When I was asked to write a few lines on the history of Aberaman Amateur Boxing Club, I thought why not I then decided to go back a little further and recall my memories of amateur boxing in the Cynon Valley.My introduction to boxing was in 1944 when I worked at Aberdare Engineering, during the second world was the Welsh Senior Championships were suspended and in its place a Mineworkers and Factory-workers Championship was organised. It was advertised as novice championship, I was naive so I sent my entry in the next thing was to find somewhere to train. When Bert James who worked on the Cable works heard I had entered he took me under his wing and trained as the old Co-operative buildings on the Gadlys in Aberdare.

After a short while Bert decide I should go to a boxing club where I could have organised training and quality sparring. I joined the Ex-servicemen’s Club A.B.C. Merthyr, the trainer was the vastly experienced Ephraim Hamer and the boxers at the club were Eddie Thomas, Gordon Greenway and Hughie Thomas. Both Eddie and Gordon were entered in the championship and fancied to win their respective titles. Ephraim Hamer told me if I didn’t make sufficient progress I wouldn’t be in the championships, fortunately he thought I’d made progress and he let me go forward. At that time the championship s were in one day, which meant depending on the number of entries at the weight you could have three or four bouts in a day. Eddie and Gordon had a couple of bouts each and won their respective titles. I was over weight for the welterweight class so I had to go up to middleweight, fortunately there were three entries only and I was to have a bye to the final. I boxed R. Keene from Cardiff had managed a points win. I had a few bouts for the club travelling to Newport, Rogerstone, Cardiff and various venues in the valleys; this was a new experience for a kid from Trecynon.

Soon I joined the Royal Navy and there I continued to box, Eddie Thomas went on to win many more amateur titles, then had a very good professional career winning the Welsh, British, European and Commonwealth Welterweight Championships. Eddie was to become one of the best pro-managers of his day producing many Welsh Champions and two World Champions Howard Winstonee and Ken Buchanan.On from my Navy days I came back to Aberdare and joined the Fforchaman A.B.C, which was based at the Cwmaman Institute. Glanville Davies was the trainer at the club, he ran a strict and well disciplined club and the coaching standard was very high. The boxers at the club at that time were Terry Powell, Leroy Davies, Aneurin James, Billy Palmer, Trevor Jones, John Cates and Bertie Sharpscott. All these boys were respected throughout Wales and were invited to tournaments all over the principality.

Les(Demsey) Davies was at the club when I joined, i had only a couple of bouts for the club one of those was against Les Davies at Glynneath, I was doing quite well going into the last round, a body punch dropped Les to the canvas but I was disqualified for an alleged low blow. Although boxing is a serious and can be painful sport it as funny moments, one I recall concerns Bertie Sharpscott. At this period the referee was outside the ring and the count was silent, Bertie was doing well and caught his opponent with a good punch which put him on the canvas, Bertie not hearing the count turned to the referee and asked if he was going to count, needless to say the audience had a good laugh.

My work soon took me away from Aberdare. But I continued my interest in boxing, trained at Joe Carr’s gym in Newport for a while; two of the boxers I remember there at the time were Noel Trigg and Richie Jenkins. In 1950 I entered the British Railway Championship which was held in Cardiff, I won my first contest then lost in the semi final to John Blackbarrow of Newport. Come 1951 I again entered the British Railway Championship which were held at the Drill Hall Bristol, It turned out a busy day I was fortunate to win three bouts to get to the Regional Final. In the Final I was up against a boxer from Truro, afetre a tough three rounds, I was awarded a points decision, That win tool me to York for the Semi-Final of the Championship, I lost on three judge’s cards, that was the end of my competitive boxing. There were three other Welsh Boxers at York, Ninian Hopkins of Cardiff, Gary Banks of Newport and Les Anthony of Llanelli.

When I came back to Aberdare in 1952 I was married to Haze; whose brother Ray Dash was the trainer at the Mountain Ash A.B.C. along with Tom Crumb, the club was at the Belle Vue Hotel. I soon joined Ray and Tom as an assistant trainer, at the club we organised and had a good crop oy young boxers. Senior boxer John Kemmery boxed art welterweight, one of the contests was against Wilkins "St Dyfrig's A.B.C." John one on points.

Terry Powell boxed at Bantamweight he boxed at the Rock Grounds Aberdare

Senior boxers at the club were John Kemmery and Terry Powell who boxed during 1954/55 season.

There were three good junior boxers at the club namely Peter Perkins, Mile Lewis and Phil Williams the boys became members of the Mountain Ash Squadron of Air Training Corp, consequently they were entered into the A.T.C. Championships. They travelled to St Athens for the Welsh Championship and the three were successful and brought home the titles, Stoke on Trent was the next for the A.T.C. Finals, on parade these three cadets must have been  the worst matching cadets on parade but they made up for it in the ring that afternoon. Peter Perkins beat Rees of London with a first round stoppage.

Mike Lewis was found tope overweight at the weigh in and had to put a bit of work to get to eight stone, he made on the second weigh in and went to beat Winter of Ireland comfortable on points. Phil Williams had a tough contest against Brown of Kilmarnock and went to a narrow point’s decision.

Peter and Mike now had to travel to Uxbridge for the All Star Championship; the All Star Championship was to decide the best cadet from all three services. It was a tough tournament with the best junior boxers in the country competing. Peter had a draw in the semi final against Bakewell of Tottenham A.C.F. Peter was behind on points going into the final round but put his punches together and stopped his opponent half way through the final round. In the final he was up against Wass, from Peterborough S.C.C. and stopped this opponent in the second round to become the All Star Champion. Mike was up against a capable boxer Jonny Thomas from Cardiff A.C.F it turned out to be a even hard fought contest with Thomas winning on a narrow points decision.

The schoolboy boxers at Mountain Ash were Lyn (Butch) Pontin, Edgar Williams, David Jones and Bernard Hargreaves. Peter Perkins and Phil Williams joined the professional ranks while Mike Lewis joined the Royal Air Force.

The 1964/65 season was a good season for Mike he represented Wales at International level at the R.A.F Championship and won the Welsh A.B.A. Championship beating M. Phillips of Narberth he went on to win the Imperial Services Championship beating Sgm. Walters, Army with a first round stoppage. Mike went to the later stages of British A.B.A Championships and he was drawn against Ken Buchanan of Scotland and was beaten in the Semi Final. Senior boxer John Kemmery boxed at Welterweight and one of the contests was against Wilkins (St Dyfrig’s A.B.C.) John won on points.Terry Powell boxed at Bantawight he boxed the talented Len (Luggie) Rees in the Welsh Championships; he also had a decision against Em. Jones of Ferndale.

The school boys at the club were:

Lyn (Butch) Pontin boxed the Welsh Schoolboy Championship in 1955 and lost to B. Jones of Cardiff. Lyn had a couple of decisions over Lyn Jones of Fernhill A.B.C another of his bouts was a points lose to John Gamble of Merthyr. Edgar Williams from Cwmbach was another of the schoolboys, Edgar boxed is way to the Final of the Welsh Schoolboy Championship but went down to a narrow points decision.

At a tournament at Mountain Ash schoolboy David Jones boxed John Jones of Fernhill A.B.C. at the same tournament Bernard Hargreaves boxed K, Jones of Merthyr A.B.C. Other schoolboys at the club were John Williams and Brian Coleman, during the 1954/55 season Ray Dash was appointed boxing coach to the Welsh Air Training Corp Boxing Team. In 1956 season was a lean one for the club, having to change their training quarters on two occasions, firstly to the Miskin Hotel and then to the old billiard hall at the Nixon’s. After a short period at the Nixon’s the Workman’s Hall Committee decided to refurbish the hall into a social club consequently Mountain Ash A.B.C. were without a training base and were forced to close its doors.

During the 1957/58 I went along to the Fforchaman Club to help with training, Glanville Davies was the secretary/coach and Ivor Edwards was the assistant trainer. The club was well established and the boxers were in demand on the circuit throughout Wales, the boxers were always fir and well trained in the skills of boxing. Glanville was a strict disciplinarian and he provided the best and expected the best from the boxers in return. The boxers at the club at that time were Cyril Reynolds, Jeffrey Fenaroli, John Mullholland, Gerry Wynne, Lyn Smith, Mike Ward, Wyn Morris, John Moray, Gordon Morris, Glanville Jones, Robert Williams, Alan Everitt, Teifi Phillips later Allan Jones and Morton Jones joined the club. It was a case of have gloves will travel, the club was invited to tournaments all over Wales, and in the meantime another member was added to the list David Richards. I did not start keeping records until 1959 so some details are missing.

The Empire Games were held in Cardiff in 1958; Glanville Davies promoted a first class boxing tournament in aid of the games, which was staged open air in the Rock Baths Aberdare.The programme consisted of eleven first class contests, the top of the bill was a Bantamweight contest between Howard Winstone who weeks earlier won the British A.B.A Championship against Terry Jones of Ynysddu, and Winstone won on the second stoppage.

At Lightweight Cyril Reynolds (Fforchaman) won a clear points decision against Chris Neal (St. Dyfrig’s). The biggest upset was Edgar Williams (Fforchaman) won a clear points decision of the talented Brian Rennie (St Dyfrig’s) in the second round. Williams took a bit stick in the first round, but came back strongly in the second session to floor Rennie three times before the referee stopped the round in William’s favour. John Mullholland (Fforchaman) dropped a narrow points decision to Ken Bailey (St Dyfrig’s). Don James (Dowlais) ran out a clear point’s winner against Josef Takas (Ynysddu).

Howard Winstone went to win the Empire Games Bantamweight Gold Medal at Cardiff, then turned professional and went on to win World Featherweight Champion Ship Title.

                                1959-1964 Fforchaman Club

Junior boxers were Jeffrey Feneroli won the Welsh Schoolboy Championships and the Welsh Junior Championship and lost in the semi-final of the British Junior Championship to E. Eales of Durham. The other boxers were Teifi Phillips who lost to John Gamble of Dowlais in the final of the Welsh Schoolboy Championship. The other junior boxers who were active during this period were Allan Everett, Robert Williams, John Hardy, Glanville Jones and Morton Jones. At the end of the 1964 the curtains came down on the Fforchaman A.B.C. The Cynon Valley was left without an amateur boxing club at the start of the 1964-65 season, Cyril Reynolds continued boxing but had to travel to Merthyr three times a week. With no funds and no financial backing I did not feel confident to start a club from scratch, but Cyril Reynolds was persistent and kept on to me to have ago. Cyril and another person Nigel Thomas kept pressuring me to open a boxing club in Aberdare, after months of looking for premises the Aberaman Hall Committee were very generous in renting the old swimming pool baths which were down in the basement of the hall for 2 and sixpence a night.

The season for the boxing club had a good crop of senior and schoolboy boxers. Seniors boxers were John Mullholland, Mike Ward, David Richards, Allan Jones and Cyril Reynolds who had won the National Coal Board Championship contest, two Welsh Senior Finals had represented Wales a couple of times.

                                                         Aberaman A.B.C

With no money, no financial backing, no equipment one trainer and 2 members, December 1964 saw the start of Aberaman A.B.C., with a couple of ex-army kitbags a couple of skipping ropes it started to look like a gym. Four weeks later we attended our first tournament in Merthyr were Cyril won points decision over Clive Rogers of Caerphilly. Two months later Cyril won his way to the final of the Welsh Senior championships, dropping point’s decision to Alan Couch of Swansea. At that time championships were boxed off in one day, the final was Cyril’s third contest in one day. A week later, Cyril reversed the decision and beating Alan Couch on points.

When the first committee was setup Mr Basil Gardner was our first Chairman, and Chief Inspector Arthur Gidden of the South Wales Police was President. The club was in full swing from the 1966 season onwards. Our Senior and Junior boxers were now being invited to tournaments as far apart as Scotland to the West of England. The club was now being recognised for the work we were doing with the youngsters and young boys were really enjoying the sport. Sponsors were very good at our tournaments including William Hill (Bookmakers), Crown Brewery, Quick n Neat, Allan Jones Mendham’s Accountants and the local Social Clubs throughout the valley also the Phurnacite Plant. We were fortunate to have the services of three doctors who gave their time and services for free Dr O’Connell, Dr Derek Thomas and Dr Eurof Griffiths.

In 1966 Aberaman Boxing Club produced its first champion when Frank Predovic won the Schoolboy Championship; he progressed to the British Semi-Finals at Coventry only to drop a point’s decision. Two of our boxers Tom Ronan and John Cox found themselves against each other in the Semi-Final of the Welsh Senior championships. John progressed to the final only to drop a point’s decision to David Davies from North Wales.

Cyril Reynolds travelled to Oslo to represent Wales against Norway and was one of Wales’s few winners. Once again Cyril progressed to the Welsh Final only to lose on a cut eye decision. Three weeks later Cyril was back on action against T. Tibbs (Army) on the Semi-Final of the British Championship whilst looking a clear winner only to receive another unfortunate decision and lose on a cut eye. Peter Airey won the Welsh Junior Championship on 1971 while Chris Miles dropped a point’s decision in the Welsh Schoolboy Final. The same year we travelled to St. Alban where Malcolm Haven beat T. Mulling, George Ross also won his contest, Alan Langdon excited the crowd in a cracking contest. The club was invited to take a team to Blackburn to a tournament promoted by the East Lancashire Police. We with the help of other clubs we had ten bouts and drew 5 all.

In 1973 we were invited back to Lancashire this time we boxed in the Blackpool Tower, on this occasion Johnny Owen of Merthyr was a guest for us and beat the best the Lancashire Police could put against him. The older boxers were leaving as young boxers were coming in, at this time Cyril Reynolds decided after 130 contests to call it a day. He soon took his referees and Judges Certificate and has established himself as a top official covering major tournaments across Europe and Canada.

These are some of the Aberaman Schoolboys and Junior Boxers: (3 round bouts)

Frank Predovic    1996-70              14 bouts Welsh Schoolboy Champion

Tommy Wood     1967-71               51 bouts Welsh Junior Champion

Chris Miles           1969-72               24 bouts Welsh Schools Finalist

Huw Gardiner     1970-72                 8 bouts

David Brake        1974-77               30 bouts

Kevin Edwards    1974-80                 9 bouts

Derek Robins       1974-75               11 bouts

Kevin Feldon        1974-77               26 bouts

Kevin Williams     1974-75               56 bouts

Eric Williams      1976-81              

60 bouts Welsh boys Champion "twice", Welsh schoolboys "twice" Welsh Junior Champion National Boys Club Regional Champion National Boys Club Finalist, Welsh International Representative.

Stephen Corns       1973-75             32 bouts  losing finalist to Colin Jone losing, in the

                                                                                Welsh Junior Final.

David Evans             1967-71          47 bouts

Chris Kerr                  1977-78         10 bouts

Robert Williams      1976-79            6 bouts

Richard Riden          1980-82          17 bouts

Brian Morgan          1980-82          24 bouts

Lyndon Davies          1980-82         15 bouts N.A.B.C Champion

Neil Riden                  1980-85         25 bouts

Derwyn Hole             1982-84        12 bouts

Andrew Williams      1983-85        10 bouts

Allyn Williams           1983-86         33 bouts

Philip Miles                1987-90         26 bouts

Kelly Jones                 1984-85           5 bouts unbeaten

                                                                   Went on become the Stereophonics