By Terry Phillips
Merthyr Town have been given a helping hand by Premier League officials and Brentford FC in a much-needed boost for the Southern League outfit.
The Martyrs will receive funding from the Premier League for ground improvements at the MetCoaches Stadium, while the Bees have handed over 200 seats from their old Griffin Park stadium in West London.
Manager Gavin Williams and his team are also keen to earn £2,250 prize money by winning their Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round tie against Dorset club Poole Town later this month.
The club sent a group of volunteers from South Wales to secure seats being decommissioned at Griffin Park. They had support from the Putney branch of the Martyrs fan club.
Martyrs’ board member Julian Axhorn led the mission, having had the initial idea and made contact with the Bees’ officials to seek their permission to acquire the seats.
Brentford have moved to a new stadium built next to Kew Bridge station and less than a mile from their former home.
A club statement read: “Armed with cans of WD40 and hired angle grinders the 200 seats were eventually removed after a hard days graft and returned to the safety of Penydarren Park.
“They are now waiting for a further group of volunteers to help install the seats in the Lyn Jones Grandstand before the start of the season.”
The Martyrs are also celebrating funding from the Premier League to help them prepare for the restart of football and safe return of supporters to their stadium.
The Matchday Support Fund grant, part of £8.7m awarded to clubs around the country, will help Merthyr Town put in place measures that will make their ground safer for 2020-21 season.
Club secretary Jack Hodgkins said: “It is massive boost during these challenging times.
“So far this summer, we have been successful in receiving three grants from the Football Foundation, all of which have made improvements to Merthyr Town with work being done on the playing surface plus PPE and COVID safety measures throughout our clubhouse.
“This latest grant will allow us ensure that all the stands, terracing, facilities and services that our supporters use most on matchdays are improved to ensure social distancing can be maintained throughout their time with us.
“These grants are fantastic for non-league clubs and give us reassurance that we are doing all we can to get fans back to watching the Martyrs when it is safe to do so.”
Merthyr’s opening Southern League Premier fixture is at home against Beaconsfield Town on Saturday, September 26.
Martyrs 2020-21 early Southern League Fixtures:
September
Sat 26 v Beaconsfield Town (H)
Tue 22 v Poole Town (H, Emirates FA Cup)
Tue 29 v Salisbury (A)
October
Tue 6 v Dorchester Town (H)
Sat 10 v Wimborne Town (A)
Sat 17 v Walton Casuals (H)
Sat 24 v Gosport Borough (A)
Tue 27 v Tiverton Town (H)