Cwmbran Town A.F.C.

Football club infobox | clubname = Cwmbran Town


fullname = Cwmbran Town Association
Football Club
nickname = The Crows
founded = 1951
ground = Cwmbran Stadium Cwmbran
capacity = 10,500 [ [http://www.cwmbrantownafc.co.uk/CwmbranStadium.html www.cwmbrantownafc.co.uk] ] (2,200 seated)
Captain = Ricky Hodge Assistant = Gareth Griffiths flagiconǀWales
manager = Gary Proctor flagicon|Wales
Kit Manager = Mark Higgingbotham flagicon|Wales | league = Welsh Football League First Division
season = 2007-08 | pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=0000FF|body1=0000FF|rightarm1=0000FF|shorts1=0000FF|socks1=0000FF
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=000000|socks2=FFFFFF

Cwmbran Town is a football team based in Cwmbran, Wales, playing in the Welsh Football League First Division.

History

Cwmbran's place in history is assured as the first ever champions of the League of Wales. Formed in 1951, Cwmbran began in the "Monmouthshire Senior League", playing their matches at Cwmbran Park. In 1960 the club joined the "Welsh Football League" and they moved to their present home at the Cwmbran Stadium in 1975. Cwmbran lost their place in the top division of the "Welsh Football League" in 1978 and it took them three years to return to the top level. Although they finished only eighth in the 1981-82 season, they were invited to join the National Division of the restructured League. Cwmbran finished third in 1986-87 and almost won the title in 1989-90. In 1992 they were invited to become founder members of the League of Wales. Unprecedented success followed when they took the title by five points from rivals and near-neighbours Inter Cardiff, conceding only 22 goals all season and losing only three games (all 1-0).

That inaugural Konica League championship brought European reward in the form of a Champions Cup tie against Cork City F.C. from the Republic of Ireland. In the Preliminary Round, Cwmbran won the home leg by 3-2, after being 3-0 in front but despite going a goal ahead early in the second match they lost 1-2 and went out on away goals. Cwmbran had another taste of European football in 1997 in the European Cup Winners Cup, having lost 1-2 to newly crowned champions Barry Town in the Welsh Cup final.

Qualifying for Europe again in 1998 and 1999, Cwmbran met FC Naţional Bucureşti of Romania, and Celtic F.C. respectively. In the 2003-04 UEFA Cup they lost 6-0 on aggregate to Maccabi Haifa of Israel, playing the away leg in İzmir, Turkey.

The Welsh Cup final defeat to Barry mentioned above has since been equalled on two occasions, in 1999-00 when they lost to Bangor City, and in 2002-03 when again Barry Town proved too strong, in a penalty shoot-out.

Cwmbran's ground has a capacity of 8,200 and 2,000 seats under cover, however the average league attendance in 2005-06 was 163.

At the end of the 2005-06 season, the Crows were close to dropping out of the Welsh top flight for the first time since the League's formation. The Crows finished in the second relegation position but were saved from relegation due to a lack of teams in the feeder leagues wishing to be promoted. They were not so fortunate in the 2006-07 season, when they again finished in 17th place and were relegated following a 5-1 defeat by Llanelli on 20 April.

Financial problems - 2006/07

The season's respectable on-field performances were overshadowed by off-field financial problems. Towards the end of November 2006, reports surfaced that players were not being paid. The club initially denied this but on the 30th November, the club announced officially that it was unable to pay its players. A few of key players left, including top scorer Jody Jenkins, who joined Haverfordwest County.

Cwmbran Town received some help from Newport County, who offered a friendly with all proceeds going to the Cwmbran Town.

Notable former players

* Darren Campbell
* Mark Kendall
* Sean Wharton

Biggest victories and losses

*Biggest win: 10-0 v Gwynfi United 1968.
*Biggest defeat: 1-7 v Cheltenham Town in Welsh Cup 1991.
*Biggest League of Wales win: 6-0 v Aberystwyth Town, and v Haverfordwest County, both in 1997-98
*Biggest League of Wales defeat: 0-5 at Llanelli AFC in 1993-94 .

Current squad

References

External links

* [http://www.cwmbrantownafc.co.uk/ Official website]
* [http://www.welsh-premier.com/news.php?ID=4715] "Crows in cash crisis again"
* [http://www.welsh-premier.com/news.php?ID=4732] "Takeover group could save Crows"