Bala Town F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Bala Town


fullname = Bala Town Football Club
nickname =
founded = approx. 1880's
ground = Maes Tegid, Bala
capacity =
chairman = flagicon|WalesDavid Throp
manager = flagicon|Wales Colin Caton
league = Cymru Alliance
season = 2007-08
position = Cymru Alliance, 2nd (of 18) | pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FF0000|body2=FF0000|rightarm2=FF0000|shorts2=FF0000|socks2=FF0000

Bala Town Football Club are a Welsh football team that currently play in the Cymru Alliance. They play their games at Maes Tegid in Bala, Gwynedd, Wales.

History

(the following is taken from the official website of the Cymru Alliance).

Bala's early history is not well documented but first memories are of a team in the early 1880s playing games on the Lake foreshore. After Bala formed 2 teams, Bala North End and Bala South End who competed until 1897 when a team called Bala Thursdays was formed and played on Castle Park (the present cricket field). The Bala Press Team was established then in the 1900s and became one of the best amateur sides in North Wales winning many trophies including the Dolgellau Cup and Cambrian Coast League (no dates are available). The local Bragdy Cup was first played for by local teams in the early 1930s and this competition is still alive and flourishing today.

The first available League status record is of Bala playing in the Welsh National League North Division 2 East in 1921/22 Season – no further league records are to hand. Bala were still playing at Castle Park where one of the most epic games in the Club's history was played in 1946 against Shrewsbury Town of the English Midland League in the 4 th round of the Welsh Senior Cup. Bala held their illustrious opponents to a 1-1 draw. In the early 50's Bala then moved to the adjacent Maes Tegid where they have maintained since and played in the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) from 1950-54.

They rejoined the Cambrian Coast League in 1954 and were League Runners-up in 1957/58. They had a treble winning season in 1958/59 winning League, Cup and Mid Wales Cup. They were again runners up in 1960/61 before being Champions again in 1962/63. The Club then re-entered the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) in 1963/64 and have been ever present in the League since then. Bala were Division 2 Champions in 1967/68 and were promoted to Division 1 for the 1968/69 season. They remained in the top division for 20 years until relegated in 1987/88 season. By now Division 1 had been re-named the Premier Division therefore Bala were again in Division 1 after relegation. They won the Division 1 Championship in 1989/90 but after promotion to the Premier League were relegated back after 1990/91 and further dropped to Division 2 in 1992/93 when the Reserves Team folded due to lack of support. They were promoted to Division 1 for 1995/96 Season and won the Division 1 Championship in 1997/98 to be promoted to the Premier Division where they remained until Premier Division Champions in 2003/04, and promoted to the Cymru Alliance League for 2004/05 Season. Bala won the NEWFA Challenge Cup in 2004 with an extra time victory over Buckley Town at Cefn Druids.

In their first season in the Cymru Alliance 2004/05 the club finished in a very creditable 4th place, reached the Quarter Final of the Welsh Senior Cup, were losing finalists against Buckley Town in the NEWFA Challenge Cup Final held at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, and won the Cymru Alliance League Cup. The Youth Team also reached the Semi-Final of the Welsh Youth Cup. A momentous year for the Maes Tegid club under the Managerial guidance of Colin Caton. The club finished in 7th position in the Cymru Alliance 2005/6 and lost on penalties in the Final of the League Cup.

The Reserves however had a momentous double winning season as Champions of Div 2 WNL Wrexham area and also winning the League Cup. Floodlights will be installed for the 2006/7 season and further spectator stand extensions are also being carried out. The Management team of Colin Caton and Steve Crompton remain in place and the club has high hopes of further success in the year to come.

External links

* [http://www.cymru-alliance.co.uk/Bala%20Town.htm Cymru Alliance Official site - Bala Town page.]
* [http://www.balatownfc.co.uk Bala Town F.C.'s official site.]