Promoted Merthyr to compete in National League North

They are the football club proud to come from the south Wales valleys – but have been told they will be a 'northern' team next season.
There were huge celebrations when community-owned Merthyr Town won the Southern Premier League South title.
But it has been confirmed they will now play in the National League North next term – with 300-mile away trips to Darlington and South Shields among their away days in a regionalised division.
In front of more than 3,000 fans at Penydarren Park last month, the part-time outfit sealed promotion to English football's sixth tier, their highest level in 30 years.
The Martyrs had played in the Western and Southern Leagues since being reformed after Merthyr Tydfil's liquidation in 2010.
And the club had been aware the potential make-up of the teams next season at sixth tier level – and the large contingent of teams from the south of England - could see them having to plan to head north.
Three south of England sides, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet and Maidenhead, dropping out of the fifth-tier National League would have given organisers a headache in how to split clubs.
The National League confirmed its allocations for the 2025-26 season on Thursday, although says those are subject to appeal.
A Football Association spokesperson said: "We make every effort each season to allocate National League System [NLS] clubs to the most geographically suitable league possible.
"The clubs are allocated to a league based on the step in the NLS that they will be playing in, and their location in the country. These allocations are subject to appeals.
"Geographical suitability continues to play an important part in NLS allocations, and we always try to balance this against the number of teams in each division to ensure sporting integrity is maintained."
'Merthyr can go as far as people want'
Merthyr Town owners vote against Cymru Premier move
Merthyr are not alone in the anomaly: Oxford City, Hereford United and Bedford Town have also been placed in National League North, whose other new clubs include Robbie Savage's Macclesfield Town.
The game at Hereford's Edgar Street will be Merthyr's shortest away day, with a 43-mile, one-way trip taking around an hour.
But it will take fans – and players – as much as 12 hours on the road in a round-trip for their game at South Shields.
At the time of their promotion, chairman Les Barlow said their placing would make "no difference" as they revelled in a season in which they enjoyed a 32-game unbeaten run.
Merthyr won the Welsh Cup in 1987 and went on to upset Italian giants Atalanta in the following season's European Cup Winners' Cup.
Last season, they turned down a lucrative offer from the Football Association of Wales to join the Welsh league system, a decision manager Paul Michael says was vindicated by their promotion.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Newsweek

2 hours ago

• Newsweek

How to Watch Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds: Live Stream FIFA Club World Cup, TV Channel

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Inter Milan and Urawa Red Diamonds clash in a crucial Group E Club World Cup matchup this Saturday, where the stakes couldn't be higher. Benjamin Pavard #28 of FC Internazionale Milano reacts as he is fouled by Lucas Ocampos #29 with Jorge Rodríguez #30 during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between CF Monterrey and FC... Benjamin Pavard #28 of FC Internazionale Milano reacts as he is fouled by Lucas Ocampos #29 with Jorge Rodríguez #30 during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between CF Monterrey and FC Internazionale Milano at Rose Bowl Stadium on June 17, 2025 in Pasadena, California. More Photo byHow to Watch Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors Date: Friday, June 21, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM ET Stream: DAZN (WATCH FOR FREE) Italian heavyweights Inter Milan, still seeking their first win of the tournament, were held to a 1-1 draw by Monterrey in their opener. It wasn't the smoothest of starts for the Nerazzurri, but with a squad stacked with talent and experience, they'll be confident heading into the weekend. Lautaro Martinez will look to lead the charge alongside young forward Francesco Pio Esposito, while Barella and Asllani aim to control the midfield and dictate the tempo. Urawa may be the underdogs of Group E, but they've got nothing to lose. After falling to River Plate in their opener, Urawa will be playing with urgency. Watch out for Matsuo up top and the creativity of Savio and Watanabe in the attacking third. You can view this game with a free subscription (720p and ads) to DAZN, which can be upgraded to premium HD image quality without advertisements. Live stream every 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with DAZN: Start your subscription now! Club World Cup Potential Lineups Inter Milan: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Zalewski, Barella, Asllani, Sucic, Dimarco; F. P. Esposito, Martinez Urawa: Nishikawa; Ishihara, Boza, Hoibraten, Naganuma; Gustafson, Yasui; Watanabe, Savio, Sekine; Matsuo Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Business Upturn

4 hours ago

• Business Upturn

ENG vs IND 1st Test: India posts highest away first innings total in over five years, best in England since 2007

Team India posted a mammoth 471 in their first innings at Headingley in the ongoing ENG vs IND 1st Test, registering their highest first innings total in an away Test since January 2019. That previous high came when India piled up 622/7 declared in the New Year's Test against Australia at the SCG, featuring centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant. This is also India's best first-innings effort in England in nearly 17 years. The last time they surpassed this mark was during the iconic 664-run innings at The Oval in 2007, powered by Anil Kumble's only Test century and valuable contributions from the top order. Advertisement India's 471 at Headingley came on the back of three standout centuries: Shubman Gill (147) Rishabh Pant (134) Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) This is also only the second time India has had three centurions in a Test innings on English soil, the previous being at The Oval in 2007. Despite the collapse after 430/3, the 471-run total stands as a statement of India's batting dominance, marking a historic return to first-innings consistency in overseas Tests — a feat that has eluded them in recent years.

New York Post

6 hours ago

• New York Post

Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift captured enjoying surprise date night at trendy NYC Italian restaurant

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift enjoyed a surprise date night at a trendy New York City Italian restaurant Friday night, and their exit was captured by a stunned fan across the street. The power couple was captured exiting Torrisi, housed in the historic Puck Building on Mulberry Street in Little Italy, after arriving in NYC on a private jet earlier in the day. 5 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce exit Torrisi in NYC on Friday night. @javanjoslin/Instagram Advertisement Kelce wore similar clothes to what he arrived in, as he donned a white short-sleeved shirt with two buttons, a round blue collar and 'US Soccer' across the front in blue, in addition to white shorts and white sneakers. Swift had on a light blue strappy top with a white pleated mini skirt and white pointy stilettos shoes, to go along with a mini shoulder bag. Advertisement The couple appeared to be getting some quality time together after a slimmed-down Kelce finished up a three-day minicamp with the Chiefs as the team looks to avenge its Super Bowl 2025 loss to the Eagles. As they exited Torrisi, Kelce and Swift talked briefly before the star tight end held his girlfriend's hand to help her into the awaiting car. 5 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce chat for a moment outside Torrisi in NYC on Friday night. @javanjoslin/Instagram 5 Travis Kelce helps Taylor Swift into their awaiting car after dinner in NYC on Friday night. @javanjoslin/Instagram Advertisement Kelce and Swift spent much of his offseason out of the public eye, but have reemerged in recent months. They took in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Panthers and Oilers last Thursday during their vacation time in Florida and saw a thrilling 5-4 Edmonton win. 5 Taylor Swift, left, and Kansas City Chiefs football player Travis Kelce, front right, take in the third period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. AP Kelce was also at the Cannes film festival this week with his brother Jason as part of the Amazon Port Panel. Advertisement Retirement rumors swirled around Travis Kelce after the Super Bowl loss, but he chose to return to Kansas City for, what is for now, the final year on his contract after a disappointing 2024 season. 5 Travis Kelce during a drill on June 17, 2025. AP He told reporters Thursday that coming back wasn't a tough decision. 'I love football. I don't think I really thought about it that much. My friends and family and the team and the guys and women in this building, I love coming into work every single day,' the 35-year-old said. 'It wasn't a very tough one for me. I know I'm getting older, but at the same time, I still feel like I got a lot that I can prove in this league … It really wasn't that hard of a decision for me.'