REFFELL LEAVES THE MARTYRS
INFLUENTIAL playmaker Keyon Reffell is to quit Merthyr Town for Hereford who next season, after promotion, will be in the same league as The Martyrs next season – The EvoStik Southern League Premier Division.
Reffell signed for Merthyr from Kidderminster. He did have a trial with big-spenders Hereford last summer but decided to return to Merthyr.
Merthyr manager Gavin Williams said he did his best to persuade Reffell to stay but he had received too good an offer from ambitious re-formed club Hereford.
The player began with Cardiff City Academy. He joined Kidderminster from Port Talbot.
Merthyr Town will host Newport County, who managed to preserve their League Two status, in a friendly on Wednesday, July 19 (7.30pm).
It will be a “pay what you want” game as a thank-you to fans for their loyal support.
The fixture at The LoadLok Community Stadium (Penydarren Park) will also mark the 30th anniversary of Merthyr’s Welsh Cup victory over County in May 1987 which led to The Martyrs playing Atalanta in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. This saw a historic 2-1 win at home but they bowed out losing the Italian leg 2-0.
The current pre-season fixture schedule is:
Tuesday, July 11 – Abergavenny Town (A) 7:30pm
Saturday, July 15 – Cambrian & Clydach Vale (A) 1.30pm
Wednesday, July 19 – Newport County (H) 7.30pm
Tuesday, July 25 – Penybont (A) KO TBC
Saturday, July 29 – Cardiff Met University (A) KO TBC
Saturday, August 5 – Hednesford Town (H) KO TBC
Earlybird season tickets at a special discounted price are now available from the club.
Merthyr Town Football Club will now have a women’s team representing the club from the start of the 2017/2018 season following the successful formation of an Under 16s girls’ squad.
Martyrs Community Trust Manager Elliott Evans said: “We are looking to recruit more girls into our set-up, who are ambitious and committed to help us progress to the highest level of women’s football in Wales.
“The launch of our under-16s squad has been a success and the number of girls that are taking part is constantly growing. We are also launching our ‘girls-only football hub’ every Thursday which will cater for girls from the age of seven up to the age of 15 which starts from 5pm.
“All girls are welcome to attend and take part in a safe and friendly environment, here at The LoadLok Community Stadium.”
The Merthyr Town women’s team will take part in the South Wales womens & girls League 1 from the start of the 2017/2018 season.
Former Welsh international Craig Bellamy entertained fans with his football stories in an evening at the Merthyr club last Friday- before a sold-out crowd at The Romans bar.