenavon Blues stalwart Mike Hall to the club as first team manager. In Mikes first season in charge 2001-02 the Blues narrowly missed out on promotion finishing in third place behind champions Greenmeadow, and runners up Garnlydan. The following season 2002-03 was one of the Blues most successful seasons of modern times. Rob Browning was brought in by Mike Hall as first team coach, and with two superb cup runs and a great battle with local rivals Cwmffrwdoer Sports and Race AFC to win promotion to the second division; the season was a memorable one.

The Blues lost out to Goytre in the quarterfinal of the Amateur Cup, but fought their way to the final of the County Motors League cup final, being only the second club from division three to do so. But the final was a real eye opener for the Blues being comprehensively beaten by first division Aberbargoed Buds 6-0 at Newport Stadium. But the players picked themselves up two days later for their final league game of the season, in front of a three-figure crowd the Blues beat Hilltop Sports 5-2 to secure promotion to the second Division of the Gwent County League. The reserve team won the Benevolent cup in 2003 for the first time in seven years.

Season 2003-04 was another successful one for Blaenavon Blues with Mike Hall still in charge and his assistant Rob Browning keeping the players in top shape. The club had a poor start to the season losing three of their first five league games, but then it just clicked and the Blues went the rest of the season unbeaten, even then the club had a nervous last day of the season. The Blues needed to win their last game against Abertillery Bluebirds in Abertillery to secure promotion, but the Blues could not break down the strong Bluebirds defence and the game finished 0-0. The Blues felt they had blown their chance of promotion, as they felt sure third placed Newport Civil Service would have won their last game against city rivals Christchurch. But while in the Bluebirds clubhouse the news filtered through that Newport Civil had just lost 5-2. So two promotions in two seasons and the club felt it had a chance of promotion back to the Welsh League. The Reserve team retained the Benevolent cup in 2004.

The Blues first season in the top flight of the Gwent county league saw manager Mike Hall resign just before Christmas 2004 citing ill health as his reason’s and Mike was left to concentrate on his role as club Chairman. Mike’s right hand man Rob Browning took over the managerial reigns and guided the club to a credible fourth place finish. In 2005 the reserve team won the Langdon Cup for the first time since 1962 when the likes of club chairman Mike Hall was in the side.

Season 2005-06 was a season of so close yet so far, for Blaenavon Blues as the Holy Grail of the Welsh league was snatched from the Blues in the final week of the season. The Blues lost only two of their twenty-eight league games, but two draws, one against rivals Mardy and one against Coed Eva in two of their last three fixtures meant that the Blues missed out on promotion by three points to Aberbargoed Buds.

The Blues side of that year scored the most and conceded the least goals in the league but still failed to convert a few draws in to wins, that would have taken them top of the league and promotion in to the Welsh league. The players of that side included keeper Lee Jones, in defence there was Lee Wathen, Ryan Huish, Chris Mason, Craig Williams, Matthew Cox and Marc Creese. The midfield contained the hard working Jeff Morgan and Gareth Priest captain Steve White, Neil Cox, James Parfitt, Mike Waite, with youngster Andrew Johnson breaking in to the first team. The front two of Darren Harris and Scott Creese scored goals for fun and formed a formidable partnership. The Blues defeated eventual league Champions Aberbargoed in the January mud 4-1 at the Co-op field, but the Buds didn’t drop a point after that and won their remaining fourteen league fixtures to claim top spot. At the end of the 2005-06 season the successful Blues reserves won a Gwent Central cup for the fourth time in four years when John McCarthy guided his side to an Open cup triumph.

During February 2006 the Blues caught up with modern times and produced for the first time a club website. Set up by first team player and committee member Matthew Cox the site was designed to promote the club to the local community and as a point of reference for players, supporters and fellow clubs. The site continues to thrive and grow with around 10,000 visitors were year.

Since the end of the 2005-06 season the club has under gone a period of transition, with long serving Secretary Jeff Huybs resigning in the summer of 2007, so first team player Craig William’s has taking up the secretarial challenge. Reserve team manager John McCarthy left the club with his assistant Andrew Yemm under a cloud in the summer of 2006, with former Blues player Paul Challenger taken over as Reserve team manager. In Challengers first competitive game in charge the Blues reserves beat Pandy in the newly formed ‘Super Cup’ at Goytre’s Plough Road ground.

In the winter of 2006 first team manager Rob Browning resigned, players Ryan Huish and Steve White took temporary charge of first team affairs, while a replacement was found for Browning. After three months of advertising a manager had not been found, so the club turned to reserve team manager Paul Challenger and his assistant Mark White to help turn the club around. A good run was put together and the Blues finished in a respectable sixth place after being bottom of the league in January.

After a pre-season with a lot of optimism, Rob Browning was back with the club as manager of the youthful reserve side, and the club was looking forward to an assault on the Gwent County league title for season 2007-08. But after a shocking start to the season the Blues were out of the title race before the end of September. The Blues entered the FAW Welsh Trophy for the first time in this season, and a great 4-3 win over Swansea side North End was followed up with a 2-1 win over South Wales Amateur club Ynysddu Welfare. The Blues travelled to Swansea to take on the much fancied Ragged School in November but even though they more then matched their opponents, without a recognised keeper the Blues lost 5-2 to a clinical side.

Through out season 2007-08 the Blues struggled to find any type of form in the league, and this resulted in a relegation battle during the final weeks of the season. Even a good run in the Gwent FA Amateur cup with wins over Newport Civil Service at their home ground in the quarterfinal and a semi final win over Chepstow Town couldn’t’ ignite the Blues league form.

With the preverbal six pointer against Spencer Youth & Boys in the closing weeks of the season at Newport the Blues put in one of their worst performances of the season and lost the game one nil. First team manager Paul Challenger had seen enough and resigned after the game. With only three league games to go and a cup semi final to play for the Blues took the extraordinary step of allowing the Committee to run the side for the remaining games.

Local rivals Mardy were next up for the Blues who were also right in the relegation battle, a superb performance from the Blues resulting in a 2-0 win. Two nights later the Blues beat Chepstow Town in the semi final of the Amateur Cup and two days after that beat bottom placed Panteg to ensure that the club competes for another season in the top flight of the Gwent County league. The Blues ran out of steam in the final of the Amateur cup losing 3-0 to a strong Govilon side at Abergavenny Thursday’s Pen-y-Pound Stadium in front of crowd close to 500.

During the summer of 2008 the club appointed former player Chris Mason as its next manager. Chris having done the Job before returns as player/manager, this time a little older and a little wiser, and hopefully able to return the club back to the Welsh league.

The summer of 2007 saw a new chapter for Blaenavon Blues AFC with the formation of the clubs very first ladies team. This side was created from the girls under 16’s of the previous season, the season started with the girls stepping up to the South Wales Girls league under 18 division, but after two fixtures the league collapsed. The girls were forced to step up to ladies football and entered the South Wales Women’s league all be it a little later than the other clubs. But a solid start by the young side has had a positive effect and the club hope’s to see the women’s side continue to expand.

Steve Ward the pioneer of junior football in Blaenavon formed the girl’s side in the summer of 2002, after he received a letter from three girls asking for a girl’s football team. Season 2003-2004 consisted of playing monthly tournaments in and around South Wales, but this proved not enough for the girls who wanted to play week in week out.

So under the guidance of husband and wife team Steve and Lisa Reed the Blues girls entered the South Wales Girls league at under 14 level and finished their first season in sixth place having lost only eight of their twenty six games. The following season and the Blues girls finished one place better in 5th place losing eight games again. With Lindsay Davies finishing the season top scorer with 55 goals.

The following season proved to be the best for the girls playing now at under 16 level the girls finished their league campaign in third position, with striker Davies again top scorer this time with 93 goals and celebrated with a call up the Welsh U17’s squad. The season finale was a cup final appearance against close rivals Caerphilly in the league cup at Taffs Well AFC, where the Blues girls ran out deserved 3-0 winners, and a great reward for a lot of hard work over a number of years.

But what does the future hold for this club? With such a great youth and junior set-up and a very youthful reserve side the future for
laenavon Blues should be very bright. The clubs aim is to return to the Welsh League, and play to as a high standard that is possible for this club, but to also provide an opportunity to players who are not to that standard and play for the social and health benefits. The club wants the town of Blaenavon to be proud of its only football club.

Off the field the committee is thriving, but in October 2008 the Blues sadly lost Mr Blaenavon Blues when chairman Mike Hall died after a short battle with Cancer. Mike was Blaenavon Blues through and through and he leaves major void in the club. But he also had a big influence on the rest of the committee and that committee will continue to progress the club and take it as far as is practical. The club is trying to progress and expand and we have certainly have done that over the past 16 years. But the Co-op field is starting to look its age and could very well be resigned to history, as the club is in advanced talks with the local council on re-location to an alternative site within the town. This could well be the springboard the club needs to push on to the next level and the next chapter in the history of Blaenavon Blues AFC.

Welsh League:-

Division 2 Champions 1974-75

Premier Division 1984-85

Gwent Senior League:-

Division 2 Champions 1977-78

Gwent County League:-

Division 1 Runners up 2005-06

Division 2 Runners up 2003-04

Division 3 Runners up 2002-03

Amateur Cup:-

Finalist 2008

Gwent County Cup:-

Finalist 2003

Gwent Central League:-

Division 1 Champions 1960-61, 1961-62, 1966-67, 1992-93, 1996-97

Division 1 Runners up 1965-66, 2007-08

Division 2 Champions 1989-90

Division 2 Runners up 2002-03

Langdon Cup:-

Winners 1960, 1961, 1962, 2005

Finalist 1954

Benevolent Cup :-

Winners 1960, 1961, 1963, 1996, 2003, 2004

Finalist 1965, 1967

E.I Peake Cup:-

Winners 1960

Open Cup:-

Winners 1993, 2006

Finalist 2008

Super Cup:-

Winners 2006