The Minus Ten Struggle

With the 2010/11 football season immanent, it seems only fair too review the happenings of the previous campaign. A campaign in which we said goodbye to Merthyr Tydfil FC and a tempory goodbye to Penydarren Park.

The reason behind the title of this post is that the Martyrs started the 2009/10 season with minus 10 points for entering administration. Merthyr started the season with a 2-1 win at home but 0 points was achieved much to relief of the club after an agonising 10 games. Merthyrs first positive point on the table came thanks to a 1-1 draw at Hednesford Town in early October. The Martyrs goal coming from a player who will go on to score much more important goals, his name is Kris Leek. Kris on loan from Newport notched up a total of 7 goals this term, every single one of them being vital.

As the season went on Merthyr were picking up points here and there but never really hit form. There were some blinding victories such as the 5-1 win at Chippenham Town in September and the 4-1 win at Rugby Town. But on the other side of the coin were the many 3-1 defeats such as the ones to Truro City, Hemel Hempstead Town, Nuneaton Town and Banbury United. Another factor that was costing Merthyr a lot of points was the inability to hold on to leads. Merthyr threw away half of their final ten games which would have certainly guaranteed survival in the league. They made things hard for themselves as the season drew to a close.

With the league season coming to an end Merthyr found themselves in a sticky situation. Some believed relegation was inevitable. A little few stayed postive and they were rewarded. With just two games to go, the martyrs needed other results to go their way. Their future was in the hands of other teams losing. Luckily enough those results Merthyr needed to go their way did in the week after a much needed 2-1 win over Brackley Town at home. Scoring the winning goal in front of 200 strong Merthyr Tydfil crowd was none other than Kris Leek. He would again come up with the goods on the final day of the season at Swindon Supermarine.

The sun was shinning on a beautiful late April afternoon. There was a carnival atmosphere to mark the last game of Merthyr Tydfil FC as we know it. Merthyr were just 4 minutes away from getting relegated but then once again, up steps Kris Leek. The ball was bouncing in and around the Swindon penalty box and then it fell perfectly for the Merthyr midfielder who struck the ball and it flew into the net to send the 150+ travelling fans home delighted. The Martyrs were staying up!

What is next for the Martyrs, a new colour strip, new league, new ground and a couple of extra players. But the same great team spirit and the loyal support of the fans. Fingers crossed that Merthyr Town FC will take the Western League by storm, is there a promotion on the horizon? Who knows but we will have fun on the way.

Here is a video from that famous day in Swindon: (please not, video not created by me) –

MERTHYR TYDFIL – SWINDON SUPERMARINE