Neath
Full nameNeath Football Club
Nickname(s)The Eagles
Founded2005; as Neath Athletic
Dissolved2012[1]
GroundThe Gnoll
Neath
Capacity6,000
ManagerKristian O'Leary[2]
2011–12Welsh Premier League, 3rd (of 12)

Neath Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Castell-nedd) was a Welsh professional association football club based in Neath last playing in the Welsh Premier League.[1]

The club was formed in 2005 following the merger between Neath and Skewen Athletic. Originally known as Neath Athletic A.F.C. the club played its first two seasons in Welsh Football League Division One before being promoted to the Welsh Premier League.

The president of the club was Peter Hain M.P., the life vice-president was David Maddock who had been associated with the club and its predecessors (as player, committeeman and secretary) for over 56 years.

History

The club was formed in 2005 as Neath Athletic after Neath and Skewen Athletic agreed to merge in an attempt to mount a better challenge to the Welsh Football League Division One title. Playing at the old ground of Neath F.C., Llandarcy Park, the new club proved a formidable force in the league, finishing second to Goytre United at their first attempt. Goytre United declined to step-up into the Welsh Premier League, meaning Neath Athletic could take their place. However, due to Llandarcy Park not meeting the required Welsh Premier League ground criteria, Neath was refused entry.[3]

During the 2006–07 season, Neath Athletic won the Welsh Football League Division One. With this success and the improvements to Llandarcy Park, Neath Athletic was eligible to play in the Welsh Premier League. Success in the Welsh Football League was followed by a placing of seventh in their first season in the Welsh Premier League.

During summer 2008, Neath RFC agreed to allow Neath Athletic to share its home ground The Gnoll.[4] With the move to a new home, the club also decided to rename itself Neath F.C. Following Neath's first match at The Gnoll against Swansea City, the two clubs announced a partnership that would enable Swansea to send players on loan to Neath to gain first team experience. The first such players to join Neath were Kyle Graves, Dion Chambers and Kerry Morgan.

On 23 April 2009, just a couple of days before the end of the 2008–09 Welsh Premier League season, Neath announced plans to go full-time for the 2009–10 season to challenge the likes of Llanelli AFC and Rhyl for the Welsh Premier League title.

On 13 July 2010, Neath announced the double signing of two marquee players in readiness for the 2010–11 season, former Swansea City favourites Kristian O'Leary and Lee Trundle. A year later came the signing of Matthew Rees a former Swansea defender and ex Port Talbot Town captain.[5][6]

Several other key signings followed transforming Neath into title contenders with a minimum expectation for the club's first European qualification. Attendances at The Gnoll doubled for the 2010/2011 season as a combination of high-profile signings and good results appear to be paying dividends.

On 21 May 2011, Neath defeated Prestatyn Town 3–2 at The Gnoll in front of a club record 1,000 fans in the first ever Europa League Play-off. Chad Bond put Neath ahead after 12 seconds before two late goals from long-serving Andy Hill secured Neath's debut in Europe.

At the end of the 2011–12 season the club were refused both FAW domestic and UEFA licences for the 2012–13 season and were declared ineligible to participate in the end-of-season Europa League play-offs.[7]

On 28 May 2012, the club was wound up, at the High Court.[1]

League history

Season
 League Contested Tier
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
 League Position
 Avg. Home
Attendance
2005–06Welsh Football League
Division One		23422757632+44732nd of 18n/a
2006–07Welsh Football League
Division One		236295210032+68921st of 19
Promoted		n/a
2007–08Welsh Premier League134159105752+5547th of 18211
2008–09Welsh Premier League134104204365-183414th of 18260
2009–10Welsh Premier League1341211114138+3479th of 18221
2010–11Welsh Premier League132161066241+21583rd of 12569
2011–12Welsh Premier League13218866036+24623rd of 12
Relegated

Source:
P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points;

Stadium

The Gnoll
LocationDyfed Road,
Neath
OwnerNeath RFC
OperatorNeath RFC
Construction
Broke ground1848
Tenants
Neath RFC (Welsh Premier Division) (1871–present)
Neath F.C. (2008–2012)
South Wales Scorpions Rugby league Club (2010–present)

When first formed, the club had a choice of both grounds of the merged clubs, Llandarcy Park of Neath F.C. and Tennant Park of Skewen Athletic F.C.. As Llandarcy Park was the better of the two Neath Athletic decided to call it home.

Honours

League

European record

UEFA Europa League:

Season Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate
2011–12 Q1 Norway Aalesunds FK 0–2 1–4 1–6

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Neath FC wound up at High Court". BBC News. 28 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Boyle & Nicholas leave Neath role". BBC News. 15 November 2011.
  3. ↑ Neath FC club history welsh-premier.com Archived 3 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "Rugby stadium makes soccer space". BBC News. 16 May 2008.
  5. ↑ "Neath add ex-swan Kristian O'Leary to squad". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "Lee Trundle completes a shock move to Neath". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "Neath fail in both licence appeals". Welsh Premier League. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013.
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