It’s Business As Unusual At Merthyr Town Football Club

Merthyr Town FC’s growing involvement with the community is expanding still further with the formation of a club aimed at helping local businesses benefit from one another. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Martyrs Business Network is meeting twice a month at Penydarren Park as a ‘new means to engage with the business fraternity, allowing owners to learn from each other and use the club as a means for promoting the area in a positive manner’, said Merthyr Town Business Development Manager Philip Jones. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“All companies taking part have one thing in common – football. It’s a forum for bringing them together with the mutual interest of Merthyr Town FC.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The inaugural meeting saw representatives of more than 40firms making use of the football club’s sparkling new sports bar, Romans. The business breakfast was opened with a talk from Andy Coulthurst, Chief Executive Officer of The Trade Centre Wales, which has sponsored the Martyrs for more than a decade. The main speaker was Phil Williams from Bridgend’s Plan-it Eco, which helps companies to develop and promote environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The next breakfast is taking place on Thursday September 29, at 8am, with headline speaker Ken Evans, of Business Transform – a Merthyr Tydfil based consultancy which help organisations to develop their future vision. Ken was formerly chief executive of a worldwide automotive manufacturing company. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The launch of the Martyrs Business Network is a significant step forward for the club and will help us develop a mutually beneficial partnership with businesses,” Philip Jones added. “The support of businesses both on and off the field is vital to the continued rejuvenation of the club and the community as a whole,” he added. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Over £2m was awarded to the Penydarren Park redevelopment project from the Welsh Government’s Viable and Vibrant Places (VVP) Programme, managed in Merthyr Tydfil by the County Borough Council.

As well as an extension to the clubhouse to build the function hall/banqueting suite to accommodate 100-120 people, there is a new sports bar, 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​