FEW clubs in Welsh football have endured such a dramatic history as Rhayader Town Football Club.

From the heights of the Welsh Premier to the lower reaches of the Mid Wales football pyramid, the Radnorshire club has seen it all during its long existence.

The club is first recorded to exist in 1883.

The March 27 edition of the Montgomeryshire Express recorded Rhayader Football Club losing 3-2 at Llanidloes.

Certainly the club existed in 1891 when a letter by 'A Rhaidarian' was printed in the January 3 edition of the Montgomeryshire Echo.

The letter stated: 'I am writing for the benefit of the Rhayader Football Club. I would urge the team to play a little less selfishly and then we should not see them defeated as they have been this season.

'Our forwards individually play well, but they lack one of the chief points in the game. Combination.

'They rarely think of passing the ball, and only dribble, which looks very nice, but seldom does much good in the scoring line.

'To our half-backs I would say don’t play so selfishly and so wild, and don’t think the team could not exist without you. Our backs play well, but a fresh goalkeeper turns out at every match.

'I am hoping no one will be offended, but that the team will strive to gain a good name for themselves, and win the Hereford Cup.'

The club signed Welsh international John Bowdler in 1891 who turned out for the club during his Welsh career until 1893.

The Hereford Cup continued to be the club's main competition during this time with a crowd of 800 reported for their cup tie against Knighton in November 1895.

However the club folded soon after and reformed in 1898 with high ambitions.

The September 3 edition of the Montgomeryshire Echo reported: 'It is hoped the club will be successful, and by good and constant practice be able to attain the viable position it enjoyed few seasons ago, when the most prominent clubs in the adjoining counties had to bend the knee.'

The club first entered the Mid Wales League in 1921, winning its first title in 1925 before dropping out of the league in 1927.

Rhayader were back the following season but once again disappeared in 1930 and remained absent until 1936 before returning to become founder members of the newly organised Central Wales League.

Following the end of World War Two the club returned to action in the Mid Wales League though struggled and withdrew in 1951.

The club were members of the Mid Wales League South in 1962 before returning to the Mid Wales League in 1965 where the club would enjoy an unbroken membership among the lower placed teams for the next 20 years.

The club enjoyed improved fortunes in 1988 with a fifth placed finish, their highest in the league since rejoining in the 1960s, only to end second bottom in the the following two seasons.

Despite the club's struggles on the field the face of Welsh football was changing and in 1992 the club joined the new North Wales premier league, the Cymru Alliance.

The club embraced the new adventure and ended sixth in 1996 before being crowned champions in 1997 to become Radnorshire's first ever representatives in the League of Wales, the pinnacle of Welsh football.

So began the club's whirlwind era among the giants of Welsh football, including the high profile signing of Brazilian midfielder Junior in 1998.

The Brazilian failed to make his mark in Wales.

Meanwhile Rhayader would endure several tough years in their illustrious new surroundings, narrowly staving off relegation in 1999 before their relegation in 2002 brought an end to their five year spell among the giants of Welsh football.

The club dropped back into the Mid Wales League where it regrouped and managed to end third in 2005 only to fold at the end of the following season.

However it was not the end and the following year Rhayader Town Football Club returned and swept to Mid Wales League South title in 2008 to return to the Mid Wales League.

A second placed finish in 2010 saw the club secure promotion to the Cymru Alliance.

Rhayader's stay in the Alliance proved short and were relegated the following season but the following season the Red Kites were once again crowned Mid Wales League champions to return to the Alliance at the first time of asking.

Rhayader remained in the Alliance until 2016 when the club were once again relegated.

Like their last relegation the club reacted by winning the Mid Wales League the following season but with the club unable to commit to the travel demands of the second tier it took the decision to withdraw and once again regroup in the Mid Wales League South.

The club has since been climbing the pyramid having reclaimed its place in Mid Wales League Two with an eye on promotion this season.

Such are the ambitions and facilities at the Weirglodd, with a seating capacity of 435, the club has targeted membership of the new Cymru Leagues Three next season.

Manager Dai Davies said: "Rhayader have had a complete rebrand and a committee has formed to take the club forward based on the new philosophy which is to provide football of the highest standard for the current and next generation on players.

"Our junior club chairman Gareth Earp has now also taken on the chairman’s duties of the adult section. This has created a one club feeling and a route from Tweenies football all the way to senior football especially as we have now reformed our reserve team.

"The benefits are already reaping its reward, all our current first team playing squad apart from two players have all come from the junior ranks of Rhayader. It provides the local youngsters that genuine route to adult football.

"Tommy Rowlands was playing for the under 16s last year and has already established himself as a key first team player alongside the likes of Jamie Evans, Cameron Mills and Taylor Wozencraft who are all just turning 18."

Davies also paid tribute to the club's backroom staff for their work in establishing the club once more.

Davies said: "Most clubs in the area operate on such small committees and Rhayader are no different.

"Thanks to our dedicated committee of volunteers we provide football every Saturday and have so many unsung heroes from Owen ‘Junior’ Evans who sorts the facilities out ready for every matchday to Sue ‘Sos’ Price who does a weekly lottery that keeps the club afloat.'

Despite the trials and tribululations of the past the one constant in the town was football.

Richie Jones, Steve Williams and Matt Lewis have all come through the ranks to represent Wales at junior level while former full international Carl Robinson also emerged at the Weirglodd.

Davies said: "Rhayader is a football town with football traditions at its heart.

"Rhayader as a community is very tight knit and people from all backgrounds tend to pull together.

"We couldn’t operate without local help and our two main sponsors are the Elan Hotel run by Martin and Iris who we use for any functions and meetings and always our first port of call.

"Secondly a massive thanks to TLP Construction who without there continued support, whether it be from sponsoring our tracksuits to providing echnical guidance and expertise while we try and upgrade the clubs facilities we simply wouldn’t exist.

"All our sponsors are of the utmost importance to us and without them we couldn’t operate.

"For thise who would be willing to help out the club is always open on a Saturday and we invite all to pop down and enjoy a game and join the football family."