Conwy Borough F.C.
| Full name | Conwy Borough Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Tangerines | ||
| Founded | 1977 (as Conwy United) | ||
| Ground |
Y Morfa Conwy | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 | ||
| Chairman | Geoff Cartwright | ||
| Manager | Vacant | ||
| League | Cymru Alliance | ||
| 2013-14 | Cymru Alliance, 2nd | ||
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Conwy Borough F.C. are a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Conwy, playing in the Cymru Alliance league. Between 1977 and June 2012 they were known as Conwy United.
Club history
Following the demise of Borough United in 1967, Welsh representatives in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963/64, there was a void of Welsh League clubs in the Conwy area. Historically there has always been football in the area, and especially a Conwy team, stretching back to the 1870s. Then in 1977 Conwy Town and Conwy Royal British Legion, both of whom played in the Vale of Conwy League, amalgamated to form Conwy United.
The club was duly elected to the Welsh League (North) that later became the Welsh Alliance League. In 1981/82 the club won the Welsh Intermediate Cup (now called the FAW Welsh Trophy) and the club also won the Welsh Alliance League title in 1984/85 and 1985/86. In 1990 the club became founder members of the Cymru Alliance League and finished in the top seven both seasons that they were members.
Then in 1992 the club became founder members of the League of Wales. The club finished a creditable 7th place in its first season and in 1995/96 finished in 3rd place under the guidance of John Hulse, with Kenny McKenna setting a club scoring record of 49 goals in a season. The club qualified for the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup and played Charleroi (Belgium) and SV Ried (Austria) at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, and travelled to Zaglebie Lubin (Poland) and Silkeborg (Denmark). Despite not progressing past the group stage, the club gave a good account of itself especially with a 0-0 draw against Charleroi and losing to a late goal against SV Ried.
In the following three seasons the club reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup twice, and also qualified for the FAW Premier Cup twice, most notably holding Swansea City to 0-0 draw at the Vetch Field. However the financial burden had begun to take its toll on the club and in 2000 were relegated.
The club decided not to progress to the Cymru Alliance and instead accepted an invitation to join the Welsh Alliance League. In its second season the club was League runners-up and Cookson Cup runners-up. The following two seasons were very difficult both on and off the field but the return of Nigel Roberts as manager kept the club up and the 2004-05 season started tremendously well with the club sitting at the top of the League. However, tragedy struck when Nigel Roberts was killed in a road accident, but the team showed great strength and character to keep fighting. The league slipped just out of reach but under the guidance of Danny McGoona reached the final of the Cookson Cup again, only to lose out 4-3 to Bethesda in one of the most dramatic finals for years. The emergence of young players at the club has seen many progress to the first team.
Barry Jones returned as Manager with Keith Tansley and one of the youngest Conwy sides ever finally clinched the Cookson Cup. An extra time penalty from Matty Bennett won the trophy against rivals Llandudno Junction at Maesdu. In the league the club finished sixth while playing some attractive football. This season Paul Moroney takes over as Manager with Barry Jones and Keith Tansley remaining at the club. With the foundations set down last season the club aim to build on the young squad and hopefully challenge for honours. The club has also resurrected a Reserve side managed by Denley Smith and hopefully the progression of young talent will hold the club in good stead for the future.
In 2010-11 Paul Moroney took charge at Y Morfa in one of the most successful seasons of the clubs recent history. Although losing the first game of the season away at Denbigh, Moroney's side went on to win the Welsh Alliance Division One and gain promotion to the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance. Also Conwy reached the final of the FAW Trophy (held at Belle Vue, Rhyl FC, 19 April 2011) where they led by two goals to nil until the 91st minute and somehow conceded three goals in as many minutes to gift Holywell Town the Trophy in one of the most dramatic finals in years. Conwy United also won the Fairplay League and young star Toby Jones picked up the top goalscorer award with a forty plus tally in all competitions, Toby's hard work for the season paid off in the Summer of 2011 when he was offered a full-time professional contract by Welsh Premier outfit Neath which the youngster signed.
In the 2011/12 season, Conwy got off to a flying start in the 2nd tier of Welsh football winning their first four games under new management Steve Jones and Dean Martin. However the form dropped and in December the duo were relieved of their duties and the new chairman Geoff Cartwright appointed Mick McGrath as manager who signed a number of key players the team needed including Dean Canning and Eddie Jebb (on-loan). Results began to improve and next season Conwy have already been tipped as "The ones to watch"
In April 2012 the Football Association of Wales domestic committee approved a name change request that from the 2012/13 season the club was to be renamed Conwy Borough F.C.[1] This was approved in June 2012.
The club appointed Chris Herbert as the new first team manager in May 2012. The new manager re structured the Y Morfa outfit in to a top 3 team which also lifted the league cup, when they beat Caersws on penalties in the final, with goalkeeper Terry McCormick saving 2 penalties, which amazingly was the he tangerines 5th penalty shoot out win in cup competitions that season.
In August 2013 Herbert also signed former Republic of Ireland, Sunderland and Doncaster midfielder Sean Thornton. Former Crewe, Chester, Morcombe and Shrewsbury Defender Darren Moss, and ex York City, Wrexham and Chester midfielder Levi Makin.
Past players
Past players for the club who have gone on to the Football League include Neville Southall, Carl Dale Hugh McAuley and Kevin Ellison.
Current squad 2012/13
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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External links
References
- ↑ "Conwy United name change approved". Welsh Premier League. Retrieved 16 April 2012.