Bangor 1876 have been on the up and up ever since they formed at the start of the 2019-20 season.
Three successive promotions have been secured by the fan-owned club set up to protect the future of football in the city of Bangor.
The latest success came on Saturday, as the blues beat Cefn Albion 4-2 in the Ardal Northern Play-Off Final to earn a place in the Tier 2 Cymru North next season.
Here’s a look back at the story so far…..
New club Bangor 1876 started off in the fifth-tier and now former Gwynedd League – and it was soon obvious they were a class above the rest.
Playing home matches at Treborth, Bangor University, 1876 won all 16 league matches, scoring 115 goals and conceding just nine, before the season was ended early by the pandemic.
Bangor were declared champions, but the cancellation of three cup competitions they were well advanced in prevented them landing inevitable more silverware.
At the start of the campaign, 1876 had delighted their followers by signing former Bangor City stars Les Davies, Michael Johnston and Jamie Petrie.
Petrie was second top-scorer with 43 goals in all competitions, with Anglesey-based talent Dylan Summers-Jones leading the chart on 45. Talisman Davies scored a handy 23.
With Covid ensuring no football at all was played in 2020-21, 1876 began the following season in the tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division, part of the restructured Welsh football pyramid. It was the equivalent of the old Welsh Alliance League Division Two.
Bangor were way ahead of every team in the new division except one – Bodedern Athletic, who had put together a star-studded squad including two of Anglesey’s finest strikers, Marc Evans and Asa Thomas.
Bodedern went almost the entire season unbeaten, inflicting on 1876 their first league defeat.
Bangor pushed them hard, but finished runners-up, a surprise 1-0 loss at Glantraeth late in the campaign probably costing them the title.
Boded were crowned champions, but 1876 did get revenge by beating the island aces in the final of the Premier Division Cup.
Second place was enough to send 1876 up to the tier 3 Ardal North West, along with Bodedern.
In February 2022, 1876 signed the prolific Corrig McGonigle from Conwy Borough, who went on to score 34 goals in his first 14 games. Les Davies was top-scorer with 36, however.
Bangor 1876 made a great impression in Ardal North West, going undefeated in their first 14 league games before slipping up unexpectedly at home to Llangefni Town.
With Michael Johnston at the helm, Bangor lost just twice more in the league – both times to eventual champions Denbigh Town.
Just like the season before, 1876 found one team better.
However, a seven-match winning run to round off their campaign meant Bangor made sure of second place and left Denbigh needing a draw from their final game to take the title.
They beat Rhostyllen and Bangor had to be content with second.
Nonetheless, the runners-up in the Ardal North West and East leagues went into a play-off with the prize promotion to the Cymru North.
1876 overcame Cefn Albion 4-2 in extra time and sealed a third straight promotion.
Corrig McGonigle netted a phenomenal 56 goals over the campaign, including two in the play-off showdown.
What next for Bangor 1876? Can they go all the way and become the second club from the city to reach the Cymru Premier League?
It’s been a marvellous first three competitive seasons for the Treborth side.
SEASON ENDED EARLY DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Aug 10: Ogwen Tigers (a – GL) 4-1 (Dylan Summers-Jones 2, Jamie Petrie, Benn Lundstram)
Aug 17: Sychdyn (h – FAW Trophy) 5-1 (Summers-Jones 3, Petrie 2 pens)
Aug 19: Caergybi (h – GL) 10-0 (Summers-Jones 3, Jos Lloyd-Jones 2, Petrie 2, Cian Williams, Cameron Barry, Leon Owens)
Aug 24: Nefyn United (h – GL) 3-1 (Petrie 2, 1 pen, Les Davies)
Aug 26: Llangoed (a – GL) 5-0 (Petrie 3, 1 pen, Davies, Leon Owens)
Aug 31: Llandudno Athletic (h – WC) 4-1 (Petrie pen, Cameron Barry, Cian Williams, Summers-Jones)
Sep 14: Pwllheli (h – FAW Trophy) 3-1 (Jos Lloyd-Jones 2, Cameron Barry)
Sep 21: Talysarn Celts (a – GL) 4-2 (Dylan Williams, Davies, Petrie 2, 1 pen)
Sep 28: Penrhyndeudraeth (h – WC QR2) 6-2 (Davies 4, Summers-Jones 2)
Oct 8: Llannerchymedd (h – GL) 12-0 (Summers-Jones 4, Petrie 3, Davies 2, Jos Lloyd-Jones 2, Dafydd Thomas)
Oct 12: Llanelwy Athletic (a – NWCFA Junior Cup) 3-1 (Dylan Williams, Luke Steele, Lundstram)
Oct 15: Bethesda Ath (h – GL) 14-0 (Petrie 5, Summers-Jones 3, Davies 2, Dion Jones 2, Cian Williams, Cameron Barry)
Oct 19: Penycae (a – WC R1) 3-3 (Petrie 2 pens, Matt Lock) aet – won 3-2 pens
Nov 2: Llanrwst United (a – FAW Trophy R3) 1-4 (Lundstram)
Nov 9: Ruthin Town (h – Welsh Cup R2) 0-2
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 30: Llanfairfechan Town (h – NWCFA Junior Cup R2) 4-1 (Dylan Williams, Summers-Jones 2, Petrie) aet
Dec 7: Trearddur Bay Bulls (a – GL) 2-1 (Summers-Jones 2)
Dec 14: Caergybi (a – GL 6-0 (Cian Williams, Petrie 2, Lundstram, Summers-Jones 2)
Dec 21: Llanystumdwy (h – GL) 6-0 (Lundstram, Johnston, Shaun Lock, Petrie, Summers-Jones, 1 OG)
Dec 30: Bontnewydd (h – GL) 13-2 (Matt Lock, Summers-Jones 5, Davies 3, Petrie, Cameron Barry, Luke Steele, Lundstram)
Jan 4: Glantraeth (a – GL) 4-0 (Johnston, Summers-Jones, Petrie, Ben Owen)
Jan 6: Waunfawr (h – GL) 4-0 (Cian Williams, Davies, Summers-Jones, Sion Parry)
Jan 11: Ogwen Tigers (h – GL) 7-0 (Parry 4, Summers-Jones 2, Lundstram)
Jan 18: Bethesda Ath (a – GL) 10-2 (Petrie 4, 1 pen, Dafydd Thomas 2, Cameron Barry, Cian Williams, Summers-Jones, Matt Lock)
Jan 25: Menai Bridge Tigers (a – Bob Owen Memorial Shield) 5-1 (Cian Williams, Summers-Jones, Davies 2, Petrie)
Feb 1: Llanystumdwy (a – GL) 11-0 (Summers-Jones 4, Petrie 2, Davies, Lee McNulty, Parry, Leon Owens, Harry Jones)
Feb 8: Ogwen Tigers (a – Gwynedd Cup) 13-1 (Davies 3, Petrie 3, Parry 3, Summers-Jones 2, Kieron Bullock OG, Dylan Williams)
Feb 15: Llanystumdwy (h – NWCFA Junior Cup R3) 5-0 (Leon Owens 2, Cameron Barry 2, Shaun Lock)
Mar 6: Llysfaen (a-NWCFA Junior Cup) 5-0 (J Jones OG, Dafydd Thomas, A Jones OG, Jamie Petrie pen, Shaun Lock)
League: P 16 W 16 D 0 L 0 GF 115 GA 9 POSITION – 1ST
Cup: P 14 W 12 D 0 L 2 GF 70 GA 18
Overall: P 30 W 28 L 2 GF 185 GA 27
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 – Shaun Lock, Dafydd Thomas, 4 Own Goals
3 – Michael Johnston, Dafydd Thomas, Matt Lock, Luke Steele
2 – Dion Jones
1 – Lee McNulty, Harry Jones, Ben Owen
July 3: Pentraeth (home – North Wales Coast West Premier Division) 9-0 (Les Davies 3, Gethin Thomas 2, Chris Jones 2, Jamie Petrie, Cameron Barry)
July 7: Pwllheli (home – NWCWPD) 3-2 (Gethin Thomas, Joe Culshaw, Tomos Clarke)
July 10: Menai Bridge Tigers (home – Welsh Cup R1) 8-2 (Chris Jones 4, Cameron Barry 2, Les Davies, Gethin Thomas)
July 17: Blaenau Amateurs (away – FAW Trophy) 4-0 (Les Davies, Gethin Thomas, Chris Jones 2)
July 21: Aberffraw (home – NWCWPD) 6-0 (Gethin Thomas, Tomos Clarke, Chris Jones, Les Davies 2, 1 pen, Sam Roberts)
Aug 7: Amlwch Town (home – FAW Trophy) 9-2 ( (Aaron Heald 2, Tomos Clarke, Chris Jones, Sam Roberts, Les Davies, Dylan Williams, Luke Steele, Jamie Petrie)
Aug 11: Amlwch Town (away – NWCWPD) 9-0 (Sam Ashworth, Les Davies 2, Jamie Petrie 2, 1 pen, Joe Culshaw, Gethin Thomas 2, Harry Galeotti)
Aug 18: Gaerwen (away – NWCWPD) 9-1 (Tom Clarke 2, Cameron Barry 3, Harry Galeotti, Joe Culshaw, Les Davies, Ben Owen)
Aug 21: Halkyn & Flint Mountain (home – FAW Amateur Trophy) 5-2 (Harry Galeotti 2, Chris Jones pen, Les Davies 2)
Aug 28: Gwalchmai (away – NWCWPD) 4-0 (Les Davies 3, Jamie Petrie)
Sep 3: Llanberis (home – NWCWPD) 3-0 (Les Davies, Cameron Barry, Chris Jones)
Sep 11: Llannefydd (a – FAW Trophy) 1-3 (Corey Jones)
Sep 22: Menai Bridge Tigers (h – NWCWPD) 3-1 (Chris Jones, Jamie Petrie, Corey Jones)
Sep 25: Mynydd Llandegai (a – NWCWPD) 4-1 (Chris Jones 2, 1 pen; Cameron Barry, Corey Jones)
Oct 9: Gwalchmai (h – NWCWPD) 6-0 (Les Davies 2, 1 pen, Joe Culshaw, Luke Steele, Dylan Williams 2)
Oct 16: Penrhyndeudraeth (a – NWCWPD) 0-0
Oct 22: Glantraeth (h – NWCWPD) 2-0 (Tom Clarke, Les Davies)
Nov 6: Amlwch Town (h – NWCWPD) 10-0 (Harry Galeotti 2, Corey Jones, Sion Edwards, Sam Roberts, Les Davies, Joe Culshaw, Tom Clarke 2, Sam Ashworth)
Nov 20: Bodedern Athletic (a – NWCWPD) 2-3 (Chris Jones pen, Sion Edwards)
Dec 4: Llanfairfechan Town (h – Intermediate Cup) 5-1 (Sion Edwards, Les Davies 2, Joe Culshaw, Jamie Petrie)
Dec 11: Aberffraw (a – NWCWPD) 5-0 (Chris Jones 2, Les Davies, Jamie Petrie, Michael Johnston)
Jan 29: Nefyn United (a – NWCWPD) 2-2 (Cian Williams, Les Davies)
Feb 5: Aberffraw (h – Intermediate Cup) 5-0 (Andrew Jones 2 OG, Corey Jones, Harry Galeotti, Jamie Petrie)
Feb 12: Penrhyndeudraeth (h – NWCWPD) 2-1 (Gethin Thomas 2)
Feb 25: Llanrug United (h – NWCWPD) 6-0 (Corey Jones, Corrig McGonigle 2, Gethin Thomas, Les Davies, Tom Clarke)
Mar 5: Pwllheli (a – NWCWPD) 3-1 (Les Davies, Harry Galeotti, Corrig McGonigle)
Mar 12: Amlwch Town (a – Premier Cup) 4-1 (Corrig McGonigle 3, 2 pens, Les Davies)
Mar 19: Llanrug United (a – NWCWPD) 2-0 (Les Davies 2)
Mar 25: Gaerwen (h – NWCWPD) 15-1 (Corrig McGonigle 8, Cameron Barry, Gethin Thomas, Sion Edwards 2, Les Davies 2, Dylan Williams)
Apr 2: Llanberis (a – NWCWPD) 1-0 (Jamie Petrie)
Apr 5: Menai Bridge Tigers (a – NWCWPD) 6-0 (Tom Clarke, Les Davies, Corrig McGonigle 3, Cameron Barry)
Apr 19: CPD Mynydd Llandegai (h – NWCWPD) 8-1 (Corrig McGonigle 3, Les Davies 2, Corey Jones, Ben Owen, Harry Galeotti)
Apr 23: CPD Nefyn United (h – NWCWPD) 8-2 (Corrig McGonigle 4, Gethin Thomas 2, Cameron Barry, Jamie Petrie)
Apr 29: Glantraeth (a – NWCWPD) 0-1
May 2: Pentraeth (a – NWCWPD) 8-1 (Corrig McGonigle 5, Joe Culshaw, Harry Galeotti, Sion Edwards)
May 7: Bodedern Athletic (h – NWCWPD) 3-1 (Corrig McGonigle, Corey Jones, Sion Edwards)
May 13: Pwllheli (h – Premier Cup) 9-0 (Jamie Petrie 4, M Jones OG, Les Davies, Corrig McGonigle, Dylan Williams, Gethin Thomas)
May 21: Nefyn United (h – Premier Cup) 5-1 (Gethin Thomas 2, Corrig McGonigle 2, Corey Jones)
May 24: Pwllheli (a – Intermediate Cup) 6-4 (Jamie Petrie 2, Joe Culshaw, Dylan Williams, Corey Jones, Jamie McDonnell OG)
May 26: Bodedern (a – NWCFA West Premier Division Cup Final) 3-0 (Corrig McGonigle, Tom Clarke, Ryan Lees OG)
LEAGUE: P 28 W 24 D 2 L 2 GF 139 GA 19 PTS 74 (+120) – POSITION 2ND
CUP: P 12 W 11 L 1 GF 64 GA 16
OVERALL: P 40 W 35 D 2 L 3 GF 203 GA 35
Les Davies 36
Corrig McGonigle 34
Chris Jones 18
Gethin Thomas 17
Jamie Petrie 17
Cameron Barry 11
Tomos Clarke 11
Harry Galeotti 10
Corey Jones 10
Joe Culshaw 8
Sion Edwards 7
Dylan Williams 6
Sam Roberts 3
Luke Steele 2
Sam Ashworth 2
Aaron Heald 2
Ben Owen 2
Michael Johnston 1
Cian Williams 1
OG 5
July 29: Llanberis (h – FAW Welsh Cup Q1) 9-2 (Corrig McGonigle 4, Liam Morris 3, Les Davies, Sion Edwards)
Aug 9: Llanrwst United (a – ANW) 3-1 (Corrig McGonigle, Les Davies 2)
Aug 13: Rhostyllen (a – ANW) 3-3 (Corrig McGonigle 3)
Aug 16: CPD Y Felinheli (h – ANW) 5-0 (Corrig McGonigle 2, 1 pen, Liam Morris 2, Corey Jones)
Aug 20: Llannerchymedd (a – Welsh Cup Q2) 8-1 (Harry Galeotti 2, Cian Williams, Liam Morris, Corey Jones, Les Davies, Dylan Williams 2, 1 pen)
Aug 27: Llay Welfare (h – ANW) 2-2 (Corrig McGonigle 2)
Sep 3: Glantraeth (h – FAW Amateur Trophy) 4-1 (Corrig McGonigle 3, 1 pen; Paul Bryant OG)
Sep 17: Bow Street (Welsh Cup R1) 5-6 (Corrig McGonigle 3, 1 pen, Tom Clarke, Gethin Thomas)
Sep 24: Flint Mountain (h – ANW) 5-0 (Corrig McGonigle 2, Les Davies, Jamie Petrie, Harry Galeotti)
Oct 1: Llanystumdwy (a – FAW Amateur Trophy) 10-0 (Liam Morris 3, Corrig McGonigle 2, Les Davies 2, Harry Galeotti 2, Gethin Thomas)
Oct 8: Saltney Town (a – ANW) 4-2 (Harry Galeotti, Corrig McGonigle 2 pens, Les Davies)
Oct 15: Brickfield Rangers (h – ANW) 6-0 (Corrig McGonigle 3, Liam Morris, Harry Galeotti, Jamie Petrie)
Oct 22: CPD Y Rhyl 1879 (a – ANW) 2-1 (Liam Morris, Corrig McGonigle)
Oct 29: Meliden (a – FAW Amateur Trophy) 5-0 (Corrig McGonigle 4, Dylan Williams)
Nov 5: Hawarden Rangers (h – League Cup) 4-1 (Tom Clarke 2, Ben Owen, Joe Culshaw)
Nov 12: Nantlle Vale (a – ANW) 4-3 (Corrig McGonigle 2, 1 pen, Sion Edwards, Gethin Thomas)
Nov 19: Llay Welfare (h – FAW Amateur Trophy) 4-1 (Les Davies 3, 1 pen, Sion Edwards)
Dec 2: Denbigh Town (a – League Cup) 1-3 (Corrig McGonigle)
Dec 9: Llangefni Town (a – ANW) 7-2 (Corrig McGonigle 3, Liam Morris, Gethin Thomas, Cameron Barry, Harry Galeotti)
Dec 31: Rhostyllen (h – ANW) 6-2 (Corrig McGonigle 4, Les Davies, Harry Galeotti)
Jan 3: Llanrwst United (h – ANW) 2-0 (Gethin Thomas, Corrig McGonigle)
Jan 28: Trethomas Bluebirds (h – FAW Amateur Trophy) 1-2 (Tom Clarke)
Feb 3: Llandudno Albion (h – ANW) 4-2 (Corrig McGonigle 2, Tom Clarke 2)
Feb 11: Llay Welfare (a – ANW) 3-1 (Liam Morris, Joe Culshaw, Les Davies)
Feb 17: Llangefni Town (h – ANW) 1-2 (Liam Morris)
Feb 24: Denbigh Town (a – ANW) 0-1
Mar 4: Brickfield Rangers (a – ANW) 3-0 (Corrig McGonigle 2, Jamie Petrie)
Mar 11: Denbigh Town (h – ANW) 0-2
Mar 18: Hawarden Rangers (a – ANW) 2-0 (Tom Clarke, Gethin Thomas)
Mar 25: Saltney Town (h – ANW) 5-4 (Corrig McGonigle 2, Joe Culshaw, Liam Morris, Sion Edwards)
Mar 31: Flint Mountain (a – ANW) 3-2 (Jamie Petrie, Liam Morris 2)
Apr 8: CPD Y Rhyl 1879 (h – ANW) 2-1 (Jamie Petrie, Corrig McGonigle)
Apr 11: CPD Y Felinheli (a – ANW) 2-0 (Liam Morris, Corrig McGonigle)
Apr 15: Llandudno Albion (a – ANW) 2-0 (Dylan Williams, Liam Morris)
Apr 28: Nantlle Vale (h – ANW) 3-1 (Corrig McGonigle 2, Liam Morris)
May 6: Hawarden Rangers (h – ANW) 3-2 (Corrig McGonigle, Liam Morris, Tom Clarke)
May 27: Cefn Albion (Ardal Northern Play-Off Final) 4-2 (Corrig McGonigle 2, 1 pen, Tom Clarke, Liam Morris)
LEAGUE: P 26 W 21 D 2 L 3 GF 82 GA 34 PTS 65 (GD + 48) – POSITION 2ND
CUP: P 10 W 7 L 3 GF 50 GA 15
PLAY-OFF: P 1 W 1 GF 4 GA 2
OVERALL: P 37 W 29 D 2 L 6 GF 136 GA 51
Corrig McGonigle 56
Liam Morris 22
Les Davies 13
Tom Clarke 9
Harry Galeotti 9
Gethin Thomas 6
Jamie Petrie 5
Sion Edwards 4
Dylan Williams 4
Joe Culshaw 3
Corey Jones 2
Cian Williams 1
Cameron Barry 1
Own Goals 1
LEAGUE: Played 70 Won 61 Drawn 4 Lost 5 Goals For 336 Goals Against 62
CUP: Played 36 Won 30 Lost 6 Goals For 184 Goals Against 39
PLAY-OFF: Played 1 Won 1 Goals For 4 Goals Against 2
Played 107 Won 92 Drawn 4 Lost 11 Goals Scored 520 Goals Against 103
90 – Corrig McGonigle
72 – Les Davies
65 – Jamie Petrie
45 – Dylan Summers-Jones
23 – Gethin Thomas
22 – Liam Morris
20 – Tom Clarke, Cameron Barry
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