The Aberdare and District Junior League came into being in 1904 at almost the same time as the Aberdare Leader Junior Medals competition.
d the final on 29 April 1905 was won by Aberaman Windsors. That same season a successful attempt was made to set up a junior league in Aberdare. The founder member clubs were: Aberdare Crecents, Cefnpennar, Cwmbach Lilywhgites, Aberaman Stars, Gadlys Rovers, Aberaman Windsors. GWR Rovers, Aberdare Excelsiors, Mardy Albions and Greenhill Rovers. Three teams later dropped out and the title was won by Aberdare Crescents who were presented with their trophy by Mr John Howell at the Lamb and Flag Hotel. In a challenge match, the league champions were defeated 3-0 by Aberdare Thursdays who assumed the unofficial title of town champions. The following season the league decided to seek affiliation to the South Wales and Monmouthshire FA while in the competition itself, Aberdare Crescents retained their title. Several clubs disbanded during the 1906 close season and the league operated with 7 clubs; Gadlys Rovers disbanded and Cwmaman Reserves failed to complete their fixtures. The Aberdare and District League changed its name to the Aberdare and District (Belle Vue) League for the 1907/8 season but it became defunct in 1908. The clubs switched to the Glamorgan League for the 1908/09 season but the league was re-established as the Aberdare and District Junior League, with 13 clubs. The 1909/10 season was the final time the competition operated until the 1920s. The league was disbanded in 1910 and the clubs switched to the Glamorgan League for the 1910/11 and 1911/12 seasons. In 1912/3 and 1913/4 seasons they played in the Welsh League. At this time an Aberdare and District Thursday League also operated. After the First World War, clubs in the area played in the Glamorgan League and the Welsh League and it was not until 1923 that efforts were made to resurrect a league in Aberdare. Previously, the Glamorgan League had been against local clubs setting up their own league. On 4 August 1923 an advert appeared in the Aberdare Leader and it was at this stage that the South Wales FA intervened. The efforts to restore the league as the Aberdare Valley Football League did not bear fruit until the following season. Twenty clubs joined – Abercwmboi Mush, Aberdare Favourites, Imperial stars, St Peters Abercwmboi, Cwmbach Church, Park Albions, Llwydcoed Athletic, Cwmaman Juniors, Cwmbach Stars, Abernant Rovers, Hirwaun GWR, Duffryn United, Newton Knights, Penderyn, Robertstown, Cwmbach Harriers, Mountain Ash Juniors, Penrhiwceiber Juniors and Cwmbach Juniors – and two Divisions were formed. The Cohen Cup was put up for competitions, as was the Favourite Shield. More clubs joined for the 1925/26 season and the Burton Cup and the Open Cup were added. In 1926 Tom Pugsley, previously secretary of Cwmbach Church for 9 years and a vice chairman of the league, became league secretary and the competition adopted its present title of the Aberdare Valley Football League. At the league general meeting, held at the Whitcombe Inn on August 19 1926, Mr T Henry Jones of Aberaman became chairman and G H Watt of Cwmbach took up the treasurer’s duties. Mr J M Shelby James, secretary of the old league, became a life member, as did Mr Joe Gentle and Mr M Davies. For the 1926/27 season the league ran three Divisions – an open league (Division 1), an under 21 Division (Division 2) and a Division for under 18s (Division 3). But the difficult economic situation began to have an impact on the league and Cwmbach United, Newtown Knights, Cwmdare Welfare and Cwmaman all folded because of financial problems. Nevertheless, for the 1927/28 season a total of 25 clubs operated in three Divisions and it was reported at the AGM on 4 August 1928 that nearly 1,000 players for league and cup had been registered. The demise of the town club led to record numbers of spectators watching matches and the game between Aberaman Albion and Gadlys Juniors attracted a crowd of 1,000. Clubs did not charge for admission but attempts to make collections to boost clubs’ funds were not successful because of the effects of the industrial conditions. Despite the economic downturn the league continued to flourish and the 1929 AGM heard that over 1,500 players had been registered for league and cups in the previous season and the league was financially sound. The 1929-30 season saw a large membership in Division 1 but only 4 clubs in Division 2, while Division 3 for under 18s did not run at all. The campaign was unusual in that the top two clubs in Division 1 still had a game apiece to play when the season closed. It was decided to hold over the final games to the start of the 1930-31 season. A total of 16 clubs competed in Division 1 during the 1930-31 season but no club completed all their fixtures, while membership of the 2nd Division also increased. One difficulty which the league sought to overcome with the aid of the FAW and the South Wales FA was the times that shifts at the pits ended on Saturday mornings. It was hoped that men would be allowed to finish earlier so that they did not have to rush from the pits to play matches. Although the industrial conditions remained difficult, most clubs in the able to continue during the early 30s. But by 1935 the exodus of young men to England to seek employment had affected a number of clubs and attendances and gate receipts fell. In 1934-35, it had been decided to split the league into two sections – one from Penderyn to Abvercwmboi and the other down the valley to Pontcynon. The league was not as well placed as in earlier years and only 13 clubs were in membership in 1936-37
Summarised by Ian Garland from research by Michael van Baaren
Research continues
Today
The league now operates in the Cynon area of the Rhondda Cynon Taff unitary authority, an area that stretches from Rhigos in the north to Carnetown in the south. The league is affiliated to the South Wales FA. Since 1984 the league has operated with two senior Divisions and junior Divisions at under 17/16, under 15/14 and under 13/12 levels, plus mini football for under 11 and under 9 players. The league now has several cup competitions including the Burton Cup (Premier Division), Gilbert Morgan Cup (Division 1), Nat West Cup (Division 1), Tom Pugsley Cup (under 16), Megan Rees Cup (under 14), Shoni Bach James Cup (under 12).
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