Abertillery Excelsiors - Jim Owen Field

Abertillery Excelsiors FC

Jim Owen Field

Ty-Dan-Y-Wal

Cwmtillery

Abertillery

NP13 1LW

Official Website

Twitter

Ground Number: 1171
Friday 7th April 2023
Abertillery Excelsiors 2-1 Abercarn United
County Motors Cup 2nd Round

ABERTILLERY EXCELSIORS - A BRIEF HISTORY 

The club was formed at the end of the 1999–2000 season, two neighbouring clubs, Cwmtillery and Abertillery Town forged an alliance, and played under the club name Tillery FC until 2005. At the beginning of the next season, the club was officially renamed Abertillery Excelsiors. They had already won promotion from the Welsh League Division 3 to Division 2 in 2004. However, relegations in 2006 and 2008 saw them drop down to the Gwent D1. Even worse was to follow in 2016 as they went down to Gwent D2. A runners-up spot behind Newport Corinthians in 2019 sparked a recovery of sorts with the club promoted to the top tier of the Gwent League, renamed the Premier Division. They won that title in 2020 as the pandemic took hold. When Football resumed in 2021, the Excelsiors were invited to join the Ardal South East. However, a second-bottom finish meant that they were to return to the Gwent Premier for this season.

Regarding local cups, Abertillery Excelsiors were Gwent County League Amateur Cup winners in 2019. Abertillery is a town in the Ebbw Fach Valley in Monmouthshire. The population of the area is around 11,600. Major industry came to the area in 1843 when the locality's first deep coal mine was sunk at Tir Nicholas Farm, Cwmtillery. The town developed rapidly thereafter and played a major part in the South Wales coalfield. Its population rose steeply, being 10,846 in the 1891 census and 21,945 ten years later. The population peaked just short of 40,000 around the beginning of the 1930s. Away from the town centre, the often steep-sided nature of the landscape imposes its own demands on development. Whilst this sounds limiting it has helped provide the almost amphitheatre nature of Abertillery Park, often described as one of the most attractive rugby grounds in world rugby. In football, local rivals Abertillery Bluebirds play a level higher in the Ardal South East.

MY VISIT 

Our third game was originally supposed to be Briton Ferry Llansawel which was preferable to the further away Ammanford. However, at the Cambrian and Clydach Vale game, we met Kiz who recommended Abertillery Excelsiors who had a cup game kicking off an hour earlier and slightly closer to home. After filling up with petrol at ASDA, it was half an hour's drive to Abertillery. Google Maps took me to the wrong entrance so we doubled back and parked nearer the ground. We were given a friendly welcome and it was only £2 to get in. Wycombe had been thumped 4-0 at Ipswich but I didn't really feel anything. If I was there, I'd have been gutted but I just shrugged my shoulders and got on with my day. 

Excelsiors were 6th in the table and were in great form. They were unbeaten in six having won 5-1 at AFC Pontymister in their last game. They'd also beaten Ynysddu Welfare 1-0, Newport Civil Service 1-0 and AFC Pontymister 7-3. They'd also won 4-1 at Panteg and drawn 2-2 against Coed Eva Athletic. Abrcarn United had won 3-1 in the league encounter and sat pretty at the top of the league. They were also in great form, having won their last six. They'd won 4-0 at Pill, 6-1 at Coed Eva Athletic, 5-1 at Ynysddu Welfare, 3-2 at Wattsville and 5-1 at Rogerstone. At home, they'd beaten Lucas Cwmbran 3-2. Abertillery were well on top, they took the lead on 40 minutes with a tidy finish into the bottom corner by Dafydd Phillips. It was 2-0 on 55 minutes, a cross from the right and a powerful header from 6 yards out by Josh Molina. Abercarn pulled a late penalty back on 71 minutes by Calwyn Fry and briefly threatened a comeback. Much to the delight of the home fans, who created a raucous atmosphere, the hosts saw the game out though, It was a healthy attendance with around 180 in the ground enjoying a good game of football.

After the game, we headed to Tesco as I wanted to pick up a few bits. It was spot on and I got my soft drink plus six bottles of Black Dragon cider. It was then to a local takeaway and the Wok Express Chinese takeaway was perfect. Although not for Colin as he had no cash. Strangely, Chinese takeaways are one of the few places that typically don't take cards, not an issue though as a cash machine was just down the road. I was jealous of Colin's Beef Fried Rice special. That was until my own meal came out - salt and chilli chips and chicken nuggets for £6.80. Delicious and well worth the money. We left around 9.15, making good time. We were due to get to Anwar's at midnight but ended up getting there 15 minutes early. It was then 25 minutes to Colin and 15 minutes to home. I had a couple of drinks before going to sleep around 2.40 am. It had been a great day and I later found out that I'd dodged a 0-0 at Briton Ferry.

THE GROUND

JIM OWEN FIELD is yet another ground in Wales with beautiful scenery. The food and drink have a bit of a wider range than most at this level with sausage rolls and pasties. The town is around a mile or so away. The ground itself is decent, two sides are officially available to spectators. There's a stand with around 80 seats, this is the only cover at the ground.