Not the departure Colin Caton deserved – but his status as a Bala Town legend is forever secured
When a highly successful manager leaves a club after 22 years great service, one would expect an emotive farewell, but Bala Town’s goodbye statement to Colin Caton today appeared to mix sadness with a high dose of frustration.
Frustration not towards the man himself, but the circumstances leading to his departure….
Caton resigned today as first team boss of a club he has led since 2003, guiding them from Tier 3 to 16 consecutive seasons in the Cymru Premier, where they finished runners-up three times, as well as lifting the Welsh Cup and Nathaniel MG Cup and competing in nine European campaigns.
The longest serving manager in North Wales football before calling it a day, Caton’s reign at Maes Tegid will forever be the stuff of legend.
Bala Town released the following statement earlier today:
“Bala Town Football Club announce with deep regret the resignation of Colin Caton as First Team Manager.
“The Club have had a hugely difficult and challenging 12 months and the culmination of this has resulted in Colin facing an almost impossible task to continue in his position. The issues which we as a small Club within the JD Cymru Premier League have been widely discussed but there has been no assistance or resolution regarding the concerns raised.
“The challenges have had a personal affect on many involved in our Club but we remain resolute in our determination to continue our journey at the very highest level of domestic football in Wales.
“Colin has been an unbelievable servant of this Club for 22 years since 2003 (more than a life sentence) and transformed us from a team languishing at a low level in Tier 3 to the very top of Welsh domestic football.
“He leaves after 880 matches at the helm and an encyclopedia of achievements – promotion in his first season to the Cymru Alliance – then 3 NEWFA Challenge Cup wins and 3 Cymru Alliance League Cup wins – then promotion at last after 5 seasons into the Welsh Premier League in 2009 – and then 16 years consecutively in the Cymru Premier – we are the 2nd longest running team in the League – and in those 16 years, 9 European qualifications, an historic Welsh Senior Cup victory, a Nathaniel MG League Cup victory, 3 times second place in the League, 3 times Third place in the League – a never ending catalogue of success.
“The Club will be forever grateful to Colin for his outstanding service, his complete commitment to the position, his dedication, his enthusiasm, his determination, his professionalism and his outstanding achievements.
“His resignation will not affect the bond of friendship and family which he has with so many within the Club. His resignation will never lessen the wonderful memories and his resignation will certainly never dim the admiration, the respect and the gratitude which Bala Town holds for Colin.
“The Club will now take the necessary steps to safeguard the future of football at Bala Town.”
“There will be no comment available from the Club until further notice.”
Bala referring to “a hugely difficult and challenging 12 months” no doubt includes an uncharacteristically poor second half of the 2024-25 Cymru Premier season.
Town managed to secure a top-six Championship Conference place, but lost seven out of 10 Phase 2 matches, taking just five points out of a possible 30 and failing to qualify for Europe.
Within the last few days the club also suffered a big blow when it had to withdraw from the FAW National Academi programme.
A club statement said: “Following a recent inspection by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), we have been informed that from the 2025/26 season, Bala Town F.C. will be permitted to operate under a Category C FAW National Academi License. This license, however, allows provision for only two age groups — U15s and U19s — and is subject to annual re-approval.
“As a result of this directive, and despite our significant efforts and investment in our academy programme, we are no longer in a position to sustain a full player development pathway into our first team. Consequently, the difficult decision has been made to withdraw from the FAW National Academi programme.”
So, difficult times at Maes Tegid, which culminated in the departure of long-serving manager Caton today.
He deserved to leave the club holding a trophy aloft, but it was sadly not to be.
COLIN CATON’S REIGN AT BALA TOWN
Colin Caton established himself as one of the best managers in Welsh domestic football history with what he achieved since taking over as Bala boss when the club was in the tier 3 Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier Division back in 2003-04.
Having spent many years at Colwyn Bay as a player and manager, the more humble and less successful Bala was a whole new challenge for the big defender.
However, the WNL Premier Division title was won in Colin’s debut season at the helm.
Several cups followed and the Cymru Alliance championship was secured in 2008/09.
After a moderate start to life in the tier 1 Welsh Premier, the Lakesiders began to blossom, with a place in the Europa League captured after a play-off final victory in 2012-13.
Bala clinched runners-up spots in the top flight in 2014/15 and 2015/16 and then in 2016/17 came the coup de grace as Town landed the Welsh Cup for the first time in their history, beating a TNS side they had failed to conquer in 29 previous attempts 2-1 in the final.
In 2020-21, Bala won their first-ever European tie when they beat Valletta of Malta in a one-legged affair.
They were Cymru Premier runners-up for a third-time under Caton in 2021-22 and continued to secure top-six status in each season before his departure.
Bala also won the Welsh League Cup (Nathaniel MG Cup) for the first time in 2022-23, and competed in the Scottish Challenge (Irn-Bru) Cup.
FIRST TEAM HONOURS WON UNDER COLIN CATON (12 winners’ trophies)
2022-23
Nathaniel MG League Cup winners
2021-2022
Cymru Premier runners-up
2020-2021
Europa Cup victory v Valletta – 1-0 away – first ever qualifying round win
2016-2017
JD Welsh Cup winners
2015-2016
Cymru Premier runners-up
2014-2015
Cymru Premier runners-up
2013-2014
First game in Europe – 1-0 win v Levadia Tallinn
2012-2013
Europa Playoff Final winners
2008-2009
Huws Gray Cymru Alliance League champions
Huws Gray Cup winners
2007-2008
Cymru Alliance League Cup winners
North East Wales FA Challenge Cup winners
2006-2007
Cymru Alliance League Cup winners
North East Wales FA Challenge Cup winners
2004-2005
Cymru Alliance League Cup winners
2003-2004
Colin Caton appointed Bala Town manager
Wrexham Area Premier League Champions
North East Wales FA Challenge Cup winners
COLIN CATON MATCH RECORD AS BALA MANAGER
Welsh Premier League matches (play-off games not included)
Played 508
Won 225
Drawn 119
Lost 164
Goals For 831
Goals Against 670
All competitive matches (from personal records kept – subject to confirmation)
Played 875
Won 460
Drawn 156
Lost 259