Monmouth Town FC

The Kingfishers

History of Monmouth Town FC

www.monmouthtownfc.com

Many Town clubs punch way above their weight relative to the size of their population and sadly Monmouth Town have been in many ways the opposite of that. Finally however Monmouth Town are starting to do justice to the rich heritage of the town and its football.

For history buffs Monmouth is the birthplace of Henry V, was home the Charles Rolls (of Rolls Royce fame) and witnessed the trial of the Chartists in 1840. Indeed, whereas the rest of the South Wales valleys seemed to be strong supporters of the Chartist movement it is rumoured Monmouth’s upper classes even volunteered to carry out the execution of the now revered John Frost and his co collaborators.

On the football side its not clear when the club was officially formed but there is evidence to suggest that an ’association club’ was playing in all white at Dixton Road in the town in the year 1908. The first honour recorded by the Town was victory on the Monmouthshire Senior cup on the eve of war in 1940, defeating Lovell’s Athletic, (aka the Toffeemen) then about to lift the Southern League West title, 3-2 at Monmouth Sportsground which is still home today.

Nearly 20 years later, in 1958, the Town lifted the Monmouthshire Amateur cup beating Cefn Fforest 3 – 0 at Pontllanfraith. The following season saw victories in both the Monmouthshire senior and Monmouth Amateur cups.

Silverware has been scarce since with wins in the Gwent amateur cup in 1984 and 1996 being highlights of many years gracing the fields of Newport and the Gwent Leagues with an occasional foray into the English Forest of Dean and Herefordshire leagues.

More recently the Town were relegated to the bottom tier of the Gwent County just three years ago. The returning Andrew Smith took up the reins and gained promotion in his first season in charge finishing runners up to Rogerstone. At the beginning of 2005/06 season the club adopted the Kingfisher nickname and logo acknowledging the town’s place on the confluence of the Wye and Monnow rivers and the uniqueness of one of Britain’s most beautiful birds. The season ended with fourteen match wining run to as Town clinched the Gwent county Division Two title ahead of Newport Civil Service.

2006/07 almost saw a repeat but were Town were pipped by Civil for the title. However, The Kingfishers were offered the chance to take the step into the Welsh league for the first time in their history and the rest is …well…the future.