Bala Town F.C.

Bala Town
Full name Bala Town Football Club
Nickname(s) Lakesiders
Founded 1880 (1880)
Ground Maes Tegid,
Bala
Capacity 3,000 (504 seated)
Chairman Arwel Roberts
Manager Colin Caton
League Welsh Premier League
2017–18 Welsh Premier League, 4th

Bala Town Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed y Bala) are a Welsh football team from Bala, Gwynedd, who play in the Welsh Premier League.[1] They play their home games at Maes Tegid.[2]

History

Although the current Bala Town was formed in 1880, there is record of a football club competing in the 1877–78 Welsh Cup, losing to Corwen after two replays.[3] After Bala North End, Bala South End and Bala Thursday's merged, Bala Town's first available league status record is playing in the Welsh National League North Division 2 East in 1921–22 season. Bala Town moved to their current home, Maes Tegid, in the early 1950s and joined the Wrexham Alliance in 1950,[4] however Bala Town had to wait for more than a century until they were promoted to the second tier of Welsh football, into the Cymru Alliance at the end of the 2003–04 season.[5] After only four seasons in the Cymru Alliance, Bala Town sealed promoted to the Welsh Premier League.[6]

A view of Maes Tegid from the side of the pitch

Bala Town secured European football for the first time in their history after a John Irving goal in the 89th minute was enough to see off Port Talbot Town 2–1 to ensure the Lakesiders a European place. Bala Town were drawn against Estonian outfit Levadia Tallinn and after winning the home leg 1–0, crashed out of the Europa League at the first qualifying round after losing 3–1 in the reverse fixture in Tallinn. In the 2014–15 season, the Lakesiders finished second, their highest ever league position, thus qualifying for the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League. Bala Town missed out the opportunity of playing Turkish giants Trabzonspor in the 2015–16 Europa League after losing on aggregate to FC Differdange 03 after falling victim to an injury time Differdange goal, however Bala maintained a proud record of a 100% win percentage at "home", playing at Rhyl's Belle Vue stadium due to UEFA stadium requirements on both occasions, in Europe.

After finishing second in the 2015–16 Welsh Premier League they followed this success up by winning their first Welsh Cup, beating The New Saints 2–1 in the final ending their 8 trophy winning streak.

Stadium

Bala Town have played at Maes Tegid in Bala since the 1950s. For European matches they use Rhyl's Belle Vue stadium due to UEFA stadium regulations.

European record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2013–14 UEFA Europa League 1Q Estonia Levadia Tallinn 1–0 1–3 2–3
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q Luxembourg Differdange 2–1 1–3 3–4
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1Q Sweden AIK 0–2 0–2 0–4
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q Liechtenstein Vaduz 1–2 0–3 1–5
2018–19 UEFA Europa League PR San Marino Tre Fiori 1–0 0−3 1–3
Notes
  • PR: Preliminary round
  • 1Q: First qualifying round

Current squad

As of 29 July 2018[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Wales GK Ashley Morris
2 England DF Andrew Burns
3 England DF Sean Smith
4 Wales DF Stuart Jones
5 England DF Stuart Jones
6 England DF Anthony Miley
7 England FW Steven Tames
8 England MF Nathan Burke
9 England FW Mike Hayes
10 England FW Ian Sheridan
11 England FW Kieran Smith
No. Position Player
12 England MF Evan Horwood
15 England MF Rob Pearson
16 Wales DF Ryan Valentine
17 Wales MF Daniel Gosset
19 Wales MF Josh Jones
20 Wales MF Joe Edwards
21 Wales MF Charlie Williams
23 Trinidad and Tobago GK Vaughn Charles
25 Wales MF Chris Venables
77 Wales MF Henry Jones

Honours

References

  1. ↑ Welsh Premier profile
  2. ↑ Maes Tegid – The home of Bala Town
  3. ↑ "Welsh Football Data Archive:Welsh Cup 1877–78". Welsh Football Data Archive.
  4. ↑ "Welsh Data Archive:Wrexham Area 1950–51". Welsh Football Data Archive.
  5. ↑ "Welsh Football Data Archive: Wrexham Area 2003–04". Welsh Football Data Archive.
  6. ↑ "Welsh Football data Archive: Cymru Alliance 2008–09". Welsh Football data Archive.
  7. ↑ Bala Town squad list
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