THIS Saturday sees a special fixture in Barry Town United’s 2016-17 campaign, as the club welcomes Port Talbot Town to Jenner Park for the first match between the sides in more than 12 years.

As well as sharing a glut of players across the seasons (not least current Barry forward Drew Fahiya), the teams’ respective supporters have developed a bond like few others in Welsh football, with Saturday’s league match (2.30pm kick-off) poised to be a celebration of this unique friendship.

Tracing their origins back to 1901, the former Port Talbot Athletic would adopt their modern ‘Town’ moniker in their centenary season, having earned promotion to the Welsh Premier League in 2000.

Barry and PTT had previously crossed paths in the Welsh League, but the presence of both on the national stage ensured their matches took on a new prominence after the turn of the century.

Following an initial stalemate, Barry would embark on a period of dominance over their western opponents; winning six times against Port Talbot in all competitions between April of 2001 and 2002.

Port Talbot’s first win against Barry in the WPL meanwhile came in September 2002, as a crowd of 651 saw the unbeaten visitors take the Friday night spoils at Jenner Park, winning by a single goal.

The 1 - 0 result was a special one in Port Talbot Town’s modern day history, as the Steelmen climbed to the top of the Welsh Premier League for the first time, at the expense of the reigning champions.

By the next meeting in December 2003, the Welsh Premier League landscape had changed considerably; with Barry Town under new ownership, marooned at the bottom of the table and fielding an unrecognisable team from that which ran out at Victoria Road the previous campaign.

Nevertheless, the Barry spirit proved strong that night, as David Hughes’ players came from behind to lead in Port Talbot via Alun Hughes’ double; before being pegged back to an eventual 2 - 2 draw.

The last meeting of the clubs to date came in May 2004, as efforts from Gavin Allen and Luke Sherbon (plus a fortuitous own goal) helped Barry to a 3 - 1 win on the final day of the season.

However, the result proved too little, too late for the Jenner Park outfit, with the seven-time Welsh Premier League champions having been condemned to relegation exactly a fortnight earlier.

Following Barry’s exit from the national top flight, Port Talbot would stabilise as a Welsh Premier League outfit, while making their mark like never before in several other prominent competitions.

In 2007, more than 2,500 spectators watched the Steelmen secure an FAW Premier Cup quarter-final victory over visiting Swansea City; the promotion-chasing Swans fielding the likes of Lee Trundle and Adebayo Akinfenwa, who had shone at Jenner Park en route to Football League success.

Three years later, PTT made their way to their first ever Welsh Cup Final; coming from 2 - 0 down at Parc-y-Scarlets to draw level with Bangor City, before the Citizens’ snatched a stoppage time winner.

Then in 2010 saw Port Talbot embark on their first European adventure, travelling to Finland in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds, while the Steelmen came within a whisker of more European football in 2013, losing out narrowly to Bala Town in a one-off Europa League play-off.

For Barry fans however, this televised clash was particularly notable for a large banner behind the goal, the Port Talbot regulars showing their public support for the Jenner Park club’s off-field battles.

PTT and their then-chairman Andrew Edwards would continue to be staunch supporters of the Barry cause in the turbulent summer to follow, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the long-suffering fans, as they took their fight for survival to the High Court.

With Jenner Park re-energised by the subsequent victory, Port Talbot’s colourful band of followers would continue to play a part in the Barry comeback story; from attending games on fixtureless weekends to sponsoring youth players and competing in a Supporters’ Cup match against their yellow and blue counterparts in 2015.

Now, with their own club in the midst of their own off-field challenges after demotion from the Welsh Premier League, it is hoped the Barry public will recognise the role played by Port Talbot in the Barry Town revival and extend the arm of friendship again at Jenner Park this weekend.

Barry have commissioned a unique programme for Saturday’s Welsh League Division One fixture, in two different colours; traditional green for the home support and Port Talbot blue for the visitors.

Meanwhile, the match has been designated as a special schools’ ticket fixture, with youngsters, parents and guardians from across the Vale of Glamorgan invited to join in on the matchday fun.

Under the management of Paul Evans, Port Talbot Town head to Jenner Park off the back of a thrilling 5 - 4 win over Ton Pentre last weekend, a match the Steelmen won after being 3 - 1 down at the interval.

Conversely, Barry slumped to a 1 - 0 loss at championship contenders Goytre; the side’s second successive away defeat, as Town continue to chase a first win on the road in 90 minutes all season.

In a token of solace however, Barry’s record at Jenner Park has been formidable this campaign; with Gavin Chesterfield’s men winning each of their six outings to date, across all competitions.

Following Saturday’s fixture, the club is back at home on Tuesday, October 25, when Haverfordwest County come to Barry for a high-stakes Nathaniel MG Cup quarter-final.

Kick-off in the cup match is at 7.45pm, with entry for each of the upcoming fixtures at Jenner Park priced at £5 on the turnstiles, with concessions for senior citizens, students and children.