Latest news with #MerthyrTown
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Promoted Merthyr to compete in National League North
They are the football club proud to come from the south Wales valleys – but have been told they will be a 'northern' team next season. There were huge celebrations when community-owned Merthyr Town won the Southern Premier League South title. But it has been confirmed they will now play in the National League North next term – with 300-mile away trips to Darlington and South Shields among their away days in a regionalised division. In front of more than 3,000 fans at Penydarren Park last month, the part-time outfit sealed promotion to English football's sixth tier, their highest level in 30 years. The Martyrs had played in the Western and Southern Leagues since being reformed after Merthyr Tydfil's liquidation in 2010. And the club had been aware the potential make-up of the teams next season at sixth tier level – and the large contingent of teams from the south of England - could see them having to plan to head north. Three south of England sides, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet and Maidenhead, dropping out of the fifth-tier National League would have given organisers a headache in how to split clubs. The National League confirmed its allocations for the 2025-26 season on Thursday, although says those are subject to appeal. A Football Association spokesperson said: "We make every effort each season to allocate National League System [NLS] clubs to the most geographically suitable league possible. "The clubs are allocated to a league based on the step in the NLS that they will be playing in, and their location in the country. These allocations are subject to appeals. "Geographical suitability continues to play an important part in NLS allocations, and we always try to balance this against the number of teams in each division to ensure sporting integrity is maintained." 'Merthyr can go as far as people want' Merthyr Town owners vote against Cymru Premier move Merthyr are not alone in the anomaly: Oxford City, Hereford United and Bedford Town have also been placed in National League North, whose other new clubs include Robbie Savage's Macclesfield Town. The game at Hereford's Edgar Street will be Merthyr's shortest away day, with a 43-mile, one-way trip taking around an hour. But it will take fans – and players – as much as 12 hours on the road in a round-trip for their game at South Shields. At the time of their promotion, chairman Les Barlow said their placing would make "no difference" as they revelled in a season in which they enjoyed a 32-game unbeaten run. Merthyr won the Welsh Cup in 1987 and went on to upset Italian giants Atalanta in the following season's European Cup Winners' Cup. Last season, they turned down a lucrative offer from the Football Association of Wales to join the Welsh league system, a decision manager Paul Michael says was vindicated by their promotion.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Promoted Merthyr to compete in National League North
They are the football club proud to come from the south Wales valleys – but have been told they will be a 'northern' team next were huge celebrations when community-owned Merthyr Town won the Southern Premier League South it has been confirmed they will now play in the National League North next term – with 300-mile away trips to Darlington and South Shields among their away days in a regionalised front of more than 3,000 fans at Penydarren Park last month, the part-time outfit sealed promotion to English football's sixth tier, their highest level in 30 years. The Martyrs had played in the Western and Southern Leagues since being reformed after Merthyr Tydfil's liquidation in the club had been aware the potential make-up of the teams next season at sixth tier level – and the large contingent of teams from the south of England - could see them having to plan to head south of England sides, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet and Maidenhead, dropping out of the fifth-tier National League would have given organisers a headache in how to split National League confirmed its allocations for the 2025-26 season on Thursday, although says those are subject to appeal.A Football Association spokesperson said: "We make every effort each season to allocate National League System [NLS] clubs to the most geographically suitable league possible. "The clubs are allocated to a league based on the step in the NLS that they will be playing in, and their location in the country. These allocations are subject to appeals. "Geographical suitability continues to play an important part in NLS allocations, and we always try to balance this against the number of teams in each division to ensure sporting integrity is maintained." Merthyr are not alone in the anomaly: Oxford City, Hereford United and Bedford Town have also been placed in National League North, whose other new clubs include Robbie Savage's Macclesfield game at Hereford's Edgar Street will be Merthyr's shortest away day, with a 43-mile, one-way trip taking around an it will take fans – and players – as much as 12 hours on the road in a round-trip for their game at South the time of their promotion, chairman Les Barlow said their placing would make "no difference" as they revelled in a season in which they enjoyed a 32-game unbeaten won the Welsh Cup in 1987 and went on to upset Italian giants Atalanta in the following season's European Cup Winners' season, they turned down a lucrative offer from the Football Association of Wales to join the Welsh league system, a decision manager Paul Michael says was vindicated by their promotion.
The Independent
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Arsenal legend Ian Wright backs football club's shirt change for poignant reason
Former England striker Ian Wright has backed a road safety campaign that will see non-league Basingstoke Town's football shirts redesigned with a seatbelt motif. The one-off shirts will be worn for the club's home game against Merthyr Town on Saturday. Trading the usual three vertical blue stripes for a single diagonal blue stripe, the redesigned kit aims to highlight the importance of wearing a seatbelt. The campaign, organised by the AA Charitable Trust, will extend beyond the shirts to include "Buckle Up" messaging on perimeter boards, napkins, car park flags, and even beer mats at the Winklebury Football Complex stadium. Wright, 61, emphasised the life-saving potential of seatbelts: "Wearing a seat belt is the simplest thing you can do to protect yourself when you're in a car, no matter if you're driving or getting a lift. It reduces the risk of death in a crash by 50 per cent." Analysis by the AA Charitable Trust found 43 per cent of passengers aged 17-29 who died in crashes on Britain's roads between 2019 and 2023 were unbelted. The figure for passengers of all ages was 27 per cent. The analysis also found 29 per cent of young drivers who die in crashes are not wearing a seat belt, of which 95 per cent are male. AA Charitable Trust director Edmund King said: 'For any football club, young players are their most valuable assets and therefore ensuring they stay safe on the roads is vitally important. ' Research shows that teenagers are most at risk from serious injury as passengers or drivers when unbelted. 'Even on short journeys it's absolutely vital to wear your seat belt. 'We hope this initiative will inspire other clubs to consider backing our campaign and even switching their kits for a one-off match.' Drivers can be handed a £100 on-the-spot fixed penalty notice if they are caught not wearing a seat belt when they are supposed to. If the case goes to court they could be fined up to £500. The AA Charitable Trust has previously called for new drivers caught behind the wheel unbelted to be handed six penalty points, meaning they could lose their licence. Future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood said: 'This eye-catching campaign is a brilliant way to reach young people with a life-saving message. 'Buckling up takes seconds but cuts your risk of death in half. 'With so many young passengers still not wearing seat belts, this football partnership is exactly the kind of creative thinking we need to keep our young people safe. 'Our Think! Click campaign similarly reminds young drivers and passengers to belt up on every journey, and in every seat.' Basingstoke Town chairman Jack Miller said: 'The seat belt kit is a striking reminder of a simple action that saves lives, and we're proud to wear it. 'Hopefully, it sparks conversations and makes a lasting impact.'
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Ian Wright backs Basingstoke football club's seat belt shirts
A football club's match shirts have been redesigned to feature a seat belt motif as part of a road safety campaign backed by former England striker Ian Basingstoke Town will use the one-off shirts for its home match against Merthyr Town on of three vertical blue stripes, the new version has a single diagonal blue AA Charitable Trust, which has organised the stunt, will also display the message "Buckle Up" on perimeter boards, napkins, car park flags and beer mats for the game at the Winklebury Football Complex stadium. Wright, 61, who appears on The Overlap podcast, said: "Wearing a seat belt is the simplest thing you can do to protect yourself when you're in a car, no matter if you're driving or getting a lift."Analysis by the AA Charitable Trust found 43% of passengers aged 17-29 who died in crashes on Britain's roads between 2019 and 2023 were unbelted. The figure for passengers was 27%.The analysis also revealed 29% of young drivers who die in crashes are not wearing a seat belt, of which 95% are male. AA Charitable Trust director Edmund King said: "For any football club, young players are their most valuable assets and therefore ensuring they stay safe on the roads is vitally important."Research shows that teenagers are most at risk from serious injury as passengers or drivers when unbelted."Even on short journeys it's absolutely vital to wear your seat belt."Drivers face a £100 on-the-spot fixed penalty notice if they are caught not wearing a seat belt. If the case goes to court they could be fined up to £ AA Charitable Trust has previously called for new drivers caught behind the wheel unbelted to be handed six penalty points, meaning they could lose their Town chairman Jack Miller said: "The seat belt kit is a striking reminder of a simple action that saves lives, and we're proud to wear it."Hopefully, it sparks conversations and makes a lasting impact." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
ITV News
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- ITV News
Non-league Basingstoke Town match shirts redesigned to feature seat belt for road safety campaign
A football club's match shirts have been redesigned to feature a seat belt motif as part of a road safety campaign backed by former England striker Ian Wright. Non-league Basingstoke Town in Hampshire said it will use the one-off shirts for its home match against Merthyr Town on Saturday 26 April. Instead of three vertical blue stripes, the new version has a single diagonal blue stripe. The AA Charitable Trust, which is organising the stunt, will also display the message "Buckle Up" on perimeter boards, napkins, car park flags and beermats for the game at the Winklebury Football Complex stadium. Wright, 61, who appears on The Overlap podcast, said: "Wearing a seat belt is the simplest thing you can do to protect yourself when you're in a car, no matter if you're driving or getting a lift. "It reduces the risk of death in a crash by 50%." Analysis by the AA Charitable Trust found 43% of passengers aged 17-29 who died in crashes on Britain's roads between 2019 and 2023 were unbelted. The figure for passengers of all ages was 27%. The analysis also found 29% of young drivers who die in crashes are not wearing a seat belt, of which 95% are male. AA Charitable Trust director Edmund King said: "For any football club, young players are their most valuable assets and therefore ensuring they stay safe on the roads is vitally important. "Research shows that teenagers are most at risk from serious injury as passengers or drivers when unbelted. "Even on short journeys it's absolutely vital to wear your seat belt. "We hope this initiative will inspire other clubs to consider backing our campaign and even switching their kits for a one-off match." Drivers can be handed a £100 on-the-spot fixed penalty notice if they are caught not wearing a seat belt when they are supposed to. If the case goes to court they could be fined up to £500. The AA Charitable Trust has previously called for new drivers caught behind the wheel unbelted to be handed six penalty points, meaning they could lose their licence. Basingstoke Town chairman Jack Miller said: "The seat belt kit is a striking reminder of a simple action that saves lives, and we're proud to wear it. "Hopefully, it sparks conversations and makes a lasting impact."
