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CLUB GUIDE
Neath Athletic
W~P 
CLUB GUIDE



Neath Athletic
 Manager:   Andy Dyer
Assistant:     
  Secretary:   Tony Meldling
Llandarcy Park
Llandarcy 
Neath
Port Talbot
SA10 6HJ
Ground:  01792 322412
Fax:  		Leave the M4 at junction 43, and take the B4290 signposted for Skewen.
Ignore the lane for Skewen and keep left, following the road around the bend. Take the turning right immediately off the bend (signposted for Llandarcy), taking care not to turn into the entrance for the old oil refinery by mistake! Helpfully, there is a sign marked for “Neath AFC” and “Llandarcy RFC” on the fence by the turning.
Follow the road for about 200 yards and go left into the car park. The ground is visible from the Junction 43 slip road coming from the east.
Capacity: 3000 Nickname:  Athletic
Colours:  Black/White
Colours:  Yellow/Blue
 		 INTERNET   Neath Athletic
   email contact:  amelding@fsmail.net

 

  Neath Athletic
 History & Honours
  Neath Athletic AFC is a club that was formed between Neath AFC and Skewen Athletic AFC during the summer of 2005.
  Skewen Athletic can trace their history back to the 1920s when they played as Garthmoor FC in the Swansea Gwalia League. In 1934/5 they won the Neath League Championship and Open Cup, reaching the final of the West Wales Amateur Cup in 1939.
  They joined the Welsh League Division 2 (West) after the war, moving to Cwrt Herbert. This was followed by a change of name to Neath Athletic but it was not until 1967/8 that they finally reached the top flight of the Welsh League.  In order to meet the ground criteria they were forced to move to the Greyhound Stadium in Skewen and changed their name to Skewen Athletic
But after struggling to survive in the First Division and to finance the rent for the stadium, they moved to Tennant Park, their home until the merger.
  Their last three years before linking-up with their neighbours were their most successful, winning successive promotions from Division 3 to Division 1.
  Neath AFC is a recent incarnation of a club that can trace its origins back to 1922 when the UK's first oil refinery was opened at Llandarcy. They also played in the Gwalia League before becoming a founder member of the Neath League in 1931.
  Playing as National Oil Refineries, they appeared in the first two West Wales Amateur Cup Finals but lost on both occasions. However, they finally triumphed in 1951 by beating Plasmarl and won the trophy again four years later.  By the late 1940s, NOR were also playing in Welsh League Division 2 (West) and there were plenty of derby games against their eventual partners.
  Following the acquisition of the refinery, the club became BP Llandarcy and stayed so for the next 45 years. In 1958 they left the Welsh League, returning in 1971 and won promotion in 1977 as Abacus League Division 1 champions to make it to the top flight for the first time.
   What is more Neath confounded their critics with a gritty first season in the Welsh Premier and achieved a creditable seventh placed finish.

 
Neath Athletic Playing Record 1991-2008
 
Season
 Competition
Pos
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
1
1990-91








2
1991-92








3
1992-93








4
1993-94








5
1994-95








6
1995-96








7
1996-97








8
1997-98








9
1998-99








10
1999-00








11
2000-01








12
2001-02








13
2002-03
 Welsh League (South)
 2nd
 34
 		24
 		5
 		5
 		71
 		29
 		77
14
2003-04
 Welsh League (South)
 8th
 34
 		15
 		5
 		14
 		65
 		56
 		50
15
 2004-05
 Welsh League (South)
 15th
 34
 		10
 		4
 		20
 		38
 		71
 		31
16
 2005-06
 Welsh League (South)
 		2nd
 34
 		22
 		7
 		5
 		76
 		32
 		73
17
 2006-07
 Welsh League (South)
 1st
 		36
 		29
 		5
 		2
 		100
 		32
 		92
18
 2007-08
 Welsh Premier League
 7th
 34
 15
 9
 10
 57
 52
 54

 
Manager:  Andy Dyer

Began his football career as an apprentice with Crystal Palace but was forced into retirement due to injury.
Andy was successful with Skewen Athletic and was naturally appointed as boss of the newly merged club, Neath Athletic.  The club were due promotion last season (2005-06) but failed to meet the ground criteria.  However as champions at the end of 2006-07 they were promoted thanks to the shrewd guidance of manager Dyer.
.


     UPDATED AUGUST 2008


 Neath Athletic Pen Pictures Pen Pictures Pen Pictures 2008-09
Dave Jones
   
   
Goalkeeper signed from Welsh League side Taffs Well having also been on the books of Mid Wales rivals Caersws.
(Dob:  29-04-1984)
Dale Evans
 Defender or midfielder who began his football career with Bristol Rovers, Dale has also played for Newport County and Cwmbran Town.
(Dob:  26-03-1987)
Jack Jenkins
 Locally based defender in his second season with the club, Jack previously played for Briton Ferry, Garden Village and Morriston.
(Dob:  28-08-1986)
Nicky Jones
   
   
   
Now in his second spell at the club originally played for  Neath AFC in the Welsh League. Nicky has Welsh Premier experience for Afan Lido, Port Talbot and Newtown and within the English system with Torquay.
(Dob:  24-01-1982)
David Burrows
 Well respected former Aberystwyth Town manager, a composed defender who joined Neath from Port Talbot during January 2008. Previous clubs include Haverfordwest County, Briton Ferry and Cwmbran. David was manager at Park Avenue following the departure of Gary Finlay and stayed on after the arrival of Brian Coyne in November 2005.
(Dob:  23-03-1972)
Rob Folland
 		A defender who began his career with Oxford United, Rob made his first team debut against Ipswich Town in 1997.  Has since played for Port Talbot, Aberystwyth Town and Pontardawe.
(Dob:  16-09-1979)
Lee Bevan
 		Defender who has progressed from the club's reserves and featured in the Championship and promotion winning season of 2006-07.
(Dob:  10-07-1987)
Sean Cronin
 Defender signed from Bryntiion Athletic during the summer of 2007.
(Dob:  17-01-1986)
Dave D'Auria
   
   
   
 		Veteran midfielder who has Football League experience with Swansea, Scarborough, Scunthorpe, Hull and Chesterfield for whom he amassed around 250 League appearances. Dave has Welsh Premier experience with Barry  Town and Llanelli.
(Dob:  26-03-1970)
Stephen Pocket
   
   
Midfielder Stephen has experience with local sides Swansea City and Port Talbot before joining Neath from Skewen Athletic.
(Dob:  11-02-1984)
Chris Pridham
 		Robust and fiercely competitive midfielder previously with Barry Town and Haverfordwest.  A former Manchester City youth Chris has also played for local rivals Afan Lido and Port Talbot.
(Dob:  11-08-1978)
Geraint Passmore
 Cardiff born midfielder who joined Neath during the summer of 2008.  Gareth previously played for Cardiff Corries and Penrhyncoch as well as Aberystwyth University.    Unfortunatley missed much of the 2006-07 season with a broken leg.
(Dob:  18-02-1986)
Richard French
     
 		Midfielder previously with Barry Town and Port Talbot who joined the club during the summer of 2007.
(Dob:  04-03-1984)
Matthew Rees
 		Swansea born midfielder who has graduated from the club's youths and reserve sides.
(Dob:  02-04-1987)
Carl Jenkins
 		Midfielder who has brief Welsh Premier experience with Grange Quins, Carl has also played for Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend.
(Dob:  02-05-1982)
Andy Hill
 A Neath born striker whose previous clubs include Llanelli - where he made 90 WP appearances - and Skewen Athletic, he scored his home town sides' first ever Welsh Premier goals in an opening day defeat of Porthmadog.  Andy was capped by Wales at Under 18 level and is a former Welsh Youth cup winner.
(Dob:  18-10-1978)
Jarrod Price
   
Jarrod's previous clubs include AFC Llwydcoed.  He played an important part in Neath's promotion from the Welsh League in 2007.
(Dob:  09-08-1983)
Billy Timothy
 Billy has previous experience at Haverfordwest County and Port Talbot Town before joining Neath Athletic during the summer of 2007.
(Dob:  30-01-1978)
 Neath Athletic
 Pen Pictures Pen Pictures Pen Pictures 2008-09


 Neath Athletic Pen Pictures Pen Pictures Pen Pictures 2007-08
Dave Jones
   
   
Goalkeeper signed from Welsh League side Taffs Well having also been on the books of Mid Wales rivals Caersws.
(Dob:  29-04-1984)
Craig Morris
     
   
Carmarthen born goalkeeper whose previous clubs include Troyste FC and Aberystwyth Town, although he did not make a first team appearance for the Park Avenue side.
(Dob:  27-07-1981)
Dale Evans
 Defender or midfielder who began his football career with Bristol Rovers, Dale has also played for Newport County and Cwmbran Town.
(Dob:  26-03-1987)
Jack Jenkins
 Locally based defender in his second season with the club, Jack previously played for Briton Ferry, Garden Village and Morriston.
(Dob:  28-08-1986)
Nicky Jones
   
   
   
Now in his second spell at the club originally played for  Neath AFC in the Welsh League. Nicky has Welsh Premier experience for Afan Lido, Port Talbot and Newtown and within the English system with Torquay.
(Dob:  24-01-1982)
David Burrows
 Well respected former Aberystwyth Town manager, a composed defender who joined Neath from Port Talbot during January 2008. Previous clubs include Haverfordwest County, Briton Ferry and Cwmbran. David was manager at Park Avenue following the departure of Gary Finlay and stayed on after the arrival of Brian Coyne in November 2005.
(Dob:  23-03-1972)
Rob Folland
 		A defender who began his career with Oxford United, Rob made his first team debut against Ipswich Town in 1997.  Has since played for Port Talbot, Aberystwyth Town and Pontardawe.
(Dob:  16-09-1979)
Lee Bevan
 		Defender who has progressed from the club's reserves and featured in the Championship and promotion winning season of 2006-07.
(Dob:  10-07-1987)
Sean Cronin
 Defender signed from Bryntiion Athletic during the summer of 2007.
(Dob:  17-01-1986)
Dave D'Auria
   
   
   
 		Veteran midfielder who has Football League experience with Swansea, Scarborough, Scunthorpe, Hull and Chesterfield for whom he amassed around 250 League appearances. Dave has Welsh Premier experience with Barry  Town and Llanelli.
(Dob:  26-03-1970)
Stephen Pocket
   
   
Midfielder Stephen has experience with local sides Swansea City and Port Talbot before joining Neath from Skewen Athletic.
(Dob:  11-02-1984)
Chris Pridham
 		Robust and fiercely competitive midfielder previously with Barry Town and Haverfordwest.  A former Manchester City youth Chris has also played for local rivals Afan Lido and Port Talbot.
(Dob:  11-08-1978)
Richard French
     
 		Midfielder previously with Barry Town and Port Talbot who joined the club during the summer of 2007.
(Dob:  04-03-1984)
Matthew Rees
 		Swansea born midfielder who has graduated from the club's youths and reserve sides.
(Dob:  02-04-1987)
Carl Jenkins
 		Midfielder who has brief Welsh Premier experience with Grange Quins, Carl has also played for Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend.
(Dob:  02-05-1982)
Andy Hill
 A Neath born striker whose previous clubs include Llanelli - where he made 90 WP appearances - and Skewen Athletic, he scored his home town sides' first ever Welsh Premier goals in an opening day defeat of Porthmadog.  Andy was capped by Wales at Under 18 level and is a former Welsh Youth cup winner.
(Dob:  18-10-1978)
Jarrod Price
   
Jarrod's previous clubs include AFC Llwydcoed.  He played an important part in Neath's promotion from the Welsh League in 2007.
(Dob:  09-08-1983)
Billy Timothy
 Billy has previous experience at Haverfordwest County and Port Talbot Town before joining Neath Athletic during the summer of 2007.
(Dob:  30-01-1978)
 Neath Athletic
 Pen Pictures Pen Pictures Pen Pictures 2007-08