{"id":77572,"date":"2023-02-16T14:22:41","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T14:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/?p=77572"},"modified":"2023-02-23T17:59:48","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T17:59:48","slug":"can-fan-owned-football-be-a-sustainable-community-driven-alternative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/sport-health\/can-fan-owned-football-be-a-sustainable-community-driven-alternative","title":{"rendered":"Merthyr Town FC: The club that puts the community back on the terraces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Despite their 1-0 loss to Chesham this weekend, can Merthyr&#8217;s model of fan ownership provide a valuable alternative to modern football?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77575\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77575\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Town-Lead-Image.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Merthyr have amongst the largest attendances in the Southern League, with about 700 fans coming to each game.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Keeper you stupid wanker, you should be off,&#8221; came a shout from behind the goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;You&#8217;d want to go to Specsavers mate,&#8221; replied the Chesham goalkeeper after a heavy collision with a home player late in the second half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Standing on the old terraces of Penydarren Park you could be forgiven for thinking that you had slipped back in time to a bygone era,  greeted by the pungent smell of frying oil, vinegar and spilled beer, all accompanied by breathtaking panoramic views of the Brecon mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou can walk around here with a pint in your hand and a cob of chips in the other, you can shout at the players and they might turn around and shout back, you can&#8217;t do that in Cardiff or Swansea,\u201d said Mark Evans, vice chairman of Merthyr Town football club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/mark-Evans.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mark Evans has been a part of the clubs journey since it&#8217;s predecessors administration in 2009.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Merthyr Town FC was re-formed in 2010 from the ashes of its administration in 2009, a club saved by its supporters, that today acts as a hub of its community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe had an absentee chairman who was quite maliciously running our club into the ground, our Supporter&#8217;s Trust put our own club into administration becoming its creditors, which allowed us to protect it,\u201d explained Mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn 2010 we reformed as a fan-owned club making this our 13th year, we now have about 200 owners and they\u2019re spread across the world.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"2000\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1-120x300.jpg 120w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1-770x1925.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1-614x1536.jpg 614w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1-293x733.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1-120x300.jpg 120w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1-770x1925.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1-614x1536.jpg 614w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/how-does-fan-ownership-work-1-293x733.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou can be an owner here for 20 quid which allows you a say in how the club is run, the board, AGMS, elections, and so on,\u201d said Mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEverything is democratic, at any point the members can say, \u2018hang on, we don&#8217;t like Mark Evans, his beard is too long, he\u2019s got to go,\u2019 and that will be the end of it, that&#8217;s the beauty of supporter ran football.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe best thing about being fan-owned is that we can engage directly with supporters,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you don\u2019t like something it can be highlighted and changed, you can\u2019t do that in the Premier League, all you can do is sit there and complain.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/We-Own-our-club.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The club has been entirely fan-owned since its creation in 2010.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Merthyr Town offers a retro match day experience that feels like a throwback to a former time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s more real, more accessible and it&#8217;s more fun,\u201d Mark said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMost people will have a few pints in town, have a few drinks here in the clubhouse, meet their mates, and&nbsp; head out onto the terraces, it\u2019s a very old-fashioned football day, like how football was in the 70s and 80s and that\u2019s what we want to sell to people\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Penydarren-park-1.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Penydarren Park has been Merthyr home since their original formation in 1908.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;When we go on an away day we&#8217;ll get to the other team&#8217;s ground, go into their clubhouse, have a few drinks with their fans, go on the terraces, sing a few songs, and then swap ends at half-time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere&#8217;s no bubble trips or police escorts, it&#8217;s honest football for real football fans and in my view a far better product,\u201d Mark explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The club also operates as a community beacon in a town that has suffered greatly from industrial decline since the 1970s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> \u201cAs a football league club we help to shine a light on Merthyr as a town, we did a survey a few years back and we\u2019re worth about \u00a3750,000 to the town per year,\u201d Mark said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/Merthyr-Tydfil-v-Atlanta-Winning-Goal.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Merthyr&#8217;s most famous day was a 2-1 win against Atalanta in the European Cup winners cup in Penydarren Park.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve got walk-in football every week where people come down and have a kick around and a cup of tea, we do mental health days, and we\u2019ve just started a sporting memories initiative where people with Alzheimer\u2019s can come down and talk about the old days,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe club can be chaotic and the best of times, anarchic too, but it&#8217;s friendly and it\u2019s all about the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you come in today and say I want to do a car boot sale next week, we&#8217;ll say go on then, you don\u2019t have to ask anyone, just go and do it,\u201d said Mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" title=\"A Merthyr Matchday\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DkkVviWBAgY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><noscript><iframe title=\"A Merthyr Matchday\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DkkVviWBAgY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In February 2021, Wrexham, another non-league fan-owned Welsh club, was  taken over by Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Much like Merthyr, Wrexham supporters saved their club from the brink of extinction in 2011 but with their new investment the club is witnessing somewhat of a rebirth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBeing fan owned there will always be a glass ceiling, that\u2019s what they found out in Wrexham, at the end of the day it\u2019s all about finances.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur ethos is &#8216;progress through stability&#8217;, we don\u2019t want to go boom-to-bust, we want to be a sustainable focal point of our community for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/embed?mid=1kCo7ttsW4HNQaENLMjIF6e_f5wRxZVQ&amp;ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/embed?mid=1kCo7ttsW4HNQaENLMjIF6e_f5wRxZVQ&amp;ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite their 1-0 loss to Chesham this weekend, can Merthyr&#8217;s model of fan ownership provide a valuable alternative to modern football?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":952,"featured_media":77575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[981,232,330],"coauthors":[1158],"class_list":["post-77572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport-health","tag-culture","tag-football","tag-mental-health"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Merthyr Town FC: The club that puts the community back on the terraces - InterCardiff<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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