AFC Llwydcoed

AFC Llwydcoed began life as Llwydcoed Welfare AFC in 1931 in the Aberdare Valley League. The club was formed out of the mining community and has played its full part in village life throughout its existence by encouraging and providing sporting opportunities.

The 1950’s saw the Aberdare Valley League Championship won in consecutive seasons in 1953-54 and 1954-55, a golden era for the club. In 1991-1992 season Llwydcoed Welfare changed its name to AFC Llywdcoed and become one of the founder members of the South Wales Senior League. The club came runners up in 1996-97 scoring 104 goals in 30 games, however two years later went one better winning the Championship and doing the double by winning the South Wales Intermediate Cup.

The League win set up a play-off for promotion to the Welsh Football League with South Wales Amateur League winners Dinas Powys at Coychurch Road, in Bridgend. In a tense match, it was 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time failed to find a winner. However, AFC Llywdcoed made history winning the resultant penalty shoot-out to proudly join the Welsh Football League.

The clubs first season in the Welsh Football League saw AFC Llywdcoed miss out on promotion by a point to Garden Village, however the following season the club finished runners up to Bettws to win promotion to Division Two. Promotion was achieved again in 2003-04, in third place behind Skewen and Taffs Well. The club were now in the First Division and finished in their highest ever position, 3rd place behind winners Ton Pentre and runners up Grange Harlequins.

The following two seasons though saw a dismal period resulting in consecutive relegations back to Division Three. After narrowly missing promotion in 2007-08 though, the club bounced back in style in 2008-09 winning Division Three, scoring 126 goals in 34 games, Chris Vardon claiming over 50 league goals. The club failed to win promotion the following season though, finishing in 4th place and found themselves back in Division Three at the end of 2010-11 after a poor campaign.

2012-13 saw the club finished runners up to Cardiff Met University and gained promotion once again back to Division Two, where the club remained until the final season of the Welsh Football League in 2019-20, restructured as Division One.

In the Welsh Cup, AFC Llwydcoed have reached the last 16 of the competition on two occasions. In 2003-04 the club beat Penrhiwceiber Rangers (3-2), Cardiff Corinthians (3-0, AET), Risca & Gelli United (1-0) before losing to winners Rhyl. While in 2008-09 the club defeated Porthcawl (3-0), Llanwern (6-1), Flint Town United (1-0), before losing to runners-up Aberystwyth Town (0-3).

 Off the playing field, David Evans has been an inspiration to the club over many years and current Secretary Keith Lewis makes things tick off the field. They are now back playing at the Welfare Road Ground, renamed the Atlas Arena, after ground developments when they had to play at the Ron Jones Stadium. The current Management Team of Jordan Coles and Chris Vardon are looking to build on the clubs four seasons in the Ardal Southern which has culminated in 13th, 8th, 11th & 13th place finishes.