THE NINETEEN SEVENTIES

ONE STEP AWAY FROM THE BIG TIME

1970/71

City suffered a defeat by Darlington in the first round of the FA Cup in November by five goals to one. The third round of the FA Trophy was again reached but Bangor lost at home against Tamworth by the odd goal in seven. An improved performance in the league led to a top eight finish.

1971/72

With Tony Broadhead leaving, a new name started appearing on the scoresheet, John Hughes. For the fourth consecutive year City reached the FA Cup First Round where they played Bolton Wanderers and lost 3-0.

1972/73

Bangor’s most successful NPL season thus far, with a top six place secured despite losing the services of goal machine Jimmy Conde following abuse from the terraces. Bangor excelled in the cups. Goals from Marsden and Brodie defeated Third Division Rochdale at Spotland in the FA Cup First Round to set up a home tie versus York. Despite goals from Marsden and Morton and hitting the woodwork no less than four times York went through by three goals to two. The FA Trophy Quarter Final was reached but on March 10th City lost a game they should have won, losing by the odd goal in five at home against Ashford. After defeating Hereford in the Welsh Cup Semi Final with two goals by Marsden, Bangor beat Cardiff in the first leg of the Final with another Marsden goal sending a packed Farrar Road crowd home dreaming about Europe. The second leg in Ninian Park was a different story, Cardiff running out 5-0 winners to secure the cup by a five goals to one aggregate scoreline.

1973/74

A disappointing season on and off the pitch, financial problems led to John Hughes being sold as well as five other first team players. This contributed to City finishing in the bottom half of the league.

1974/75

Tony Broadhead was the big summer signing to the fans delight. Another player returning to Farrar Road was Barry Ashworth who had played over 300 league games for various clubs since appearing for the City Reserves as a seventeen year old fourteen years previously. Ashworth ended the season as player manager. The ambitious new board of directors were planning for Bangor City to join the Fourth Division of the Football League but decided to wait for another couple of years.

1975/76

This was a reasonably poor season with management changes following a disastrous 6-1 defeat against little Llanidloes Town in the Welsh Cup. A little known seventeen-year old played a handful of games in the Bangor goal, but Neville Southall was not fancied by the manager who preferred the more experienced custodian Peter Eales. Southall was transferred and was not heard of again!

1976/77

A new player manager took the reins. Dave Elliot, an ex-Newcastle and Sunderland star, started putting together a new and exciting team to try and attract the crowds back to Farrar Road. The re-signing of fans favourite John Hughes to partner Tony Broadhead up front pleased the faithful and the board decided to apply for the Football League. Wigan were the other team in the running and the inspection team of Bob Lord and Sir Matt Busby visited both grounds. Unfortunately for City, Springfield Park had crush barriers on its terraces and Farrar Road did not so Wigan were preferred to City.

1977/78

This season saw Dave Elliot’s young and exciting team finish fourth in the league. City’s team included John McLelland, who went on to captain Northern Ireland and represent his country in two World Cup Finals. He won a League Championship winners medal with Leeds United in 1991. Other players in the city line-up included Dewi Atherton, Billy Telford, Pat Olney and local boy, Phil Lunn. On March 23rd and 25th, Bangor competed in the Anglo-Italian Cup. Reggiana were the visitors on the 23rd, and Bangor hammered the Italians 5-1, with goals from Mason, Hipwell and a Broadhead hat-trick. Two days later Treviso were beaten 2-1. Hipwell and executive director, Sir Bobby Charlton were the goalscorers. In the Quarter Final of the Welsh Cup, Bangor faced a tricky-looking tie away against Newport County. Two goals from Olney and a Billy Telford strike gave Bangor a stunning 3-1 victory. On paper, the Semi-Final also appeared to be a tough tie - home against Shrewsbury, but Atherton, Telford and two Broadhead goals saw City win 4-2 to reach the final. The two-legged Final was against Wrexham, who had just won the Third Division, and were enjoying the best spell of their hundred year history. On May 6th, a packed Farrar Road witnessed City lose 2-1. Three days later, a sell-out Racecourse Ground saw Wrexham complete the job with a 1-0 victory. Despite all the good work put in by Dave Elliot, it was not considered good enough by the Bangor directors. Only days after the Welsh Cup Final defeat, they asked him to step down as manager, as they wanted their own man, Stuart Mason, to take over. Not surprisingly, Elliot resigned.

1978/79

A new league combining the cream of non-League football was proposed for the following season. The Alliance Premier League (now the Football Conference) was to be comprised of the leading teams from the NPL, the Southern and Isthmian leagues. A good league season was therefore imperative to ensure a place in this new division. Ex-Liverpool star Chris Lawler scored City’s first goal of the season, but Bangor drew far too many games, and only finished twelfth, but were still invited into the APL. The highlight of the season for the fans occurred on January the 30th, when Liverpool were the visitors in a friendly. Liverpool were the European champions, having won the European cup in both 1977 and 1978. Liverpool had gone eight weeks without playing due to the terrible winter, and were desperate for a game. Liverpool’s full Division One team, including Kenny Dalglish, Ray Clemence, and captain Emlyn "Crazy Horse" Hughes, beat Bangor 4-1. The match was refereed by a certain Mr Gwyn Pierce Owen, future President of Bangor City FC.

1979/80

The first season of the APL saw Bangor challenging for championship honours. During December they held the second place position, but poor attendances and increased travel costs led to no less than six first team players being transferred. After a 5-0 away defeat to Altrincham, manager Stan Storton resigned. Bangor eventually finished ninth.