The Memorial ground is so called in memory of the Blaenavon men who have fought for our country and sadly never returned. The land on which the new pitch sits has an interesting history; the field directly behind the Memorial ground was feature on channel 4’s Time Team in 2001, and a viaduct was discovered. The team excavated down to 15m and on the final day of the dig discovered the very top of the viaduct which was built 1790, but was never demolished; it is thought that the viaduct runs underneath the part of the Memorial ground and the Coke Yard towards the Ironworks. The valley in which the viaduct is sat was filled in using it as landfill site of the 1800,s.

The Memorial ground was first home to the Blaenavon Harlequins RFC, until the club disbanded towards the end of the 1990’s. The club house was sold and was then demolished but the changing rooms remained. Blaenavon RFC took on the lease of the Memorial ground and used it as a base for its youth and second teams, until they both disbanded. The ground sat empty for a number of years before Blaenavon Blues junior and youth section were given permission to use the ground and its changing rooms. The Blues girls set up home on the pitch and proved to be a very successful team. Going from U13’s through to compete in the South Wales Ladies league, under the management of husband and wife team Steve and Lisa Reed.

In the summer of 2009, Torfaen council relocated the junior and youth section to the newly laid Cricket pitch, and started work on re-developing the Memorial ground, in the hope of the senior sides being relocated by the start of the 2010-11 season. The completed facility will provide one of the best football grounds in the Gwent County league, and will meet Welsh league criteria. The changing rooms have received a facelift with an extension added, to provide a hospitality area as well as a fitted kitchen and a plush referee’s changing room and shower.

Finding the Memorial ground : Post Code NP4 9RQ
If travelling from the Iron Works up North Street, travel towards the petrol station, turn left on to the Brynmawr Road. Take the next left down a small side road and the Memorial Ground is on your right hand side.