Welsh Premier League Football - First-ever relegation for Rhondda Bulldogs

FORMER members of the Welsh Premier League, Ton Pentre suffered relegation for the first time in their history as they fell into the MacWhirter Welsh League Division One drop zone following defeat in their last game of the season against Pontardawe Town.
Competitive football in Ton Pentre has been played since 1896 and the club has never endured the fate of automatic demotion, only forced resignation due to financial crises.
In 1923, following the collapse of the post-war coal boom and the demise of many Valleys teams under financial stress, Ton Pentre saved themselves by withdrawing from the Southern League for the Welsh League.
And in 1997 the Bulldogs were forced to resign from the League of Wales after a foray into European football nearly dragged the club into insolvency.
The 17th May 2010 will now be added to those significant dates in Ton Pentre’s history as the Rhondda Bulldogs are forced to come to terms with the fact that they will now be a Division Two club for the 2010-11 season.
Going into their last match of the season, Ton Pentre had to equal or better Cardiff Corinthians' result against Aberaman Athletic. The Corries pulled off a fine 2-1 win with Gareth Delve and Jonathan Knight securing the Radyr based club’s Division One status.
But they lost 3-2 and have become victims of the re-organisation of Welsh domestic football as in any other season their final position would have secured safety.
However, every club in the division was aware of the enlarged relegation zone and in stark reality the Bulldogs’ form in the latter part of the season has not been good enough.
"Everyone connected to Ton Pentre AFC is in deep shock that we have been relegated for the very first time in our history," says a club spokesperson.
"Even more painful is that we fell into the relegation zone following our last match of the season, however the league table does not lie and we have simply not been good enough over the course of the season.
"It is now vitally important that everyone at Ynys Park works hard to stabilise the Bulldogs in Division Two next season in an attempt to make a swift return to Division One of the Welsh Football League and we encourage anyone who feels they can help us achieve this to come forward."

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