Ebbw Vale Club History

Ebbw Vale Club History

Ebbw Vale Club History

Ebbw Vale is situated in the South East of Wales in the borough of Blaenau Gwent. Famous sons and daughters include fashion designer Geoff Banks, Oasis manager (and club chairman) Marcus Russell, singer songwriter Katherine Davies and screen/stage star Brian Hibbard who had a number one hit with the Flying Pickets and got off with Deirdre in Coronation Street! Then again, who hasn’t? (Allegedly.) And of course, there’s the great Welsh singing legend, Tom Jones. Oh no, hang on, he’s from Pontypridd. Legend has it that he was once paid off at the Ty Bryn! (Allegedly.)

Steel from Ebbw Vale built the Sydney Harbour Bridge, 44000 red engineering bricks from Beaufort support the Empire State Building while Southampton Docks stand on the crushed slag (cooled impurities from iron making) from Beaufort Ironworks.

The town of Ebbw Vale and the surrounding area has a rich industrial past, initially through iron making and coal mining and later through the steel industry – hence the nickname of the Ebbw Vale RFC team being THE STEELMEN.

Due to the ever changing economic climate, the mines which once provided jobs for the people of Ebbw Vale have long since closed and the steelworks, once the longest integrated steelworks in the world, has reduced its number of employees over the years. These days, many Ebbw Valians still work in local companies, while many others commute to Newport or Cardiff.

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