Club History
Ynysygerwn FC were formed in 1981 when some of the players of Ynysygerwn Cricket Club, were looking at ways of keeping the players fit through the cricket off season. The club entered the Neath & District Football League and in only their second season won Division 3 and three seasons later promotion to Division 1 under the management of Gareth Morris, who would lead the club until 1992.
The club continued to grow throughout the 90’s, the first team winning promotion to the Neath Premier Division in 1994. In 1996 the club reached its first cup final but lost 2-0 to Cwmtawe in the Open Cup, and to the same opponents and scoreline the following season in the Divisional Cup. Manager Dai Harris stepped down after a three-year spell in charge, before returning on three other occasions.
The turn of the century saw the first team continue to fall at the final hurdle in cup finals, losing 3-2 to Llansawel in the Open Cup. However, the reserve team were improving and won Reserve Division 2 and 1 in 2001 and 2005, respectively.
In 2012 Nicholas Maggs was appointed as first team manager, with Chris Baker stepping in for three months before Maggs took sole control from the summer of 2013. David Burrows joined him three years later. Fortunes were to change, with the club winning promotion to the Premier Division and complete the double with a first ever cup win, the Neath & District Division 1 Cup, Andrew Griffiths scoring the only goal of the final against Briton Ferry.
The club was growing at pace by this time and formed a third team, with a junior structure following. 2015-16 saw the club win the Neath & District Premier League Cup beating Ystradgynlais 5-3 after extra time. The club also finished runners up losing out to Giants Grave on the last day of the season. However, having met the Welsh League Ground criteria, Ynysygerwn faced ‘Team Swansea’ for a place in the Welsh Football League at stake at the home of Briton Ferry, Old Road.
In front of a crowd of over 500, Ynysygerwn won the West Wales Play-Off, to proudly take their place in Welsh League Division 3. Despite being a goal down at the interval, 16-year-old Joe Humphries, now first team captain, equalised before a Chris Gardner penalty and a third from Adam Davies sealed the win.
The club then established themselves in the Welsh League at their new home of Llandarcy Academy of Sport, with 13th, 7th and 9th place finishes in Division 3. 2016-17 also saw the club progress to the last 32 of the JD Welsh Cup, beating Treforest (4-1), Ammandord (1-0), RTB Ebbw Vale (2-1) and Monmouth Town (7-3) before losing to a Lee Trundle inspired Llanelli Town (5-1) in front of a crowd of over 700.
In season 2018-19, the club reached the final of what turned out to be the last ever Welsh League Cup, after beating Croesyceiliog (4-3), Caerau (Ely) (4-1), Goytre United (2-1), Haverfordwest County (2-1) and Penybont (0-0 AET, won on penalties 3-2). However, Penydarren BGC won 3-0 on the night at Port Talbot.
Ynysygerwn have the support of Ben Davies, the Wales defender is now the Club President after playing cricket for the club. Ynysygerwn now take their place this season in the inaugural Ardal Southern League, South West Division.
