From the beginning......
08 Oct 2009

Situated in the Cynon Valley, South Wales, the Club was founded in 1997 by a group of parents who decided that they wanted their children to play football, hence the formation of the Grasshoppers.

Amongst the founder members was Mark Barnes who became Chairman and who directed the Club in it's aims for a total of 8 years before he stepped down allowing Chris Welch to take over the reigns in 2006.

It was under Mark's leadership that the Grasshoppers started with one football team, and throughout subsequent years the Club has continually increased in players, coaches and teams. Treasurer for 10 years was Huw Bond who stepped down allowing Steve Pearce to have the honour of becoming Treasurer, Steve also holds this position with Aberaman Athletic AFC. Aberaman FC was founded in 1892 and was one of the founder members of the Welsh League in 1902-03. Like many clubs in the late 1800's their early history is lost in the mist of time. It would be true to say that they established themselves as one of the best sides in the valley earlier on. For instant recognition regarding their early status is shown by stark statistic that in 1902-03 season they were finalists in the Welsh Cup. 10 years later (1912-13) they were finalists in the Welsh Amateur Cup. They won the South Wales and Monmouthshire Senior Cup in 1902-03 and in the 1911-12 and 1912-13 seasons they were winners of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Amateur Cup. In 2006, a memorandum of understanding was made between both Aberaman and the Grasshoppers for the Grasshoppers to become the official feeder club to Aberaman, as a result the oldest team each season within the Grasshoppers club automatically become Aberaman players. This is normally an U16 team and when players reach the age of 16 within the season, providing they are good enough, they could be selected by the team management of the senior team. In conjunction with the memorandum of understanding, the Grasshoppers were approached by ENTO for a 3 year sponsorship to which the Club would for the period of the sponsorship be known as ENTO Aberdare Grasshoppers, it also involved the purchase of new kit to follow in the fashion of Aberaman AFC, Huw Bond raised his concerns of the change of colours from the red/green style to royal blue stating that “it was selling the soul of the Club”. This deal expires in the summer of 2009, this has recently been renewed for a further 3 years.

Also in 2006 the Grasshoppers progressed to entering an all girls team into the South Wales Girls Football League. This was the first for any Club situated within the Cynon Valley to run an all girls team and at present the club runs both under 16 and under 14 all girls teams, with plans to run a under 12 team in the season 2009 - 2010. Instrumental in setting up the Girls division of the Club was Lorraine Olson, this section of the Club has further been enhanced by fellow coaches Alison Lloyd and Gareth Williams.

Historically, and since the Grasshoppers conception, Club meetings were held in the Seren Y Bore in Aberdare once a month, but since August 2008 the Grasshoppers utilise Aberamans AFC’s Clubhouse. Meetings are still once a month, with the yearly AGM held in June for the election of committee officers. The Club follows a strict agenda for meetings to ensure that all represented teams within the Club are considered and concerns raised. At each meeting football training videos are shown to further enhance Coaches skills and further their development. Meetings are not strictly business orientated by also a social event to have a drink, unwind and discuss issues with coaches that train and play on different days to each other.

The Grasshoppers in 2008 were fortunate to obtain major sponsorship(s) from TYCON Civil Engineering and Underwood Insurance Services Ltd, these sponsorship(s) were matched almost pound for pound by Sportsmatch Cymru Wales. Gallery Loft Conversions also came forward to sponsor a junior team.