Conwy Borough F.C. Explained

Clubname:Conwy Borough
Fullname:Conwy Borough Football Club
Nickname:The Tangerines
Founded:
(as Conwy United)
Ground:Y Morfa Stadium, Conwy
Capacity:2,500
Coordinates:53.287°N -3.8482°W
Manager:Lee Pope/Caleb Jones [1]
Website:http://www.conwyboroughfc.co.uk/
Kit Alt1:Tangerine jersey, black shorts and socks
Leftarm1:F88017
Body1:F88017
Rightarm1:F88017
Shorts1:000000
Socks1:F88017
Pattern Name1:Home
Kit Alt2:White jersey, White shorts and socks
Leftarm2:FFFFFF
Body2:FFFFFF
Rightarm2:FFFFFF
Shorts2:FFFFFF
Socks2:FFFFFF
Pattern Name2:Away

Conwy Borough Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed Bwrdeistref Conwy) are a Welsh football club based in Conwy, playing in the . Between 1977 and June 2012 they were known as Conwy United.

Club history

Following the demise of Borough United in 1967, Welsh representatives in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963–64, there was a void of Welsh League clubs in the Conwy area. Historically there has always been football in the area, and especially a Conwy team, stretching back to the 1870s. In 1977 Conwy Town and Conwy Royal British Legion, both of whom played in the Vale of Conwy League, amalgamated to form Conwy United.

The club was duly elected to the Welsh League (North) that later became the Welsh Alliance League. In 1981–82 the club won the Welsh Intermediate Cup (now called the FAW Welsh Trophy) and the club also won the Welsh Alliance League title in 1984–85 and 1985–86. In 1990 the club became founder members of the Cymru Alliance and finished in the top seven both seasons that they were members.

In 1992 the club became founder members of the League of Wales. The club finished a creditable seventh place in its first season and in 1995–96 finished in third place under the guidance of John Hulse, with Kenny McKenna setting a club scoring record of 49 goals in a season. The club qualified for the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup and played Charleroi (Belgium) and SV Ried (Austria) at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, and travelled to Zaglebie Lubin (Poland) and Silkeborg (Denmark). Despite not progressing past the group stage, the club gave a good account of itself especially with a 0–0 draw against Charleroi and losing to a late goal against SV Ried.

In the following three seasons the club reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup twice, and also qualified for the FAW Premier Cup twice, most notably holding Swansea City to 0–0 draw at the Vetch Field. However the financial burden had begun to take its toll on the club and in 2000 were relegated.

The club decided not to progress to the Cymru Alliance for financial reasons and instead accepted an invitation to join the Welsh Alliance League. In its second season the club was League runners-up and Cookson Cup runners-up. The following two seasons were very difficult both on and off the field but the return of Nigel Roberts as manager kept the club up and the 2004–05 season started tremendously well with the club sitting at the top of the League. However, tragedy struck when Roberts was killed in a road accident.[2] The league slipped just out of reach but under the guidance of Danny McGoona reached the final of the Cookson Cup again, only to lose out 4–3 to Bethesda in one of the most dramatic finals for years.

In the 2009–10 season under the management of Barry Jones and Keith Tansley a young Conwy side finally clinched the Cookson Cup. An extra time penalty from Matty Bennett won the trophy against rivals Llandudno Junction at Maesdu. In the league the club finished sixth.

The following season Paul Moroney took over as Manager with Barry Jones and Keith Tansley remaining at the club. The 2010–11 season turned out to be one of the most successful seasons of the clubs recent history. Although losing the first game of the season away at Denbigh, Moroney's side went on to win the Welsh Alliance Division One and gain promotion to the Cymru Alliance. Conwy also reached the final of the FAW Trophy (held at Belle Vue)) where they led by two goals to nil until the 91st minute and somehow conceded three goals in as many minutes to gift Holywell Town the Trophy in one of the most dramatic finals in years. Conwy United also won the Fairplay League and young star Toby Jones picked up the top goalscorer award with a forty plus tally in all competitions which earned the youngster a move to full-time at Neath.

In the 2011–12 season, Conwy got off to a flying start in the second tier of Welsh football winning their first four games under new management Steve Jones and Dean Martin. However, form dropped dramatically and in December the duo left the club. former chairman Geoff Cartwright appointed Mick McGrath as manager who signed a number of key players the team needed including Dean Canning, John Owen and Eddie Jebb (on-loan from Bangor City). The club went on to finish 10th.

In April 2012 the Football Association of Wales domestic committee approved a name change request that from the 2012–13 season the club was to be renamed Conwy Borough F.C.[3]

The club appointed Chris Herbert as the new first team manager in May 2012.[4] The new manager re-structured the Y Morfa outfit in to a top three team which also lifted the league cup, when they beat Caersws on penalties in the final, with goalkeeper Terry McCormick saving two penalties, which was the Tangerines' 5th penalty shoot out win in cup competitions that season.

Chris Herbert and John Keegan left their posts in December 2013 and were replaced by players Darren Moss and Aden Shannon until the end of the season who guided the side to a second-placed finish. Moss was to remain in charge for the 2013–14 season but after a disappointing start was then released by the club in November 2014[5] with Shannon taking temporary charge and overseeing an 11th-placed finish. Shannon was placed in permanent charge of the Tangerines for the 2015–16 season but history was to repeat itself when, after a poor start and with the club languishing in the relegation zone, was relieved of his duties and was eventually replaced by Jason Aldcroft and former TNS defender Tommy Holmes. Aldcroft oversaw wholesale changes to the squad and steered the club to safety with an eventual 11th-placed finish.

Off the field, the club has made giant strides in improving the stadium and its facilities and opened its new clubhouse building "Y Morfa Venue" in the summer of 2014. With a recent upgrade to the floodlights the club has moved a step closer to achieving a domestic club licence. With a thriving junior section a youth Academy has also been established and expanded as the club looks to develop more local talent in the future.

At the close of the 2015–16 season, the resignations of Geoff Cartwright (chair) and Darren Cartwright (Vice Chair) due to personal commitments were accepted by the board of directors. Aldcroft and Jones left the club[6] leading to the appointment of Gareth Thomas as first team manager & assistant Alun Winstanley.

August 2017 saw the introduction of new directors to the Executive board – local businessman Luke Blundell, solicitor Chris Wilton & existing committee member Craig Crossfield.[7]

Gareth Thomas departed from his role as team manager in December 2018 having been success during his first season, winning the Welsh Alliance Division One title, in addition to the FAW Trophy and Cookson Cup in a memorable treble-winning campaign.[8]

Former players

Notable former players for the club who have gone on to the Football League include Emmanuel James Will Udo, Neville Southall, Carl Dale Hugh McAuley and Kevin Ellison.

Seasons

Year[9] [10] LeagueLevelPWDLFAGDPtsPositionWelsh Cup
as Conwy United F.C.
1977–78Welsh League North12211744131+10295th of 12R3
1978–79Welsh League North1208574038+2216th of 11R1
1979–80Welsh League North11853101732−15138th of 10R2
1980–81Welsh League North12292113443−9208th of 12R1
1981–82Welsh League North12615564130+11354th of 14R2
1982–83Welsh League North1227783326+7217th of 12R3
1983–84Welsh League North1187743223+919 4th of 10
Transferred to Welsh Alliance League
R2
1984–85Welsh Alliance League128213410734+73451st of 15
Champions
R2
1985–86Welsh Alliance League13021638831+57481st of 16
Champions
R1
1986–87Welsh Alliance League12695123855−17238th of 14R1
1987–88Welsh Alliance League13085175776−192112th of 16R1
1988–89Welsh Alliance League1321110115855+34310th of 17R2
1989–90Welsh Alliance League134146147061+9489th of 18
Transferred to Cymru Alliance
R2
1990–91Cymru Alliance12612685434+20425th of 14R2
1991–92Cymru Alliance130111274133+8455th of 16
Transferred to League of Wales
R1
1992–93League of Wales1381691351510577th of 20R3
1993–94League of Wales138136195870−124513th of 20R2
1994–95League of Wales138147176065−54912th of 20R2
1995–96League of Wales1402113610158+43763rd of 21R3
1996–97League of Wales140208126644+22687th of 21SF
1997–98League of Wales138158156659+7539th of 20R3
1998–99League of Wales132147115449+5497th of 17SF
1999–00League of Wales13465233396−6320 17th of 18
Relegated and demoted
R3
2000–01Welsh Alliance League32648143886−482013th of 14R1
2001–02Welsh Alliance League32418245728+29562nd of 13R1
2002–03Welsh Alliance League32843213186−551515th of 15R1
2003–04Welsh Alliance League33081214489−452513th of 16R1
2004–05Welsh Alliance League33019477042+28615th of 16R1
2005–06Welsh Alliance League33095164150−93212th of 16R2
2006–07Welsh Alliance League328114135870−12379th of 15R2
2007–08Welsh Alliance League328143116958+11455th of 15R2
2008–09Welsh Alliance League332124166364−137 12th of 17 R1
2009–10Welsh Alliance League330141157136+3550 6th of 16 R2
2010–11Welsh Alliance League33025238830+58771st of 16
Promoted as champions
R2
2011–12Cymru Alliance230107135965−63710th of 16R1
as Conwy Borough F.C.
2012–13Cymru Alliance23018755737+20613rd of 16R3
2013–14Cymru Alliance23019656635+31632nd of 16R3
2014–15Cymru Alliance230125135246+64111th of 16R4
2015–16Cymru Alliance230113164754−73611th of 16R2
2017–18Welsh Alliance League32820441073770641st of 15
Promoted as champions[11]
R2

Conwy United deducted 2 points.
Conwy United deducted 3 points for failing to fulfil a fixture.
Conwy United deducted 3 points.
Conwy United deducted 3 points for failing to fulfil a fixture.

External links

53.287°N 3.8482°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Jones . Dave . Meet the new manager of Conwy Borough – Lee Pope! . 30 May 2024 . NW Sport.
  2. News: Powell . Dave . Death crash driver on drink and drugs . 9 March 2022 . Daily Post . 30 April 2005.
  3. News: Jones . Dave . Conwy United to become Borough – and it's official . 9 March 2022 . Daily Post . 14 June 2012.
  4. News: Jones . Dave . Conwy United FC appoint Chris Herbert as new manager . 9 March 2022 . Daily Post . 25 May 2012.
  5. Web site: Club statement: Darren Moss leaves Conwy Borough FC . Conwy Borough . 9 March 2022 . 27 October 2014.
  6. Web site: Aldcroft leaves Conwy Borough . Conwy Borough . 9 March 2022 . 15 September 2016.
  7. Web site: Club History. 14 July 2018. Conwy Borough FC. https://archive.today/20180714131120/http://www.conwyboroughfc.co.uk/a/club-history-9387.html. 14 July 2018. live. 14 July 2018.
  8. News: Jones . Dean . Conwy Borough part company with manager Gareth Thomas . 9 March 2022 . North Wales Pioneer . 4 December 2018.
  9. News: Welsh Alliance League 1984–2005. wfda.co.uk. 21 August 2016.
  10. News: Welsh Cup 1877 – To Date. wfda.co.uk. 21 August 2016.
  11. Web site: League Table 2017/18 Season. 14 July 2018. Conwy Borough FC. https://archive.today/20180714130407/http://www.conwyboroughfc.co.uk/teams/26275/league-table. 14 July 2018. live. 14 July 2018.