Club History
Football in Porth situated at the junction of the Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach valleys, began in 1891, to become a hot bed of the game for over 130 years. The first side competed in the South Wales League, known as Porth, losing a three team play off for the title. In 1896-97 the club won the double, winning the League and the South Wales Amateur Cup. While in 1919, the club now known as Porth Athletic entered the Welsh National League winning the title in 1921-22.
In 1933, Porth United were elected to the Welsh Football League, competing alongside the likes of Swansea Town II, Newport County II and Cardiff City II, changing their name to Porth Town in 1936-37, their last before resigning. Football was back in Porth in 1946, Porth Welfare joining the Welsh Football League for 1951-52 season in Division Two East, until 1960-61, when they were relegated out of the League before their demise in the early 1970’s.
In the meantime, a new club had formed in 1950, known as Beatus United, playing in the Rhondda League and in 1964, they were promoted into the South Wales Amateur League, winning the title in 1965-66. In 1984, the club changed its name to AFC Porth and under the guidance of Ray Hacker won the South Wales Amateur League Division Two title and Corinthian Cup for good measure.
In 1991-92 AFC Porth joined the Welsh Football League and in their first ever season, won Division Two, winning 28 of their 32 games to finish 15 points ahead of runners up Carmarthen Town. However due to the formation of the League of Wales, AFC Porth were restructured into the new Division Two but effectively promoted, which they won again, pipping Caerau to win promotion to Division One.
1992-93 also saw the club achieve their best run in the Welsh Cup, reaching the quarter finals, with wins against Panteg (5-1), Cardiff Civil Service (3-1), Llanelli (2-0), Aberystwyth Town (2-1) before losing 3-0 to Connah’s Quay Nomads in the fifth round at Dinas Park.
The following season 1993-94 would be the highest ever finish for the club, 3rd place behind Barry Town and Aberaman Athletic, a position they would achieve in 1996-97 and 1998-99 known as AFC Rhondda since 1994 to raise their marketing profile in the Rhondda Valley. The early 90’s saw goalkeeper Lee Jones transferred to Swansea City for £10,000. But after several mid table finishes, in 2001-02 and 2002-03 the club suffered consecutive relegations to Division Three. In 2003-04 the club narrowly avoided losing their Welsh League status, but after renaming as AFC Porth in 2004, relegation resulted in 2006-07 into the South Wales Amateur League.
However, the club soon regained Welsh League status winning the Amateur League at the first attempt remaining unbeaten before winning promotion from Division Three in 2008-09 and Division Two in 2010-11, with ex-Cardiff City star Scott Young having a spell as Player-Manager. In 2014 the club won the Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup, on penalties after drawing 1-1, with Jacob Matthews scoring the winning penalty in a 4-3 nail bitter against Pontardawe Town. However, the club suffered relegation in 2014-15 and 2017-18, before finishing 2019-20 season in the restructured Division Two.
