Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Obituaries
  • About
    • Advertise
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

“We should have been relegated”: Football club defies the odds to win league and cup double

News, Sport | Tom Hicks | Published: 11:14, Wednesday May 24th, 2023.
Last updated: 11:14, Wednesday May 24th, 2023

Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Cefn Fforest AFC after winning Gwent County Division One
Cefn Fforest AFC after winning Gwent County Division One

Cefn Fforest AFC have risen from the ashes and gained promotion into the Gwent County Premier Division after losing all of their equipment in a fire last year.

Just four years ago, Cefn Fforest finished dead last in the bottom division of the Gwent County leagues. If it wasn’t for two other clubs dropping out, they would have been relegated to the local leagues.

Three years later and Cefn Fforest would fall just short of a great season, finishing third in the league and losing in a cup final.

This season however, buoyed on by the challenge of losing all of their equipment due to vandals, Cefn Fforest have secured a famous league and cup double and are now just one division away from the Ardal leagues.

The club’s secretary and former coach Jack Mullen spoke to Caerphilly Observer about a rollercoaster couple of years: “After the 2016 season we lost a lot of our senior players and the club was in transition.

“We should have been relegated. It was a tough couple of years and if it wasn’t for a few things going our way then we wouldn’t be here today. We aren’t a huge club when it comes to history or finances so to survive that spell was important.


Sign-up to our daily newsletter


“We were devastated when we lost all of our kit to a fire. We didn’t have the money to replace it but thankfully local clubs pitched in to help us and we somehow managed to start the season.”

“Overwhelmed” by the support of the community, Mullen said how his young group of players came into the season with added motivation to go up.

He continued: “The season itself was great. We played some brilliant football and got our reward by winning the league.

“We also won the FA Amateur Cup 2-1, after losing 1-0 in the final last year. Everything just clicked.”

Despite taking his side to the top division in the Gwent County leagues, Mullen is stepping aside as coach. When asked why, he said: “I’ve been coaching for the past few years but it’s time to get someone else in.

“I’m quite familiar with the boys but I think at this level we need to get a top manager in who can take us to that next level.

“It takes a lot to run a football club and we’re all volunteers so I’ll be helping with that side of the club and hopefully help us grow off the field.”

Mullen added: “We’re very excited about the future. There are some top clubs in this division but we know we can compete.”

Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.

Become a member today

Cefn Fforest AFC

Latest News

  • Drakeford warns of £7bn cuts if Welsh Government budget not passedTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • ‘The men that were killed must never be forgotten’: Senghenydd remembers 112 years onTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • Davies' lurcher dog Shirley, who was used for illegal fights
    Man who abused badgers and entered his dog into illegal fights jailedTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • How the proposed wind farm would look from Heol Tasker, Nelson
    Larger turbine blades for wind farm a “minor change,” says developerTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • Finance minister Mark Drakeford
    Sweeping cuts loom as Drakeford unveils £27bn spending plansTuesday, October 14, 2025
  • Young Saints honour Senghenydd’s mining legacy with new memorial rugby cupMonday, October 13, 2025

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, October 2, 2025
  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Hanbury Road, BargoedThursday, September 25, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Pontygwindy Industrial EstateThursday, September 18, 2025
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 18, 2025
© 2009-2024 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.