Bala Town F.C.
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| Full name | Bala Town Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Lakesiders | ||
| Founded | 1880 | ||
| Ground | Maes Tegid, Bala | ||
| Capacity | 3,000 (504 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Arwel Roberts | ||
| Manager | Colin Caton | ||
| League | Cymru Premier | ||
| 2023–24 | Cymru Premier,3rd of 12 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Bala Town Football Club(Welsh:Clwb Pêl-droed y Bala) is aWelshprofessionalfootballclub fromBala, Gwynedd,who play in theCymru Premier.[1]They play their home games atMaes Tegid.[2]
History
[edit]For a full history see;List of Bala Town FC seasons
Although the current Bala Town was formed in 1880, there is record of a football club competing in the1877–78 Welsh Cup,losing toCorwenafter two replays.[3]After Bala North End, Bala South End and Bala Thursday's merged, Bala Town's first available league status record is playing in theWelsh National League (North)Division 2 East in the 1921–22 season. Bala Town moved to their current home,Maes Tegid,in the early 1950s and joined the Wrexham Alliance in 1950,[4]however Bala Town had to wait for more than a century until they were promoted to the second tier of Welsh football, into theCymru Allianceat the end of the 2003–04 season.[5]After only four seasons in the Cymru Alliance, Bala Town sealed promoted to theCymru Premier.[6]
Bala Town secured European football for the first time in their history after aJohn Irvinggoal in the 89th minute was enough to see offPort Talbot Town2–1 to ensure the Lakesiders a European place. Bala Town were drawn against Estonian outfitLevadia Tallinnin theEuropa Leaguefirst qualifying round but after winning the home leg 1–0, they lost 3–1 in the reverse fixture inTallinnand were eliminated. In the 2014–15 season, the Lakesiders finished second, their highest ever league position, thus qualifying for the2015–16 UEFA Europa League.Bala Town missed out the opportunity of playing Turkish giantsTrabzonsporin the 2015–16 Europa League after losing on aggregate toFC Differdange 03after falling victim to an injury time Differdange goal, however Bala maintained a proud record of a 100% win percentage at "home", playing atRhyl'sBelle Vuestadium due to UEFA stadium requirements on both occasions, in Europe.
After finishing second in the2015–16 Cymru Premierthey followed this success up by winning their firstWelsh Cup,beatingThe New Saints2–1 in the final ending their 8 trophy winning streak.
Stadium
[edit]Bala Town have played at Maes Tegid in Bala since the 1950s. For European matches they use Rhyl's Belle Vue stadium due to UEFA stadium regulations. They lost a2021–22 Europa Conference Leaguequalifying match at Park Hall to Sligo Rovers on 8 July 2021.[7]
European record
[edit]| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  Levadia Tallinn
|
1–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 |
| 2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  Differdange
|
2–1 | 1–3 | 3–4 |
| 2016–17 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  AIK
|
0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 |
| 2017–18 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  Vaduz
|
1–2 | 0–3 | 1–5 |
| 2018–19 | UEFA Europa League | PR |  Tre Fiori
|
1–0 | 0−3 | 1–3 |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  Valletta
|
— | 1–0 | — |
| 2Q |  Standard Liège
|
— | 0–2 | — | ||
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1Q |  Larne
|
0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| 2022–23 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1Q |  Sligo Rovers
|
1–2 | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | 2–2(3–4p) |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | 1Q | Paide Linnameeskond
|
1–2 | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | 2–3 |
- Notes
- PR:Preliminary round
- 1Q:First qualifying round
- 2Q:Second qualifying round
Current squad
[edit]- As of 10 July 2024[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
[edit]For all players with a Wikipedia article seeCategory:Bala Town F.C. players.
Honours
[edit] |
- Cymru Premier:
- Welsh Cup
- Winners (1):2016–17
- Cymru Premier Cup:
- Cymru Alliance
- Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier Division
- Winners (1): 2003–04
- North East Wales FA Challenge Cup
- Winners (4): 1971–72, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08
- North East Wales FA Junior (Horace Wynne) Cup
- Winners (1): 1996–97
References
[edit]- ^"Welsh Premier profile".Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2014.Retrieved26 June2020.
- ^"Maes Tegid – The home of Bala Town".Archived fromthe originalon 17 October 2015.Retrieved3 January2014.
- ^"Welsh Football Data Archive:Welsh Cup 1877–78".Welsh Football Data Archive.Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2015.Retrieved27 February2015.
- ^"Welsh Data Archive:Wrexham Area 1950–51".Welsh Football Data Archive.Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2015.Retrieved27 February2015.
- ^"Welsh Football Data Archive: Wrexham Area 2003–04".Welsh Football Data Archive.Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2015.Retrieved27 February2015.
- ^"Welsh Football data Archive: Cymru Alliance 2008–09".Welsh Football data Archive.Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2015.Retrieved27 February2015.
- ^Pritchard, Tom (15 June 2021)."TNS, Bala and Newtown discover Europa Conference League opponents".Y Clwb Pêl-droed - Your home for Welsh football.Retrieved8 July2021.
- ^"Og-title-uefaeuropaconferenceleague-team-squad".Bala Town F.C.Retrieved5 July2022.
