"CLUB NOTES"

"In 1893 sixteen-year-old Jim Davies helped to form a rugby side called Tredegar Harriers, the fore-runner of Tredegar R.F.C. Jim became a legend and he was almost fifty when he played his last game for the club - his eldest son, also named Jim, played in the same match. The Recreation Ground was opened in 1899 and Jim Davies and other members of the old Harriers side got together to form the official Town Team. It had taken two years to transform the land into a suitable sports-site; built over two disused and filled-in pit shafts, volunteer labour had sweated and strained to get it ready."

"Tredegar helped form the Monmouthshire League and the club enjoyed a great deal of success, especially after the end of World War Two. There was always a good following and many enthusiastic supporters often travelled away with the Tredegar team. Once, in Bristol they booked the entire seating capacity of the Bristol pantomime — two full train-loads made the journey! There was a hiccup in 1929 when dirt-track racing at the Recreation Ground drew large crowds. Players drifted to Ebbw Vale and other clubs, but fortunately the appeal fizzled out and the crowds came back."

"After Tredegar won the Monmouthshire League title in 1951 and 1953, the club pulled out of the League and enlarged the fixture list to include Ebbw Vale, Glamorgan Wanderers, Maesteg, Pontypridd, Newbridge and Pontypool. Before the advent of Heineken League rugby Tredegar had been admitted to the Whitbread Merit Table and visiting teams were always assured of a warm welcome at the Recreation Ground."

"Newport's first fixture with the Valley club was in September 1903 when the home team, under their captain, George Boots, won by 29pts to nil. The Black & Ambers were very strong at the time and following the Tredegar game there were comfortable victories over Gloucester-19pts to 3pts, Neath 17pts to 5pts, and Bristol by 19pts to nil - so the Tredegar boys didn't do so badly! In 1908 they again came down the valley (in April when the snow had melted!), and gave a good account of themselves before losing by 6pts to nil. Charlie Pritchard's team had beaten Leicester by 22pts to 4pts and London Welsh 8pts to nil around the same time - so once again the Tredegar team had proved a point!"

"There were spasmodic fixtures in the 1920s and our clubs did not meet again until the Cup in 1972, when Geoff Evans' team won by 19pts to 8pts at the Recreation Ground. After a break until season 1983/84, fixtures have been played mostly once a season. Tredegar's only victory to-date was on December 14th, 1985, at the Recreation Ground, when the home side won a splendid game by 17pts to 12pts."

"BAR FACILITIES . . ."

"Because so many supporters are in need of liquid refreshment after the match (either in celebration or to drown their sorrows), there is early congestion in the bars. In order to save unnecessary suffering it is proposed to set up a 'Can Bar' in the Rodney Hall - hopefully this venture will ensure no-one dies of thirst! There will also be a Snack Bar, with pasties, pies, coffee, etc., available."