Fan chat: John Dexter Jones (Bangor 1876)

Writer, musician, deep-thinker, outspoken…..file John Dexter Jones under the heading ‘Interesting’.

He also has his own website http://www.johndexterjones.com which is well worth a look.

John is a big supporter of thriving fan-owned club Bangor 1876 and this week he gave an interview to their website on his thoughts on progress so far for the Gwynedd League leaders and quintet-chasers.

What does Bangor 1876 mean to you?

A lot. It means that Bangor football is in the hands of people who care about how important the game is for the people of the city.

You can see by the sheer numbers of people who’ve bought shares and follow the team, exactly just how important it is that a football club connects with the community.

The work the club is doing on and off the field is to be applauded. I travel to as many games as I can and the spirit of the football I’ve followed since I was in primary school (and that’s a long time ago) is there on show, every time.

My Dad and my uncle, Hirael lads – Sibols, both played for Bangor – it’s their club I see when I watch 1876.

What have been your highlights of the season so far?

Far too many to list.

The day at FC United and the welcome we got there was incredible. The reaction to Benn Lundstram’s goal was off the scale but really, it’s just been about going to the footy, getting together for a jar or three, sharing stories and moidering about the game in general.

Llangoed away or Menai Bridge away…memorable days.

The players and staff have been exceptional as well – not just the football, but the way they conduct themselves.

The cup tie against Penycae showed a glimpse of where this club can go and how it already embodies the spirit of Bangor fans. Defeat to Ruthin was also a highlight – could’ve and maybe should’ve won it!

You’ve written a book about football in Bangor, and apparently there’s another one on the way. Could you tell us more about this?

I wrote Four Seasons as a series of stories about following Bangor City, the club I’d followed since being a kid.

It’s about the importance of the relationship between fans and their club and hopefully captures some of what it means to follow the grassroots game.

It’s about camaraderie, shared history and belonging to a tribe.

As it transpired, the book ends with a visit to Rhyl to watch a 6-1 hiding from Connah’s Quay in a Welsh Cup semi-final – a game that signalled, for me, the end of the club as I’d known it for more than 40 years.

The lost licence, relegation and the realisation that as fans, we were pretty powerless in the face of a completely uncertain future, was tough to take.

No-one knew what would happen – it could have disappeared overnight and often looked like doing so.

The formation of Bangor 1876 didn’t bring a new club into being – the club is the fans – it ensured that Bangor football would survive and keep its great heritage alive and in the right hands.

The next book will hopefully prove as popular with the fans – it’ll be another epic moider about 1876 and our continuing journey.

As well as being passionate about football, you’re in a band called Jump. Which musicians or singers would you most like to see on a football field and why?

Me and the band of course. Happy to do any football stadium you like…

If you could change one thing about football today, what would it be and why?

Get football’s governing bodies to see the game from the perspective of the supporters – to understand why the game exists in the first place and act accordingly when they make their rules.

Clubs need to be properly sustainable so that supporters don’t lose out.

Place that principle at the heart of football governance when rules are made, and there might be half a chance that you avoid some of the disasters that have ruined many a fine club.