Grange Albion and Port Talbot Town – two Welsh Clubs united by a Wales manager

A Wales manager is what will bring together both Grange Albion and Port Talbot Town when they meet in the Welsh Cup on Saturday (August 23).

Mark Jones began his career at Grange Albion and later went on to manage them, guiding them to the South Wales Senior Cup as a managerial novice.

Jones has a long-standing history with Grange Albion, having joined the club straight out of school as a teenager. He holds fond memories of playing against local teams, as well as memorable cup ties against Caerau Ely. Grange Albion will always hold a special place in Jonah’s heart.

“I started my football career when I joined Grange Albions after I left school. I was 16 years of age,” explained the former Carmarthen Town boss.

“They are obviously my childhood club that I started with, and just loved every minute of it.

“I had played and managed them as I left them when I was about 30/31, to go to Maesteg. So I had fantastic years at Grange Albions with all my friends, my local friends.

“Playing against teams like Grange Quinn’s, Bridgend Street and in the cups against the likes of Caerau Ely, it was absolutely great times, and if I had to do it all over again, I would.”

Mark Jones joined Maesteg Park in the latter stages of his playing career and went on to have two notable managerial spells with Port Talbot Town. He managed over 200 games and spent a combined total of more than six years at the club. One of his most lasting memories from his time there was the vital role the fans played in the life of the club.

“The fans at Port Talbot were very special,” said Jones.

“We used to take around 50 supporters to away games, and our average home crowd was probably about 400.

“They were fantastic, always very vocal, and that made a real difference for the players. It made them feel special at this level. Both clubs are brilliant, just two fantastic sides.”

Having represented both clubs as manager, he hopes to make an appearance on Saturday to support the two sides and is looking forward to a closely contested match between them.

“These two great clubs have done plenty for me in my footballing career,” he said.

“I hope it’s a fantastic game. I really do. Hopefully, one team don’t batter the other team and there can be a goal or two in it, as hopefully everybody enjoys it.

Port Talbot Town once competed in European competitions but now find themselves in the South Wales Premier League, the fourth tier of Welsh football. Following last season’s Amateur Trophy victory over Penygraig, the club appears to be on the rise. Mark Jones believes they have the potential to achieve promotion to the Cymru South in the coming seasons.

Former player Richard Ryan was appointed as manager last season and guided the club to a fifth-place finish, along with a historic victory in the Amateur Trophy final. Having played under Jonah during his time at the club, Jones has full confidence that he is the right man to lead the Steelmen up through the divisions.

“I’m sure they’ll make their way back, at least to the Cymru South in the next three or four years, and we would just love to see them do it, because they’re the type of club who really are made for that level of football.

“I think he’s a perfect choice. He has the club at his heart.

“Once you fall in love with a club, you’ve got to. If you’re in love with the place and you can get the players to be the same, you’ll have success. Don’t worry about that.”

At Grange Albion, Jones holds great respect for the work done by Andrew Avery and his brother-in-law, Adam Greenslade. With a strong sense of family at the heart of the club, he believes Grange Albion will continue to progress thanks to their efforts behind the scenes.

“Andrew is working his socks off at Grange Albion’s alongside his brother-in-law, Adam Greenslade,” he added.

“They really do work their socks off, they’re Albion people, through and through, and their hard work will flourish in a couple of years.

One of the standout moments of Jones’s playing and managerial career was leading Carmarthen Town to a famous Welsh Cup victory. In the 2007 final, his side triumphed 3–2 over Afan Lido, securing the club’s first—and only—Welsh Cup win.

He helped create history at the club, marking a golden era for The Old Gold. Carmarthen enjoyed three memorable years competing in Europe, including a notable tie against FC Copenhagen the season before their Welsh Cup triumph. Those years remain particularly special to the current Cymru C manager.

Jonah said: “When we won the Welsh Cup with Carmarthen, it was brilliant, obviously, because we were the only team to have ever won the Welsh Cup for Carmarthen in their history, which makes it special.

“You know, for myself, for the team, Nathan Cotterall, the captain, with the likes of Mark Aizlewood as well in the coaching staff. It was just a brilliant few years as we were in Europe for three years, and we also won the League Cup. So it was a brilliant time.

The competition has been dominated by TNS in recent years, with the club appearing in every final over the last four seasons. Jones emphasises the importance of the Welsh Cup, particularly as it offers qualification for European football to the winners.

“It’s one of the highest accolades you can get,” the Sgorio commentator said.

“It puts you into Europe, which sets off other stories, and it helps your club. Every club in the Cymru Premier knows the importance of getting into Europe and the potential windfalls that come your way.

“It helps your club; Europe is the ultimate aim. You can get into Europe through the Welsh Cup or through the top three places, and I think everybody at your club will have wonderful memories just like I had.”