Bangor 1876 have won just one cup in their short history – but been cruelly robbed of a chance to lift four more

Bangor 1876’s 2-0 win over Penrhyncoch on Saturday qualified them for just a second major final in their five-season history.

However, the fan-owned club have been robbed of what could have been another FOUR cup final appearances.

The 2019-20 season, a debut campaign for then newly-formed 1876, was halted in early March 2020 due to the worldwide pandemic.

Although crowned Gwynedd League champions on the PPG method, Bangor had also reached the NWCFA Junior Cup semi-finals and were still in the Gwynedd Cup and Bob Owen Memorial Shield.

The dominant way in which they dealt with opponents at Tier 5 level suggested 1876 would have been favourites to land a quadruple that season instead of a single.

If what happened to Bangor in the 2019-20 was pure bad luck, then events of 2021-22 were farcical.

The blues made it all the way to the NWCFA Intermediate Cup final where a much-anticipated meeting with new boys CPD Y Rhyl 1879 was awaited.

However, no suitable venue could be found by the NWCFA and eventually time ran out to stage the final and the competition was scrapped.

As a consolation, Bangor 1876 did win the North Wales Coast West Premier Division Cup that season, beating Bodedern Athletic in the final. They were also promoted to Tier 3 Ardal North West as Prem runners-up.

The end of 2022-23 saw Bangor reach the Ardal Northern Play-Off Final, where the reward on offer was promotion to Tier 2 Cymru North.

1876 defeated Cefn Albion 4-2 in extra time to confirm their place in the CN. but while it was a final, it wasn’t part of a cup competition, so perhaps wouldn’t qualify as a “cup won”. Agree or disagree? Up to you.

So, in this their fifth season of existence, Bangor 1876 have won just the one cup – the Tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division Cup.

However, had fortune not worked so cruelly against them, they could have had a chance to play four more finals by now.

Hence, Michael Johnson’s men will be determined to make the most of their opportunity to be victorious in the Welsh Blood Service Cymru North League Cup northern final when they clash with Airbus UK Broughton at the end of this season.

The winner of that final will progress to the WBS League Cup national final against the Ardal South West victors. So, potentially, two trophies up for grabs.

After a season which is ending with the unexpected spectre of a relegation fight in the air for Bangor, a cup final will be a welcome distraction for the club’s loyal followers.