Croesyceiliog A.F.C History
18 Aug 2011

CROESYCEILIOG FOOTBALL CLUB BRIEF HISTORY 1964-2011

Croesyceiliog AFC formed in the year of 1964 when the local school didn’t have a football team so formed a side called Cwmbran Wanderers to play in the Newport Youth League.

For Season 65/66 two sides were formed and named Croesyceiliog Youth, the following season the team entered the Newport and District league making its bow in Division 2B, the same year the side won the Monmouthshire Youth Cup and players from that side are still with the club in various roles.

1967/68 saw the senior side finish runners-up in Division 2B and when the Gwent Premier League was formed the following year, Croesyceiliog were founder members and some 36 years later can be proud of the fact that they have never been out of the league’s First Division! And winning the league four times.

In 1968 David Harris won the Welsh Youth cap and two years later a young man by the name of Mike Lewis joined the club playing at centre half in the Second team. He was later to become Commercial Manager at Newport County and graduated to similar roles at Reading and Tottenham Hotspur.

Three Croesyceiliog players have progressed to play in the Football League. In 1965 whilst former Newport County manager Les Graham was coach, Terry Cooper joined us and went on to play for Newport County, Notts County, Lincoln City, Scunthorpe United, Bradford City, and Rochdale. Thirteen years later Andrew Dibble joined and went on to play for Cardiff, Luton, Man City, Glasgow Rangers, Wrexham and various other clubs.

Most recently goalkeeper Glyn Garner has gone on to play for Bury, Leyton Orient,Shrewsbury and is now playing at Newport County.

Season 2004/2005 saw Croesyceiliog eventually join the Welsh League set up having remained unbeaten when winning the Gwent League First Division the previous season.

Under the guidance managers Neil Gilmore and Chris Evans, Croesyceiliog gained promotion in that season to Division Two, and followed that success the following season by gaining promotion to the First Division. Last season saw Croesyceiliog miss out on promotion on the last day of the season while also losing to Newport County in the Gwent Senior Cup final.

Meanwhile the Second team entered the Reserve Division under the guidance of Marc Thomas and Ian Williams and in Season 07/08 won the Reserve League Shield. They also won the Reserve East title in 08/09. The reserves have brought on a number of players to First team level over the past few seasons and this season Marc will be assisted by Dan Jenkins and Mike Colcombe.

Croesyceiliog will run a under 19 side in the Welsh Youth League for the second year running this season and they will be managed by Craig Filer and assistant Manager Mike Colcombe.