UNKNOWN CONNECTION BETWEEN CARLTON TOWN AND MERTHYR TOWN COMES TO LIGHT AFTER FRIENDLY ANNOUNCEMENT!

Carlton have announced some pretty decent friendlies in recent years, but few have caught the imagination like the one to be held at Stoke Lane on Saturday 24th July when Merthyr Town will be the visitors to Stoke Lane.

Merthyr have let it be known that a significant number of fans will also be travelling down from Wales and Carlton are determined to make them all very welcome with Dj sets possibly before and after the game and the bar will stay open as long as required into the evening for those wishing to stay behind and enjoy a few drinks.

Another fascinating piece of information as come to light however !

With the recent announcement that the club will play Merthyr Town in a pre-season friendly this summer it has unfolded that our club has a family connection with the opposition. Carlton Town’s very own Phil Jennings had a distant uncle of his who played professionally for the club when they were first admitted into the Football League Division Three in 1920-21. William Jennings born in Bulwell and previously of the NottsCounty second Division championship side of 1913-14 had moved to Pennydarren Park via a season at Norwich City with his brother Sam who went on to be a prolific centre-forward in this era. William a six foot tall centre-half would captain the Merthyr Town side in 1920-21 & 1921-22 seasons helping them to finish eighth and eleventh in the respective seasons. He would appear on 65 occasions scoring three goals before moving on to Luton Town for the next three seasons where he would also captain them.

Merthyr Town formed in 1908 and previously of the Southern League gained their professional status in 1920 and were to stay as a professional club for the following ten years before they were pushed back into the non-league after failing re-election for the league in 1930. The club whom were only formed in 1908 that had successfully risen to the elite league within twelve years would now find themselves returning to their roots until 1934 when they were forced to disband due to insufficient financial support.

The Martyrs as they are known reformed again in 1945 and renamed Merthyr Tydfil are now playing their football again in the Southern League and until recent seasons only reverted back to their original club name.

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