Taff's Well A.F.C.

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Taffs Well FC
Official badge
Full nameTaff's Well Association Football Club
Nickname(s)The Wellmen
Founded1946
GroundRhiw'r Ddar Stadium (3,000)
ChairmanKevin Francis
ManagerGeza Hajgato / Nathan Cotterrall
LeagueCymru South
2022–23Cymru South, 11th of 16
WebsiteClub website

Taff's Well Association Football Club is a Welsh association football Club founded in 1946. The team are based in Taff's Well, in Cardiff, and compete in the Cymru South, the second tier of Welsh football. The team is nicknamed the Wellmen and their home is situated at the Rhiw'r Ddar Stadium in Taffs Well.

History[edit]

Following the end of World War II, Elan Gough and Bill Newman initiated the idea of merging local clubs to improve the facilities and playing standards than experienced pre-war. This idea was warmly welcomed and Taffs Well AFC was born. The club was formed at St Marys Church Hall, Glan-y-Llyn in the summer of 1946. Two teams were formed and entered into the Cardiff and District League. The club's first ground was at the Gwaelod-y-Gareth cricket club. The team then shortly moved to a field provided by Dai Parry, a local farmer. Following the inaugural season the club joined the South Wales Amateur League. The club were champions twice and runners up 4 times between 1949 and 1956 and won the Corinthian Cup in 1954.

Taffs Well FC founders Elan Gough and Bill Newman

Following a successful initial period, Bill Newman died and the Club faced a difficult time. In 1960, Don James joined the Club as Secretary. The determination of Don and many others resulted in a change of fortunes for the team both on and off the pitch, with the club winning three titles in the 1970s. Don has now been with the Club for over 60 years and his fantastic efforts were rewarded in 2014 as the main stand was renamed the “Don James Stand”.

The Club won the South Wales Amateur League First Division in 1975, 1976 and 1977 as well as South Wales Intermediate Cup in 1975 and 1977. The Club entered the Welsh League in 1977. Malcolm Frazer joined the Club the same year and his hard work was recognised in 2017 with the unveiling of a new stand brandishing his name. In 1996 Norma Samuel became the Club’s Secretary having previously been a committee member and was a tremendous servant until her passing in 2024.

Under the management of Lee Bridgeman, the club's most successful spell in recent times saw the Club finish Division One runners up in 2011-12 and 2012–13 and winning the Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup four times in five seasons; 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014-2015 and 2015-16. In 2018-19 Taffs Well Youth side won the Welsh League Youth Division.[1] and in 2021/22 won the JD Cymru Premier Development League South and the Cymru Premier League National Playoff.[2]

The Club were members of the inaugural JD Cymru South League, which began in 2019, finishing 7th in the 2021/22 season.

In 2023 the first ever Taffs Well Women's team was established.[3]

Honours[edit]

Staff[edit]

  • Manager : Nathan Cotterrall / Geza Hajgato
  • Goalkeeping Coach: James McElvenney

Players[edit]

First-team squad[edit]

As of 3 November 2023.[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Wales WAL Ed King
GK Wales WAL Vance Nichols
DF Wales WAL Vaughn Fowler
DF Wales WAL Harry Gidman
DF Wales WAL Harvey Sing
DF Wales WAL Liam Hutchinson
DF Wales WAL Adam Ward
DF Wales WAL Joe Davies
DF Wales WAL Cameron Gauci
DF Wales WAL Jak Carson
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Wales WAL Harry Treharne
MF Wales WAL Charlie Lewis
MF Wales WAL Ben Parry
MF Wales WAL Ellis Sage
MF Wales WAL Jac Simpson
MF Wales WAL Iolo Jones
MF Wales WAL Owain Edwards
FW Wales WAL Will Toms
FW Wales WAL Josh Pope
FW Wales WAL Sebastian Thomas

Colours[edit]

The predominant club colours are yellow and black. The strip typically has a yellow top, with the shorts normally black.[8] The colours of blue, green and pink have been mainly used in the away strips.

Stadium[edit]

Taffs Well Football Club

Taffs Well play their home games at the Rhiw'r Ddar Stadium in Taffs Well.[9] It is currently known as the Gentles Construction Stadium due to a sponsorship deal.[10] The 3000 capacity stadium was expanded to include two new stands between 2014 and 2017.

Club staff[edit]

Role Name
President Wales Don James
Chairman Wales Kevin Francis
Secretary Wales Huw Jones
Social Club Manager Wales Malcolm Frazer
Treasurer Wales Richard Davies
Media Manager Wales Kevin Francis
Groundsman Wales Steve Samuel

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Club History". Taffs Well FC.
  2. ^ Francis, Kevin (March 27, 2022). "TAFFS WELL DEVELOPMENT TEAM WIN THE LEAGUE". Taffs Well FC.
  3. ^ https://www.taffswellfc.com/post/introducing-taffs-well-women-fc
  4. ^ a b c d e "Post-war football was just as fiery as it is today..." Wales Online. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Taffs Well FC - Home". wellmen.leaguerepublic.com. Archived from the original on 2016-10-20.
  6. ^ "PDF handbook clean 1920". p. 67. Archived from the original on 16 Nov 2020.
  7. ^ "First Team". Taffs Well FC. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
  8. ^ "Taffs Well FC – Historical Kits". TaffsWell F.C. Retrieved 11 Jan 2022.
  9. ^ "Location". Taffs Well FC.
  10. ^ Francis, Kevin (9 September 2021). "Gentles Construction Become New Principal Partner of Taffs Well Football Club". Taffs Well FC.

External links[edit]

51°32′49.4″N 3°15′55.8″W / 51.547056°N 3.265500°W / 51.547056; -3.265500