Fonds GB 0210 SWMFA - South Wales and Monmouthshire Football Association Records

The South Wales and Monmouthshire Football Association was established in 1893 under the presidency of Captain Morgan Lindsey, with Mr Charles Axtell as secretary. Although it was answerable to the Football Association of Wales, it was the governing body of soccer in South Wales and was responsible for the development of the game in the region. A central part of the Association was the competitions that it sanctioned, in particular the South Wales Senior Cup. Also, the Association ran two senior leagues in their early days, the South Wales League which was formed in 1890, and the Rhymney Valley League formed in 1903.

The game of football in Wales had previously been dominated by the North, and the South Wales and Monmouthshire Football Association did much to broaden the appeal of the sport in South Wales. The game grew quickly in the area and by 1929 there were over 800 clubs, with a total of nearly 20,000 players registered with the Association. As well as clubs and players, many leagues and competitions were sanctioned by the Association, and it was also responsible for referees in the area. It also held annual general meetings, annual meetings to consider the rules of the Association, finance committee meetings, emergency committee meetings and other meetings to consider various matters.

The South Wales and Monmouthshire Football Association came to an end following the 1967-1968 season. The Football Association of Wales decided to restructure the football associations in Wales and proposed to set up new 'Area Football Associations' throughout the country. As a result of this restructuring, the Association was split into three separate associations by the beginning of the 1968-1969 season: The South Wales Football Association; The Monmouthshire County Football Association; and The West Wales Football Association.