History
Ironsides What's in a name?
The cry of 'come on irons' has rung around the valleys of Wales for some 59 years now, but have you ever wondered "why ironsides?" Well read on ......................
The year is 1945, Britain and her allies have defeated the evils of Nazism and the men are returning home to their families. One such group are the men of Iron Street, Tredegar, Monmouthshire, so called as it provided the gateway to ehat had been Tredegar Iron Works. Second only to Merthyr Tydfil in the 19th and early 20th centuries in the production of iron, for the increasingly hungry industrial revolution.
Many of the men of Iron Street were part of, or descended from, a large contingency of Irish migrant workers who flooded into Wales in search of work after their own country had been devastated by the Potato Famine of 1845 - 50.
It was against this background that an idea for a rugby tourament involving many of the talented young rugby players in the area took root. The men of Iron Street needed no prompting and the 'Ironsides' took their first tentative steps, reaching the final only to be beaten 0-3.
In 1946 came, with more service men returning home and the Talbot Hotel saw the inaugural meeting of the ironsides with many men who were to become synonymous with the club like John, Billy & Tom Gregory. Joe Yandle, the club's first captain and Charlie 'Ypres' Butler in attendence.
Obviously, finance was the club's first major problem, but the good ladies of Iron Street came to the fledgling team's aid, arranging a 'Welcome Home' party. A small cash surplus arose and the club was up and running.
The first fixture beckoned, Rhymney away, but the team had no kit! This was time of clothing coupons, so armed with all of the coupons he could muster, Tom Gregory visits lke Fine the local clothier, disaster, he only has 4 rugby shirts the rest are of the football variety. But nothing was going to stop them playing their first game. So, armed with needle, thread and a little bit of help from their 'mams', the team stayed up all night sewing white collars onto the football shirts. Somehow, making a complete set in time for the first game.
The caoch was ordered, but with no money left, public transport it was. The game was won, as was the next against Six Bells, the Ironsides were in business! The very next season saw the club reaching the final of the Cyrus Davies Cup narrowly losing to Cwm by 3 points.
The fifties saw the club enter a golden period, winning no less than 13 trophies and coming runners up in 3. A most notable victory being at Rodney Parade Newport in the Newport Supporters Cup, where the Ironsides took on and beat a Pontypool United side containing a Farther Dermot who han been an Irish trialist and played for the then senior Pontypool. His eligibility to play was in doubt, but the Fathers were with the many Catholics in the Ironsides team that day and they won well. Next up came the Ivor Jones Cup, defeating Garndiffaith at Pontypool Park and finally the Cyrus Davies Cup at Oakdale and Cwncarn United.
Under the captaincy of Tommy Thomas these 3 finals and quite remarkably been played and won in the space of just 7 days! A feat honoured buy the composition of a poem by the Chairman of the Pontypool & Pontypool Junior Union. The reading of which became an integral part of the club's festive occasions.
But the best was yet to come, its 1954-55 season and the club achieves the ultimate ambition of every club, that of completing the season unbeaten. In that memorable season they played 32 games, winning 31 and drawing 1. 1956 saw the setting of the club try record which still stands today. Playing against the R.A.F at Hereford Clive Bufton bagged 6 tries, although Robert Clark and today's captain Craig Monaghan have both come close to equalling Clive's record with 5 tries apiece.
Throughout this period the Club has been based at the Bush, where we are again (what goes around comes around) and notably the Greyhound. Christmas 1960 saw the new Clubhouse, Cwmgorse House opened. 1967 saw extensions to the clubhouse opened as the success of the club both on and off the field grew. Things remained this way until Christmas 2001, when the club decided to uproot again and return to one of its previous bases, the Bush, turning the former Public house into a club fit for an ambitious Rugby Club.
The clubhouse has gone from strength to strength not only providing a home for the 3 Ironsides rugby teams, but Tredegar FC, Tredegar Ladies Netball, Blue Ribbon CC (soon to become Tredeagr CC in combination with Southend CC) & Tredegar Tennis Club. A truly sporting club!!!