Editing Aberdare (section)

==Sports==
{{see also|Ynys (Aberdare)}}
[[File:Sobell Leisure Centre, Aberdare - geograph.org.uk - 4317926.jpg|thumb|right|The newly redeveloped Sobell Leisure Centre in 2015]]
Aberdare was noted as "very remarkable" for its traditions of ''Taplasau Hâf'' (summer games/dances), races and ''gwrolgampau'' ("manly sports") which were said to have been a feature of the area since at least the 1640s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdare History 44 - Sports, games and pastimes |url=https://www.cvhs.org.uk/RIP_history/sports.html |website=Cynon Valley History Society |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> The town is also home to ''[[Ynys (Aberdare)|Yr Ynys]]'', an historic sports ground which has the distinction of hosting the first Rugby League international, a professional Rugby League team, a football League side and an All Blacks' tour match. Today the Ynys hosts the town's Rugby union and cricket teams, as well as the Sobell Leisure Centre and the Ron Jones Athletics Stadium, a 263-seat stadium with [[crumb rubber]] track and field sports facilities, home to Aberdare Valley AAC.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welsh Athletics |url=https://www.welshathletics.org/en/facility/view/ron-jones-stadium |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref>

=== Cricket ===
A cricket club was re-established at the Ynys in 1968 and was named Riverside Cricket Club in reference to its location near the banks of the river. The club would later be renamed Dare Valley CC, before finally changing its name to Aberdare CC. In 2008 the club was granted a 25-year lease on the land outside the boundary of the Ynys' pitch 1, where a club house and training nets were soon constructed. This was followed by the building of a Community Hub and Café in the 2010s. Today, the club runs 3 adult teams and 4 junior sides.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://aberdarecricketclub.co.uk/pages/history |website=Aberdare Cricket Club |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref>

=== Rugby League ===
[[File:Dai Tarw Jones.jpg|thumb|right|Aberdare's [[David Jones (rugby, born 1881)|Dai "Tarw" Jones]] would score the decisive try in Wales' victory in the first ever international Rugby League match, played at the Ynys.]]
The [[Northern Union]] hired the Ynys on 1 January 1908 to host what would be the first ever international rugby league match. Played on a near frozen pitch, the match between [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] and the [[New Zealand national rugby league team#The All Golds|New Zealand All Golds]] proved to be a close and exciting game. The decisive score came from local star and former Aberdare RFC player, [[David Jones (rugby, born 1881)|Dai "Tarw" Jones]], who scored a try just minutes before the final whistle, giving Wales a 9–8 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://allgolds.net/ |title=The All Golds |access-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010124413/http://www.allgolds.net/ |archive-date=10 October 2017 |url-status = dead}}</ref>

The match attracted 15,000 paying spectators, with the gate receipts of £560 highlighting the commercial potential of rugby league at the Ynys. This took place at a time when the Northern Union was looking to establish professional teams across south Wales and just months after the Welsh Rugby Union had sanctioned Aberdare RFC for professionalism (banning Jones for life). As such, discussions on the establishment of a Rugby League club in Aberdare advanced quickly and on 21 July 1908, [[Aberdare RLFC]] were admitted to the Northern Union's Rugby League. On 5 September 1908 the new team played their first match against [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] in front of a crowd of 3,000 at the Ynys.<ref name="London League">{{cite book |last1=Lush, Farrar |first1=Peter, Dave |title=Tries in the valleys : a history of Rugby League in Wales |date=1998 |publisher=London League |location=London |isbn=0-9526064-3-7 |pages=29–30}}</ref>

The potential for crowd support was again demonstrated on 10 November 1908, when the Ynys hosted its second international side as 5,000 spectators watched Aberdare take on the [[1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain|first touring Australian team]].<ref>[http://www.rl1908.com/Kangaroos/1908.htm Kangaroo Tour: 1908-1909] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523141841/http://www.rl1908.com/Kangaroos/1908.htm |date=2008-05-23 }} rl1908.com</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/rugby-league-news/2008/01/01/r-league-jones-did-the-double-over-nz-91466-20301567| title=R League: Jones did the double over NZ| work=Western Mail| author=Phil Blanche| date=1 January 2008| access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref> However the Aberdare club side could not replicate the heroics of the Welsh team, losing the match 10–37. Indeed, Aberdare struggled under Northern Union rules and initially high crowd numbers deteriorated with the poor results, which saw Aberdare finishing their only season in the Rugby Football League as the bottom club. Finally on 10 July 1909, Aberdare reported 'unexpected difficulties' in its finances and resigned from the Northern Rugby League.<ref name="London League"/>

=== Rugby Union ===
[[File:Aberdare RFC Rugy Football Club by Aberdare Blog.jpg|thumb|right|The modern Aberdare Rugby Club near the Ynys. The signage displays the initials as RUFC rather than RFC, distinguishing it as the town's rugby union club.]]
A rugby club representing Aberdare was recorded as early as 1876, but the modern [[Aberdare RFC]] traces its history back to a foundation of 1890.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4344986/4344992/64/football|title=MERTHYR. I&#124;1876-12-02&#124;The Western Mail - Welsh Newspapers|website=newspapers.library.wales}}</ref> The club had great success in the early twentieth century with local star [[David Jones (rugby)|Dai 'Tarw' Jones]] captaining the club from 1905 to 1907. Jones gained recognition as a player in club, representative and international games. Most notably, Jones played an important part in the "''[[Match of the Century (Rugby Union)|Match of the century]]''", when Wales defeated the New Zealand All Blacks. In 1907, Jones and the Aberdare club played a pivotal role in the [[Professional sports|professionalism scandal]], with the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] permanently suspending the club's entire committee and a number of players (including a lifetime ban for Jones). These events would quickly lead to many of the town's players and fans switching to rugby league, with the first ever rugby league international and the founding of [[Aberdare RLFC]] in 1908.<ref name="Lush 1998 9">{{cite book |last=Lush |first=Peter |author2=Farrar, Dave |title=Tries in the Valley: A History of Rugby League in Wales |year=1998 |publisher=London League Publications |location=London|page=9  |isbn=0-9526064-3-7}}</ref>

Despite the suspensions, rugby union continued in the town as the club (renamed Aberaman RFC) moved to Aberaman Park. The Ynys Stadium would host its first international rugby union side on 12 December 1935, when the [[1935–36 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and Canada|1935-36 All Blacks]] played a tour match against a Mid-Districts side. The All Blacks won the match 31–10 in front of a crowd of 6,000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tegeltija |first1=Sam |title='It was like preparing for a royal visit' The day the All Blacks visited Aberdare 80 years ago on Saturday |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/it-like-preparing-royal-visit-10567023 |access-date=7 August 2022 |agency=Wales Online |date=8 December 2015}}</ref>

Aberaman RFC returned to the Ynys in the 1960s. In February 1971, a clubhouse was opened at the old Crown Hotel in Gloucester Street, this was followed by the construction of a grand stand at the Ynys costing £20,000. Following the advent of professionalism in rugby union, the WRU sanctions against Aberdare were no longer applicable. As such, the club took the name Aberdare RUFC once again. Aberdare is also home to [[Abercwmboi RFC]] and Hirwaun RFC.

=== Association Football ===
[[File:Aberdare Football Festival.jpg|thumb|right|Aberaman Park was once home to Aberdare RFC and is the current home ground of Aberdare Town FC.]]
The Ynys stadium was also home to [[Aberdare Athletic F.C.]], members of the [[Football League]] between 1921 and 1927. Aberdare finished bottom in their final season and folded in 1928 after failing to be [[re-election (Football League)|re-elected]] to the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepyramid.info/stats/updownyear.htm|title=The Pyramid.info: Promotion to/Relegation from the Football League by year|website=www.thepyramid.info|access-date=4 February 2019}}</ref>

[[Aberaman Athletic F.C.]] continued to play until [[World War II]], and was succeeded by Aberdare & Aberaman Athletic in 1945 and [[Aberdare Town F.C.]] in 1947. The club continue to play in the [[Welsh Football League]]. Today, Aberdare Town plays in the [[South Wales Alliance League]] and are based at Aberaman Park.