WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD KNEW THE NAME OF BANGOR CITY

Reaching the semi-final stage of the Welsh Cup the previous season gave non-League Bangor City, then in the Cheshire League, the advantage of being exempted until the 5th Round of 1961-62’s competition. This meant that two victories would put the club back into the semi-final draw for a second successive year, and they not only did that, but went one step further. After accounting for Pwllheli in the 5th Round, and Barry in the Quarter Final, Bangor were drawn against the full-timers from Cardiff City in the Semi-Final, held at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, on March 21st. At that time, Cardiff were high-flyers in the English First Division, and even Bangor’s most optimistic fans didn’t fancy the club’s chances against a side who had given Arsenal a run for their money the previous Saturday. However, on the day, Bangor City were more than a match for their illustrious rivals, and in true giant-killing fashion, Bangor always looked comfortable, and even confident, against their First Division opponents. Bangor’s defence made sure that Cardiff’s top scorer Dai Ward never got a look in the whole game, and at the other end, Bangor’s centre-forward Eddie Brown was running rings around the Cardiff central defence. After just 17 minutes, Brown capitalised on a mistake to shoot into the net to give Bangor the lead. In the second half, Bangor were so in charge of the match, that it came as no surprise when, in the 64th minute, Brown extended Bangor’s lead to book the club a place in the Welsh Cup Final against Wrexham.

The Final was played over two legs, and the first, played at Wrexham, saw Bangor City well and truly beaten by 3 goals to nil. The Welsh media looked upon the return leg at Farrar Road as merely a formality, but it turned out to be a different matter altogether. Although Eddie Brown had suffered a broken jaw in the first encounter, City fielded the same team for the return match and showed a lot more energy and enterprise than they had in the 1st Leg. Eddie Brown opened the scoring after 20 minutes from close range, and City could have extended their lead a minute later. In the 66th minute, Brown was brought down on the edge of the Wrexham penalty area, and Barry Wilkinson planted the ball in the back of the net from the resulting free-kick. Final score 2-0. Under Welsh Football Association rules at the time, both sides had collected two points for their wins, so a playoff had to be held at the Belle Vue Stadium, Rhyl. By this time, Wrexham had won promotion to the English Third Division, and the subsequent interest attracted a crowd of over 12000. After 23 minutes, an awkward Ken Birch throw-in caused havoc in the Wrexham penalty area, and Brian Ellis fired the ball into the net from close range. Just before half-time, the inspirational Birch sent in a long free-kick from the halfway line, and Eddie Brown flicked the ball past the Wrexham ‘keeper for City’s second. Everyone expected the stronger and fitter Wrexham to come out fighting in the second half, but it wasn’t to be. Although they had a goal disallowed for offside after 50 minutes, Wrexham never really threatened, and Reg Hunter extended City’s lead on 70 minutes from close range. Wrexham got a consolation goal from the penalty spot close to the final whistle, but by then it was too late. City had sealed a famous victory, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup beckoned.