These were rough times but it produced some quality players notably William Bowen (Billy Boo), John Lewis (The Vaynol), Mel Lloyd, Elwyn Davies, Danny Hopkin and Aubrey Hyde, all played for Swansea.
In the Thirties came the formation of that celebrated ex–schoolboys side Trebanos Barbarians, who like their prototypes placed accent on attacking play and in the process produced great performers.
Who for instance, would deny that Arthur Kift as an outside half was the complete footballer and when he elected to join Newton Abbott in the years of industrial depression, he surely forfeited the opportunity of international recognition.
Then there was WT Jones (Willy Tom, who served as Treasurer in his beloved Trebanos club for 40 years) who caught the attention of those in charge at the Gnoll.
He was a great player and a prolific try scoring winger, until the outbreak of war was to curtail a successful career as a ‘Mourner’.
During the war Will was stationed in Cheshire in the RAF, where the Squadron Leader was an avid fan and Director of Wigan Rugby League club.
Even in those days the club had a flair for unearthing talented backs of erratic genius and one so, was Danny Walters, who went on to play for Swansea before moving to join London Welsh.
Again the club was disbanded during the Second World War and re-formed in 1945, the chairman Tom Jones, secretary GB Williams and treasurer Stan John (plus Dai Gibbs as previously stated) making house to house collections in the village for clothing coupons so that a new rugby kit could be purchased.
In 1948 season they played three recognised Northern first class clubs, Percy Park, West Ho and Durham City, despite returning home empty handed they were not disgraced against such worthy opponents.
Trebanos once met Llandybie in a first round cup match which developed into a four-game epic before eventually winning 16-3.
During this period they produced fine footballers in Ken and Des Lloyd, Gwyn Rees, Les James, John Lewis, Glan Morgan, Brian Canning, Peter Parker, Len Thomas, Tom Jones, Morgan Jones, Howell Hughes, John and Jack Lewis, Cliff Jones, Emlyn and Ned Thomas, Danny Walters, Jack Lewis, John Gower Rees, Anuerin Rees, Ceri Davies, Jim MacNamara, Bill Rees, Will Thomas, Howard James, Ken Davies, Byron Hopkin, Cliff Jones, Eurof Davies, Dilwyn Hughes, Doug Evans, Denzil Edwards David M Williams and hosts of others.
A former Trebanos player, Danny Griffiths was killed in the Llandow air disaster on 12 March 1950, returning from Ireland where Wales had won the Triple Crown.
Few players have sped down the St Helens touchline with more determination than Herbert and with a low centre of gravity and took an awful lot of tackling.
However that was soon to be changed, John Rodgers, a great clubman, received fatal injuries during a game with Gowerton at Trebanos Park in 1959.
Gomer Davies, who was secretary at that time, was unstinting in his efforts to offer support to the family and administered the trust over many years.
To top up a quality pack, Ken Hill, a prop forward of repute and a former Welsh Youth international, had transferred from Glais in 1959 and gained a Glamorgan County Cap and also represented Neath.
Such were, Michael Davies (Spike) who played on the wing for 14 seasons, Mike Jones (Kamikaze) who played on the other wing for seven seasons, Peter Roberts who served the club as first and seconds player, Malcolm Evans a prop nicknamed (Mad Murdoch, after the New Zealand prop who was sent home in shame).
During this era there came a tremendous number of players who had talent but the side underachieved after the heady days of 1969/1970/71 seasons when Trebanos won the Swansea Valley Cup.
Another player of the 60's, 70's and 80's decades was Keith Williams who had started with Trebanos in 1967, and was already the recipient of three Swansea Valley Cup winners medals 1969/70/71.
Like Neal Rogers before him, Keith was an exceptional soccer and rugby player and played for Wales Boys Clubs Under 18 team against England at the Vetch field in 1966.
Some of the players of this era were, brothers Paul Thomas who played for Aberavon, Andrew Thomas who played for Bristol and Aberavon and Ian Pugh, Anthony Jones who played for Neath, Llanelli and South Wales Police, Phil Hamer who played for Llanelli, John Bale, Peter Curnow, Byron Temblett, Andrew Francis, Chris Francis, Ian Gibson, Nigel Doyle, Steve Doyle, Carey Edwards, Colin Jenkins, Anthony Maher, Sean Maher, Kevin Danahar, Danny Watkins, Huw Jones, Adrian Richards, Andrew Richards, Steve Gardiner, Alan Martin, Darwyn Hopkins, Ian Wilson, Dai Hills, Robert Bibbs, Anthony Morgan, Nigel Jones, Alan Dixon, Kevin Jones, Geraint Thomas who played for Bridgend, Anthony Stone, Michael Powell, Russell Rogers, Simon Evans, Steffan Penhale, Mark Harding, Gary Chivers, Justin Jones, Craig Jones, Andrew Williams, James Davies, Andrew Gibson, Paul Williams, Paul Penhale, Andrew Davies, Anthony Howells, Anthony Wheeler, Paul, Michael and Tony Eustace and Steve Lewis, a 'true blue' who played 23 seasons at the Ancient Borough.
Vernon Pugh's decision that, today we are amateurs and tomorrow professional, did no favours for small village clubs.
The league system was re-organised in 1991–1992 season and Trebanos found itself playing in Group A, finishing with 15 points (seven wins and a draw).
In 2000 the committee gave all its 270 club members a memento to mark the turn of the century, a Welsh dragon in Trebanos colours.