STM Sports, the Welsh League club from St Mellons, have enjoyed remarkable success over the last decade.

They were formed in 2007, have earned eight promotions in nine seasons and are currently in a fiercely contested chase for the Welsh League Division Two title.

Sports are top, but Pontypridd Town, Ammanford and Llantwit Major are in close pursuit with games in hand.

Player-manager Dale Gardiner and his STM team are four points clear at the top, but they still have to play all three of their main rivals.

Llantwit Major won the Third Division tile ahead of STM last season and both are right in the mix for honours again.

Goals ace Lamin Conteh is a key player for Sports and the technically gifted forward has caught the eye of Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock and his coaches this season.

Conteh spent time on trial with the Bluebirds and played for their under-23 development team, while he has been firing in the goals for STM.

Conteh joined STM from Splott Albion three years ago and a club spokesman said: “We always knew there was something special about this young lad when he first signed for us.

“We are proud to have watched him grow as a player, game after game.”

Above: A special podcast for Welsh League football fans . .  around rhe table with Penybont’s Rhys Griffiths, Nana Baah from Taffs Well and Geza Hajgato @stmsportsafc

Conteh was JD Sports Welsh Cup player of the round when STM defeated Afan Lido 5-2 earlier this season.

Sports started life in the Cardiff Combination during 2007 and have made startling progress ever since, moving through the South Wales Alliance into the Welsh League.

The difficulty is that football success which has outstripped the club’s ability to keep pace away from the pitch.

Chairman Geza Hajgato, a former Chelsea and Cardiff City trainee, heads up a committee who have big plans and he told a JD Sports Welsh Premier League podcast: “In nine seasons since STM were formed we have only missed out on promotion once.

“Achieving Welsh Premier football is an aim, but that is a massive way off for us.

“It’s been great on the pitch, but that success has cost us in other ways.

“We play on a rented ground, for instance, and have big plans for a new ground. That is three years away, but architects have done their thing and the council are on our side.

“It will be three years before we can even start to think about Welsh Premier football.”

STM currently play at the University Playing Fields, Llanrumney, while their new ground will be in the St Mellons area.

Their fixtures attract between 75 and 100 spectators, while their team still includes eight players who were with the club when it was formed.

Sports’ match at second-placed Llantwit Major was postponed because of bad weather and the next fixture is against Aberdare at home on Saturday.

STM’s remaining Second Division fixtures are: 

April

Saturday 7 v Aberdare (home)

Saturday 14 v Croesyceiliog (away)

Wednesday 21 v Pontypridd Town (home)

Saturday 28 v Ammanford (away)

May

Wednesday 2 v Pontardawe (away)

Wednesday 9 v Dinas Powys (home)

Saturday 12 v AFC Llwydcoed (away)

To be rearranged: v Llantwit Major (away)

Welsh League Division Three fixtures this weekend:

Saturday: Aberbargoed Buds v Pontardawe, AFC LLwydcoed v Llantwit Major, Caldicot v Pontypridd, Dinas Powys v Garden Village, STM Sports v Aberdare, West End v AFC Porth.

Sunday: Ammanford v Abergavenny.

Welsh League Two 2017-2018