| THE NEWS
FROM FARRAR ROAD |
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| CS Maritimo v
Bangor City |
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| Blues Fly Out On
Monday |
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| Heroes of Honka! |
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| Hopes Held High |
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| Bangor Mourns Ken Barnes |
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| Former Bangor manager Ken Barnes dies, aged 81.  Ken
Barnes managed Bangor only briefly, for a short spell at the start of
the 197-71 season, taking over from Mick McGrath and handing over to
John Doherty.Not one to suffer fools gladly, the straight talking Barnes had previously managed Wrexham but is best known for his forty odd years as player, coach and scout at Manchester City. He is known as the father of former Manchester City (and United) winger Peter Barnes who made gained twenty England caps, and Michael Barnes who played for Bangor in 1979. Our thoughts and sympathies go to Ken's family and close friends. |
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| Bangor Far From Finished! |
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 Chris
Jones Strikes Gold!If Chris Jones had any second thoughts about joining Bangor he wont have now! The little Nefyn striker netted a second half equaliser as City earned a one all draw and a genuine chance of Europa League progress. But the first half was all Honka with Paul Smith saving from Puustinen and other shots flying wide. Ten minutes before the interval Paatelainen missed a penalty for Honka but they led the minute before the interval as Demba Savage headed home from eight yards. Trailing at the interval City responded with a strike from Chris Jones on 58 minutes which levelled the tie. Les Davies held the ball up and slid the little striker in on goal, his low finish beat Peltonen from outside the box and secured that all important away goal. Schuller and Koskinen went close for Honka but Bangor stood firm and celebrated wildly at the final whistle. All still to play for in Wrexham next Thursday - Bangor even have the audacity to hold that slight advantage! STARTING LINE UPS City: Paul Smith, Peter Hoy, Chris Roberts, Michael Johnston, Jamie Brewerton, Dave Morley, Eddie Jebb, Craig Garside, Les Davies, Nicky Ward, Eddie Jebb. Honka: Peltonen, Koskinen, Koskimaa, Aalto, Helkklla, Schuller, Paatelainen, Savage, Puustinen, Lepola, Vuorinen |
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| DUBLIN OR
MADEIRA FOR EUROPA WINNERS |
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If Bangor win their way past Finnish opponents Honka next Thursday they
face a trip to Dublin or Madeira.The draw on Friday lunchtime paired Bangor or Honka with the winners of Sporting Fingal and CS Martimo, of Dublin and Madeira respectively. Fingal go into this Thursday's second leg at Bohemians ground in Dublin trailing 3-2 after the first leg. They have a great chance of going through and optimistic Bangor fans are already keeping their fingers crossed that City and Sporting can win through to stage an exciting Celtic deryby. Long way to go yet though! Whoever is involved has little time to make their travel arrangements as the matches are scheduled for Thursday 29th July and 5th August. |
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| Bangor Off To
Honka.. |
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| Blues Draw...... |
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 Bangor drew with Everton at Farrar Road yesterday. Before a crowd of close on 750 Bangor took a two goal lead but were eventually pegged back by a youthful Everton side. The opening goal on the half hour came when Jamie Brewerton headed home Sion Edwards corner, and before half time left winger Sion Edwards doubled the adantage. But second half strikes from England Youth International Hallam Hope and then Anton Forrester levelled the scoring and both sides had to be happy with a draw - which suited the occasion - in what turned out to be an entertaining visit by the Goodison giants. City now look forward to their journey to Finland and a stiff Europa test against Honka Espoo. STARTING LINE UPS City: Paul Smith, Clive Williams, Chris Roberts, Michael Johnston, Jamie Brewerton, Dave Morley, Chris Jones, Nicky Ward, Les Davies, Eddie Jebb, Sion Edwards Everton: Adam Davies, Jordan Barrow, Jake Bidwell, Ged Kinsella, Aris Nsiala, Dan Murphy, Adam Forshaw, Hope Akpan, Conor McAleny, James Wallace, Nathan Craig. |
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| Bangor Bag Bull! |
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 Bangor City have completed the signing of Cammell Laird striker Alan Bull The 23 year old striker played for City in the friendly at Buckley Town and signed on the line this week. At Cammell Laird, Alan was a team mate of City winger Eddie Jebb and has previously played for New Brighton of the West Cheshire League where he played - and scored - for the league representative side. Birkenhead based Alan is likely to be included in the squad for the visit of Everton tomorrow and will join the travelling party for the trip to Finland a few days later. |
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| Bangor
Welcome Everton |
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Bangor City welcome an Everton X1 to Farrar Road on Saturday The young Toffees, led by former Rhyl defender Andy Holden, are due at Farrar Road on Saturday afternoon for City's final warm up match before the Europa League. Flint born Holden is well known in North Wales. He left Rhyl in 1983 and made precisely one hundred appearances for Chester City - and was capped by Wales - before moving to Wigan and then Oldham Athletic. His career was hit by injury and his time amongst the backroom staff at Everton has seen many managerial changes since Joe Royle appointed him in 1994. The Everton squad is likely to includes the likes of goalkeeper Carlo Nash and Iain Turner, Irish defenders Seamus Coleman and the towering Shane Duffy, Bangor born midfielder Nathan Craig and scouser Adam Forshaw and strikers Kieran Agard and Jose Baxter. Bangor boss Nev Powell will be keen to settle on a side and shape to take on Honka Espoo five days later. Apart from departed pair Dave Swanick and Mark Smyth the rest of the Welsh Cup winning squad are still on City's books so there should be a familiar look to the Bangor side. One last point, the match is billed as a 3pm kick off. |
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| Big
Les Lashes Home As City Draw |
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Bangor drew one all at Buckley Town on Tuesday night This evenly fought encounter at Globe Way ended up all square which was a fair reflection on the balance of play. Bangor started with a 4-4-2 formation which included pretty much the City side of last season but with Chris Jones on the left and trialist Alan Bull alongside Les Davies upfront. Eddie Jebb was dangerous down the right but the Bucks defence - with Mark Orme and the towering Gareth Edwards prominent - held firm. After a goalless first half City took the lead on 55 minutes when Les Davies sent a right footed curler inside the left hand upright from twenty yards. But after a flurry of substitutions Bangor allowed Buckley back into the game midway through the half as Neil Wynne slotted home after Paul Smith had made a fine save from Liam Caddick. The final twenty minutes was end to end, subs came and went, some old and some new! Young John Owen came on upfront whilst Clive Williams also enjoyed a run out at rightback. Next up for
Bangor is a 3pm ko v
Everton X1
at Farrar Road on Saturday 10th July 2010 |
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| Morley
Strikes As City Lose |
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 Bangor gained match fitness despite a 2-1
defeat at Llanelian Road yesterday.In front of a crowd of just over 350 the home side took the lead inside five minutes as Alan Bull beat Paul Smith with a wel placed curler. Chris Jones forced a good save from the Bay keeper but he could do nothing as Dave Morley headed home an inviting cross from Eddie Jebb on twenty minutes. It was one all at the interval. The only goal of a second half of many changes came when Mike Burke prodded home against his old side to secure a one nil win in what was a game played in good spirit and with little heavy contact. Next up for Bangor is a 7pm ko at Buckley Town on Tuesday night..... |
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| WP Season Starts
Against Neath |
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 As promised the Welsh Premier fixtures for
2010-11 were released on Wednesay 30th June.Bangor kick off on Saturday 14th August 2010 with the visit of Neath and follow that up with a Friday night trip to Bala Town who have grabbed the headlines today with the reported signing of Mark Jones form Wrexham after Ricky Evans left for Newtown. City round off the month with the visit of last season's runners up Llanelli. The oddity this year is that the schedule only runs as far as January 2011. At that point the league is divided into the top and bottom six who then play each other again in a further run of ten home and away fixtures. Quite bizarre but the brainchild of some well meaning individual no doubt. Once the top and bottom six are decided upon the seventh placed team cannot finish higher than seventh, but under another strange lunge towards incentive for the strugglers, they will play off for the third place European entry position. The new schedule for Bangor is online at FIXTURES whilst the remainder can be seen on WP FIXTURES. |
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| Pre Season Kicks
Off |
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 After the leg work and lung bursting comes the first pre-season game. With a good few miles under their belts - and the odd practice match - City get their first taste of football this weekend with a trip along the coast to Colwyn Bay. This 12.30 kick off gives manager Nev Powell a chance to assess his team's state of readiness ahead of the Europa League encounter with Honka, and to run the rule over new signing Chris Jones. Colwyn Bay have seen their manager Neil Young leave to take up the challenge of reviving Chester City but move quickly to appoint popular player Dave Challinor as his replacement. Reports suggest former Bangor fullback Martin Beattie has signed for the Unibond side whilst Steve Aspinall - son of former blues boss John - has also trained with The Bay ahead of the new campaign. Blues boss Powell is thought to be on the look out for a new striker with Lee Hunt having departed, but no names are being mentioned as yet. |
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| Honka Espoo Eto! |
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| Blues Face Honka Espoo In Europa League Draw  It was the draw that no one expected yet everyone seems happy enough with. Bangor face a second tilt at Finnish side Honka Espoo in the second preliminary round of the Europa League after Monday's draw in Nyon. The order of the draw suggests that City will travel to Finland for the first leg on Thursday 15th July 2010 and play the return at Wrexham a week later. For what it is worth there is no absolute confirmation yet that this order is set in stone. However there is a post on the club's Facebook site that this is the case. Last season Bangor travelled to the Helsinki area side and lost the opening encounter 2-0 and then trailed by a solitary goal at Wrexham in the return. With ten games played in the Finnish league Honka have 17 points and lie in second place, four points behind leaders HJK Helsinki on 21. Here we go! |
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| Euro Draw Looms |
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| Blues In The Hat For Monday's Draw  Along with the other Welsh qualifiers, Bangor City will learn something of
their fate when the UEFA draws are made at Nyon, Switzerland at around
lunchtime on Monday 21st June 2010.. City
will be one of eighty clubs in the second qualifying round draw. The
system involves placing the clubs into one of eight "hats" which each
holds ten clubs, five seeded and five not.In the first case though UEFA must make the draw for the first qualifying round, with matches to be played on 1st & 8th July 2010. The draw - scheduled for 1pm Central European Time - will be for the first two rounds, the draw for round two will follow round one. Effectively then City will know they face the winners of one specific first qualifying round, with our matches to be played on the Thursday 15th & 22nd July 2010. The winners of the second qualifying round then go forward to the third round draw which takes place on 16th July 2010. |
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| Nev Powell is
Manager of The Season |
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 City Boss Scoops Top Award At the annual end of season gathering of clubs - held this year at Llandudno - the annual player and manager of the season awards were announced. And it was Bangor boss Nev Powell who scooped the top award following City's third Welsh Cup win in a row. Powell beat chief rivals Andy Cale and Mark Jones of Port Talbot who were also shortlisted. Other awards were Player of The Season which was won by Port Talbot's Liam McCreesh who got the nod ahead of TNS defender Steve Evans and 'Talbot team mate Martin Rose. The young player of the year was surprisingly won by Craig Jones of TNS, ahead of Talbot left back Scott Barrow and Bangor striker Jamie Reed. Surprising perhaps that Jones, whose father Brynley managed the old Oswestry Town side, is now 23. Nevertheless there would seem to be no age restriction. FARCICAL FIXTURE FORMAT IN FORCE What first seemed like an unfunny joke has been confirmed as a WP reality. The fixture lunacy outlined in the article below (of 8th June) has been accepted by the WP clubs and will be in place from August 2010. So the 8th placed club - out of 12 - will compete for a European place. Unbelievable. |
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| Gareth Parry Takes
Over At Port |
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 Former Bangor midfielder Gareth Parry is the new manager of Porthmadog  The
29 year old steps in as Tomi Morgan
once again returns to Carmarthen who have parted company with Deryn Brace after a disappointing
season. Gareth Parry made a handful of first team and reserve appearances for City in two spells, back in 1999 and more recently in Nev Powell's first season in charge at Farrar Road. Most of his career though has been spent with Porthmadog where, in seven season, he has racked up roughly 150 WP appearances - and now faces the challenge of returning the club to national league status. Given that leading goalscorer Chris Jones has just joined Bangor, Gareth has work to do, and will be keen to get home from his USA holiday to get to grips with keeping the better players and strengthening his squad. The new look CA promises to be difficult, with Rhyl hanging on to seasoned campaigners John Leah and Gareth Owen. It could be a tough test. Good luck Gareth! |
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Clubs Meet To
Square The Circle..
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| With twelve clubs left after the cull of 2010, its decision time...
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| Chris Jones Signs |
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 Powell Swoops for Port Striker Bangor Cty have confirmed the signing of Porthmadog striker Chris Jones. The 24 year old right footer was top goalscorer at The Traeth last season with six league goals in a difficult campaign. Chris began his football career with Leeds United before joining Bournemouth on loan. He spent a spell in Ireland with Limerick before moving closer to home with Colwyn Bay. He has been capped by Wales at Under 19 and 20 level. In Welsh Premier circles Chris has played for Caernarfon Town, Llangefni and, for the past two seasons, Porthmadog. He has scored 19 goals from 118 starts and - with no disrespect intended - impressed in some struggling teams. Chris was a target for then blues manager Steve Bleasdale some years ago. A Nefyn based winger or striker, he also continues the club's policy of seeking to bring the best local players to the Farrar Road whenever possible. Welcome to Bangor! |
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| First Pre Season
Matches Announced |
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| Goodison Giants To Visit Farrar Road  Bangor City have announced some initial pre season fixtures:
Saturday 3rd July at Colwyn Bay (ko 12.30pm)
Tuesday 6th July at Buckley Town (ko 7pm) Saturday 10th July v Everton X1 (ko 3pm) [FARRAR ROAD] Wednesday 28th July at Chester (ko 7.30pm) provisional |
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| Welsh Cup Prize
Money Increased |
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 The FAW have added £50 000 to the prize money for 2010-11. Not all for the winners though! Although the prize money awarded to the winners goes up from £25 000 to £30 000. There is also a later start for the (fewer) Welsh Premier clubs who now enter in the third round in November. The full details - including conference dates - are as follows: Qualifying Round 1 - Saturday
14th August 2010
Qualifying Round 2 - Saturday 28th August 2010 Round One - Saturday 11th September 2010 Round Two - Saturday 2nd October 2010 (Losers in this Round get £750) Round Three - Saturday 6th November 2010 (Losers in this Round get £1,500) Round Four - Saturday 29th January 2011 (Losers in this Round get £2,500) Round Five - Saturday 26th February 2011 (Losers in this Round get £6,000) Semi Final - Saturday 9th April 2011 (Losers in this Round get £12,500) Final - Saturday 7th May 2011 (Runners-Up get £20,000 and Winners get £30,000) |
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| Lee Hunt Moves On |
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 Bangor striker has signed for coast rivals
Prestatyn Town.Lee returned to Farrar Road from Rhyl during the January 2010 transfer window and - despite not quite breaking the net - played and well and scored some important goals. He won over the doubters with his wholehearted displays and added that all important Welsh Cup Final strike to five league goals. Lee has also been something of a controversial character since entering WP circles in June 2002 when he joined City from Helsby. He enjoyed a prolific and successful spell with Rhyl and is now set to wear the red of Prestatyn. Good luck to Lee. |
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| City Granted
License |
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| Bangor City were one of a number of clubs who secured the coveted license after today's appeal hearing in Cardiff. The
appeal hearing lasted for five hours and City officials were informed
at tea time that all had gone well.Well nearly all, for the successful clubs which were Bangor City, Airbus, Bala, Llandudno and Porthmadog. Those who did not win their appeal were Afan Lido, Connahs Quay, Llangefni and Rhyl. The last name on that list will come as a surprise and disappointment to most Welsh domestic football fans. Bangor have been deprived of their arch enemies, their local rivals and biggest gate. Not all the successful appellants though will be in the Welsh Premier as they did not finish high enough in their league table. The final list now looks like this: North Wales (5): Bangor City, Airbus, Bala Town, Prestatyn, TNS Mid Wales (2): Newtown, Aberystwyth South Wales(5): Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Llanelli, Neath, Port Talbot So congratulations to all involved with Bangor, especially I would imagine chairman Dilwyn Jones who has put in a huge amount of effort to ensure that everything was in order. He wont thank me for mentioning him, definitely someone who prefers to keep quiet and get on with the job in hand. Sorry Dilwyn, but... Well done! |
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| The Citizens
Choice Player of The Year.. |
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| Chris Roberts  Chris joined
Bangor during the summer of 2009 to replace one of my favourite City
players Martin Beattie!After appearing the Honka Espoo games Chris missed a couple of WP matches and appeared to take a few games to settle in. However once he had he grew in confidence and became one of the most consistent performers at the club. Chris went on to make 32 WP appearances at left back. From Christmas onwards, with both Dave Swanick and Clive Williams injured, the Bangor back four had a settled look with Peter Hoy, Michael Johnston and Jamie Brewerton settled alongside Roberts. You can only defend well with a settled defence, but then only if the four work well together. They did this with growing authority. Chris Roberts showed the important knack of being in the right place at the right time, of winning tackles and headers and of making important clearances. As his confidence grew his passing and general distribution did likewise and launched many a counter attack. All in all an impressive first season and hopefully the first of many. Well done Chris |
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| Citizens Choice Player of The Season |
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| 1999-00 |
Aled
Rowlands |
| 2000-01 |
Ritchie
Owen |
| 2001-02 |
Marc
Lloyd Williams |
| 2002-03 |
Simon
Davies |
| 2003-04 |
Alan
Goodall |
| 2004-05 |
Clayton
Blackmore |
| 2005-06 |
Paul
Roberts |
| 2006-07 |
Sion
Edwards |
| 2007-08 |
Michael
Johnston |
| 2008-09 |
Peter
Hoy |
| Hatrick Heroes -
Six of The Best |
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 Half a dozen City players have now won three successive Welsh Cup winners medals with the blues. Can you name the six? If you cannot, then they are Paul Smith, Peter Hoy, Michael Johnston, Les Davies, Marc Limbert and Sion Edwards. Player manager Limbert (2) and goalkeeper Smith (1) also won the cup with coast rivals Rhyl to have five and four to their names respectively. There are also a trio of lads who have won two medals, Dave Swanick, Jamie Brewerton and Clive Williams, still with the club. To this you can add four who won twice before moving on - Martin Beattie, Mike Walsh, Kieran Killackey and Christian Seargeant.
 Youngest
ever double winner?There is also an interesting question surrounding local youngster Clive Williams who has two winners medals to his name at the age of nineteen. I wonder if records exist to see if he is one of - if not the - youngest player to win two medals? More specifically perhaps two winners medals with one club by that age? Clive is a hugely promising youngster, arguably the best player to through the ranks since Owain Tudur Jones. Any welsh football historians out there with an answer? |
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Bangor Mourns Ian Lawther |
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Bangor City supporters have been saddened to learn of the death of Ian Lawther  Former
Northern Ireland striker Ian Lawther
died on 25th April 2010 at the age of seventy.Belfast born Ian began his career at Crusaders but came to prominence with Sunderland for whom he scored 41 goals in 75 league matches between 1958-61. He had tried his luck with Manchester United as a youngster, but like another Irishman became homesick and went back to Belfast. Whilst building a reputation as a no nonesense centre foward Ian played for Blackburn Rovers, Scunthorpe, Brentford and Halifax before signing for Stockport County in 1971. At Halifax Ian won promotion from the old Fourth Division under the management of Alan Ball senior. By the time of his move to Stockport he had remoulded himself as a midfielder but at Farrar Road, where he arrived during the summer of 1976, Ian was a centrehalf. His Football League career showed 178 goals from 577 appearances, alongside four caps for Northern Ireland from 1960-62. This was a Bangor side guided by Dave Elliot and a typical line up, from October 1976 v Northwich Vics showed the following line up: 1 Peter Eales 2 John McClelland 3 Phil Lunn 4 Dave Elliot 5 Ian Lawther 6 Kevin Williams 7 Dewi Atherton 8 Tony Broadhead 9 Pat Olney 10 John Hughes 11 Derek Hughes Sub Derwyn Hughes Ian will be remembered an influential figure in that Bangor side, and as an approachable gentleman who brought professionalism to the side and the younger players around him - including future Northern Ireland cap John McClelland. After his retirement Ian returned to Halifax where he kept a tailors shop and then moved to live n Swindon. Our deepest sympathies go to Ian's friends and family. |
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| Hatrick Heroes |
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| The Welsh Cup Final 2009-10 Bangor City 3 v 2 Port Talbot Town   Bangor City made it three Welsh Cup wins
in a row at Parc Y Scarlet yesterday.City took a sixth minute lead through Lee Hunt and doubled that advantage when Jamie Reed headed home on fifteen minutes. With Dave Morley in commanding form and the back four resolute City held the lead until the interval but thirteen minutes after the restart a close range finish from Drew Fahiya halved the deficit and five minutes from time Liam McCreesh levelled. Bangor had a couple of shouts for penalties turned away by referee John but refused to be disheartened. With thoughts turning towards extra time and fitness levels, the fourth official declared five minutes of added time. City needed less than two for a foul on Lee Hunt to yield a freekick delivered by Sion Edwards and headed home by Dave Morley to the delight of the blue horde. Bangor played out the remainder of what turned into six minutes and were able to celebrate a third successive Welsh Cup win, European entry and everything that goes with it! Well done blues! DAVE MORDAVE
MORLEY IS MOBBED TWO MINUTES INTO ADDED TIME
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 HATRICK HEROES - CITY CLINCH
THEIR THIRD WELSH CUP WIN IN A ROW!
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| Jamie Reed Wins
Coveted Award |
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 Bangor striker Jamie Reed has won this season's Phil Stanley Award. The free scoring striker has 29 goals to his name and reportedly polled more votes than any previous winner. He joined City during the summer of 2009 and initially played wide right before the departure of Chris Sharp. It is not just the goals scored though - or their quality - but also his all round play which has earned Jamie the award named after a well respected Daily Post sport journalist. Previous winners include Michael Johnston, Gareth Owen, Lee Hunt and George Horan. Jamie is pictured being presented with his award by Daily Post sports reporter Dave Jones. . |
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The dramatic final five minutes of the Honka
tie are etched in Bangor folklore but this is a chance for Nev Powell
and his side to firmly claim a place in the club's history.
With
some Bangor fans already on the Portugese holiday island, the Bangor
party will follow suit on Monday ahead of Thursday's historick clash.