Martyrs Legends

I'm looking at constructing some profiles on some of the legends that have played at Merthyr over the years. Who would you all say were Martyrs Legends?

Charles, Webley, Holvey, Clarkey, Steino!

In my time:-

Dean Clarke
Craig Stiens
Danny Carter
Gareth Abraham
Cohen Griffith
Gary Wager

Possibly Steve Williams and Ian Mitchell

stan round
barry holbert
ray hendy
nick deacy
howard madley
ian docherty
alan sullivan
micky lenihan
paul caviel
john wakeham
david jones or dai bananas
peter jones

Can't wait for Wanderin's!!

You got to include Bill Hullett, greatest goalscorer in Merthyrs history IMO, also Neil O'Halloran another great goalscorer who I idolised as a schoolboy at Penydarren Park. Prob a couple more from that brilliant team in the early 50's.

The ones that spring immediately to my mind are Bill Jarman, Harry Lowe, Dai Lloyd, Stan Davies - and Shenkin Powell on the wing. Later on, I recall Fred Crump in goal, and Ken Tucker and Keith Volpe would usually put in a good shift. Then it was away from Merthyr and home for many years. Some years ago, I had the privilege of presiding at Bill Hullett's funeral.

I think more often of my Dad when I'm at Penydarren Park than anywhere else - it troubles me that there seem to be so few dads and their lads at games these days.

Bill Jarman, Harry Lowe, Bill, Hullett, Stan Davies, Jenkin Powell, Reg Davies, Brian Jenkins, Graham Vearncombe, Fred Crump, Colin Hancox, Dilwyn John, Harry Griffiths, Les Harris, Ken Leek, Brayley Reynolds, Ken Tucker, John Charles, Mel Nurse, Nick Deacy, Gordon Davies, Ray Pratt, Ray Hendy, Howard Madeley, Ian Docherty, Alan Sullivan, Chris Holvey, Peter Jones, Micky Lenihan, Danny Carter, Gary Wager, Cohen Griffith, Neil O'Halloran, Wayne Jones, Bob Latchford, Don Payne, Cortez Belle, Andy Beattie, David Webley, Gareth Abraham, Phil Green, Tommy Hutchison, George Young, Alan Smith, Mike Hayes, Alan Wilkins, Barry Holbutt, Syd Howarth, Dean Clarke, Ian Mitchell, Derek Elliott, Craig Stiens, Gary Shephard, Steve Williams (Lyn Jones' team), Steve Williams (present team), Nathan Jones, Ian Love, Paul Caviel, Chris Williams.

Dai Webley, Gordon Davies, Ian Docherty, Gary Wager,Tommy Hutchinson, Bob Latchford, Robbie James,Ray Pratt, Alan Sullivan , Mikey Lenihan, Paul Giles, Kevin Rogers, Dai Tong. Ian Mitchell. Ian Thompson , John Wakeham

I agree with everyones choices and unless I haven't seen them I can't believe nobobdy has included Georgie (Ceri Williams) and Gilo (Paul Giles) two of the best wingers to have graced Penydarren Park.

did any of these feature for merthyr -
stan carpenter
gary/graham powell
philip hegarty
keiron goggin
mark aspinall
richie morse
barry vassalo
mickey dicks
brian chilvers

They all played for Merthyr Tydfil, either in the Southern League or the Welsh League.
Vassallo had a brief spell under manager Lyn Jones.

Dickie Batt

Tim Drummond wrote:Bill Jarman, Harry Lowe, Bill, Hullett, Stan Davies, Jenkin Powell, Reg Davies, Brian Jenkins, Graham Vearncombe, Fred Crump, Colin Hancox, Dilwyn John, Harry Griffiths, Les Harris, Ken Leek, Brayley Reynolds, Ken Tucker, John Charles, Mel Nurse, Nick Deacy, Gordon Davies, Ray Pratt, Ray Hendy, Howard Madeley, Ian Docherty, Alan Sullivan, Chris Holvey, Peter Jones, Micky Lenihan, Danny Carter, Gary Wager, Cohen Griffith, Neil O'Halloran, Wayne Jones, Bob Latchford, Don Payne, Cortez Belle, Andy Beattie, David Webley, Gareth Abraham, Phil Green, Tommy Hutchison, George Young, Alan Smith, Mike Hayes, Alan Wilkins, Barry Holbutt, Syd Howarth, Dean Clarke, Ian Mitchell, Derek Elliott, Craig Stiens, Gary Shephard, Steve Williams (Lyn Jones' team), Steve Williams (present team), Nathan Jones, Ian Love, Paul Caviel, Chris Williams.

And uncle Tom Cobley and all!!

And uncle Tom Cobley and all!

Nah, there was talk of him being loaned to the Martyrs by Widdecombe Athletic, but he got himself banged up in Dartmoor for horse-thieving before the deal went through.

Tim Drummond wrote:Bill Jarman, Harry Lowe, Bill, Hullett, Stan Davies, Jenkin Powell, Reg Davies, Brian Jenkins, Graham Vearncombe, Fred Crump, Colin Hancox, Dilwyn John, Harry Griffiths, Les Harris, Ken Leek, Brayley Reynolds, Ken Tucker, John Charles, Mel Nurse, Nick Deacy, Gordon Davies, Ray Pratt, Ray Hendy, Howard Madeley, Ian Docherty, Alan Sullivan, Chris Holvey, Peter Jones, Micky Lenihan, Danny Carter, Gary Wager, Cohen Griffith, Neil O'Halloran, Wayne Jones, Bob Latchford, Don Payne, Cortez Belle, Andy Beattie, David Webley, Gareth Abraham, Phil Green, Tommy Hutchison, George Young, Alan Smith, Mike Hayes, Alan Wilkins, Barry Holbutt, Syd Howarth, Dean Clarke, Ian Mitchell, Derek Elliott, Craig Stiens, Gary Shephard, Steve Williams (Lyn Jones' team), Steve Williams (present team), Nathan Jones, Ian Love, Paul Caviel, Chris Williams.

As I'm not as old as Mr Drummond the 1st line is a list of names from the past, but all of the above plus Brian Williams - one of the hardest centre halves I've seen at the Park plus a few good lads such as Ryan James, Ian Thompson and the late Mikey Regan.

I wonder how many of the current crop - except those mentioned above - will be legends of the future?

Great comments so far.

More recent times for me, Gareth Abraham, Gary Wager, Neil Thomas, Gary Shepherd, Steve Williams, Dean Clarke..

I don't remember the players of the 1940s and 1950s but their names have gone down in history and been mentioned by other supporters of that era.
My memories go back to 1958. I was just born at a very early age!!!!!The older supporters have more names to remember but the newer fans can dwell on their favourites.
Brian Williams is worth a mention. And I forgot to add Ceri Williams and Ian Thompson.
I suppose we could mention Gerry Hitchens but on his transfer from Worcester City, he didn't really succeed at P Park so didn't really become a legend at Merthyr.
It's a bit difficult to try and differentiate between the good players and those who really became legends. And it is hard to know whether today's players will carve their names in Merthyr's history.
Then again by listing these "legends" we are suggesting the link between Merthyr Tydfil and the present Merthyr Town which is another point at issue as to whether the clubs are the same!!!

JamesMTFC wrote:I'm looking at constructing some profiles on some of the legends that have played at Merthyr over the years. Who would you all say were Martyrs Legends?

Not sure if he has already been mentioned but I was always a big fan of Russell Lewis in the early 90's. Decent Centre Half along with Mark Davies who retired to join the police force (i think). Both quality players in what was the best Merthyr team over the past 20 years.

Mattie Harris has the potential to be a "future legend" perhaps.

my old school teacher.....pat murphy ???

Obviously the "legend" status will depend very much on your age, but even though Nick Deacy has been mentioned, he wouldn't have been half the player without Derek Bryant, who I recollect played alongside him for 1 or 2 seasons in the 70's. Deacy took much of the headlines and scored more goals, but Bryant was a class act as well. Many of the players of the Lyn Jones era can rightly be called legends, as can a number of players from sides throughout the 70's.

we must consider that nick deacy played for wales one game i think but also made a big name for him self playing in holland for psv .As far as i remember john charles discovered him playing park football in cardiff before coming to us

Russell Lewis and Derek Bryant, yes. Later Bryant was manager of Frome Town.

scamp wrote:we must consider that nick deacy played for wales one game i think but also made a big name for him self playing in holland for psv .As far as i remember john charles discovered him playing park football in cardiff before coming to us

Nick Deacy had 12 caps for Wales scoring 4 goals. He scored on his debut as Wales beat the Czechs 3-0 in 1977. Yes John Charles signed him for Merthyr, before Deacy then moved to Hereford, he had four successful years at PSV Eindhoven

Can anybody remember 2 of our local hero's.
John Wakeham who was one of most hardest full backs I have ever seen at Penydarren Park
and
Colin Crotty another hard mid fielder. I'm showing my age now