Treharris Boxing
Peter James wrote a fantastic piece of history about Quakers yard on this website please read it here.
https://www.treharrisdistrict.co.uk/peter-james-quakers-yard/
Part of his story mentions boxing in the area he wrote “It must have been something they put in the water, or was it sheer pride and passion of being Welsh that produced these valley’s boxers. As youngsters we would be inspired by these fighters and I can well remember boxers of other stature within the locality, such as Danny Andrews and his son Terry, Marlow James, Keith Picton and the like but it was the Bon that I can associate with.
There used to be an old British Legion Club behind the Bon in Perrott Street Treharris that we used as a boxing club and I was taught how to handle the gloves with a trainer called Billy Reece from the factory (Melin Caiach), his son whose name was also Billy could have been a really good boxer along with another good lad by the name of Ossie Jackson. Many of us would spend an evening learning the old skills and come home sweating but fully satisfied that you had taken a punch in the face and did not even complain. It takes a lot of guts to step into the ring and face an opponent, whom you know nothing about, and I like to believe it made something of a man of me. It would certainly hold me in good stead during my Army days, when everyone was expected to represent their Company in boxing competitions. After my experiences in the Bon back home, I really relished the idea of boxing in the Army and indeed I did represent my Company on a few occasions. After the Bon boxing club was to finish, some of our lads would go to Trelewis Club and I believe that it was many years later that the Royal set up a club”
Keith Picton was one of a number of promising boxers to come from Treharris, born on 17th August 1936, and was the Welsh schoolboy champion he went on to have an excellent army, and amateur career in the Featherweight division , he even fought the great Howard Winston, before turning professional in 1961. (special thanks to Linda Picton for the following photos and clips)
Army champ
Early days and praise from the Borough council
Some programmes from the era
He had a short pro career last just 6 fights and 30 rounds, winning the first four with points decisions before losing the last couple by knock out after 16 months out of the ring possibly through injury, he lost twice in two weeks in his unsuccessful comeback and he retired from the professional circuit in 1963.
His record was
Sept 11 th 1961, Drill Hall Cardiff, defeated Brian Evans on points
October 2nd, 1961, Town Hall, Maesteg defeated Brian Evans on points
January 9th, 1962, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, defeated Sugar Ray Johnson on points
February 26th, 1962 Merthyr Tydfil, defeated Maurice Daniels on points
June 11th, 1963, Royal Albert Hall London, lost to Don Gibson, Knock out
June 24th, 1963, Market Hall, Carmarthen, lost to Lyn James, knock out
Treharris Colliery Boxing team 1920’s
1940’s and 1950’s cycle club
Unfortunately can’t find any information about the club but we do have a copy of the club badge
Treharris football
Junior Teams
1994
There will be a dedicated page to Treharris football that was in existance before the merger with Edwardsville based Great Western Football club at this link
https://www.treharrisdistrict.co.uk/treharris-football-team/
Treharris Western Athletic formed 2009
New ground for the Oldest football club in South Wales
2009-10 WELSH-2 34 15 6 13 69 67 51 7/18
2010-11 WELSH -2 30 9 6 15 45 49 55 33 13/16
2011-12 WELSH -2 30 4 5 21 30 92 17 16/16 RELEGATED
2012-13 WELSH 3- 30 6 7 17 50 68 25 15/16
2013-14 WELSH -3 -36 9 10 17 61 91 37 16/19
2014-15 WELSH -3 34 6 6 22 42 89 24 17/18
2015-16 WELSH -3 34 13 6 15 72 60 45 9/18
2016-17 WELSH -3 29 14 5 10 53 50 47 5/16
2017-18 WELSH 3 30 17 3 10 76 64 54 4/16
Mike Casey working at the club 2009
March 2009 the stand
Below we see a good crowd for a local Derby match
Mike Casey and Peter Ress both represented Treharris on the FAW
2011
Match day 2011
View of the Athletic from the opposite hillside
Each year a football match is played in memory of Dai proctor who sadly died so young, Treharris Western often provide players for this match, mainly veterans and there is normally a decent crowd here are some pictures from 2012 by Lee Dare
Spectators by Lee Dare
An unusual view of the ground
Goal mouth scramble
3-1 win for the Western v the Navi
Charity games?
2017 last season at the famous old ground
During May 2018 the demolition of the iconic Athletic stadium began but a very serious accident at the site has delayed the completion of the work and in July 2018 here is what remains.
From the lane
Behind the stand and the old pub footings
Dressing rooms are gone
Behind the old stand August 2018
View of the former pitch from the Fire station
View of the former stand
Photo of old ground February 2019
Treharris Mini Football
https://www.treharriskidsfootball.co.uk/blog
Incredible work has gone on to transform the Athletic stadium into a new home for the young footballers of Treharris and district, boys and girls can get coaching and excellent facilities on their doorstep and the ground can live on and produce many more starts of the future. Please read the blog on their website above to see the transformation.
On August 11th the ground was officially opened by Robert Page, the Welsh team manager, in the presence of local councillors, and 150 young players and their families, below we see a photo gallery of the event thanks to one of the main organisers Kieran Jones who gained permission to show these.
1n 2018 the Treharris Athletic Western Team moved to their new home on the former Colliery site in Trelewis. A new era for the pioneering club.
Jason Jones Aerial photography sent me this
New Dressing rooms were erected on the site July 30th 2019
Treharris Ladies football team September 1951
Does anyone recognize the people in the photo?
Treharris Rugby club the Phoenix
The first team I have photos of is the one started at the Perrott Inn during the mid 1970’s by Len Jones
Gary Sullivan wrote…
This photo above was taken on the Football field as it was closer to the Perrott than Treharris Park
Mike Wilson, Peter Ross, —- can’t remember name,Brian Hall, can’t remember name, Arfon Grindall,Glyn Francis,Len Toogood, Dick Morgan, middle row can’t remember think next was Peter Ross dad,Ritchie Rogers, Len Jones,Bernard Kirwaun, Jack Phillips, front Gary Evans,can’t remember, Alan inch Hughes, Gavin Wilson
another from the 1976-77 era
Below we see Back row Billy Townsend Kevin Jones Neil Roper Paul Smith Len Jones front row Gary Evans looks like Mousey Alan Inch Hughes
Kevin Jones and Mike Harrison amongst this line out
Two more below possibly 1976 outside Afon Taf
1982 approx, Treharris Park
Below we see a team with the Parry Brothers from 1984 also in the photo are Bleddyn, Alan Parker and Jeffrey Sullivan
1990’s includes Terry Parry,Martin Wells and Craig Rees.
Glyn Gila Jones coach below
The current ground on the Millennium Park
Treharris RFC 2012-13 SEASON
The Junior and mini sections were formed in 1994, it was an idea that was born of concerns by some of the local parents about the lack of recreational facilities for the youngsters on the district.
Those founding parents should be so proud of their initiative because the club now boasts 11 teams ranging from under 8 to a newly formed Youth and senior section(2009 reformed)
I have been sent some photographs of the Treharris Rugby team mainly from the mid-nineties when the original senior team were formed, they are courtesy of former player Terry Parry
Steve Ampleford, Martin RoperAndrew LewisJeff SullyAndrew Parker
Alan Parker BleddynDaffyTerry ParryNeil Baines? O’NeilDeoLee BeynonEdsieNancy ( Landlady ) Tommy Cush landlord
front barry john owens ginty Neil Nelly Williams paul rees ( reesy) jason Campbell jason Morris ( middle luxy) Treharris youth RFC mid nineties
