Tag: Merthyr Athletic Club

They Managed Merthyr Town

by Phil Sweet

BACKGROUND

During the first half of the Twentieth Century, the manager’s job was very different to what it is today. In this era managers were generally given the title of Secretary-Manager and were responsible for signing players and the day-to-day running of the club. Much of the training and ‘tactics’ were generally left to the Trainer who would sometimes consult senior players. Team selection was normally left to the committee or board of directors.

What follows is a series of biographies of those individuals who ‘managed’ Merthyr Town, a job when the club was a member of the Football League in the 1920s, which was widely regarded as being one of the toughest in British football due to the massive financial problems facing the club as unemployment mounted year on year in the Borough.

THE EARLY ‘MANAGERS’

DAVID THOMAS MANTLE

David Thomas Mantle was the first Secretary-Manager of Merthyr Town. He was appointed in June 1908 and was assisted as Trainer by Sam Collins, a local insurance superintendent and trained masseur. Mantle arrived at Penydarren Park with a good pedigree having won the South Wales Cup with Ton Pentre the previous season. However, Mantle’s stay at Penydarren Park was to be a short one as he left in October 1908 to return to Ton Pentre. In 1912 he was banned from football for life having being found guilty by the Football Association of Wales of making illegal payments to players.

Following Mantle’s departure, Sam Collins continued as Trainer and the secretarial duties were taken over by Mr. W.H. Parry a local solicitor. Parry was himself replaced as Secretary for the 1909-10 season by Mr. W.T. Jones, a former Secretary of Merthyr R.F.C. and a member of the committee of Merthyr Athletic Club – the body that controlled Penydarren Park at that time.

ALBERT FISHER

Albert Fisher joined Merthyr Town in 1909 after a lengthy playing career in the Football and Southern Leagues. He was appointed Secretary-Manager in 1910 and the following season led the club to the Glamorgan League championship.

Season 1911-12 saw Fisher’s Merthyr Town team capture the South Wales Cup and pip Portsmouth on goal average to finish champions of the Second Division of the Southern League. Fisher left Penydarren Park in the summer of 1913 to become Notts County’s first Secretary-Manager and he marked his first season in charge by winning the Second Division Championship.

The 1922-23 season saw Fisher’s Nott’s County side reach the F.A. Cup semi-final where they were defeated by Huddersfield Town. In May 1922 Fisher took Nott’s County to Barcelona to play in tournament to mark the opening of Barca’s Les Corts stadium. Nott’s County’s notorious offside tactics didn’t endear themselves to the home crowd as they beat Barcelona by 4 goals to 2. For the second match against their hosts, County dropped their controversial playing style yet still secured a 1-1 draw.

The Notts County team in Barcelona – Fisher is on the far left

Season 1924-25 saw County return to the First Division as Second Division champions. Albert Fisher remained with Nott’s County until the summer of 1927. He never managed again and died in 1937.

DAVID M. BUCHANAN

Former Leyton manager David M. Buchanan joined Merthyr Town in August 1913. However, his first season in charge saw Merthyr Town relegated from the Southern League First Division. The following year Buchanan fared slightly better. He took the team to Highbury for an F.A. Cup tie against Arsenal and narrowly missed out on promotion.

In later years he served as Charlton Athletic’s Assistant-Manager and Trainer (1925-28) and managed Thames F.C. (1928-31). In a bizarre twist of fate Buchanan was succeeded as Charlton manager by Merthyr Town manager Albert Lindon whilst Thames FC was the team who replaced the Martyrs in the Football League.

HARRY HADLEY 

England international Harry Hadley enjoyed a long and distinguished playing career with, amongst others, Aston Villa and W.B.A. before being appointed Merthyr Town Secretary-Manager in May 1919. He was in charge for the first Football League fixture against Crystal Palace and led the club to an eighth-place finish at the end of the 1920-21 season. Hadley resigned in October 1921 following a difference of policy with the board of directors.

In April 1922 Hadley was named as manager of  Chesterfield where he remained until August 1922 before taking up a staff appointment with Manchester United.

In November 1927 Hadley was appointed as manager of Aberdare. This was a very difficult appointment as the club was officially known as Aberdare and Aberaman.

Following the demise of Aberdare in the summer of 1928 Hadley worked as an agent for several Football League clubs.

In late September 1930 Hadley became Secretary-Manager of Merthyr Town for the second time, a post he held until the demise of the club in the summer of 1934.

JAMES McPHERSON

James McPherson joined Merthyr Town as Trainer in the summer of 1921. His background was in athletics having previously been Trainer to the Norwegian Olympic team.

Following the resignation of Harry Hadley, McPherson was given the sole responsibility of looking after the players. A mid-table finish at the end of the 1921-22 season led to the Board appointing McPherson as Manager in April 1922.However, after a challenging 1922-23 season McPherson left Merthyr Town at the end of the campaign

THOMAS DANIEL JONES

A pioneer of the association football code in South Wales, Jones, a native of Aberdare, was a former Welsh International and had served as a Secretary of Aberdare F.C. and a FAW Vice-President.

A solicitor by profession Jones was appointed Merthyr Town Secretary-Manager in July 1923. Despite finishing in a creditable 13th position in the Third Division South, Jones tendered his resignation at the end of the 1923-24 season.

ALBERT LINDON

Albert Lindon was very much ‘Mr. Merthyr Town’ He joined Merthyr Town in the summer of 1920 after spells at Birmingham, Aston Villa, Barnsley and Coventry City. A giant goalkeeper, he made a record 250 Football League appearances for Merthyr Town, scoring 1 goal.

Lindon was appointed Player-Manager in August 1924 for the princely sum of £1 a week on top of his playing contract!

He remained in charge at Penydarren Park until January 1928 when he was appointed Manager of Charlton Athletic. One of the last things Lindon had to do before leaving the town was to get married by special licence.

Lindon served Charlton in a number of capacities until March 1934. He subsequently joined Arsenal where he eventually ended up as chief scout before returning to Penydarren Park in May 1947 to manage Merthyr Tydfil AFC. Lindon remained at Penydarren Park until December 1949 by which time the team had won the Southern League Championship, the Welsh Cup and the Southern League Cup.

He then joined Cardiff City as a scout eventually becoming assistant manager before returning to manage Merthyr Tydfil AFC in the 1957-58 and 1958-59 seasons. He then became a scout for Swindon Town and then Newport County. During his managerial career Lindon reckoned to have discovered around 30 future international players.

THOMAS McKENNA

Tom McKenna began season 1927-28 as Charlton Athletic’s first choice goalkeeper. However, he lost his place following Albert Lindon’s arrival at The Valley and in the summer of 1928, McKenna joined Merthyr Town.

In November 1928 the Board surprisingly offered McKenna the manager’s job. At just 26 he was the youngest manager in the entire Football League. However, McKenna lasted just six months in the hot seat and he left Penydarren Park in the summer of 1929 to join Southend United.

SAM GIBBON

A local grocer Sam Gibbon headed a syndicate that took control of the Club in the summer of 1928 after the old company had gone into liquidation.

Despite enduring a tough 1928-29 season where he was forced to sell his own son to Fulham in order to try and make ends meet, Gibbon, who was the main financial backer, decided to carry on.

However, financial circumstances meant that he was unable to afford the cost of a manager. As a result, Gibbon was forced to supervise the training sessions himself.

The 1929-30 season proved to be disastrous for Merthyr Town. The club finished the campaign rooted to the foot of the table with just 21 points from their 42 matches. Consequently, it came as little surprise when the Club failed to secure re-election to the Football League.

In the light of these circumstances Sam Gibbon severed his connections with the Club. Sam Gibbon’s association with Merthyr Town cost him well over £2,500 (around £200,000 today) – a figure which would have been much higher but for the sale of players.

Walter William Meredith – The Man Who Secured Penydarren Park for Sport

by Phil Sweet

History is full of individuals who accomplish notable deeds and then fade from memory. One such gentleman is Walter William Meredith. This short article will hopefully both bring his story to life and recognise his achievements.

Walter Meredith was born on New Year’s Day 1863 and was the second child of William and Harriet Meredith who resided at 125 High Street in Merthyr. Walter’s father was a successful jeweller and had the financial means to invest in his son’s education.

Meredith initially attended Lloyd’s School in Merthyr. It was at this school that he first participated in the code of football which existed at the time. When he was eleven Meredith attended Taunton School and, during the five years he spent there, represented the school at both rugby and cricket.

He then spent the next three years at Shrewsbury School and whilst a pupil at the school he became acquainted with Association Football. Meredith proved to be a quick learner and went on to represent the school at football, cricket and running. During this time his rugby skills weren’t forgotten as he occasionally turned out for Merthyr RFC whilst home on vacation.

Meredith’s talents were not just confined to the sports field and on leaving Shrewsbury School in 1882 he was articled to a firm of solicitors in the City of London. While he was in the Capital Walter’s sporting career continued to flourish. He joined the London Athletic Club and on Wednesdays played rugby for a team called the Anomolites which was a combination of members of the London Athletic Club and doctors from the various London hospitals.

He was also a member of the Hermits & Phoenix Football Clubs which later merged into the well-known Clapton club. Indeed whilst he was with Clapton Meredith played at right back in the Clapton team which won the London Association Junior Cup. A true sporting all-rounder Meredith also competed in cross-country competitions for the Clapton Beagles team and during the summer months was a regular and successful participant in athletic sports held within easy travelling distance of London.

In 1887 Walter passed his final law examination and qualified as a solicitor  This event saw him curtail his athletics career. However, his interest in sport was not extinguished completely as he served for a season as Secretary of London Welsh RFC.

In June 1891 Meredith returned to Merthyr to open his own solicitors practice in Market Square and resided with his parents and older sister Kate at 125 High Street. Back in his home town Walter wasted little time in throwing himself into the civic life of the area. As well as being President of Merthyr RFC and Secretary of Merthyr Athletic Club, in 1904 he was appointed High Constable of Caerphilly Higher.

Shortly after being appointed to the latter office Meredith made his lasting contribution to the sporting life of the town when he concluded the negotiations, on behalf of Merthyr Athletic Club, with the Bolgoed Estate for a 99 year lease on Penydarren Park which at the time was in great danger of being built on. This agreement secured for the people of Merthyr a central and well appointed venue for sporting activity which had previously been so lacking in the town.

Having secured the use of Penydarren Park for sport the twelve-strong syndicate of prominent townsmen who comprised Merthyr Athletic Club wasted little time in levelling the arena to create a playing field as well as athletics and cycling tracks. The ground was officially opened on Saturday 9th September 1905 when Swansea RFC took on Merthyr RFC and immediately became the home to Merthyr RFC, Merthyr Thursdays RFC and Merthyr Ladies Hockey Club.

These organisations were the first of many such clubs to take up residence at the ground. Although Penydarren Park has become synonymous with football in the town, having hosted both Football League and European Cup Winners Cup matches, the arena has also played host to touring international rugby teams and greyhound racing. Equally as significant is the fact that it has allowed countless thousands of children and adults in the Borough to engage in a variety of sporting pursuits.

Whilst securing the lease on Penydarren Park was undoubtedly Walter Meredith’s lasting civic legacy to Merthyr Tydfil his interests were not just confined to the sporting arena. As well as being an enthusiastic archaeologist and a recognised authority on the history of Merthyr Tydfil Meredith was the long-standing  Secretary of both the Merthyr & Aberdare Incorporated Law Society and Merthyr Chamber of Trade & Commerce.

Politically he was a strong supporter of the Conservative Party acting as party agent in the town for the first decade of the twentieth century.  Ten years earlier he had been one of the founder members of the Merthyr Constitutional Club eventually becoming the club’s president after holding the post of vice-president for eighteen years.

Walter Meredith was a bachelor who, following the death of his parents, moved with his spinster sister to 2, Courtland Terrace. He died on August 2nd 1932  whilst on holiday at Aberdw in Mid Wales where he was indulging in another of his life-long passions – angling. His funeral took place Friday August 12th at St David’s Church where he was life-long member. He is buried in Cefn Cemetery.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Evening Express
Merthyr Express
1871 Census
1881 Census
1891 Census
1901 Census
1911 Census