Taffs Well

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-Garth 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.

Following a successful initial period, Bill Newman passed away 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”. He was this summer awarded the FAW Long Service Award.

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 Welsh League Division One runners up in 2011-12 and 2012–13 and winning the Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup four times in five seasons, in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. In 2018-19 Taffs Well Youth side won the Welsh League Youth Division and in 2021-22 won the JD Cymru Premier Development League South and the Cymru Premier League National Playoff.

The club were members of the inaugural JD Cymru South League, which began in 2019, finishing 7^th in the 2021-22 season. While in 2023 the first ever Taffs Well Women’s Team was established and they will now compete in the Adran South this season, the Second Tier of Women’s Football.

The club came under new management in the close season following their relegation from Cymru South in 2024-25, with Dale Gardiner, joining as Manager, an experienced player with a host of Welsh League clubs, more recently Canton, Cardiff Corinthians and STM Sports. Geza Hajgato has joined as Chairman, while Nigel Bircham is the new Secretary.