Goytre

Formed : 1902

Chairman : David Melmoth
Secretary : Simon Ritter

Manager : Eston Chiverton
Assistant Manager : Kellan Webb
Coach : Craig Lima
Goalkeeping Coach : N/A
First Aiders : Eve Htut

Media Officer : Simon Ritter

Home Colours : Red & Black Shirts, Black Shorts, Red Socks
Change Colours : White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks

Kit Sponsors : N/A

Website: N/A
Twitter : @GoytreFC
Facebook : Goytre Football Club – Official

Ground : Plough Road
Address : Plough Road, Penperlleni, Pontypool, NP4 0AL

Plough Road

History

The club can trace its history back as far as 1902 when Goytre played their football at Goytre Hall. The club then played on a series of fields loaned by local farmers, changing in private garages, and then having to drive to the pitch. In 1988 the club acquired its present ground, Plough Road, which opened ready for use for season 1991-92. The ground became possible through the actions of the trustees in taking out bank loans to purchase the ground, which was then developed with the aid of grants from the Football Trust and Monmouth County Council.

The club originally played in the Gwent Central League and eventually gained promotion to the Gwent County League in 1998, winning promotion to Division 2 at the first attempt. Goytre then spent three seasons in Division 2 before winning the division in 2001-02 and progressing through Division 1, finishing as runners-up to Aberbargoed Buds in 2002-03. Goytre gained promotion though to the Welsh League, as the Buds were unable to find a suitable ground to meet ground criteria.

 Goytre in its first season in Welsh League, consolidated their place in the division, finishing in a creditable 7th position with 12 wins and 7 draws out of 30 league games. The club then looked to establish themselves in the league, developing the facilities at Plough Road to incorporate a new clubhouse and bar. After six seasons of mid table finishes, Goytre came close to promotion in 2010-2011 with the arrival of Sean Wharton and Steve Gray, assisted by Nathan Blake as the new management team offered a different level of coaching and professionalism.

 Goytre narrowly missed out on promotion after some farcical results elsewhere on the final day of the season which saw Goytre denied promotion by goal difference to Caerau by just 3 goals having won more games than their rivals. However, the club made up for the disappointment by lifting the Welsh League Cup, beating Aberbargoed Buds 1-0 in the final at Bryntirion.

 2011-12 saw veteran midfielder Carl Evans step up as player-manager, when Wharton and Gray left, initially assisted by Paul Brown and then Mike Colcombe when Paul stepped down due to work commitments. The team went on an incredible run in the New Year, winning 15 out of 16 games which clinched promotion to Division 2 as runners up to Undy Athletic. Even better was to follow in 2012-13 as Goytre won Division 2, winning 23 of the 30 league games and scoring 78 goals.

The following season saw the bandwagon of success keep rolling, with a creditable 5th place finish in Division 1, while the club twice went better and finished in third place in 2015-16 and 2016-17.  However, in 2018-19 the club struggled with injuries and managed just 6 wins all season, relegated on the last day of the season.

With the pyramid restructuring, Goytre played out the last season of Welsh League football in the newly named Division 1, finishing in 5th place on the points per game average due to the pandemic. They now take their place in the Ardal Southern League, South East Division for 2021-22, under the management of Nathan Cadette and assisted by Eston Chiverton and goalkeeper coach Jamie Griffin, with several former STM players now at the club and a few new faces off the field to help restructure and spread the load of running the club.