Privacy Notice Friday 25th May 2018 article by Ian Pearce In line with the new regulations the Club have now adopted a privacy policy in regards to the new General Data Protection Regulation. As a Club we take any collection of personal data seriously and only use that data in order to provide football for our fans, members and players. You can access our privacy policy by clicking HERE If you have any questions please contact our Club Secretary Chris Churchill by emailing sec@aberdaretownfc.co.uk SJ: “It’s a job I have always wanted” Tuesday 22nd May 2018 article by Ian Pearce After being appointed manager last week Simon Jones has wasted no time in getting his teeth stuck into his new role buoyed by a win in his first game in full charge in the last match of the season at Garden Village. Clearly delighted at being appointed he told ATFC Online: "I am really proud to have been given the chance to help turn the Club around after a few difficult seasons. We will be working hard to reverse the slide and get people enjoying things again. I have never hidden the fact its a job I have wanted". On his thoughts for the future he added: "It is a big job we have on our hands but the most important thing is to get people wanting to come back and watch our games and feel part of the Club. We have great boys and girls sections and a ladies team so it is about bringing everybody together. I know the Clubs committee are looking into lots of things to help and with how we are restructuring things its going to probably end up a much more local side which we hope will help get more people using the place". A 2-1 win pleased the new boss to complete the season with Aberdare finishing 11th: "It was a great finish as a Sunday fixture isnt easy especially with players away but we deserved our win and battled for 90 minutes in hot conditions". Work now begins on preparations for next season with Si knowing he has a busy summer ahead: "I  have started speaking to the lads we already have here and, as much as we are expecting a few departures, we are inviting everybody back for pre-season. Training will be open for anybody to come along to but of course we also have a few players in mind to approach as we will be looking at running with a squad of around 20. We have a great home friendly that the Club had already arranged and we are just finalising our remaining games". He wont be working alone either and has already spoken to several people about joining his backroom team: "Its important to have a good group around me to help bounce ideas off. Richard Evans has already said he will continue to help and I am talking to a couple of coaches to come in as well which we will announce when things are complete and agreed. The one important thing we are needing is a physio so if you know somebody who can help please get in touch". One thing that Si was keen to stress was there is no quick fix to getting the Club back on track: "It isnt going to be an overnight turn around. The committee understand that and its a longer term plan that is being worked on so we can develop the structure properly rather than rushing into things. We have some great kids coming through, especially in our under 13s and its got to be our aim at building things up so they aspire to be in the first team squad". Simon Jones appointed manager Friday 18th May 2018 article by Ian Pearce Aberdare Town are pleased to announce that Simon Jones has agreed to take on the role of First Team manager. Simon has been with the Club for several years having ran the Clubs Reserve team and previously been involved in the academy at Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC. Chairman Garry Williams said of the appointment: “The Club have been on a downward spiral for the last few years and it’s time to turn things around and by Simon coming into the managers role he is the ideal person to be able to shape the structure we have all wanted for some time as he shares that same vision. There are going to be a lot of changes over the coming months and we see this as a long term appointment to get the Club re-organised without any pressure on him in regards to results on the pitch - all we have asked for is a team that wants to play for the badge and 100% committed on the pitch”. Work is now well underway on the formation of a new backroom team that will assist Simon and details will be released when confirmed and there will be an interview with the new boss online over the coming week as he gets stuck into assembling a squad. U13 in comeback to clinch the double Monday 7th May 2018 article by Ian Pearce Aberdare Town’s under 13 squad have added to the clubs honours board again to round off another amazing season for the team. Last year they claimed the league title having gone the whole season unbeaten while this year they followed up the achievement by repeating it in the next age group to win the championship again. Today they had the chance of claiming a league and cup double with the final against Treorchy at Cambrian but found themselves 2-0 down and facing up to defeat.  However the superb squad never know when they are beaten and fought back to force extra time. A nerve wracking extra period followed on a blazing hot afternoon and in the end the trophy was decided by a penalty shoot out which Aberdare edged to claim the league and cup double. Huge congratulations to our opponents Treorchy who were a credit to their club, the league and themselves.  It was a great finals day organised by the Aberdare & Rhondda Junior Football League. Well done boys from everybody at the Club. Club awarded FAW Tier 2 Licence Thursday 3rd May 2018 article by Club Committee Aberdare Town Football Club are delighted to confirm that it has achieved the FAW Tier 2 Licence. The new licencing scheme in Welsh Football means that in order to progress through to the top two leagues in the Country a licence is required and is a formal process undertaken by the Welsh FA. Earlier in the season the Club appointed Ian Pearce as the new Club Licencing Officer to oversee the application process: “It has been a great team effort from the whole committee in getting the licence.  We have undertaken a lot of administrative work with the introduction of several policies and plans as well as some building works to bring the ground up to the required standard.  We may not have been in a position to gain promotion this year on the pitch but as a Committee we felt it was an important step in our development to get the licence as we look to make a lot of changes to the Club to take us forward”. The annual licence will be renewed next year and will mean that if success follows on the pitch the Club will be in a position to move into the Welsh League Division One or when introduced the new FAW Championship. The Club will not stop at the Tier 2 Licence through with Pearce adding: “We cannot officially apply for a Tier 1 Licence until we gain promotion but that won’t stop us from starting to put things together in order for us to be able to achieve it when we do get to that stage”. Wayne Powell Thursday 3rd May 2018 article by Club Committee Aberdare Town Football Club has been informed by Wayne Powell of his immediate resignation from his role as first team manager. The Committee wish to place on record their thanks to Wayne, Gareth Harbord and Rob Hudson for their efforts in what has been a difficult season. For the remaining two games Simon Jones will take on the role of caretaker manager. The Club are now inviting applications for the position as we embark on a new direction and era for the Club.  Interested applicants should be self motivated, hold (or be prepared to work towards) relevant coaching badges, have a working knowledge of Welsh League football and want to work with the committee to develop the club in line with its ambitions and to understand its limitations. The deadline for applications is Thursday 17th May with interviews likely to take place in the week commencing 21st May. To apply in confidence please email a CV and covering letter to info@aberdaretownfc.co.uk Statement: Reserve Team Monday 23rd April 2018 article by Club Committee Aberdare Town Football Club regret to announce that they have withdrawn their Reserve side from the Welsh Football League with immediate effect. It has been a difficult season for the team which has made fielding a side difficult through lack of available players and of late utilised players from the Aberdare Valley Football League side, of which we are grateful to Nick Chappell and his squad for their help. With 6 matches still to be played, and having already encountered a fine and points deduction for non-fulfillment of a fixture, the Club, after being notified by manager Simon Jones of not being able to raise sides for upcoming games, was left with no option. The team picked up their first point of the season last Wednesday with a valiant 2-2 draw against Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC. We would like to express our thanks to Simon and those players who have worked tirelessly for Aberdare Town Football Club. The Committee will now take time to evaluate all options ahead of next season regarding the structure of the Club. Town now home to Porth on Saturday Friday 16th March 2018 article by Ian Pearce Aberdare Town are now at home on Saturday against AFC Porth. Porth were due to host Aber but issues with the changing room facilities have meant that the game has had to be switched to Aberaman Park (ko 2.30pm). This means the Reserves home fixture against AFC Llwydcoed has been postponed. ‘1892 Club’ Launched Friday 23rd February 2018 article by Ian Pearce Aberdare Town are delighted to announce the launch of their “1892 Club’ to mark the clubs 125th anniversary. The newly formed special club gives both businesses and individuals the chance to have their name or logo on the front of the playing shirts for next seasons kit.  For a nominal entry fee it gives you the chance of winning what is normally a package worth around £1000. There are multiple prizes on offer and everybody who enters also will be advertised on the dedicated page of this website for the duration of the season (and a link to their website), listing in the matchday programme for every game, two complimentary tickets to our ‘1892 Club’ league match in the 2018/19 campaign and of course the chance to be picked out for one of our many prizes. The Club acknowledges the difficulty businesses still have with difficult economic struggles but by joining this Club they can help make a massive difference for as little as 10p a day!  The entry fee is just £35 for the entire season and to enter all your have to do is download the form by clicking HERE and sending it in along with your remittance. For more details you can contact us by emailing info@aberdaretownfc.co.uk  Wash out for Firsts and Reserves Saturday 10th February 2018 article by Ian Pearce The bad weather was once again the only winner this weekend with both adult male teams seeing their games called off due to waterlogged pitch. The first teams trip to Croesyceiliog was called off while the Reserves home game against Cambrian & Clydach also fell victim to the weather. The ladies home fixture on Sunday afternoon has been switched to the Aberdare 3G pitch amid concerns for the continuing state of the Aberaman Park pitch. Morris signs from Coed