Bangor 1876 F.C.
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| Full name | Bangor 1876 Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1876 as ‘Bangor Football Club’. (Since 2019 as ‘Bangor 1876’) | ||
| Ground | Nantporth, Bangor | ||
| Capacity | 3,000 (1,100 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Glynne Roberts | ||
| Manager | Michael Johnston | ||
| League | Cymru North | ||
| 2023–24 | Cymru North, 5th of 16 | ||
| Website | https://www.the-citizens-choice.co.uk/ | ||
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Bangor 1876 Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-Droed Bangor 1876) is a Welsh football club in Bangor, Gwynedd, who play in the Cymru North.
History
[edit]Formation of the club
[edit]In 2019, the Supporters Association of Bangor City voted overwhelmingly to create a breakaway club in order to protect football in the city, given the club's recent history under Vaughan Sports Management. They stated, “We want fans to reconnect with each other and restore the pride and feeling of being a supporter of our historic club. The new club is a creative and positive solution for an ever-changing and precarious situation. We are not disowning Bangor City FC or its history, the club is OURS, it belongs to the fans and local community. “Owners” will come and go but the people remain. Keep the faith.”[1]
An application was submitted to the Football Association of Wales to enter the new club in the Welsh football league system,[2] and a Supporters' trust set up.[3][4] A women's team, Bangor 1876 Women's FC, was also formed. The club play their home matches at Treborth, Bangor University.[5]
First season
[edit]The club competed in the tier five Gwynedd League for the 2019–20 season.[6] The first manager was Mel Jones, with Dylan Williams as his assistant.[7] Former Llandudno and Caernarfon Town manager Iwan Williams was also appointed as Director of Football.[8]
The club's inaugural match was against fellow fan-owned team FC United of Manchester,[9] and the first competitive match was in the Gwynedd League, a 4–1 away victory against Ogwen Tigers on 10 August 2019. A successful first season saw the club leading the league, with a 100 per cent win ratio, when the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. They were crowned league champions following the announcement that all Welsh football seasons would finish with a table decided on a points per game basis.[10]
Second season
[edit]The club joined the newly formed North Wales Coast West Football League in the tier four Premier Division in 2020.[11] The inaugural season was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic and instead started in August 2021. The club finished as divisional runners up in the 2021–22 season and was promoted to the tier three Ardal NW League for the 2022–23 season.[12] The club rounded the season off by winning the North Wales Coast West Football League Premier Cup, beating Bodedern Athletic 3–0 in the final.
Promotion to the second tier
[edit]The club won their opening match in the third tier against Rhydymwyn FC 8–1.[13] They finished the season in second place and hence qualified for the Ardal Northern play–off final. The club won the play–off final and secured promotion to the tier two Cymru North.
Current squad
[edit]- As of 13 October 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club staff
[edit]- First team manager: Michael Johnston
- Assistant manager: Sean Eardley
- First team coaches: Aled Hughes, Gareth Williams
- First team goalkeeper coach: Mervyn Williams
Honours
[edit]- Ardal NW League – Runners up and play-off winners: 2022–23
- North Wales Coast West Football League Premier Division – Runners-up: 2021–22
- Gwynedd League – Champions: 2019–20
- North Wales Coast West Football League Premier Division Cup – Winners: 2021–22[14]
- Brian Lomax Trophy – Champions 2024
Records
[edit]- Record home league win: 14–0 vs Bethesda Athletic, Gwynedd League, 15 October 2019[15]
- Record home cup win: 13–0 vs Llanystumdwy, Bob Owen Memorial Shield First Round, 16 November 2019 [16]
- Record away league win: 0–6 vs Caergybi, Gwynedd League, 14 December 2019[17]
- Record away cup win: 1–3 vs Llanelwy Athletic, North Wales Coast FA Junior Challenge Cup First Round, 12 October 2019[18]
- Record home league attendance: 840 vs Rhyl 1879, Ardal NW League, 8 April 2023
References
[edit]- ^ "Bangor City Supporters vote to start new football club". The Bangor Aye. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ "New Bangor Football Club takes a step forward". The Bangor Aye. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ Bissett, Daniel (6 June 2019). "New Bangor Football Club takes a step forward". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ Pritchard, Tom (12 June 2019). "Newly-formed Bangor phoenix club unveil name and new crest". Y Clwb Pêl-Droed. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ Jones, Dean (17 June 2019). "Bangor 1876 have Treborth base inspected by FAW ahead of tier placing decision". North Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- ^ "Bangor 1876 To Start In The Gwynedd League". The Bangor Aye. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ Jones, Dean (23 June 2019). "Mel Jones confirmed as new manager of fan-owned Bangor 1876". North Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ^ Jones, Dave (9 January 2020). "Iwan Williams lands top role at Bangor 1876". Grassroots North Wales. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ Griffiths, Rob (21 June 2019). "Bangor 1876 gear up for inaugural fixture". Daily Post. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ^ "Table Terfynol - Final Standings". Gwynedd League. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ "Nine Anglesey teams to compete in new Tier 4 football league". Anglesey Môn News. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Ardal Leagues: A geographical look at the teams competing in the 2022/23 season". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
- ^ "Winning start in tier 3 for 1876". www.bangor1876.com. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ Jones, Dave (26 May 2022). "Bangor 1876 lift Premier Division Cup". Grassroots North Wales. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Owen, Kevin (15 October 2019). "March overview: Bangor 1876 14-0 Bethesda Athletic". CPD Bangor 1876 FC. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "MATCH REPORT; Bangor 1876 Back to Winning Ways in Goal Spree".
- ^ Ervine, Jonathan (14 December 2019). "Bangor 1876 score six in win at Caergybi". CPD Bangor 1876 FC. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Owen, Kevin (12 October 2019). "MATCH REPORT; Bangor 1876 Through to Round Two of the NWCFA Junior Cup". CPD Bangor 1876 FC. Retrieved 23 November 2021.