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Years 1945-1986
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16th October, 1945. Aberavon played their first post war
match against Abertillery at the G.K.B. Sports Ground.
2nd March, 1946. Aberavon played the New Zealand Army Side, "The
Kiwis" before a record home crowd of 19,000.
1951/52. Club colours changed to red and black hoops and white
knickers.
15th October, 1952. Aberavon became absolute owners of the Talbot
Athletic Ground. The purchase was negotiated in person with the Margam
Estate Trustees by the Rt. Hon. The Lord Heycock - then Country Alderman
Llewellyn Heycock.
Stand extensions carried out in subsequent seasons.
April, 1953. Aberavon played in the Middlesex Sevens.
28th August, 1954. Aberavon (Port Talbot) Athletic
("Social") Club officially opened by Captain Geoffrey Crawshay.
9th September, 1954. Dan Jones opened the Humphrey Leyshon and W. R.
Thomas Commemorative Gates.
1957. Rory O'Connor, on being capped against the England, became the
first Welsh player to win Youth and Senior International Caps.
10th March, 1961. Aberavon played Cambridge University when
Floodlight System officially opened, at a cost of £8888.1.0.
1960/61. Aberavon, Welsh Champions. Team contained seven players
already capped for Wales : Len Cunningham, Cliff Ashton, Tony O'Connor,
Phil Morgan, Rory O'Connor (Capt.), John Collins and David Thomas.
Kelvin Coslett was capped the following season.
1961. Phil Morgan became the first Welsh player to win Schoolboy,
Youth and Senior International caps.
1962/63. Aberavon visited Berlin as guests of the Welch Regiment.
1965/66. Aberavon won Floodlight Alliance Championship.
1966/67.
Club Awards
- Bobby Wanbon (Player of the Year)
1967/68.
Club Awards
- Cyril Jones (Player of the Year)
1968/69.
Club Awards
- Omri Jones (Player of the Year)
1969/70.
Club Awards
- Mike Nicholas (Player of the Year)
1970/71.
Club Awards
- Morton Howells (Player of the Year)
1971/72.
Club Awards
- Clive Shell (Player of the Year)
1972/73. First Reunion of former 'Over 70' Aberavon players.
Club Awards
- Allan Martin (Player of the Year)
1973/74.
Club Awards
- John Bevan (Player of the Year)
1974 and 1975. Aberavon defeated by Llanelli in the Finals of W.R.U.
Schweppes Challenge Cup. Since its inception in 1971/72, Aberavon have
been semi-finalists on nine other occasions, when they were defeated by
the teams shown in parentheses : 1972 (Llanelli), 1977 (Cardiff), 1978
(Newport), 1979 (Pontypridd), 1982 (Bridgend), 1984 (Neath), 1987
(Newport), 1988 (Llanelli), 1990 (Bridgend).
1974/75.
Club Awards
- Richie Davies (Player of the Year)
1975/76.
Club Awards
- Phil Clarke (Player of the Year)
1976. Centenary of the Club's formation. The "Wizard" was
adopted as the official Club emblem. New Dressing Rooms, a Multi Gym and
Trophy Room were built. Aberavon played the Argentine, an Italian XV and
toured Barbados under the managership of Dr. Keith James.
1976/77.
Club Awards
- Billy Mainwaring (Player of the Year)
1977/78.
Club Awards
- Barry Lewis (Player of the Year)
1978/79.
Club Awards
- Wynford Lewis (Player of the Year)
1979/80. Ground terraced.
Club Awards
- Bernard Thomas (Player of the Year)
- Adrian Owen (Clubman of the Year)
July, 1980. Presentation to Mrs. Evelyn Mainwaring by Welsh Brewers
at their Annual dinner "for her special services" to Welsh
Rugby Football, the first time for a lady to receive this award.
1980/81.
Club Awards
- Adrian Owen (Player of the Year)
- Bernard Thomas (Clubman of the Year)
1981. Allan Martin won his 34th cap against France and became the
most capped Aberavon player. His 34 appearances for Wales as a lock
forward was a Welsh record at the time.
August, 1981. Aberavon toured British Columbia under the managership
of Frank Williams.
1981/82.
Club Awards
- Adrian Owen (Player of the Year)
- Mike Edwards (Clubman of the Year)
1982. Supporters' Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary.
1982. John Bevan, Aberavon Coach, appointed Welsh National Coach.
9th November, 1982. Aberavon played the New Zealand Maoris.
1982/83. Mike Lewis set a new points scoring record for the Club of
306 in a season.
Club Awards
- Kevin James (Player of the Year)
- Les Keen (Clubman of the Year)
1983. Aberavon won Rovigo (Italy) International Sevens Tournament,
under the management of Brian Tashara.
1983. Aberavon visited Germany as guests of 21 Engineer Regiment,
under the managership of Ross Richards.
1983/84.
Club Awards
- Mike Edwards (Player of the Year)
- Gary Matthews (Clubman of the Year)
1984. Floodlight System restored; Reunion of Aberavon players, past
and present, held at Clubhouse.
1984/85.
Club Awards
- Ray Giles (Player of the Year)
- Jeff Jenkins (Clubman of the Year)
1985 and 1986. Aberavon toured Spain under managership of Billy
Mainwaring and Morton Howells respectively.
1985/86. Substantial alterations carried out to Stand and Clubhouse,
largely by voluntary labour, to comply with Government's Safety in
Grounds requirements.
Club Awards
- Ray Giles (Player of the Year)
- Paul Knight (Clubman of the Year)
1986/87. Centenary of the Club's membership of the WRU.
Club Awards
- Ray Giles (Player of the Year)
- Paul Yardley (Clubman of the Year)
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