Young film directors wanted!

Are you interested in film production and between the ages of 16-24?


MTFC have partnered with Merthyr Tydfil College to look for a group of 4-6 people to make up a volunteer led film committee.

The committee will learn to film, edit and produce footage for free with the help of Richard Davies and the Media Team at Merthyr Tydfil College. There will be various projects about the football club such as filming:

Matches

Adverts

Documentaries

Advertorials

Events

Interviews

If you are between the age of 16-24 and are interested in becoming part of the film committee please contact Steve Lloyd, Business Development Manager before Friday 6th July on sjclloyd@hotmail.co.uk or 07912 748 210

Happy Birthday

Happy 8th birthday to Martyrs to the Cause for today!

Ukraine visit to Merthyr

Merthyr Town FC will tomorrow host a visit of school children from the city of Donetsk in the Ukraine. The children will have a tour of Penydarren Park and the surrounding area before meeting the Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil Cllr Lisa Mytton in the Town Hall.

The visit has been arranged to celebrate the fact that Donetsk was founded by John Hughes who was born in Dowlais. The city was then called Hugheskova and a statue of John Hughes stands in the centre of the city to commemorate his acheivements in Ukraine.

The schoolchildren are all fans of Shakhtar Donetsk so let's hope we can arrange a friendly match in the not too distant future.

Walking for the Academy

Seven Merthyr Town fans walked from Brecon to Penydarren Park on FA Cup Final day to raise funds for the club's Youth Academy. Phil Mytton, Julie Martin, Colin & Liam Bodenham, Paul Owen, Christian Trotman, Steve and not to forget Jess the dog covered the 20+ mile journey over the Beacons via the Gap into the Taff Valley. It was a tough climb at the start from Llanfaes up into the Beacons but the party kept going as they traversed the peaks to drop into Pontsticill and a welcome pit in the Red Cow pub. They followed the Taff Trail down through Trefechan and Cefn Coed before finally reaching Penydarren Park after a 7 hour journey. The group have raised over £500.00 so far to support the excellent work being undertaken within the Club's Academy structure. Merthyr Town FC would like to thank everyone for their efforts, it is much appreciated.

Another Championship at Penydarren Park

Merthyr Town FC can celebrate another Championship after the club's darts team won the Merthyr & District Division 5 title on the weekend with a 7-4 win over their nearest challengers from the Winchester Inn. The team was formed a few years ago and was one of the club successes in maintaining a presence in the town when the Football Club had to play a season in exile at Taffs Well. The team provide an additional revenue stream into the Candac Suite on Friday evenings plus spreading the news of the club at the away matches. So it's congratulations to captain Joanna Mew and the team and good luck for next season in Division 4.

It was only three years ago on 14th May that the Merthyr Tydfil FC Supporters Society hosted a crisis meeting for supporters at a local social club as their Football Club was in financial meltdown. Everyone who attended that meeting knew that what was required was a concerted and unified campaign to maintain semi-professional football in our town. With the guidance of Supporters Direct the long trek back had begun. Who would have thought that just three years later after a year in administration, a subsequent liquidation and even a season in exile that the reformed Merthyr Town would regain its place in the Southern League with a second successive promotion in the Western League? The club is now run by the aforementioned Supporters Trust and is continuing to go from strength to strength with an army of volunteers who have continued to work week in week out to raise funds to ensure that the club remains at the centre of the community. On Saturday the Martyrs overcame a spirited Ilfracombe Town team to win 1-0 to get the three points to pip Bitton to the Western League Premier Division title in front of 725 jubilant supporters. The journey continues for the Martyrs and there will be plenty of challenges ahead but having overcome so many hurdles so far and with the club right back in the Southern League who knows what can we achieve together?

Merthyr Town FC launch Penydarren Park Pitch Fund

Merthyr Town FC has today confirm the setting up of a Penydarren Park Pitch Fund (PPPF) to help raise £5,000 to upgrade the current playing surface at our famous ground.



Penydarren Park was visited in November by inspectors from the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) as part of the Football Association of Wales's audit for possible international match venues.



The IOG team were very impressed with the work being undertaken by our Ron Walton but were happy to work with Ron to put together recommendations to improve and maintain the playing surface.

The levels across the pitch, particularly between the penalty boxes are poor and the pitch would benefit greatly from levelling to integrate these levels across the whole pitch.



The pitch is also becoming compacted around the goals and centre circle.



The topsoil should be de-compacted when ground conditions permit using a range of options including verti-draining and linear aeration.


The recommendations were costed at just over £5,000 therefore the club is seeking volunteers via the PPPF to set up events to raise new monies to achieve this goal.



The first event is on the evening Saturday 14th January when local band Future Sailors will be playing in the Candac Suite in support of the Penydarren Park Pitch Fund. Tickets are only £3.00 each and can be purchased from the Candac Suite or via Mark Evans on 07900671937.



Future events will include a children's sponsored bike ride around the Penydarren Park pitch, supporters cycling to our away match at Bristol Manor Farm on Easter Monday and David Powell sky-diving out of a plane in April.

Andrew Murphy will also run the Rotterdam marathon in April.

If you have any ideas for fundraisers please contact Merthyr Town FC.

Charity collection update

Merthyr Town FC would like to thank everyone who donated to the charity collection undertaken at Penydarren Park prior to match against Bristol Manor Farm yesterday. As a result of your kind donations we were able to forward £153.77 to the Llamau charity to continue their good work in our community.

Christmas Charity Collection at Merthyr Town FC

The Trust at Merthyr Town FC undertakes a charity bucket collection every Christmas period (weather permitting of course) for a local charity, this season it has been decided to support Llamau.



Llamau is a homeless charity delivering services to socially excluded, homeless and potentially homeless young people and vulnerable women in South Wales.



The word Llamau means steps, progression or threshold in old Welsh and their ultimate aim is to support people who use their services in making such positive steps.



They are particularly well known for engaging with those at risk - particularly care leavers, young offenders, those as risk of offending, victims of domestic abuse and people who have chaotic and disadvantaged lifestyles.



Merthyr Town FC recently helped in publicising Llamau's project to renovate and create a cyber cafe at the famous Flooks jewellers shop which has stood empty on Pontmorlais Circus for a few years now. Llamau won £60,000 in their heat of the Jubilee People's Millions which was run on the HTV Wales Evening News programme. The charity needs more funds though to continue its great local work. The Bling Cafe @ Flooks will be run, in a similar vein to Merthyr Town FC, as a social enterprise but by homeless young people, providing them with work experience, knowledge, self-confidence and motivation to go on and lead successful independent lives. It will contribute to the regeneration of Merthyr town centre and in particular the Pontmorlais area where of course Penydarren Park is situated.



Trust volunteers will be looking for donations for this excellent local charity before, during and after todays' match against Bristol Manor Farm, please give generously and show your continued support for our community partners.



For further information on Llamau please note the following link - http://www.llamau.org.uk/

Wrexham Supporters Trust complete takeover

Merthyr Town FC wish to congratulate our colleagues within the Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) for their successful takeover of Wrexham AFC this week. The process has been lengthy but the WST has been diligent in its approach to securing the future of Wales's oldest football club.

As we know at Penydarren Park the best guardians for a club's future are its supporters and we're sure that good times lie ahead for those fans at the Racecourse Ground.

Penydarren Park renovation plan

Merthyr Town Launch project for Penydarren Park Upgrade

On Thursday December 1st the Merthyr Town Board meet supporters of the club at the CANDAC Suite at 7.30 pm to outline the plans to upgrade Penydarren Park . The club has received a substantial grant through the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Social Economy team. The grant will be spent to overcome years of neglect at Penydarren Park on an upgrade of basic facilities such as security fencing, shower facilities, heating and facilities for the disabled. It has also enabled the appointment of a Business development Manager, whose role will be to expand the business turnover at the Penydarren Park, and to increase the use of the facilities at the club by the wider community. The club Board will also take the opportunity to inform supporters of all developments over recent months. All who are interested in the continued progress of Merthyr Town are welcome.

Steve Williams - 300 appearances for the Martyrs

Merthyr Town FC was delighted to present a momento to our captain Steve Williams on Saturday prior to our Les Phillips Cup match to commemorate his 300th appearance for the Martyrs.

Congratulations to Steve on reaching this milestone, here's for many more seasons at Penydarren Park.

White Hot Webley t-shirts

To celebrate the 21st anniversary of Merthyr Tydfil's historic 4-1 Welsh Cup win over Cardiff City at Ninian Park the website Cultzeros has launched a t-shirt design of the inconic Dai Webley goal celebration from that match.

If you would like one or would like to purchase one as a Christmas gift for the Martyrs fan in your life please use the following link;

http://www.cultzeros.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=MeT23

Merthyr boxer wears the shirt with pride

Kerry Hope showed his support for his hometown by wearing a Merthyr Town shirt into the ring for his latest fight which was shown live on Sky Sports.

The fight was a British Middleweight title eliminator against Tony Hill at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton. Kerry won the fight.

The Club is very proud to be associated with Kerry and wish him all the best for his next fight when he will once again wear the Martyrs shirt with pride.

Fans elections to the Board at Merthyr Town

Merthyr Town have issued ballot papers to all of its members for the election of 4 Board members as part of the Club's constitution.

There are 7 candidates for the places;

Richard Bennett
Peter Harman
Les Howells
Dave Powell
Meurig Price
Len Sankey
Philip Sweet

Members are reminded that the ballot papers needs to be returned to the independent auditor by 19th November at the latest.

Another successful Minithon

Merthyr hosted its annual Run, Walk or Crawl 5km event on Sunday 23rd October and although numbers were down on last season's inaugural event it was a day enjoyed by all who took part.

Councillor Brent Carter, a regular Merthyr Town FC supporter, started the race at Rhydycar on the Taff Trail and soon the route was full of MTFC players, supporters and families enjoying the scenery on a crisp autumn day.

Danny Carter was present along with captain Steve Williams and physio Russ Jones plus more players to show their support for the Academy teams at Merthyr Town FC.

The race was a deadheat this year between defending champion Andrew Murphy and Liam Bodenham. Lloyd Type finished third.

Our thanks to the players & staff for supporting the Minithon 2011.

Funds are still welcome to support both Merthyr Town FC and its Academy teams, if you wish to donate please contact Mark Evans on wolvesy@yahoo.co.uk

Merthyr Town FC honours legendary supporter

David Miles who supported Merthyr Tydfil FC from its resurrection in 1945 right through to the current supporter-owned club of Merthyr Town FC was honoured on Saturday with the unveiling of the new sign on Theatre End stand at Penydarren Park which now carries his name as one of the greatest supporters of the Martyrs.

David Miles followed the Martyrs from 1945 through the glory years of the early 1950s into the barren years of the sixties then enjoyed the 1970s with John Charles at the helm he was around to enjoy the second glorious era when the Martyrs won the Welsh Cup and entered Europe. The decline of the club to its eventual liquidation in 2010 didn't put David off and he continued to sell Soccalot tickets to the very end.

David sadly died this year but was able to see the Supporters Trust save his favourite club from extinction. He was inspiration to us all with his never ending support for football at Penydarren Park and he will be greatly missed by all.

His family were present on Saturday to the David Miles Stand unveiled which will serve as a great reminder to future generations of a wonderful supporter.

Martyrs host annual Let's Kick Racism Day

Merthyr Town hosted its annual Let's Kick Racism Out of Football Day on Saturday for the visit of Sherborne Town.

Both teams and match officials wore the campaign t-shirts in the pre=match warm up and pennants were exchanged by the team captains.

Merthyr Town is proud of its inclusive community initiatives and recognises the Kick It Out campaign as part of its vigilance to ensure that racism is not tolerated at our club.

Campaign leaflets were distributed to the 411 fans who attended the match.

2nd Annual Merthyr Town FC Minithon

Merthyr Town FC will host its annual fundraising Minithon on Sunday 23rd October from Rhydycar Leisure Centre at 1pm.

Players, supporters, families and friends will either run, walk or crawl the 5km route from Rhydycar to Abercanaid and back along the beautiful Taff Trail to raise funds for both the Football Club and its Academy structure.

Sponsorship forms for the event can be downloaded via the following link - http://merthyrtownfc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=618:sunday-minithon-challenge-at-rhydcar&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=28

Last year's event saw over 60 people enjoying a Sunday on the Taff Trail which raised in excess of £2,000.00. Merthyr Town FC would like to exceed that this year.

Andrew Murphy will be defending his title as the Minithon 5k Race winner for 2010 but others will be pushing prams or walking the dog as part of their participation in the event.

All participants are invited back to Penydarren Park after the Minithon for refreshments in the Candac Suite plus a chance to see one of the Academy teams who rely on fundraising to keep them going.

The Under-14 team will play Newport YMCA at 2.30pm.

It's going to be a great day on Sunday, see you at Rhydycar.

Merthyr Town unveil Poppy Day shirt

Merthyr Town FC has unveiled a new shirt to be worn by the Club in November to raise much needed funds for the Royal British Legion. The Supporters Trust at Penydarren Park has made a collection each year to raise funds for our servicemen and so this season we've designed a black shirt with the poppy logo to raise the club's support for this vital charity.

The shirts will be sold for £35.00 with all profits being donated to the Royal British Legion.