THE 70S TO THE LEAGUE OF WALES

DAYS TO REMEMBER AND DAYS TO FORGET

The start of the 1970s witnessed a remarkable feat even by today’s congested fixture lists. Alex Ferguson et al may moan about the amount of games their namby-pamby primadonnas are forced to endure, yet the Giggs and Beckhams of this world have never found themselves having to play a league game and a vital Cup match simultaneously!

In the 1970-71 competition, it was at the insistence of the Welsh FA that Bethesda would play the fifth round of the Welsh Cup at home against City on the same day that Bangor were scheduled to play a Northern Premier League match. Unbelievably, neither the NPL nor the Welsh FA would budge, no doubt delighting the underdogs of Pesda who managed to hold the Blues to a draw (the league match, incidentally, ended in a Bangor win!). The replay was duly won, but the world being the unforgiving maelstrom that we know and hate, City’s next tie was away against a Cardiff City side containing stars such as John Toshack - and of course Cardiff triumphed.

For the 1971-72 season, the FAW changed the rules, with the two-legged finals now to be decided on aggregate score, with away goals deciding the outcome if needed. Bangor reached the Quarter Final before losing to Newport County at home. In 1972-73, good away wins over Gresford (9-0), Rhyl (2-0) and Oswestry (4-1) set up a home semi final tie against Hereford. Two goals from Marsden saw City through to the Final to meet Cardiff City. On April 4th, a slightly disappointing crowd of just over 5,000 saw Bangor outplay and outbattle their English Second Division opponents. Despite dominating the game Bangor only managed to score once past their opponents. Brodie took a freekick, Penrose headed on and Marsden was on hand to score. Their inability to put the ball into the back of the net was to cost them dearly in the second leg. Cardiff had not lost a home Welsh Cup game for seven years, and had tasted European glory, in particular beating Real Madrid 1-0 at home a couple of years previously. A tough task for Alex Smith’s part-timers. The player-manager was on the subs bench as he had picked up a knock in the first leg, and on April 11th Cardiff triumphed 5-0.

The next four seasons were a period of transition for City with off-field money worries leading to some abysmal performances, a particular low point being losing 6-1 in 1975-76 against tiny Llanidloes. Things had improved however, for 1977-78 with player-manager Dave Elliot putting together a skilful and exciting side with players such as John McClelland, Pat Olney and Bill Telford. Old favourites Tony Broadhead and John Hughes were still part of the line up. After two 9-0 wins in the third and fourth round, City faced a tough-looking tie away against Newport County in the Quarter Final, but Bangor came away from Somerton Park winning by three goals to one. The reward for this performance was a home Semi Final tie against Third Division Shrewsbury Town. Bangor triumphed 4-2 to play Third Division champions Wrexham. On May 7th, a sell-out Farrar Road saw Wrexham go 2-0 ahead before Billy Telford reduced the deficit. Bangor tried hard but could not equalise, and two days later 14,000 at the Racecourse saw Wrexham win 1-0 to take the trophy 3-1 on aggregate. Despite his popularity and success, Mr. Elliott was replaced as manager days after the Final. This, in part, led to early defeats for the next two years, both in home replays in the 4th round against Chester City.

For the 1980-81 season, the Semi Finals changed to two-legged aggregate affairs, like the final. This did not affect Bangor, who lost 3-1 against Newport County at the Quarter Final stage. With Dave Elliot back in charge, Bangor did better in 1981-82, defeating Shrewsbury in the Quarter Final to set up a two-legged Semi Final against Swansea. Under John Toshack, Swansea were flying high in the English First Division and tickets were in great demand. Bangor were top of the Northern Premier League, and a 28th minute Bruce Urquhart goal gave Bangor a 1-0 half time lead. In the second half, the full-timers scored twice through Welsh internationals Alan Curtis and Leighton James. The second leg in Swansea was expected to be a bit of a rout, with about 110 league places separating the teams, but a good defensive performance ensured a highly creditable 0-0 scoreline. After that good performance hopes were high for the next season but in the fourth round City crashed at home against Colwyn Bay. The 1983-84 season, famous for City playing in Wembley, also saw Bangor losing at the Quarter Final stage, 4-2 in Swansea.

Following relegation from the Alliance Premier League, Bangor appointed a new manager, ex- Welsh international, John Mahoney. A Bruce Urquhart goal in the semi final home leg was enough to see off Third Division Newport County and Bangor went into the Final against Second Division Shrewsbury Town hopeful of an upset. As Shrewsbury are English, Bangor went into the Final knowing qualification for Europe was guaranteed. On May 14th in torrential rain, Shrewsbury stormed to a 3-0 lead. Urquhart pulled one back for Bangor but it looked a tall order for City. May 19th was the date of the home leg, but Shrewsbury made no mistakes to take the Cup by a 5-1 aggregate scoreline. Rule changes again for the 1985-86 season, with the Final reverting to a single game. This was due in part to only about 3500 people in total seeing both legs of the previous season’s showpiece final. Bangor went out 2-0 away against Hereford in the third round, with striker Viv Williams in goal due to a keeping crisis. The 86-87 season saw Bangor progress to the Semi Final where they came up against Merthyr Tydfil. Merthyr won 1-0 at Pennydarren Park, and Bangor won 1-0 at Farrar Road. Merthyr went through after a penalty shootout. The Quarter Final was Bangor’s obstacle for the next four years, losing in 1987-88 at Kidderminster 1-3, in 1988-89 at Barry 0-1, in 1989-90 at Hereford in a replay 0-4 and in 1990-91 at home against Hereford on penalties after a replay.