Who remembers Caernarfon Borough FC? This book will bring the memories flooding back!
With Christmas just around the corner, the latest book by a renowned author would make an ideal gift for local football followers in the Caernarfon area.
Alex Philp will launch Borough Boys – The story of Caernarfon’s second favourite team this Friday, November 22.
The venue will be Y Goron in Caernarfon High Street. Start time is 7.30 pm, entry is free and visitors are promised an evening of football and music.
Keen historian Alex has previously published two highly successful books – Local Heroes, a celebration of the greatest footballers to hail from the Caernarfon area and C’mon The Town – twelve memorable seasons recalling the best campaigns for the Canaries.
Both books centred largely on Caernarfon Town Football Club and its proud history, but Alex’s latest publication focuses solely on Caernarfon Borough, a team which competed in the Caernarfon and District and Gwynedd Leagues between 1985-1997.
Borough Boys is a nostalgia-filled treat filled with stories about a committed yet fun-loving band of footballers and a wealth of great characters associated with the club.
Numerous team photos will bring the memories flooding back as well as detailed accounts on each season Boro operated.
Alex had a short stint as club secretary himself, but more than anything he was a fan of a popular grassroots football team formed during a time where the game in the Caernarfon area and many other parts of North Wales was thriving.
When I saw there was a season-by-season account of Boro’s fortunes on offer, I quickly forwarded to 1996-97 where my most vivid memory of the club is featured.
That season was Denbigh Town’s first in the tier 2 Cymru Alliance League and they were expected to win comfortably at Aber Foreshore in the NWCFA Challenge Cup against Gwynedd League underdogs Boro from two levels below.
Town led through Tommy Mutton’s first half goal and entering the closing stages looked set to progress, but veteran goal machine John Hayes equalised and while Denbigh were still recovering Geraint Lloyd Jones bagged the winner.
There was a fantastic atmosphere in the after-match venue, with Boro players and supporters understandably ecstatic.
I was more than familiar with the achievements of the legendary Hayes and introduced myself to him after the match.
He warmly welcomed my recollections of his career and despite the fact I was Denbigh Town’s programme editor at the time and a confirmed fan, meeting John made my day and helped me get over what was a disappointing defeat, but undoubtedly one of Boro’s best-ever results.
Borough Boys includes all results available from each season, as well as some very amusing Player Profiles from the era, plus numerous people connected with the club in some shape or form choosing their all-time Borough XI’s.
There is also an excellent club honours list, tributes to Boro international and representative players, family connections and every league table the team featured in.
This book is not just a must for Caernarfon Borough fans, but anyone with an interest in North Wales football, especially the lower-tier grassroots where so many loved and respected names are featured.
Considering they were around for a relatively short time, Caernarfon Borough certainly packed plenty into their dozen years on the local football scene.
Alex Philp, as always, covers everything so enthusiastically and eloquently.