Football Legends of the Llŷn – No6: The Griffiths brothers of Porthmadog FC

Words: Dafydd Wyn Jones

Photograph: Dafydd Gerallt Owen

You cannot be anymore Llyn Peninsula than Abersoch and this small village produced not one, but three soccer legends in the Griffiths brothers.

They were farming sons who lived at Greigir Goch, Abersoch.

All three played for the all-conquering Porthmadog FC team that won two Welsh Amateur Cups, were beaten finalists in the third, as well as the North Wales Amateur Cup twice between 1955 and 1958.

Ieuan (Ieus) was a hard, stylish full back. When he hung up his boots he became a highly respected coach, one of the first of his kind and a trailblazer for today’s qualified coaches.

Brother William (Bilws) was a prolific striker who also played for the Wales amateur team on several occasions. One of his team mates during that period was one Phil Woosnam, who eventually played professionally for Aston Villa and Wales.

Finally there was Moss Griffiths, a versatile player who could play in a variety of positions. Moss was the last of the brothers to leave us when he died at the age of 82 in 2015.

The 1950’s was a golden era for the amateur game and Porthmadog stood out as one of the best in Wales.

When they played Druids in the final of the Welsh Amateur Cup at the Racecourse, Wrexham at the end of the 1956/7 season, a crowd of 10,000 watched the 2-2 draw.

The same number turned up for the replay at Farrar Road, Bangor when Port won the cup for the second successive season beating the Druids 5-2.

The Griffiths brothers were legendary members of a legendary team and true to their farming background and upbringing were hard, uncompromising players.

Also featured in this Legends of the Llŷn series to date

John Gwynfor Jones, Mike Foster, Paul Roberts, Sion Parry, Jason Jones

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