How stunningly good could Bangor 1876’s debut season have really been ?

Few teams in the history of North Wales football can have enjoyed a debut season as successful as Bangor 1876 – statistically at least.

It could have been far more rewarding a campaign for the newly-formed club, however, had they had the opportunity to finish it!

Despite winning the Gwynedd League title at the first attempt, the early ending to the 2019-20 season because of Covid-19 meant 1876 were unable to continue their quest to lift NWCFA Junior Cup, Gwynedd Cup, Bob Owen Memorial Trophy and Safeflue Shield.

It could have been a five-timer for Mel Jones and Dylan Williams’ side – and teams winning five trophies in a season in North Wales football are as rare as rocking horse droppings.

Even the amazing Rhostyllen team of 2015-16 didn’t quite go nap.

In their debut season, the Wrexham outfit picked up four trophies and scored 218 goals in 46 games.

hey finished 13 points clear to land the tier 5 North East Wales League title – bagging 121 goals in 20 matches.

Rhostyllen also snared three other domestic trophies and enjoyed giant-killing runs in the Welsh Cup and FAW Trophy. What a team!

Would have been good for them to face 1876 in a challenge match!

Bangor 1876’s amazing first season stats read as follows:
League: P 16 W 16 D 0 L 0 GF 115 GA 9
Cup: P 14 W 12 D 0 L 2 GF 70 GA 18
All competitions: Played 30 Won 28 Lost 2 Goals For 185 Goals Against 27

1876 could have played another 23 games maximum, so heaven knows how mighty those final stats might have been.

Their top-scorer Dylan Summers-Jones notched 45 goals in all matches. By my reckoning that made him the No 1 marksman in North Wales senior football, although I’m happy to be corrected.

Bangor 1876 will also be one of an elite few North Wales senior clubs to emerge unbeaten throughout 2020.

Nine games, nine wins before the end of the year’s action on March 7.

1876’s only losses in 2019-20 came in the FAW Trophy and Welsh Cup.

In the former, they went down 4-1 to tier 3 Llanrwst, while Ruthin Town of tier 2 beat them 2-0 in the latter competition.

Not bad at all for a tier 5 club.

So what made Bangor 1876 so special?

People will point to the quality of former Welsh Premier players Les Davies, Michael Johnston and Jamie Petrie, but all are well into their 30’s and – dare I say – slightly past their peaks? Only Les was in the WPL when 1876 were formed.

Otherwise, 1876’s squad was made up of a multitude of young local talent, or players who had excelled at other Gwynedd League clubs.

To achieve what they did has to be worthy of high praise, and it was testament to their fitness that so many of their goals came in the second half of matches, or on other occasions extra time.

The story of Bangor 1876 is one of the most impressive from 2019-20 no doubt.

Did Covid-19 deny us of something truly phenomenal?

Bangor 1876 league and cup results and stats – 2019-20 season

Mar 7: Llysfaen (a – NWCFA Junior Cup QF) 5-0 (J Jones OG 39, Dafydd Thomas 58, A Jones OG 71, Jamie Petrie pen 85, Shaun Lock 88)
Feb 15: Llanystumdwy (h – NWCFA Junior Cup R3) 5-0 (Leon Owens 2, Cameron Barry 2, Shaun Lock)
Feb 8: Ogwen Tigers (a – Gwynedd Cup) 13-1 (Davies 3, Petrie 3, Parry 3, Summers-Jones 2, Kieron Bullock OG, Dylan Williams)
Feb 1: Llanystumdwy (a – GL) 11-0 (Summers-Jones 4, Petrie 2, Davies, Lee McNulty, Parry, Leon Owens, Harry Jones)
Jan 25: Menai Bridge Tigers (a – Bob Owen Memorial Shield) 5-1 (Cian Williams, Summers-Jones, Davies 2, Petrie)
Jan 18: Bethesda Ath (a – GL) 10-2 (Petrie 4, 1 pen, Dafydd Thomas 2, Cameron Barry, Cian Williams, Summers-Jones, Matt Lock)
Jan 11: Ogwen Tigers (h – GL) 7-0 (Parry 4, Summers-Jones 2, Lundstram)
Jan 6: Waunfawr (h – GL) 4-0 (Cian Williams, Davies, Summers-Jones, Sion Parry)
Jan 4: Glantraeth (a – GL) 4-0 (Johnston, Summers-Jones, Petrie, Ben Owen)
Dec 30: Bontnewydd (h – GL) 13-2 (Matt Lock, Summers-Jones 5, Davies 3, Petrie, Cameron Barry, Luke Steele, Lundstram)
Dec 21: Llanystumdwy (h – GL) 6-0 (Lundstram, Johnston, Shaun Lock, Petrie, Summers-Jones, 1 OG)
Dec 14: Caergybi (a – GL) 6-0 (Cian Williams, Petrie 2, Lundstram, Summers-Jones 2)
Dec 7: Trearddur Bay Bulls (a – GL) 2-1 (Summers-Jones 2)
Nov 30: Llanfairfechan Town (h – NWCFA Junior Cup R2) 4-1 (Dylan Williams, Summers-Jones 2, Petrie) aet
Nov 16: Llanystumdwy (Bob Owen Memorial Shield) 13-0 (Petrie 3, Summers-Jones 3, Davies 2, Dylan Williams, Shaun Lock, Michael Johnston, Cian Williams, Luke Steele)
Nov 9: Ruthin Town (h – Welsh Cup R2) 0-2
Nov 2: Llanrwst United (a – FAW Trophy R3) 1-4 (Lundstram)
Oct 19: Penycae (a – WC R1) 3-3 (Petrie 2 pens, Matt Lock) aet – won 3-2 pens
Oct 15: Bethesda Ath (h – GL) 14-0 (Petrie 5, Summers-Jones 3, Davies 2, Dion Jones 2, Cian Williams, Cameron Barry)
Oct 12: Llanelwy Athletic (a – NWCFA Junior Cup) 3-1 (Dylan Williams, Luke Steele, Lundstram)
Oct 8: Llannerchymedd (h – GL) 12-0 (Summers-Jones 4, Petrie 3, Davies 2, Jos Lloyd-Jones 2, Dafydd Thomas)
Sep 28: Penrhyndeudraeth (h – WC QR2) 6-2 (Davies 4, Summers-Jones 2)
Sep 21: Talysarn Celts (a – GL) 4-2 (Dylan Williams, Davies, Petrie 2, 1 pen)
Sep 14: Pwllheli (h – FAW Trophy) 3-1 (Jos Lloyd-Jones 2, Cameron Barry)
Aug 31: Llandudno Athletic (h – WC) 4-1 (Petrie pen, Cameron Barry, Cian Williams, Summers-Jones)
Aug 26: Llangoed (a – GL) 5-0 (Petrie 3, 1 pen, Davies, Leon Owens)
Aug 24: Nefyn United (h – GL) 3-1 (Petrie 2, 1 pen, Les Davies)
Aug 19: Caergybi (h – GL) 10-0 (Summers-Jones 3, Jos Lloyd-Jones 2, Petrie 2, Cian Williams, Cameron Barry, Leon Owens)
Aug 17: Sychdyn (h – FAW Trophy) 5-1 (Summers-Jones 3, Petrie 2 pens)
Aug 10: Ogwen Tigers (a – GL) 4-1 (Dylan Summers-Jones 2, Jamie Petrie, Benn Lundstram)

Match record

League: P 16 W 16 D 0 L 0 GF 115 GA 9
Cup: P 14 W 12 D 0 L 2 GF 70 GA 18

Goalscorers (185 goals scored in 30 matches)

45 – Dylan Summers-Jones
43 – Jamie Petrie
23 – Les Davies
9 – Sion Parry
8 – Cian Williams, Cameron Barry
7 – Benn Lundstram
6 – Jos Lloyd-Jones
5 – Dylan Williams, Leon Owens
4 – Dafydd Thomas, Shaun Lock, 4 OG
3 – Michael Johnston, Matt Lock, Luke Steele
2 – Dion Jones
1 – Lee McNulty, Harry Jones, Ben Owen