First Webley’s Wedding Reception Held Without Hitch

The first wedding reception in Merthyr Town Football Club’s brand new banqueting suite went off without a hitch – despite the venue not being completed until two days before. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Although the function hall, named Webley’s after one of the club’s best players Dai Webley, was ‘still a building site’ each time bride and husband-to-be Courtney Harris and Philip Booth visited in the build-up to their big day, Martyrs fan Philip had faith it would be perfect. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

None of the 120 guests had seen the finished product – and they were bowled over when they stepped through the doors. “They had all said we were crazy,” said Courtney, 27, of Castle Park. “But when they saw it, they thought it was as fabulous as we did.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Webley’s is part of a £2m redevelopment project at Penydarren Park, including a new sports bar, function hall, commercial kitchen, four hospitality boxes, fully refurbished dressing rooms, an IT suite, offices, free Wi-Fi throughout the stadium, increased parking and an improved entrance with new turnstiles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The work is being carried out by ACE Building Contractors, with support from a wide range of local suppliers and is expected to be fully completed in April. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Courtney and Philip, 32, also made sure to hire local companies, including Pixelsphotography and wedding car supplier A Morris Occasion. The service was held at St Mary’s RC Church. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Courtney added: “I can’t emphasis enough how fantastic the football club was in the way they handled everything – from little touches like allowing us to use the background music of every guest’s choice while eating our food, to the big things like letting us use the pitch for a few fun shots.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In the evening, the wedding party moved from Webley’s to the club’s new sports bar, called Romans because the club is built on an old Roman fort. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The versatility of the venue is just amazing,” said Courtney. “The option of being able to use Webley’s and Romans makes a big difference. It made the time between changing over the room so fuss-free and kept everyone together. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would also like to thank every member of staff who made such an effort to make not only our day special, but also our little girl Gracie’s too. They should all be very proud of what they have achieved because I couldn’t recommend them enough.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Merthyr Town Chief Executive Rob Price said: “The club is delighted that the project has been delivered on time to budget and with a high standard finish, and would like to thank ACE for this. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Philip and Courtney have been fantastic throughout the whole process, and it was our pleasure to provide a quality service and facility for their wedding. They placed faith in us to deliver this as all previous visits have been to a construction site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is our first function at Webley’s and has been a great success. Our aim is to build on this event and to use our two function halls, Webley’s and Romans, to develop this part of the business.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​