Blaenavon Blues AFC are very grateful to all the help that Forgeside RFC has given the club over the years, without their hospitality and generosity Blaenavon Blues would not be where we are today! a thriving and successful football club! So this page of our website is dedicated to Forgeside RFC.

Forgeside RFC was formed in the1880's an exact date is not known as a number of teams exsisted at the time that represented Forgeside. The club has produced some great players over the years, including Welsh District players Malcolm Williams, Paul Jenkins Glyn Jones and John Priest with Colin Howells captaining the side in 1982-83. Glyn's son Lee and John's son's Nathan and Gareth are all Blues players. The Club has also produced some great winning teams. Like the Welsh Brewers Cup Runners up in 1987-88 a massive achievement for a village the size of Forgeside. They have won the Ivor Jones Cup 13 times, and have also won the Pontypool District J.R.U. Merit table on numerous occasions. As Welsh international and Blaenavon great Terry Cobner say's "The long term future of Welsh Rugby depends on clubs like Forgesdie which not only provide a sporting outlet for our youngsters, but which are also at the heart of communities that they represent".

The Function room is available for hire for Weddings, Birthdays, Etc if your interested in hiring the room then telephone the club on : 01495 790439

The History of Forgeside JRFC has been expertly compiled by Terry and Malcolm Williams in a Book, suitably entitled "The History of Forgeside J.R.F.C 1880 - 2000". The book is currently for sale at £6 per copy and can be bought at Forgeside Rugby Club, Broad Street, Blaenavon. Alternativley you can E-Mail me blaenavonbluesafc@yahoo.co.uk and i will arrange for you to purchase the book.

Extract for "The History of Forgeside J.R.F.C 1880 - 2000" by Terry and Malcolm Williams

Friday 22nd April 1988

Forgeside 6pts Bedlinog 9pts

ANTHONY WOOLFORD SEES A CUP DREAM SHATTERED

Forgeside's bid to become the first Pontypool and D.J.R.U side to lift the Welsh Brewers Cup fouled on the hallowed turf of the National Stadium on Saturday. Using the cricket theory that catches win matches, Bedlinog outside half Wayne Morgan applied his own interpretation, kicks win matches as he continually put the Eastern Valley club to the sword with probing touch finders and massive up and unders. The early action was centred around frantic forward play, but once the Rhondda outfit realised they had a potential match winner in their outside half they used him to devastating effect.

The opening exchanges offered early promise for Forgeside as the pack, led superbly by former Pontypool prop Paul Jenkins, gave their opposite numbers a torrid time particularly in the scrummage. Welsh Districts cap John Priest cleaned up in the front of the lineout to secure a solid platform to launch the backs, but unfortunately Forgeside did not have a Wayne Morgan in their ranks and quality possession was often squandered. A 15th Minute dropped goal from outside half Tony Manley was scant reward for the total domination the Forgeside pack had enjoyed during the early stages. Wayne Morgan levelled matters 2 minutes later from a short range penalty and added a second goal midway through the half as the Mid-Glamorgan side began to make their presence felt.

The little possession Morgan had was used to the full, and forgeside found themselves having to instigate attacks from deep within their own half as a result of the outside half's siege gun kicking. The death knell for forgeside was sounded in the 54th minute when morgan increased the lead with a dropped goal and despite Manley reducing the arrears shortly afterwards, the Eastern Valley club were left to reflect on another Brewers Cup that got away.