New photo project captures matchdays at supporter-owned Merthyr Town

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Collaboration between photographer John Smith and the Dial M For Merthyr fanzine depicts fans in the surroundings of Penydarren Park stadium

16 February ~ In the summer of 2010 Merthyr Tydfil were liquidated. Martyrs to the Cause, the supporters’ trust at Penydarren Park, resurrected the club immediately and entered the Western League Division One as Merthyr Town; a return to the original name of the town’s football club.  

The club originally went down three divisions after administration but they have won two promotions in the last 5 years and are currently second in the league, pushing for another promotion as a fan-owned club.

Without the fans, there wouldn’t be a football club and photographer John Smith, along with the Dial M For Merthyr fanzine, have embarked on a project to document those supporters’ experiences at games.

A selection of the photos are shown below, but there will be a wider range printed in edition 52 of Dial M For Merthyr, which is due out on March 25. You can order a copy by emailing Wolvesy@yahoo.co.uk. It is hoped that a selection of the pictures from this project will be exhibited at the end of the season at the football club, and at Merthyr’s local arts and music festival at the end of May.

Once the season is finished all pictures from the project will be displayed via John Smith’s website.

Top photo: Fan sips on a lager watching the game with the old disused urinals in the background

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Merthyr Town’s announcer and lifelong fan, Salty

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The not so grand stand seats

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A range of hats on display on the Theatre End terrace

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A Merthyr fan watches the game from the terraces of the Popular Bank

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A young Merthyr fan on the terraces

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The #WeOwnOurFootballClub banner on display