Trefelin travel to Bangor City 1876 in the JD Welsh Cup fourth round on Saturday (KO 14:00), with promotion to the JD Cymru Premier also part of the club’s ambitions plans.
“Things are going in the right direction,” chairman Martyn Wagstaff told FAW.cymru this week. “We’re exactly where we want to be. I’ve been involved for eight years now and the difference in that time is massive.
“We just keep progressing. Promotion would be huge for the club and the area, and a huge credit to everybody here.”
Trefelin were formed in 1984, but the last decade has seen the Port Talbot-based club take significant strides forward. Support from the Cymru Football Foundation and the local community has been key to their progress, but it is the band of volunteers and those that have put in the time and effort over the years who make the club what it is.
Martyn Wagstaff became chairman of Trefelin in the summer
The Macron Ynys Park has seen a huge amount of change to become one of the statement grounds in the JD Cymru South, with a new 3G training facility adding to a club house extension, new changing rooms, floodlights, turnstiles, a sponsor area and the first of two new all-seater stands. Further ambitious projects are also in the pipeline.
“We’ve probably got more sponsors around the ground than most clubs in the area,” Wagstaff explained. “We’re obviously grateful to every one of those, but it’s the grant funding for the major projects that has really brought a new dynamic to the club. That funding has come from the overall success of Welsh football over the last 10 years.”
Changes at board level during the summer saw Wagstaff named as chairman, with Steve Green, a key figure behind the club’s journey since the very beginning, taking up the position of Club President. Chris Latham, Ray Pennock and Ashley Davies have also taken up senior roles within the new structure as they move into an exciting new era.
Trefelin President Steve Green at Ynys Park
“Steve more than deserves that title, he’s been just incredible,” said Wagstaff. “This is Steve’s club and always will be. I don’t think anyone could ever replace him and that’s not what I’m here to do. We have 33 teams here now and it’s too big for one person to manage.
“He deserves to have a bit more time to enjoy the game without the pressure of being responsible for everything.”
This season’s JD Welsh Cup campaign began for Trefelin with a hat-trick from Jasper Jones headlining a 6-1 win away to Pure Swansea. Callum Saunders scored twice in the next round against Cardiff Draconians in a 3-3 draw at Ynys Park, with Trefelin progressing on penalties to setup the last 16 tie against Bangor 1876.
Meanwhile, Bangor, of the Lock Stock Ardal North West, eliminated Mochdre Sports, Conwy Borough, St Asaph City and Guilsfield before claiming an impressive scalp in the last round with a 2-1 win over JD Cymru North title challengers Holywell Town.
JD Welsh Cup
Games to Watch in Round Four
“The Welsh Cup is historic, it’s everything to Welsh football,” Wagstaff added. “For us to be competing in the latter stages is really special, and to be going to Bangor for a big Welsh Cup tie is massive for us.
“The players are traveling up the night before, which is a big step for us in itself, and all part of our preparation for where we want to be in the near future.”
Currently second in the JD Cymru South table, manager Andy Hill took charge of the side in October 2023 to deliver top-flight football at Ynys Park. Former Cymru international Shaun MacDonald has brought a wealth of experience to the defence, while striker Luke Bowen is set to return from injury for the promotion push.
“The management team are outstanding,” Wagstaff added. “From the way they interact with people at the club to their attention to detail, they’ve taken us to a different level.
“The experience that Shaun and Luke bring has been invaluable, but we’ve still been able to bring players like Roan Piper through from the youth team, and that’s instrumental in what we want to do.”
If Trefelin can reach the JD Cymru Premier, they will become the fifth club from the Neath Port Talbot area to do so after Afan Lido, Port Talbot Town, Neath and Briton Ferry Llansawel.
But while the club grows, maintaining strong links with the local community and charities through regular initiatives aimed at supporting those in need remains an integral part of their identity.
“We started as a village club,” Wagstaff explained. “Keeping that community element is a core priority and something we want to continue to grow with us as we grow as a club. The local community spirit is massive for us, as without our community, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”
The Hwb at Ynys Park provides a wellbeing space and represents an important aspect of the club that means a lot to Wagstaff personally, as it was in September 2019 that club committee member and close friend Darren Phillips took his own life at the age of 45.
It had a devastating effect on the club, but the tragedy also served as the catalyst to put mental health at the top of the agenda at Ynys Park, with Wagstaff taking up the role of Mental Health Officer.
Talks at the club quickly extended to other clubs across the country, designed to help ensure that no other club would go through the same experience.
“We promoted what we were doing just to raise awareness, and more clubs started asking us to come and do a talk. A lot of clubs were then taking it on board and doing things themselves, and that shows what a vehicle football can be to support communities.
“Personally, I feel there’s a need for something bigger within Welsh football to support that. I would say that in football circles alone we’ve probably delivered mental health awareness talks to over 2,000 people. A lot of people were impacted by it and reached out for support after those talks.”
The project has since seen Wagstaff start his own company, Springfield Advisory, assisting employers in providing mental health and wellbeing support for their staff.
Meanwhile, the immediate focus for Trefelin turns to the challenge of Bangor City 1876, and Wagstaff believes success in one competition can help deliver in the other.
“Winning breeds winning,” he added. “Win this week and you’re more confident going into next week. We’ve just got to carry that momentum on and go as far as we can in both competitions.”
