About us

Friends of the Mid is a mutual benefit society established initially to launch a campaign to save the Mid Rhondda Athletic Ground from housing development. We now exist to engage with the community and other interested parties in creating a special place for everyone.

Our vision has been to restore the Mid Rhondda Athletic Ground to something like its former glory as a focal point for the community of Mid Rhondda. An important aspect is highlighting its rich and unique social and sporting history of which we can all be justifiably proud.

69

The number of people who have officially joined our register.

3

Represents our President and Vice-Presidents

441

The number of people who signed our petition to Save the Mid

What people are saying

"The 'Track/Mid' is of huge importance to Tonypandy, its surrounding area and to those of us who live here. It has monumental local historical importance while serving as one of the, if not the last green space for our children and future generations of our children to enjoy." (M Rowlands)

"I spent all my childhood in this place, it needs to stay."

(J. Shallish)

"I spent so much of my childhood playing here, as it was at the end of my street. It has been with the community for generations and should be utilised for the good of the community. It should be used for local sports teams, children's fitness, for the local super school sports teams." (E. Phelan)

"What an amazing place! I played lots of football up that field as a kid, and there were some good rugby games played on that field too." (B. Lloyd)

"I grew up with this field at the end of my street. I spent so much time there as a child as there was nowhere else to go playing. In this era where playing spaces are vanishing, it’s important to hold on to the few remaining.*

(S. Lewis)

"Brought up in Ely St, where the track is at the bottom of the road. As a young child growing up the freedom and joy I benefitted from was wonderful, and where children could be children. Families gathered to celebrate occasions, school sports, golf, and jogging. It is essential that there is a wide open space like the track for the health and well-being of all the people in the area. It is essential that as times continue to change that these open spaces are becoming absolutely necessary for the family of all ages and generations to be able to use. It is also a vital habitat of wildlife among the meadow flowers and long grasses that grow along the edges of the track. The long history of the track is also a jewel in Tonypandy's crown. The track must be saved as a wide-open space for all. After this pandemic of 2020, this space will be needed more than ever after such a prolonged lockdown.

(J. Thomas)"

Meet Our Presidents

Our President Professor Dai Smith CBE FLSW hails from Ely Street. He is a Welsh academic, cultural historian, author, and former BBC programme editor and broadcaster. He was chair of the Arts Council of Wales between 2007 and 2016.

Vice President Catrin Collier is a Welsh novelist known for her historical works, especially those in the Hearts of Gold series, set in her home town of Pontypridd between 1930 and 1950, the first of which was adapted as a BBC drama in 2003.

Vice President and Llwynypia born, Dr John Geraint Roberts from Penygraig, was previously a BBC programme-maker and executive and a recent recipient of a Royal Television Society Award for his outstanding contribution to television,