I was talking to Facebook friend Joshua Heath last week and he was very excited about the launch of his first book.

“Last week, my very first book was officially released — ‘Soccer in South Wales: The Early Years – A History.’

What started during Covid as a personal research project into the very earliest beginnings of football in South Wales eventually led me to working alongside Phil Sweet who has published football history books for many years. Six years later, after countless hours of research, newspaper archives, and cross-checking sources, the book is finally here. This isn’t a book that has been rushed together for a quick release. We wanted to make sure every possible detail was researched thoroughly and accurately.

The book includes football references dating back to the 1850s and covers the development of the game in South Wales through to 1894, the end of the first South Wales League and the first ever league formed in South Wales. It also covers the first major cup tournament, the “Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire Association Football Challenge Cup” plus other minor competitions played in South Wales. For anyone interested in the history of Welsh football and the origins of the game in South Wales, this book offers a detailed and carefully-researched insight into a fascinating period of football history.

The book is priced at £8 + postage & packaging. Please feel free to message me if you would like a copy on Facebook at Joshua Heath or by email swcleaningsw@gmail.com