THE INVINCIBLES OF CWMBRAN TOWN

POET AND TRAVELLING WRITER CHRIS TOWERS HEADED TO SOUTH WALES TO WATCH A SIDE WIN PROMOTION WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF THEIR 30 GAMES...

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FIRST, there were the 'Invincibles' of Preston North End, unbeaten for a whole season in 1888-89. Then there was Arsenal, boasting Vierra, Henry and Bergkamp in 2003-04, similarly unbeaten, over their 38 games. Two outstanding and remarkable achievements.

We can now add Cwmbran Town, the 'Invincibles' of South Wales, to the list after they went unbeaten in the Gwent County League Premier Division. True, it's not quite the same level, but it means just as much to those involved.

In the end, they just needed a draw against Monmouth, who themselves required a win to maintain a slim chance of promotion.

The draw duly arrived but not before some late drama in the Cwmbran Stadium. I was there in the spring sunshine to witness the achievement.

"I came to Cwmbran, to the valley of the crow, where the grey river runs, to the overflow"

I'd spent the previous afternoon getting a 'feel' for the area. Cwmbran is a so-called 'New Town', built in 1949 as Britain sought to recover from the ravages of war.

Walking through the town, I noticed two colourful statues on the front wall above a coffee shop. I learnt later that the figures depicted a shepherd with a lamb and a woman in traditional Welsh dress, named Dai and Myfanwy, and they have stood each side of the 'Congress Theatre' clock in Cwmbran since the 1970s.

Some say from the old town, you'll see the Newport docks, high on a hill, where the cows graze, beyond the tower blocks.

The old town was filled with small businesses but also various churches and one building that had a banner over it 'Cwmbran Town AFCsports and social club'.

I was later informed by one of the supporters that this is a misnomer, the social club is no longer there, but the houses or flats that occupy the place still carry the name.