when a handful of local lads in Cogan, in their early teens, wanted to realise an ambition to form a team of their own.

They decided to approach Mr Albert Crossman to help fulfil their dream. Albert liked the idea and enlisted the help of Mr Mel Hudd, another local man with a good knowledge of football.

A team was formed with the backing of the Cogan Coronation Club and initially only friendly matches were played.

A team was officially entered into the Cardiff Combination League for the 1961/62 season. Although the team was made up of teenagers, they progressed into senior football.

Although strong at local level, passage to a higher league was blocked. At the time Penarth Town were in the amateur league – and struggling – so it was decided to amalgamate the two clubs and Cogan Corinthians was formed to compete in the South Wales Amateur league.

The club only competed at this level for a few seasons before being voted out by other member clubs – this was prior to the pyramid system which exists today.

This was a bitter blow to the club’s ambitions and a rebuilding process was needed.

Cogan Coronation AFC then entered the Barry and District League and this was the beginning of a successful period for the club.

The first team were promoted through the divisions, culminating in winning the Barry and District League championship in three successive seasons- 1985/86, 1986/87, and 1987/88. There was also a 2nd and 3rd team and a very successful Vets team which boosted the morale of the club.

Meanwhile the junior section – under the guidance of Mike Dacey, Les Pearce, John Herniman, Dave Slugg, John Page, John Starling, Brian Wingren, Jon Coleman, Steve Hyett and Peter James – grew from strength to strength, producing some excellent young players.

The heady heights were reached when the youth team squad won the South Wales Youth Cup in 1985, beating Cardiff City Youth 4-0 in the final. Then in 1988 they lost in the final of the Welsh Youth Cup to Wrexham after a replay.

Applications were made to enter the newly formed South Wales Senior League (now on a par with the Amateur League) and the Cogan first team played in its inaugural season in 1991/92. They have remained there ever since.

A reserve team plays in the Vale of Glamorgan League. The youth teams (U19) have played in the South Wales Youth League since its inception – winning the Southern Division in 2008/09, the Western Division in 2009/10 and going unbeaten on their way to winning the 2021/22 St David Division.

Cogan Coronation AFC is very proud of its history and has produced four players that made the professional ranks – Peter Aitken (Bristol City and Rovers); Frankie Prince (Bristol Rovers); and Darren and Jason Rowbotham (Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City).

With the size of the junior, mini and recently formed girls section, the club is going from strength to strength on and off the pitch.