Merthyr Town: The club carrying the pride of the valleys 

By Bailey Lewis

Merthyr Town is the only Welsh team playing in the English Non-League system. 

Despite the challenges of being a fan-owned club, long-distance away trips, and being the only club with a transfer window throughout Non-League, the Martyrs always find a way to succeed and proudly fly the flag of the Welsh valleys. 

Reformed in 2010, the club has rebuilt itself, driven by its supporters and the community that refused to let their football club die. 

Merthyr Town were originally founded in 1908 and have been through some positive times, like hosting Italian giants Atalanta at Penydarren Park, and the lows of liquidation in 2009. 

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Golden era

In spite of the rich history Merthyr Town has earned, the terraces of Penydarren Park are currently witnessing the ‘golden era’ of the football club, with the Martyrs finding themselves in third place in the National League North, and enjoying their first season at the level following a title-winning 2024/25 campaign in the Southern League Premier South. 

The recent success at the Welsh side has been spearheaded by manager Paul Michael, who joined the club back in April 2022. 

Michael joined Merthyr after the club’s fate of relegation to the Southern League Division One South already decided. 

Fortunately for Merthyr, unforeseen circumstances at Walton Casuals FC resulted in the Southern League’s decision to keep the Martyrs in the Southern League Premier South for at least another season. 

Play-off heartbreak

With the former Yate Town and Cinderford boss at the helm and another season at Step 3 secured, Merthyr needed an instant improvement in performances for the 2022/23 season if they were to avoid a situation like the previous season. 

The club went on to completely rebuild the squad with a multitude of both arrivals and departures. 

The most notable signings ahead of the 2022/23 season included the likes of Ricardo Rees, Tom Handley, Callum Ryan-Phillips and Noah Smerdon, who all ended up playing an influential role in the club’s promotion to the National League North in 2025. 

The overhaul appeared to work, with the Martyrs finishing the 2022/23 campaign in ninth place with 60 points – a massive improvement on the previous tally of 26.

After a successful first year under Michael, attention turned towards the playoff places heading into the 2023/24 campaign.

With hopes of further improvement, the side was heavily active in the transfer market, bringing in Lewys Twamley, Joe Woodwiss and Aneurin Livermore.

The first half of the campaign proved extremely promising for Merthyr as the side picked up consistent victories, which saw them fighting for the top spots in the league; however, a late decline and slight drop in form resulted in the side missing out on the playoff places on the final day despite a 7-1 demolition of Harrow Borough.

Super squad

With the heartbreak of last season still lingering within the squad, staff and fans alike, the 2024/25 season had to be the year of the Martyrs, and Michael recognised this. 

They once again strengthened by capturing some impressive and talented players to add to an already encouraging squad; Kane Simpson, Cole Jarvis, Lee Lucas, Jack Evans and Jay Williams joining Michael’s assembled ‘super squad’.

The fans soon filled the terraces and packed Penydarren Park with attendances reaching the lofty heights of 3,000, for what would finally be the promotion-winning campaign.  

Merthyr finished the season as champions with 91 points, having won 27 games while scoring 105 goals across the 42-game season.  

Following promotion, the club were now preparing for their first season in the National League North, just four seasons after narrowly escaping relegation to the eighth tier of English football. 

In the summer of 2025, Michael made very few changes to his squad that won promotion, making just four signings in Brandon Smalley, Morgan Lewis, Kai Churchley and re-signing fan-favourite Lewys Twamley after his brief spell at Yeovil Town. 

Exceeded expectations

Expectations were relatively low for Merthyr heading into the 2025/26 season, but they’ve massively exceeded those expectations with the Martyrs flying high in third place with just 10 games remaining.  

During the winter transfer window, the club lost two key figures in their squad as talisman Rees departed for National League side Forest Green Rovers, while Jarvis headed for the EFL and signed for fellow Welsh club Newport County in League Two. 

Despite these departures, they managed to fill the gaps left by introducing Will Spiers, Jake Dennis, Jordon Garrick, Kiban Rai, Jacob Maddox and Tate Xavier-Jones to the club.

Merthyr’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed by the fans, with the passionate and loyal group making long trips to places such as Fylde, South Shields and Darlington consistently, whilst also raising attendance levels at home and even selling out Penydarren Park, making it their fortress. 

With the last 10 games coming up in Merthyr’s season, the Welsh valleys will be cheering them on as always to make those playoff places and fight to secure a back-to-back promotion.

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