Bala Town F.C.

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

Bala Town
Full nameBala Town Football Club
Nickname(s)Lakesiders
Founded1880 (1880)
GroundMaes Tegid,
Bala
Capacity3,000 (504 seated)
ChairmanArwel Roberts
ManagerColin Caton
LeagueCymru Premier
2019–20Cymru Premier, 3rd

History

For a full history see; List of Bala Town FC seasons

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 Cymru Premier.[6]

A view of Maes Tegid from the corner

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 in the Europa League first qualifying round but after winning the home leg 1–0, they lost 3–1 in the reverse fixture in Tallinn and were eliminated. 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 Cymru Premier 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
Main article: Maes Tegid

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 Levadia Tallinn 1–0 1–3 2–3
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q Differdange 2–1 1–3 3–4
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1Q AIK 0–2 0–2 0–4
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q Vaduz 1–2 0–3 1–5
2018–19 UEFA Europa League PR Tre Fiori 1–0 0−3 1–3
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1Q
Notes
  • PR: Preliminary round
  • 1Q: First qualifying round

Current squad
As of 28 September 2019[7]

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

No. Position Player
2 DF Andrew Burns
3 DF Sean Smith
4 DF Stuart Jones
6 DF Jonny Spittle
7 MF Lee Molyneux
8 MF Nathan Burke
9 FW Mike Hayes
10 FW Henry Jones
11 FW Kieran Smith
12 MF Evan Horwood
15 MF Steve Leslie
No. Position Player
16 DF Ryan Valentine
17 MF Daniel Gossett
18 FW Louis Robles
19 DF Shaun Kelly
20 MF Lassana Mendes
21 DF Anthony Stephens
22 DF Sion Sullivan
23 MF Oliver Shannon
24 MF Louis-Augustin Malandjou Kondjo
25 MF Chris Venables
FW Will Evans
GK Alex Ramsay

Honours

References
  1. "Welsh Premier profile". Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  2. Maes Tegid – The home of Bala Town
  3. "Welsh Football Data Archive:Welsh Cup 1877–78". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. "Welsh Data Archive:Wrexham Area 1950–51". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. "Welsh Football Data Archive: Wrexham Area 2003–04". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. "Welsh Football data Archive: Cymru Alliance 2008–09". Welsh Football data Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. "2019/20". Bala Town F.C. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
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