Aberdare Athletic F.C.

Aberdare Athletic

Full name	Aberdare Athletic Football Club
Founded	1893
Dissolved	1928
Ground	Athletic Ground, Aberdare

Aberdare Athletic Football Club were a Welsh football club founded in 1893 and based in Aberdare. They joined the Football League in 1921 but were replaced by Torquay United after failing to be re-elected in 1927.

History

The Aberdare team photographed in 1900

Founded in 1893, Aberdare were Welsh Cup runners-up, in 1903–04 1904–05 and 1922/23. In 1920–21 they joined the Welsh Section of the Southern League and duly finished runners-up in their first season. That gained them entry to the Football League Third Division South in time for 1921–22.

Aberdare spent six seasons in the League, with their best season being 1921–22, when they finished 8th. That same year, 1926, Aberdare merged with nearby Aberaman Athletic; the first team continued to compete in the Football League under the name Aberdare Athletic, while the reserve team played in the Welsh League under the name Aberdare & Aberaman Athletic.

However, in the next season, 1926–27 Aberdare Athletic finished bottom of the Third Division South and failed to gain re-election to the league; Torquay United took their place. The merged club fully renamed themselves as Aberdare & Aberaman Athletic, and rejoined the Southern League.

However, the merged club only survived for another year, and in 1928 the Aberaman faction split away from the club to re-form Aberaman Athletic, while the Aberdare half folded. After World War II, in 1945 a reformed Aberdare & Aberaman Athletic was formed, but this side also split into two, in 1947; Aberdare Town FC club continue to this day, and play in the Welsh Football League.

The club had several different team colours during their existence. Their membership of the Football League coincided with that of a team from another Welsh town Merthyr Town.

Notable players

• Billy Henderson
• Arthur Brown
• Bob Barnshaw
• Billy Wedlock

Managers

The following were managers around the time the team was Football League side:

• William Lot, June 1920 – March 1922
• Frank Bradshaw, May 1923 – April 1924
• Sydney Beaumont, 1924–1927
• Harry Hadley, November 1927 – April 1928

History

Welsh Football League

• Winners (4): 1904–05, 1908–09, 1911–12, 1920–21

League and Cup History

Season	Div	Pos	Pl	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	FA Cup	Notes
1921–22	3rd	8	42	17	10	15	57	24	44
1922–23	3rd	21	42	9	11	22	42	70	29	1st Round
1923–24	3rd	12	42	12	14	16	45	58	38	1st Round
1924–25	3rd	18	42	14	9	19	54	67	37
1925–26	3rd	9	42	17	9	17	74	66	42	3rd Round
1926–27	3rd	22	42	9	7	26	62	101	25	1st Round	Failed Re-election
All-time League results:			252	78	60	115	334	386	215

External links

• Aberdare Athletic at the Football Club History Database