Quote Originally Posted by the other bob wilson View Post
Q

That Colchester match was the one I mentioned - I seem to remember the weather was pretty awful that day.

I was also at one of those matches with Barnet, think it was the earlier one which I seem to remember finished 1-1.

Both Merthyr and Aberdare had Football League sides for a while in the 20s and 30s I believe, but I don't think the gates were great for either club and they didn't survive the Great Depression.
Six Welsh clubs in the Football League in those days. On times when I’ve had the occasion to drive around those areas, Merthyr and Aberdare and surrounding valleys I’ve often wondered what young footballers from clubs such as Brentford, Leyton Orient, Millwall etc thought when they witnessed it in those far off days. Coming from the metropolis that London was, even in those days, it must have been like landing on another planet. I’d imagine they would have travelled from Paddington to Cardiff General, then changed to a train going to the valleys, or, perhaps, a charabanc or two picked them up at the General and then drove them up. Either way for a young Cockney making his first trip the landscape and sloping roofed towns must have been mind boggling.