Club History

Club History

There is evidence that Montgomery Town played in the Montgomeryshire Amateur League as far back as 1906, although it is thought that the town played friendly fixtures against adjoining towns and villages as early as the 1890’s.

Their participation in the league in those days was not a very fruitful one as from 1906/7 to 1909/10 Montgomery failed to finish out of the bottom three. The club, however did win the Montgomeryshire Challenge Cup in 1908/9 for the first time beating Llanidloes 1 - 0 in the final.

The club did not compete at league level from 1910 through to 1933, but probably played in friendly fixtures. The final of the Montgomeryshire Cup was again reached in 1921/2. This time Llanidloes avenged their previous defeat winning 3 - 0.

The 1934/5 season saw the club again playing in the league and they finished runners-up. Again Montgomery reached the final of the Montgomeryshire Cup in the season 1936/7 this time losing 5 - 0 to Newtown.

The following two years the club struggled and finished second from bottom on both seasons.

The Second World War put paid to any organised football and little was played from 1939 to 1945.

In the 1946/7 season the club entered the then Mid Wales League (Northern Section) and fielded a reserve team in the Montgomeryshire Amateur League.

The reserves struggled and from the 1946/7 season through to the 1951/2 the club finished bottom three times and second bottom twice.

The first team managed a 4th place finish in their first year in the Mid Wales League (Northern Section) and that was followed by a second bottom finish and a 5th place finish in the season 1949/50.

For reasons unknown, the first team did not compete again until the 1952/3 season when they re-entered the Montgomeryshire Amateur League.

The 50’s were somewhat glory years for the town as they were crowned league champions in the 1952/3 season. This success was followed by 3rd, 5th, 4th, 5th and 3rd place finishes.

The club were crowned champions again in consecutive seasons in 1958/9 and 1959/60. The 58/59 season also saw the club lift the coveted Montgomeryshire Challenge Cup for the second time in the clubs history. They also lifted the Montgomeryshire Amateur League Cup and the Lentwardine Cup.

The following two seasons saw the club finish in 5th and 12th places.

The league campaign was disrupted in March 1963 and all fixtures were cancelled due to severe flooding in the area.

The 60’s saw a decline in fortunes and the club finished in 6th, 7th, second bottom, 11th and second bottom again in the 1968/9 season. With the formation of a second division relegation followed.

Although the club finished second bottom in their first year in division two they competed in the first division the following year and finished a reputable third.

The following year, in season 1971/2, the club finished bottom and this time there was no reprieve, the club was again relegated.

With an 8th place finished in their first year in the second tier the club was crowned second division champions in 1973/4.

Back in the top flight the club finished third bottom but then finished champions and runners-up in consecutive seasons. 1977/8 season saw the club finish in 6th place. The club was ambitious though and applied successfully to gain entry to the Mid Wales League.

It was at this time that major ground alterations were undertaken and Clostanymur took on a new look. The pitch was turned 90 degrees and levelled out and new changing facilities were built on the ground.

The Mid Wales League was of a high standard in the days prior to the emergence of The Cymru Alliance and later The League of Wales. Montgomery found themselves competing against such clubs as Welshpool Town, Caersws, Aberystwyth Town and Newtown.

The club had little success in the area’s senior league and for the next eight seasons they only finished out of the bottom three on two occasions.

The club won the Montgomeryshire Challenge Cup for the third time in 1980/81 beating Newtown 3 - 2 after extra time.

After the introduction of the new Cymru Alliance League and the League of Wales the clubs fortunes dwindled and they joined forces with the towns other club Montgomery Amateurs. The club reappeared in their own right for the 1989/90 season. Relegation followed their first season after finishing bottom of division one.

They were league runners-up in 2000/1 and 2004/5.

After an 8th place finish in 2005/6 season the club disbanded after failing to find a manager.

With renewed interest in the town a meeting was called with the help of the town council in February 2007 and a committee was put in place to re establish the club in the Montgomery Amateur League.

The club finished the 2007/8 season unbeaten and gained promotion by finishing runners-up. They also finished runners-up in the Town Cup final.