The Aberdare & District Junior League was founded in 1904. The founder member clubs were: Aberaman Stars, Aberaman Windsors, Aberdare Crescents, Aberdare Excelsiors, Cefnpennar, Cwmbach Lilywhites, Gadlys Rovers, Greenhill Rovers, GWR Rovers and Mardy Albions, and the first champions were Aberdare Crescents.
Also in 1904, the Aberdare Leader Junior Medals competition was founded by the local newspaper, and was won by Aberaman Windsors.[1]
The league renamed to the Aberdare & District (Belle Vue) League in 1907, but folded in 1908. The league briefly returned for the 1909–10 season, but then would not return until 1924, being reformed as the Aberdare Valley Football League.[2]
Since 2015, the league has not had junior divisions (under-12 to under-16), with it now being the responsibility of the newly formed Cynon Rhondda Merthyr Junior Football League.
Promotion from the Premier Division is possible to the South Wales Alliance League, with the champion of the league playing the other tier 7 champions from the South Wales regional leagues via play-off games to determine promotion.