Penybont F.C.
Penybont Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Penybont) is a Welsh football club that plays in the Cymru Premier. The current club was formed in 2013, following the merger of Bridgend Town and Bryntirion Athletic. Penybont play their home games at Bryntirion Park (known as The SDM Glass Stadium for sponsorship reasons).
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| Full name | Penybont Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short name | Penybont | ||
| Founded | 2013 (as Penybont F.C., following merger with Bryntirion Athletic F.C.) | ||
| Ground | The SDM Glass Stadium, Bridgend | ||
| Capacity | 1,200 | ||
| Coordinates | 51°30′43.1″N 3°36′32.1″W | ||
| Chairman | Emlyn Phillips | ||
| Manager | Rhys Griffiths | ||
| League | Cymru Premier | ||
| 2022–23 | Cymru Premier, 3rd of 12 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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History
To coincide with the merger of the two clubs, artificial turf was laid at Bryntirion Park and at the Bridgend College Football Academy in Pencoed, funded by the sale of Bridgend Town's former Coychurch Road ground to superstore chain ASDA.[1]
The club began the season with a series of away games since Bryntirion Park's 3G pitch installation was incomplete until January 2014. The club's first league game was away against Ton Pentre, the result of which was a 1–0 loss.[2]
The new pitch was officially opened by former Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay on 7 January 2014 at a friendly game played against a Cardiff City Development XI. Cardiff's development team won the match 5–0.[3][4]
The club's first manager was Francis Ford, who managed Bryntirion Athletic prior to the club's merger with Bridgend Town. Penybont ended their inaugural season in third place in the Welsh Football League Division One.[5]
On 18 January 2015, the club announced that it had reached a sponsorship agreement with Bridgend-based KYMCO Healthcare UK, which included renaming Bryntirion Park as The KYMCO Stadium.[6]
The club finished the 2014–15 season in 5th place in Welsh League Division One.[5]
On 12 September 2015, the club announced that it had applied for a Football Association of Wales Domestic License for the Cymru Premier. This indicated that the club was committed to improving the facilities at Bryntirion Park in order to make the club applicable for promotion to the top flight.[7]
In May 2016, Francis Ford resigned from his post as manager to be replaced by former Plymouth Argyle, Newport County and Cymru Premier footballer Rhys Griffiths. On 11 June, former Cardiff City and Newport County player Martyn Giles was appointed as his assistant.
On 13 April 2019, it was confirmed that the club had secured promotion to the Cymru Premier after promotion rivals Cambrian & Clydach Vale and Cwmamman United suffered defeats.[8]
On 4 July 2019, former Dundee F.C. and Partick Thistle player Daniel Jefferies signed for the club.[9]
On 23 December 2021, the club announced the signing of former Swansea City, AFC Bournemouth and Wales international Shaun MacDonald on an 18-month deal.[10]
In the 2022-2023 season they finished in 3rd place qualifying them for their first-ever Europe game, against FC Santa Coloma in the first qualifying round of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League.
European record
As of match played 20 July 2023
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Agg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1QR |  FC Santa Coloma |
1–1 | 0–2 (a.e.t.) | 1–3 |
- Notes
- QR: Qualifying round
Current squad
- As of 14 July 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club honours
League
- Southern Football League
- Winners: 1979–80[11] (as Bridgend Town)
- Welsh Football League Division Two
- Winners: 1996–97[11] (as Bridgend Town)
- Welsh Football League Division Three
- Winners: 2003–04[12] (as Bryntirion Athletic)
References
- Phillips, Terry (31 May 2013). "Bridgend Town and Bryntirion Athletic merge to make Pen-y-Bont FC". walesonline. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- "Earlier results". www.welshleague.org.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- "Peny Bont FC". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- Phillips, Terry (7 January 2014). "Malky Mackay wishes new Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all the best". walesonline. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- "Football Club History Database - Penybont". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- "KYMCO STADIUM". penybontfc.co.uk. Penybont FC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- "Domestic License". penybontfc.co.uk. Pen Y Bont FC. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- Pritchard, Tom. "Pen-y-Bont clinch promotion to top flight as rivals suffer defeat". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Y Clwb Pel-droed. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Daniel Jefferies signs for Penybont FC". Penybont F.C. Penybont F.C. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Shaun MacDonald: Former Swansea midfielder signs for Penybont". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- "Football Club History Database - Bridgend Town". fchd.info. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- "Football Club History Database - Bryntirion Athletic". fchd.info. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- "Football Club History Database - Everwarm". fchd.info. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- "Saints hold on in dramatic JD Welsh Cup Final Finish". faw.cymru. Football Association of Wales. Retrieved 6 May 2022.