Celebrating the Sporting Heritage of Rhondda Cynon Taf at the 2024 Pontypridd Eisteddfod
The 2024 National Eisteddfod returns to Pontypridd for the first time since 1893, and to Rhondda Cynon Taf for the first time since the Aberdare and District Eisteddfod of 1956, with the location of the Maes being the beautiful and historic Ynysangharad Park on the banks of the River Taff. And the region’s sporting heritage will be celebrated at the event!
And for the first time Sporting Heritage CIC will be there in an official capacity curating, in partnership with the heritage section of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, a series of talksat the 2024 Eisteddfod by distinguished heritage researchers and enthusiasts that celebrate the rich sporting heritage of Pontypridd and the surrounding Rhondda, Cynon and Taff valleys.
In his 2017 book, Kevin Dicks calls the game of handball ‘Wales’ First National Sport’, and Kevin will be revealing some of the sport’s heritage in Rhondda Cynon Taf. These days the game tends to be known as wallball with a brand new Welsh Wallball Association set up to advance the game’s interests. Also, in 2022 Kevin, at the age of 64, was one half of the Welsh Wallball doubles champion.
On behalf of one of Europe’s leading fan-led football heritage organisations, Everton FC Heritage Society, Huw Marshall will be telling the story of an overlooked Everton and Wales footballing legend from Penrhiwceiber in the Cynon valley, Ben ‘Khyber’ Williams.
Researcher of the history of the Cunard and White Star Lines, Ifan Erwyn Pleming will be telling the tragic tale of two young Rhondda boxers who lost their lives on the Titanic in 1912.
There will also be an opportunity to hear about RCT CBC’s Sporting Heroes project, supported by Lottery funding, to see up close some of the sporting heritage items that the RCTCBC’s heritage team care for and hear about their current and future plans.
Director of Sporting Heritage CIC, Dr Justine Reilly, said “Sporting Heritage is thrilled to be visiting this year’s National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd. For the last 4 years we’ve been working hard in Wales, with support from Welsh Government, to bring resource to the sporting heritage sector that helps communities, clubs and associations to tell their stories through their rich sporting heritage. And it’s fitting that the Maes is in Ynysagharad Park because this is where Jenny James, the first Welsh person to swim the English Channel, learned to swim.”
Darren Macey, Operational Manager at Rhondda Cynon Taf Heritage and Outreach Services, “The people of Rhondda Cynon Taf are immensely proud of their sporting heroes like Jenny James; the legion of boxers such as Freddie Welsh, Tommy Farr and the first ever Welsh world boxing champion Percy Jones; past Cymru football managers Jimmy Murphy, Rob Page and Jayne Ludlow; cycling’s Linton brothers; or rugby greats like Teddy Morgan and Neil Jenkins, or like current Wales international Cam Winnett. We’re looking to tell some of their stories to visitors to the Eisteddfod”.
The talks will take place in Y Pentref which will be hosted by RCT CBC at Calon Taf in Ynysangharad Park, with the full timetable below:
6 August, 1-2pm – Kevin Dicks: ‘RCT – the true heartland of handball, Wales’s first national sport’
7 August, 1-2pm – Huw Marshall on behalf of Everton Heritage Society: ‘Ben ‘Khyber’ Williams – From a Welsh valley to Everton valley’
8 August, 11am-12pm – Ifan Erwyn Pleming: ‘Treherbert, Tonypandy and the Titanic’
Learn more here.
