Barry Town United F.C. Explained

Clubname:Barry Town United
Upright:0.8
Fullname:Barry Town United Football Club
Nickname:Town, Linnets, Dragons
Founded: (as Barry AFC)
Ground:Jenner Park, Barry
Capacity:3,500 (2,200 seated)
Manager:Steve Jenkins
Website:http://www.barrytown.co.uk/
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Barry Town United Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl Droed Tref Y Barri) is a semi-professional association football team based in Barry, Wales. They currently play in the .

They are known for representing Wales in Europe as winners of the Cymru Premier and Welsh Cup during the 1990s and early 2000s and have also competed in England's Southern League and FA Cup. The team, which has contained more than 50 full internationals, is now run by supporters. They play at their traditional home of Jenner Park, Barry, which holds 3,500 spectators.

History

Formation

Barry Town United's history dates back to 1892 when an association football team named Barry and Cadoxton District was formed in the area. During the early years, this side endured many upheavals, playing on five different grounds under various identities, including Barry Unionist Athletic, Barry United Athletic and Barry District. Players who featured during these years included Ted Vizard and Billy Jennings; who would each go on to play in the famous 'White Horse' FA Cup Final. In November 1912, a meeting at The Windsor public house in Holton Road saw townsfolk choose to pursue membership of the thriving Southern League as Barry AFC (the 'Town' suffix was added after World War II). The club would secure land owned by the Jenner family and the people of the town came together to build Jenner Park, ahead of the first match of the 1912–13 season.

On 6 September 1913, Barry played their first fixture; a Southern League match against Mid-Rhondda at Jenner Park. The game attracted 4,000 spectators, including 1,000 travelling supporters.

Fittingly, the new team would register a surprise, albeit merited, victory, with Barry's Ralph Isherwood scoring the very first goal at Jenner Park just three minutes in. His second, midway through the second half, sealed a 2–1 victory, a fine start for the Barry side on, coincidentally, the same afternoon that Arsenal played their first match at Highbury.

The ensuing two seasons would see Stoke City, Brentford, Coventry City and others visit the new ground. However, the Great War would soon interrupt any competitive proceedings; with Barry captain Major James Wightman one of the many casualties of The Battle of the Somme.

Southern League success

The 1920–21 season ranks as one of the finest in Barry's history, as they surprised many by becoming champions of the Southern League's Welsh section. The achievement was all the more impressive when considering the small Barry squad played over 100 matches in all competitions during the course of the season. Competing simultaneously in both the Welsh and Western League, the Barry board gave priority to Southern League fixtures, swayed by aspirations of joining the new English Third Division.

Inspired by Stanley Cowie, the title was clinched in early May, and yet hopes of Barry being able to move up to the Football League were scuppered just a month later, when their application failed and Charlton Athletic and Aberdare Athletic (the latter of whom finished second to Barry in their section) were elected instead.

Barry retained membership of the Southern League for more than 60 years – their highest finish being fourth in the 1930s. Among the notable players of the era were Johnny Gardner (with over 500 appearances), Dai Ward (scorer of more than 300 goals) and Fred Whitlow (a 100+ goal marksman). Meanwhile, Barry-born sportsman Ernie Carless combined his footballing exploits with a successful cricketing career with Glamorgan.

FA Cup and Welsh Cup glory

At the end of the 1920s, a crowd of 6,000 at Upton Park saw Barry beat Dagenham Town 1–0 to progress to the FA Cup 2nd Round; before losing to Brighton & Hove Albion ten days later. It proved to be their most successful run in the competition. Barry would reach the 1st Round again in 1934–35, losing 1–0 to Northampton Town at Jenner Park, but the build-up to the match was tainted by a fire that ravaged the grandstand.

Football again took a backseat in 1939, with the eruption of World War II . Barry's Chris Mason would be captured as a prisoner of war during the conflict, though would return to Jenner Park to resume his career afterwards; entertaining spectators thrilled by the adventures of players such as Derek Tapscott (who would later sign for Arsenal), celebrated striker Stan Richards and Gwilym 'Cannonball' Cain.

In the 1949–50 season, Jenner Park became one of the first grounds in the country to introduce floodlights, with Newport County, Swansea City and Cardiff City all visiting to showcase the facilities. Two seasons later, an all-Welsh showdown in the FA Cup 1st Round saw Barry beaten by Newport, 4–0. Nevertheless, the town's most celebrated footballing achievement was right around the corner.

In May 1955, following a 1–1 draw at the Racecourse in Wrexham, Barry beat Chester City 4–3 at Ninian Park to lift the Welsh Cup for the first time. Former Chelsea right-wing Charlie Dyke scored the winner, a dramatic late free-kick to take the cup back to Barry.

1960s, 1970s and 1980s

In the late 1950s, a host of Scandinavian stars made their way to Jenner Park, and dazzled Barry football enthusiasts with their skill. Among their number were Finland's Hannu Kankkonen and Bengt 'Folet' Berndtsson; a member of the Sweden squad that reached the final of the 1958 World Cup. The influx of players from continental Europe came as a result of chairman John Bailey's business interests overseas.

During this period, the club embarked on an overseas tour, playing three games in Malta in 1960 against Sliema Wanderers, Hibernians and Valletta that all ended in draws.

1961 saw another big match as QPR visited Jenner Park in the FA Cup. A crowd of 7,000 saw Laurie Sheffield's opener for Barry cancelled out late on. QPR won the replay at Loftus Road comfortably. The 1960s and 70s are perhaps most fondly remembered for the personalities that pulled on the Barry shirt. Among them, prolific goalscorers Ken Gully and Clive Ayres, brothers John and Dickie Batt, long-serving Bobby Smith and Ashley Griffiths, and tall defender Mike Cosslett; now a member of the club coaching staff.

In 1982, Barry left the Southern League, focusing on Welsh League competition and winning six Welsh League titles before the decade's end; thanks in no small part to the goals of striker Steve Williams. The most significant match of the decade though came on 17 November 1984, as 3,850 crammed into Jenner Park to see Barry vs Reading in the FA Cup 1st Round. Despite Ian Love's goal, an injury-time winner by Trevor Senior was enough to send the Royals through.

Exile and return

After insufficient floodlighting had stopped the club being able to compete in the Southern League for most of the 1980s, the tail end of the decade saw the necessary ground improvements to support a return to England. Barry entered the league's Midland Division and would consistently finish in the top six, yet were denied the opportunity to field a reserve XI in the Welsh League as they had done previously.

The creation of the League of Wales (now Cymru Premier) in 1992 then prompted a decree that Barry would no longer be able to compete in the English pyramid at all while based on Welsh soil. As part of a group of rebel clubs known as the Irate Eight (alongside Newport, Merthyr, Colwyn Bay, Bangor City, Caernarfon Town, Newtown and Rhyl), the Town were forced into exile; with the first team adopting the name of Barri AFC and playing 'home' matches out of Worcester City's ground, while the reserves (by now, a local league outfit), manned the Jenner Park fort. However, this arrangement would last only one season, as chairman O' Halloran performed a shock u-turn that saw the Barry first team return home; eventually accepted into Welsh League Division One for the 1993–94 campaign.

Decade of dominance

Barry's return to Jenner Park would spark the side's most successful period, as they earned immediate promotion to the top flight and a unique quadruple of Welsh League championship, Welsh League Cup, FAW Trophy and Welsh Cup (for the first time since 1955).

The latter was one of the Town's most famous achievements, as they upset Football League Second Division outfit Cardiff City in front of 16,000 spectators at the old National Stadium. Barry's reward for winning the Welsh Cup was a European Cup Winners Cup tie against Žalgiris Vilnius of Lithuania, but they crashed out 7–0 on aggregate. Greater glory was on the horizon.

After one season in the League of Wales, Barry opted to become the league's first fully professional club and, thereafter, won their first league championship in 1995–96. The season was though marred by the deaths of chairman Neil O' Halloran and young midfielder Matthew Holtham, the latter in a motorway accident on the way back from an away match in April.

1996 saw the club create history as the first League of Wales side to progress beyond the opening round of a European competition.

Following victory in Latvia over Dinaburg, Barry ousted Hungarian side Budapest Vasutas in one of several epic European nights at Jenner Park. Despite trailing 3–1 from the away leg, Barry stormed to a victory in the return match by the same score-line, and then won a penalty shoot-out 4–2.

A memorable all-British tie with Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen was their reward and, after losing 3–1 to Roy Aitken's side at Pittodrie, the Welshmen were held to a pulsating 3–3 draw at a rain-swept Jenner Park; exiting the cup in thrilling fashion before a crowd of over 6,000.

On the domestic scene, Barry were all-conquering, clinching a first treble of League of Wales championship, Welsh League Cup and Welsh Cup. The championship was claimed with a record 105 points and a goal difference of more than +100. In January 1997, the team was part of the first League of Wales match to be broadcast live on television; a 5–2 win over visitors Caernarfon Town that still holds the league's attendance record. Then, from March, Barry went 51 matches without tasting a single defeat in a league fixture.

1999 saw Barry become the first League of Wales team to win the FAW Premier Cup, with a 2–1 win over Wrexham at the club's own Racecourse Ground. Pipped to the title in 2000 by the emerging TNS, Barry would regain their crown the following campaign, while European battles with the likes of Dynamo Kyiv and Boavista saw players of the highest calibre grace Jenner Park (among them, the likes of Andriy Shevchenko and Serhii Rebrov.)

Then, in the 2001–02 season, Barry notably became the first League of Wales team to win a European Champions League tie, when they defeated the Azerbaijan champions FC Shamkir to set up a tie with Portuguese club FC Porto. Barry lost the first leg in Portugal by an emphatic 8–0 margin, after conceding two early penalties in front of a partisan 55,000 crowd. However, the Town would win the home leg 3–1, recording a famous result that has grown in legend with the career success of Porto's Ricardo Carvalho, Helder Postiga and others.[1] [2] [3]

Decline and turmoil

The golden era would not last forever, and the continual challenge of securing enough prize money to sustain their high standards set would eventually catch up with those running the club. After chairperson and backer Paula O' Halloran stood aside, former Scarborough and Grantham Town official Kevin Green came in as the club's new chief executive; yet his varying initiatives failed to stop the rot. In one move that garnered significant press, Green would recruit ex-footballer and celebrity John Fashanu as the club's high-profile chairman in the winter of 2002. Some saw Fashanu as the missing piece of the puzzle, and the man who would help sustain Barry's success going forward. Promising African and Chinese TV deals and an influx of Nigerian internationals, Fashanu made headlines, yet did little to steady a Barry ship in increasingly rough seas. Then, after success on ITV reality show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! saw him attain new-found popularity, Fashanu left the club; which by now was in a perilous financial state.

In the summer of 2003, the club went into administration and the professional squad would quickly disintegrate. An interim management team was appointed, together with an amateur squad drawn primarily from local side N & M Construction of the South Wales Amateur League (five levels below the Welsh Premier). Within a month, Barry had gone from winning a match in Europe to losing 8–0 at Caernarfon Town. Though the professional-era bubble had well and truly burst, fans set about raising money to help keep the club alive. Eventually, mystery man Stuart Lovering arrived to purchase of the club on 10 December 2003. Few could have foreseen what was to come.

2003–04 was a difficult season, with champions Barry's first league win not coming until February 2004 when they beat fellow strugglers Welshpool Town 5–4 with a 98th-minute winning penalty from youngster Luke Sherbon. Manager Colin Addison was brought in resuscitate the team's ailing fortunes, yet the Dragons still ended up bottom of the division, four points off safety, and were relegated to the Welsh League Division One. Controversially, Addison was dismissed by Lovering on the eve of the new campaign, with assistant David Hughes replacing him; only to leave himself months later on finding his budget slashed. In the meantime, an independent district valuer had determined that the club should pay £42,000 in rent and rates each season for the remainder of the lease. Judging the figure to be unfairly based on the club's relinquished professional status, Lovering refused to pay this amount and instead moved the senior side to the White Tips Stadium in Treforest from January 2005 to May 2006. During the absence, a number of staunch supporters formed breakaway club Barry FC; the culmination of a series of disputes with chairman Lovering, who had banned them from fundraising at club. With the Town relegated to their lowest-ever league status at the end of the 2005–06 season, the future appeared bleak for this fallen giant of Welsh football.

Fan-led fightback

While chaos reigned off the field for much of the decade, the roots of recovery began to grow in 2007, with the appointment of new manager Gavin Chesterfield. Chesterfield led Barry to promotion in 2008, with the hope that a winning run of form in the second tier would see the club's dwindling support return. After stumbling early on, Barry enjoyed a 21-match unbeaten streak and finished the season a credible third. Nevertheless, the team's achievements were continually overshadowed by events behind the scenes.

In December 2008, a crisis meeting at Jenner Park saw supporters come forward to pledge their commitment to operating the first team (forming a new company for this purpose), to allow Lovering to focus on finding a buyer. In one of a number of close calls, the club appeared on the verge of being sold in 2010, when businessman Clayton Jones appeared to strike a deal. However, this fell through at the eleventh hour, scuppering a plan to bring in Wales international John Hartson as Director of Football.

Undeterred, 2010 saw the Stand Up For Barry campaign launch, using new social media platforms such as Twitter to spread news of the club's plight with a wider online audience. The resulting support from across the football community proved an invaluable asset as supporters strived to keep the club alive.

Shortly after the close of the 2010–11 season, Lovering announced his fresh intent of withdrawing the first team from higher league competition. To prevent this, the Barry Town Supporters' Committee (BTSC) took complete control of all football and its funding; resulting in what became known to some supporters as the 'DIY Football' era. In the months that followed, the rejuvenated, fan-run Barry set-up enjoyed their most successful Welsh Cup campaign in several seasons; defeating rivals Merthyr Town at Penydarren Park and winning at Haverfordwest County in extra-time, before being edged out 3–2 at Newport County.

2012 marked the 100th anniversary of the club's formation, with a series of events lined up to mark this and the subsequent centenary season. To launch the festivities, the BTSC hosted Cardiff City in an August fundraising friendly attended by 2,000 spectators. However, Lovering's threats to withdraw Barry from the Welsh Football League would intensify in the weeks prior, threatening to cast a cloud over these celebrations. Nevertheless, the BTSC held a successful '100 Years of Barry Town' event at the Angel Hotel (attended by many past and present players), before the current team beat Welsh League champions Cambrian and Clydach on the 100th anniversary itself.

In March 2013, following wins against Caerleon, Penrhyncoch, Ely Rangers and Pontardawe Town, Barry won 2–0 at Flint Town United to progress to the Welsh Cup semi-final for the first time in a decade. Eventually, the team narrowly lost 1–2 to eventual winners Prestatyn Town, marking the first appearance of a fully amateur Barry side at the Welsh Cup semi-final stage.

Survival and resurgence

On 7 May 2013, Lovering withdrew the senior team from the Welsh Football League, against the will of the BTSC, players and supporters; who were ready, willing and able to fulfill the remaining two league fixtures (both against Ton Pentre). Rejecting this perceived act of sabotage, those running the football outlined their intentions to continue as they were, adopting the Barry Town United suffix to emphasise their continuing unity and endeavour. However, a meeting of the FAW Council in Betws-y-Coed in June 2013 announced that the Barry side would have to play "recreational football" henceforth; a declaration that prompted significant outcry, both locally and further afield.There appeared hope for beleaguered Barry as second meeting was arranged for July 2013 at Maesmawr Hall in Caersws to hear new evidence as why the team should be able to continue on. At this second gathering, 15 of the FAW Councillors voted against discussing Barry's future, thus concluding the meeting in no more than five minutes and at considerable expense. Notably, it emerged that this decision went against the recommendations of the FAW's own Domestic Committee and legal team.

With their immediate and long-term future unclear, Barry began their pre-season with wins at Moreton and Elmore that same month, followed by a narrow 3–2 loss to Premier League newcomers Cardiff City, watched by a home crowd of 1,650 supporters on Saturday 27 July. Remarkably, given the bizarre set of circumstances, Barry had led 2–1 at half-time.

Eventually, a High Court judge in Cardiff ruled in Barry's favour; stating that the FAW Council had acted unlawfully in denying them their licence to play Welsh League football. As a result, the fan-run Town side was entered back into the structure.

In the years that have followed, Barry would win two consecutive league titles, reclaiming their place in the second tier, while continuing to develop as a club, on and off the pitch. Today, the club competes at senior, development, youth and junior levels, along with various ladies' teams and pan disability sides in the over and under-16 age groups. In the 2016–17 season, the first team reached the final of Welsh League Cup for the first time since 2001, becoming only the second side from outside the national top flight to achieve this feat since the competition was expanded several years prior. In April 2017, the club secured its return to the Welsh Premier as champions of the Welsh Football League, continuing this remarkable revival.

On Saturday 6 April 2019, a remarkable 5–2 victory at Bala Town, coupled with a 6–0 win for The New Saints away against Newtown, ensured Barry would finish at least third in the 2018–19 JD Cymru Premier and qualify for the preliminary round of the UEFA Europa League. This marked a remarkable transformation for the club, qualifying for European competition for the first time since winning the JD Cymru Premier in the 2002–03 season.

A second European appearance in as many years would follow, as Barry travelled to the Faroe Islands to play NSI Runavik in a one-legged tie, following the abandonment of the 2019–20 season in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the club's league results had begun to decline and Barry were ultimately relegated to the Cymru South in April 2022, having finished 11th out of 12 in the 2021-22 Cymru Premier. Nevertheless, the club would bounce back, with new manager Lee Kendall, a former goalkeeper at Jenner Park, guiding the team to the Cymru South championship with three games to spare.

On 25 July 2023, Kendall resigned as manager after just nine months in charge, despite signing a two-year contract with the club following their promotion back to the Cymru Premier.[4] Kendall would be replaced by former Wales international defender Steve Jenkins.

Colours

For many decades, Barry wore green as their primary colour – thought to be due to officials securing the club's first kit from Plymouth Argyle. On exile in 1992, Barri adopted a red and white strip, which would remain with them on their return to the Welsh pyramid. It was the following season that the club adopted its yellow change kit (deemed lucky for the success it brought in Welsh Cup competition) as a home strip – and it is this colour that has become synonymous with Town football, with variations including uses of blue.

Two of the club's most memorable home strips are the fluorescent lime and navy ordered in error in 2006, and the experimental claret and blue kit worn in the early 1970s – both of which saw the club simultaneously plummet in footballing fortune. Nowadays, the club tends to wear yellow at home and green on the road, though red and then grey-based kits were worn in the past few seasons.

Stadium

See main article: Jenner Park Stadium.

Jenner Park occupies the space of land between Gladstone Road and Barry Road in central Barry and has been the setting for the evolution of Barry's senior football club for more than 100 years.

Named after the Jenner family who had gifted the land, the ground was built by the Barry football enthusiasts for their representative side to compete at the highest possible level and was completed between the landmark meeting of 1912 and the opening fixture of 1913–14.

Among the most notable Barry matches played at Jenner Park have been European ties, domestic cup finals, major semi-finals and quarter-finals, FA Cup fixtures, televised matches, testimonials, high-scoring thrillers and friendlies against high-profile opposition.

Comprised initially of two wooden stands, popular bank terracing was added in 1923 and floodlights added in the 1940s, allowing Jenner Park to host Wales' first floodlit football match between Barry and Newport in 1949–50.

During the 1980s, the local council rebuilt Jenner Park, installing a synthetic running track, a new all-seater stand and improved floodlights.

To bring Jenner Park up to UEFA standards, a second covered stand was built in the mid-1990s, boosting the seating capacity to 2,500. This was temporarily increased to 6,000+ for the visits of Aberdeen and Manchester United with the use of temporary bleachers.

Recent years have seen the addition of a special viewing area for wheelchair users in the grandstand (known colloquially as the 'Old Stand'), accessible via the stadium's Devon Avenue entrance. Meanwhile, October 2015 saw work completed on a new, state-of-the-art 3G pitch, with its inaugural game, a Welsh Cup match against Aberdare Town.

Current squad

[5]

Technical staff

PositionName
Director of Football Steve Jenkins
Manager Jonathan Jones
Assistant Manager Damian Flynn
Coach Mike Cosslett
Coach Lawrence Badman
Fitness Coach Gavin Beddard
Kitman Matthew Case

Notable former players

For all players with a Wikipedia article see .

Championships

League of Wales / Welsh Premier League / Cymru Premier (7)
1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03
Welsh League Division One / Cymru South (10)
1926–27, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 2016–17, 2022–23
Welsh League Division Two (3)
1951–52, 1957–58, 2014–15
Welsh League Division Three (1)
2013–14
Southern League, Welsh Section (1)
1920–21

Championship seasons

width=55Seasonwidth=200Leaguewidth=15Pldwidth=15Wwidth=15Dwidth=15Lwidth=15GFwidth=15GAwidth=15GDwidth=15Ptswidth=120Managerwidth=200Goalkeeper(s)width=120Top Goalscorer
1920–21Southern League2013433512+2330Syd BeaumontBill BowenBill Sanders
1982–83Welsh League Division One34263510335+6855Alan HarringtonJohn MaceySteve Williams
1983–84Welsh League Division One3021548524+6147Les DickersonMatt SimpsonSteve Williams
1984–85Welsh League Division One3221839129+6271Les DickersonTrevor NottSteve Williams
1985–86Welsh League Division One3223908426+5878Richie MorganTrevor NottMartin Goldsmith
1986–87Welsh League Division One3226518120+6183Richie MorganChris SanderMartin Goldsmith
1988–89Welsh League Division One3228409620+7688Mel DonovanChris SanderPaul Evans
1993–94Welsh League Division One3427439428+6685Andy BeattieSteve MorrisDai Withers
1995–96League of Wales4030739223+6997Paul GilesMark OvendalePaul Hunter
1996–97League of Wales40336112926+103105Gary BarnettMark OvendaleTony Bird
1997–98League of Wales38335013431+103104Gary BarnettMark OvendaleEifion Williams
1998–99League of Wales3223728223+5976Gary BarnettDave WellsEifion Williams
2000–01League of Wales3424558430+5477Peter NicholasLee Kendall/Tony TuckerJamie Moralee
2001–02League of Wales3423838229+5377Kenny BrownDavid Forde/Simon RaynerJamie Moralee
2002–03Welsh Premier League3426538426+5883Kenny BrownAbi BaruwaJamie Moralee
2013–14Welsh League Division Three36293411629+8790Gavin ChesterfieldDan BradleyJordan Cotterill
2014–15Welsh League Division Two3022627732+4572Gavin ChesterfieldDan BradleyTJ Nagi
2016–17Welsh League Division One3020646918+5166Gavin ChesterfieldMike LewisNagi/Drew Fahiya
2022-23Cymru South3025327825+5378Lee KendallMike LewisKayne McLaggon

Championship play-offs

This match pitted the winners of the Southern League's English and Welsh sections against each other to determine an overall champion.

Cups

Cup finals

SeasonCompetitionDateOpponentScoreScorersAttendanceVenue
1926–27South Wales Senior Cup02/05/27Ebbw Vale4–0Brittan (2), Cowie (2, 1P)UnknownBarry
1927–28West Wales Senior CupUnknownSwansea Town3–0Condon, Brown, B. DaviesUnknownBarry
1929–30Welsh League Cup28/04/30Llanelly0–1N/AUnknownBarry
1934–35Welsh League CupUnknownGelli Colliery2–0UnknownUnknownTreorchy
1935–36South Wales Senior Cup09/05/36Swansea Town3–0Whitlow (2), Carless4,500Barry
1937–38South Wales Senior Cup07/05/38Lovells Athletic3–0Carless (2), W. Jones3,000Barry
1938–39South Wales Senior Cup03/05/39Swansea Town2–0Carless, Green4,000Barry
1946–47Welsh League Cup05/10/46Milford United1–0ClaytonUnknownHaverfordwest
1952–53South Wales Senior Cup09/05/53Cardiff City3–0Richards, Tapscott, Dyke4,500Barry
1953–54South Wales Senior Cup08/05/54Tonyrefail7–0Dyke (2), Allen, Powell, Foxton, Richards, Bright2,600Barry
Welsh Cup15/05/5519/05/55Chester City1–14–3 (R)NiblettNiblett (2), Goodfellow, Dyke6,7668,450WrexhamCardiff
1958–59South Wales Senior Cup09/05/59Gwynfi Welfare3–2Sheffield (2), BowkettUnknownTon Pentre
1959–60South Wales Senior Cup07/05/6029/08/60Ton Pentre2–2 (A)1–0 (H)Sheffield, LoaderSheffieldUnknownUnknownTon PentreBarry
1965–66South Wales Senior Cup23/08/6607/09/66Abergavenny3–2 (A)2–0 (H)Clark (2), WatkinsCurtin, BrightUnknownUnknownAbergavennyBarry
1975–76South Wales Senior Cup27/04/7603/05/76Ferndale Athletic1–1 (H)2–1 (A)D. BattEvans (2)UnknownUnknownBarryFerndale
1976–77South Wales Senior Cup16/05/7723/05/77Merthyr Tydfil3–3 (H)1–2 (A)Ayres, D. Batt, SmithAyresUnknownUnknownBarryMerthyr
1977–78South Wales Senior Cup15/05/7818/05/78Cardiff City2–0 (H)2–0 (A)D. Batt, HancockD. Batt, AyresUnknownUnknownBarryCardiff
1978–79Welsh League CupUnknownPontllanfraith0–0 AET*N/AUnknownTon Pentre
1982–83Welsh League Cup24/03/83Merthyr Tydfil2–1Green, GriffithsUnknownBridgend
1983–84South Wales Senior Cup30/04/8405/05/847–1 (H)2–1 (A)Redwood (3P), Foley (2), McNeil, GriffithsRedwood (P), SmithUnknownUnknownBarryTon Pentre
1986–87Welsh League Cup30/04/87AFC Cardiff2–0Waddle, GilesUnknownMaesteg
1986–87South Wales Senior Cup18/05/8721/05/87Ton Pentre2–0 (N)2–1 (A)Sullivan, RandallDowd, SmithUnknownUnknownCardiffTon Pentre
1987–88Welsh League Cup07/04/88Bridgend Town0–2N/AUnknownTon Pentre
1987–88South Wales Senior Cup07/05/8814/05/88Cardiff City3–0 (H)2–1 (A)Davies (2), PreeceDavies, PontinUnknownUnknownBarryCardiff
1988–89Welsh League Cup09/05/89Haverfordwest County0–3N/AUnknownEbbw Vale
1991–92South Wales Senior Cup06/05/92Maesteg Park2–1Ph. Evans, R. John210Bridgend
1993–94FAW Trophy07/05/94Aberaman Athletic2–1Sanderson, ThrelfallUnknownPorth
1993–94Welsh Cup15/05/94Cardiff City2–1D'Auria, Hough16,000Cardiff
1993–94Welsh League Cup17/05/94Treowen Stars4–1Wimbleton (2), Sanderson (2)UnknownBridgend
1995–96Welsh Cup19/05/96Llansantffraid3–3 AET**Lloyd, Pike, Bird3,500Cardiff
1996–97League of Wales Cup10/05/97Bangor City2–2 AET*Ryan (2)1,000Aberystwyth
1996–97Welsh Cup18/05/97Cwmbran Town2–1Griffith (2)1,590Cardiff
1997–98League of Wales Cup04/05/97Bangor City1–1 AET*Jones (P)1,000Bangor
1998–99League of Wales Cup03/05/99Caernarfon Town3–0Jones (3)UnknownAberystwyth
1998–99FAW Premier Cup23/05/99Wrexham2–1Perry, Barrow3,142Wrexham
1999–00League of Wales Cup01/05/00Bangor City6–0Jones, P. Evans, Perry (2), Ja. JenkinsUnknownAberystwyth
2000–01League of Wales Cup 07/05/01Caersws0–2N/A820Aberystwyth
2000–01Welsh Cup25/05/01TNS2–0Moralee, Lloyd1,022Wrexham
2001–02Welsh Cup05/05/02Bangor City4–1Moralee (2), French, Flynn2,560Aberystwyth
2002–03Welsh Cup11/05/03Cwmbran Town2–2 AET*Ramasut (P), Phillips852Llanelli
League of Wales Cup21/01/17The New Saints0–4N/A1,116Cardiff
2022-23WBS Cup, Southern10/04/23Briton Ferry Llansawel1-0Press926Trefelin
2022-23WBS Cup, National29/04/23Colwyn Bay6-0Greening, Graham, McLaggon, K. Jones, McDonald, A. Lewis157Newtown

Awards

European competition

Barry have played 27 competitive games in European club competitions; in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners Cup. The team has won three full qualifying ties, defeating opposition from Latvia, Hungary and Azerbaijan, in addition to single victories against FC Porto and Vardar Skopje and draws with Aberdeen, Valletta and Cliftonville. The club has scored 22 goals in regular European play, as well as four shootout penalties. Their return to European football came in the summer of 2019, after an absence of 16 seasons. They followed this up with another European tie the following summer, this time against Faroese opposition NSÍ Runavík where Kayne McLaggon became the first Barry player to score in Europe for 17 years.

SeasonCompetitionRoundDateCountryClubScoreScorersAttendanceCity/Town
1994–95European Cup Winners' CupQ11/08/9425/08/94Žalgiris Vilnius0–10–6N/AN/A1,9142,900CardiffVilnius
1996–97UEFA Cup1Q17/07/9624/07/96Dinaburg0–02–1N/APike, T. Evans2,5002,250BarryDaugavpils
2Q06/08/9620/08/96Budapest Vasutas1–33–1*T. EvansPike (P), O' Gorman, C. Evans2,0002,500BudapestBarry
1R10/09/9624/09/96Aberdeen1–33–3JonesO' Gorman, Ryan (P), Bird13,5006,500AberdeenBarry
1997–98UEFA Champions League1Q23/07/9730/07/97Dynamo Kyiv0–20–4N/AN/A12,0002,380KyivBarry
1998–99UEFA Champions League1Q22/07/9829/07/98Dynamo Kyiv0–81–2N/AWilliams11,800890KyivBarry
1999–00UEFA Champions League1Q13/07/9921/07/99Valletta0–02–3N/ASloan (2)2,0052,996BarryValletta
2000–01UEFA CupQ10/08/0024/08/00Boavista0–20–3N/AN/A3,0391,372OportoBarry
2001–02UEFA Champions League1Q11/07/0118/07/01FK Shamkir2–01–0York, FrenchPhillips1,9927,000BarryBaku
2Q25/07/0101/08/01FC Porto0–83–1N/APhillips, Flynn, Lloyd (P)55,0002,377OportoBarry
2002–03UEFA Champions League1Q17/07/0224/07/02Skonto Riga0–50–1N/AN/A3,5001,507RigaBarry
2003–04UEFA Champions League1Q16/07/0323/07/03Vardar Skopje0–32–1N/AJarman, Moralee5,0001,400SkopjeBarry
2019–20UEFA Europa LeaguePR27/06/1905/07/19Cliftonville0–00–4N/AN/A2,1061,946CardiffBelfast
2020–21UEFA Europa LeaguePR20/08/20NSÍ Runavík1–5McLaggon0Toftir

FA Cup qualification

The club competed regularly in the FA Cup, prior to 1993. The table below denotes the occasions on which the team progressed through the qualifying rounds to the first round. Barry's sole second round appearance came in 1929 against Brighton and Hove Albion, after a replay win over Dagenham Town at the Boleyn Ground, home of West Ham United.

SeasonDateRoundCountryClubScoreScorersAttendance
1929–3030/11/2904/12/291Dagenham Town0–01–0N/AJonesUnknown6,000
14/12/292Brighton & Hove Albion1–4WardUnknown
1934–3524/11/351Northampton Town0–1N/A5,327
1951–5224/11/521Newport County0–4N/A11,844
1961–6204/11/6207/11/621Queen's Park Rangers1–10–7SheffieldN/A7,00011,328
1984–8517/11/841Reading1–2Love3,850

Team records

Record wins

Record defeats

High-scoring matches

Full internationals

Pos.Player
GK Andy Dibble
GK Len Evans
GK Ron Howells
GK Graham Vearncombe
 
Pos.Player
DF Terry Boyle
DF Don Dearson
DF Steve Derrett
DF Phil Dwyer
DF Bob John
DF Keith Pontin
DF Dave Roberts
DF Alf Sherwood
DF Nigel Stevenson
 
Pos.Player
MF Bryn Allen
MF David Cotterill
MF John Emanuel
MF David Giles
MF Robbie James
MF Billy Jennings
MF Chris Marustik
MF Ivor Powell
MF Gil Reece
MF Ted Vizard
 
Pos.Player
FW George Baker
FW Alan Curtis
FW Nick Deacy
FW Leslie Jones
FW Stan Richards
FW Derek Showers
FW Derek Tapscott
FW Dai Ward Jr.
FW Fred Warren
 
Pos.Player
GK Abiodun Baruwa
GK David Forde
DF Atif Bashir
DF Paul Ramsay
MF Bengt Berndtsson
MF Jackie Brown
MF Stig Holmqvist
MF Hannu Kankkonnen
MF Rolf Rosqvist
MF Theo Wharton
FW Nathaniel Jarvis

Hall of Fame

The club's Hall of Fame was established by the Barry Town Supporters Committee in the 2011–12 season to celebrate the achievements of past players, managers and other influential figures. Further additions are set to be made each year.

YearNamePositionSignificant achievementsYears of serviceOther notable clubs
2012–13Chris MasonDefenderA POW in WW2, amassed 400+ appearances either side of war.1937–1951
2012–13Ashley GriffithsDefender22-year association, appearances in finals, Europe and FA Cup1973–2005
2014–15James WightmanCaptainFirst club captain and decorated victim of World War I.1913-14
2012–13Neil O' HalloranVariousPlayer, boss and chairman, launched an era of success1958–1996,
2012–13Charlie DykeRight-wing Welsh Cup winner in 1955, associated with club forty years on.1951–1964
2012–13The Batt BrothersVariousJohn/"Percy" and Richard/"Dicky", the club's most famous siblings.1972–1980
2012–13Bill BowenGoalkeeperGoalkeeper, manager and secretary in inaugural era of success.1919–1927
2012–13ForwardBarry-born Welsh international who found fame with Arsenal.1949–1953,
2011–12Bill JonesManagerManager in the golden 1950s, played before and after war.1934–1953,
2011–12GoalkeeperRecord-setting keeper, 1000+ league minutes without conceding.1995–1998, 2003,
2011–12ForwardRecord signing, dynamic first Champions League goalscorer.1997, 1999,
2011–12Fred WhitlowForwardThree stints, with two-season spell of 13 hat-tricks and 100+ goals.1922–23, 24–25, 35–37,
2011–12ForwardBarry-born footballer and cricketer, played in four decades.1929–1953,
2011–12Dai WardForwardTop marksman for eight seasons with over 300 goals.1926–1935,
2011–12Johnny GardnerDefender500+ appearances, including in FA Cup first and second rounds.1921–1932
2011–12Clive AyresForwardGoalscorer. 46 goals in one season and three straight hat-tricks.1972–1978
2011–12Basil BrightManagerOne-man dynasty as player/coach, signed many key players.1951, 1952–67, 1971–78,
2011–12Forward130 goals in 174 outings, set scoring records everywhere.1952–1955,
2011–12Gwilym CainForwardDubbed 'Cannonball' for penalty prowess, scored over 150 goals.1947–1956, 1960,
2011–12DefenderKey part of Barry's only Southern League title-winning side.1920–1927,
2012–13Steve WilliamsForwardTrophy-winning goalscorer, netting 166 times in 230 appearances.1982–85, 89–90, 94–95,
2012–13ManagerPlayer-manager for European wins, brought passing philosophy1996–99,
2012–13Gary LloydDefenderFree-kick specialist, with European appearances and Wales call-up1994–2003,
2012–13Ken GullyForwardProlific Barry goalscorer in Welsh and English leagues alike.1960–65
2012–13Mike CosslettDefenderDefender and coach, 40+-year association with the club. 1974–,
2012–13Bobby SmithMidfielderTrue clubman, over 500+ outings across a 20-year stint.1975–94
2013–14Billy JenningsManagerFirst Barrian to be capped for Wales, managed Barry twice.1930–49,
2013–14Derek RedwoodDefenderAll-time leading penalty taker, won much silverware in the 1980s.1980s
2016–17George GreenDefenderInternational, Wembley goalscorer, first Welshman to play in Spain.1930s,
2022–23Idris NiblettForwardTown's only Barry-born Welsh Cup Final goalscorer, netting three in 1955.1951-1962,
2017–18Dan BradleyGoalkeeperGoalkeeper, Barry's all-time record Welsh League appearance holder.2006–2017

Women's football

Barry Town United Women play in the Adran Premier League, the highest tier of league competition in Welsh women's football. They are also based at Jenner Park Stadium.

Other information

  • The paperback book The Linnets – An Illustrated, Narrative History of Barry Town AFC, 1888–1993 by Jeff McInery was published in 1993, and is available locally.
  • A number of fanzines devoted to the club have been published, including The Unofficial Programme, 38 Hours From Vilnius, Yma O Hyd and Keep It Going, Cohen.

External links

References

Citations

Bibliography

  • Book: McInery , Jeff . The Linnets – An Illustrated, Narrative History of Barry Town AFC, 1888–1993. Nomad Books. 1993. 9780952284604.
  • Book: Grandin , Terry . Red Dragons in Europe, 1961–1998 – A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. 1998. 1-874287-01-5.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Battered Barry ship eight. 25 July 2001. Guardian. 27 May 2021.
  2. Web site: Clockwatch: FC Porto 8–0 Barry Town. 25 July 2001. BBC Sport. 27 May 2021.
  3. Web site: Barry show pride to sink Porto. 2 August 2001. BBC Sport. 27 May 2021. 29 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170829234552/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/1467218.stm. live.
  4. https://broradio.fm/kendall-leaves-barry-town-united Kendall leaves Barry Town United
  5. Web site: Squad. Barry Town United F.C.. 26 August 2021. 26 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826144332/http://www.barrytown.co.uk/squad/. live.