THE NINETEEN NINETIES

REACHING NEW HIGHS AND NEW LOWS

1990/91

A higher league finish, but defeat against Southport in the League Cup Semi Final and a defeat by Hereford on penalties in the Welsh Cup Quarter Finals made for a disappointing season. Once again, a proposed League of Wales looked like becoming reality.

1991/92

This season was Bangor City’s last in English competition after close to 100 years of history. Bangor decided to join the League of Wales and stay at Farrar Road rather than play in exile in English competition. Off the field matters overshadowed performances on the pitch, as Bangor finished just three places from the bottom of the NPL. In the FA Trophy, a bit of history was made when Gretna visited Farrar Road - a Welsh team playing a Scottish team in an English competition for the first time ever. Bangor left the English pyramid system with a 0-0 away draw against Shepshed Albion.

1992/93

A new era started with Bangor’s participation in the Konica League of Wales. Bangor were expected by many to walk away with the championship, but under the guidance of former Crystal Palace and Chelsea coach, Ernie Whalley, Bangor’s performances were poor, and Whalley had his marching orders after a dismal 6-0 home defeat at the hands of Holywell Town. The appointment of Dave Elliot as caretaker manager, who recalled Phil Lunn to the side, improved performances, which included a tremendous victory over Conference team Kidderminster Harriers in the Welsh Cup. Elliot was awarded Manager of the Month before Paul Rowlands was appointed as the new player manager. Paul Rowlands brought a new battling, hard working ethic to the Bangor side. He made a number of quality signings towards the end of the season including the centre half, Mark Rutter, the lively winger Lee Noble and the very talented Stuart Terry. City finished the season 4th in the League of Wales and won the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup, 2-1 versus Flint Town United in a Llandudno Final.

1993/94

Bangor started the season well, boosted by the new signings of the classy Harry Wiggins, the hard working Dave Barnett and the former Tranmere and Wigan goalkeeper, Nigel Adkins. In October, Rowlands was offered the post of manager at conference side Altrincham. Rowlands accepted and took with him two of City’s most talented players, Right back Steve Cross, and the skilful winger Stuart Terry. The board showed no hesitation in asking goalkeeper Nigel Adkins to be the new man in charge. Adkins changed Bangor’s style slightly to a team which played from the back, with a more patient style. Bangor used strong midfielders and created chances from both clever passing moves and the wings. He brought in former Wigan defenders Jimmy Carberry and Steve Appleton. The signing of Dele Adebola on loan bolstered the attack which included the talents of goalscorer Frank Mottram. Bangor were very unlucky to lose to eventual winners, Barry Town in the Welsh Cup Semi Final. In the league however, City were overhauling Inter Cardiff, who at one stage had a 12 point lead. On a memorable Tuesday night thousands of Bangor supporters made the trip down the Lleyn Peninsula to give Porthmadog their record gate of over 3500. An early Mark Rutter free-kick and a late Lee Noble goal secured the championship for Bangor and wild celebrations began (see Roll of Honour). Four days later, City lost 1-0 in the League Cup Final against Afan Lido in Aberystwyth, but it didn’t seem to matter too much as Bangor were Champions and had qualified for Europe for the first time since 1985.

1994/95

During the summer Nigel Adkins strengthened the team with players such as Mark Lloyd Williams, and former Wrexham right back, Kevin Jones. The three foreigners rule meant a weakened City team lost to Icelandic champions IA Akranes in the preliminary round of the UEFA Cup (See City in Europe). The league, however was a different matter. Bangor, bolstered by the key signing of Kevin Langley, a League championship winner for Everton during the eighties, opened up a 22 point lead in the championship. In the Welsh Cup Bangor played against Wrexham in the Quarter Final stage. Over 5,000 at Farrar Road saw Bangor outplay Wrexham for long periods of the game. Goals from Mottram and Lloyd-Williams made the final score 2-2. Wrexham won a close replay by 1-0. Shortly after the Wrexham game, striker Mark Lloyd Williams was sold to Stockport County for £10,000. The league was won following 4-1 victory over Conwy United. Bangor were presented with the trophy prior to an away fixture at Connah’s Quay Nomads. City celebrated in style with an 8-0 victory (see Roll of Honour).

1995/96

The season started with a game against Widzew Lodz of Poland. The Lodz team included five full internationals and three under-21s, they proved too strong for Bangor, and ran out 4-0 winners at Farrar Road in the home leg. Many people were prepared for a heavy defeat in the away leg, but a great performance saw City lose narrowly, 1-0 to a late goal. The three foreigners rule had caused Bangor all sorts of selection problems (see City in Europe). Bangor had problems in replacing Lloyd-Willams and many poor results could be blamed on missed chances. An early Welsh Cup exit saw the Bangor City Board of Directors sack Nigel Adkins, only to comically re-instate him three days later. On February 17th a 4-0 defeat in Conwy signalled the end of the Adkins era at Bangor. Brian Griffiths took over as manager and took City from fifth to a final position of eighth in the league.

1996/97

After just five games, Griffiths was on his way. He was joined by three directors after a disgraceful 2-0 home defeat at the hands of local rivals Caernarfon Town. Kevin Langley took over as the new player manager. Despite the return of Mark Lloyd-Williams in time to score all four goals in a 4-1 win at Caernarfon, Bangor could only finish 8th. There was more disappointment for Bangor City in Aberystwyth, when City lost on penalties against league champions Barry Town in the League Cup Final. This was Langley’s last match in charge as he was replaced by ex-Everton and Scotland star, and former Oldham manager, Graeme Sharp.

1997/98

A fine start to the season under the new management duo of Sharp and assistant John Hulse saw Bangor win their first five games. Bangor were driven in the midfield by the talents of Neil Sang and Steve Ashton. Bangor could not keep up this run and eventually finished the season in fifth position, an injury to Sang proving to be a large blow to Bangor’s form. Bangor registered a 1-0 aggregate win over Caernarfon in the League Cup Semi Final. In Rhyl City beat Newtown after extra time to reach the Welsh Cup Final. On the 12th of May the League Cup Final was played at Farrar Road against league champions Barry Town. History repeated itself as Barry won again on penalties to lift the League Cup. Six days later, at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, Bangor faced Connah's Quay in the Welsh Cup Final. Extra time could not separate the two teams. So, for the second time in six days, Bangor faced a penalty shootout. Two fantastic saves by former Cardiff net minder Dave Williams gave Nicky Brookman the chance to win the cup for Bangor. Brookman converted from the spot, sparking the travelling fans’ celebration (see Roll of Honour). Just ten days later Sharp, Hulse and practically the entire team had left following more boardroom shenanigans.

1998/99

Ex-Altrincham manager John King took over from Sharp and found that only Mark Allen and Danny McGoona remained from the previous season’s Cup-winning team. The majority of the players had left over the issue of allegedly unpaid Cup bonuses. Bangor lost against Finnish side FC Haka 3-0 in aggregate in the Cup Winners’ Cup. Once again, to the total dismay of City's increasingly disillusioned fans, boardroom politics reared its ugly head, and King left after just seven games. Goalkeeper Lee Williams was offered the manager’s post. Williams accepted and led City through a season which is widely accepted to be one of the worst in the club’s long and illustrious history. City did run out winners of the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup, although they lost the Semi Final to Colwyn Bay. The Bay, whose constant ridiculing of the League of Wales has angered many, were thrown out of the competition after fielding an ineligible player, which provided an all too brief amusing interlude for the City faithful. City eventually finished eleventh, their lowest ever in the League of Wales. Lee Williams was sacked at the end of the season, and long-suffering fans called for the wholesale resignation of an apathetic Board of Directors.

In the summer, Bangor unveiled the new management team of Meirion Appleton and Terry Boyle. A chief executive, Major Martyn Maund headed a new board with plans to incorporate the successful Bangor City Girls team, and the youths. The major promised full and frank disclosure between the board and fans, and Bangor supporters entered the season with a great deal of hope. A good 5-2 away victory against Caersws was followed by a run of five defeats in the league, but then in late October, the new look Bangor team began to gel, winning 13 and drawing one out of the next 14 games.

The new millenium saw the end of this run of good form with a dissapointing home defeat by Caersws. Bangor never recaptured the form that had seen them climb to 3^rd in the table, and remined inconsistent in the league for the remainder of the season, eventually finishing in 9^th position. Off the field a familiar story was taking place. The directors decided that Bangor were going broke and once more begged money from the long suffering fans. Major Maund’s "full and frank disclosure" was obviously a complete fabrication, and the girls team split from the club, over a row about money. The board then alienated themselves further by sacking the management team just 4 days before the Welsh Cup semi final. President Gwyn Pierce Owen and secretary Alun Griffiths resigned in protest, and Bangor fans were once again left bewildered and angry that the people running the club could be so stupid. Against the odds, the players beat Afan Lido 4-2 in the semi final, and club captain Scott Williams, who had been manager for the day summed it up in a post match interview.."we did it for the fans, for Gwyn and for Meirion". 2 days later the coaching team returned as did GPO and Alun G, following the resignations of the unpopular members of the board

Off field problems were having their affect on the pitch, and despite looking like City would comfortably make the top 8 thus qualifying for the Premier Cup, a run of just one win in seven league games led to City finishing just outside the placings.

The last week of the season saw City involved in two cup finals.

6 days later, Bangor were facing Cwmbran in the Welsh Cup Final. Bangor were playing for the future of the club as an entity, winning the cup would lead to Premier Cup and UEFA Cup money, losing it would lead to possible bankruptcy. 1000+ Bangor fans cheered their heroes on to a memorable 1-0 victory, courtesy of Paul Roberts’ first half strike.

On the day all the experience of Cwmbran was no match for the speed, skill and energy of the Bangor players. Bangor had saved their best performance of the season until the last game of the season, and the celebrations went on long into the night. The manager, players, Welsh Cup and supporters had an impromptu party in the pubs around Bangor. Certain members of the unpopular board were nowhere to be seen, but "Mr. Bangor City", Gwyn Pierce Owen and Alun Griffiths were celebrating with the rest of us.

The 23^rd of June UEFA cup draw saw Bangor paired with Swedish outfit Halmstads. Home leg on Thursday, August 10^th in Wrexham, away leg Thursday, August 24^th in Sweden.