Merthyr Saints were elected to the Welsh Football League in 1995, after winning the South Wales Amateur League for the third time whilst playing under the name of Hoover Sports and sharing the use of Penydarren Park the home of Merthyr Tydfil FC. Promotion to Welsh League Division 2 was achieved at the first attempt. Merthyr Saints remained in Welsh League Division 2 for ten consecutive seasons with their highest finishing position being fifth in 2003/04. Merthyr Saints were unfortunate to be relegated to Welsh League Division 3 at the end of the 2006/07 and in season 2008/09 Merthyr Saints were relegated once more and returned to the South Wales Amateur League. In season 2009/10 their bad luck continued. Despite finishing the season outside the normal relegation positions, a restructuring of Welsh League football meant they were forced to drop a further division to South Wales Amateur League Division 2. Inseason 2012-2013 Merthyr Saints were promoted back to South Wales Amateur League Division 1 after finishing the season as SWAL Division 2 champions. Due to yet another restructure of football in South Wales, Merthyr Saints now play at tier 4 level in the Welsh football pyramid competing in the South Wales Alliance Premier division. 

 

St. Illtyds + Hoover Sports = Merthyr Saints

In the year 2000, Hoover Sports merged with St. Illtyds FC and relocated to the ICI Rifle Fields ground in Pant, just off the A465, raising £500,000 to upgrade the facilities and changing their name to Merthyr Saints FC. The original St Illtyd’s AFC history stretches back at least as far as 1903 perhaps even further. The ‘Saints’ historically were a very successful local league side playing in the Merthyr Tydfil league, winning many championships and cups while playing on their home ground ‘the bont’. Things started to go wrong for the original Saint’s team in the 1979- 80 season leading to a brief disbanding and the loss of their home ground. They reformed in the early 1980’s but were unable to resume playing at their spiritual home ‘the Bont’. Being forced to seek a new ground they initially played at Gellifaelog before in 1994 moving to the ICI Rifle Fields and eventually merging with Hoover Sports in 2000.