Colwyn Bay FC was founded over 100 years ago so is amongst the elder
statesmen of non-league football. Little is known of Bay’s early history apart
from the fact that they competed in the North Wales Coast Football League from
1901 until that competition folded in 1921 when the majority of clubs joined the
Welsh National League.
The
Bay enjoyed some success in this, winning the League Cup in 1928 and finishing
as league runners-up in both 1928 and 1930 - which was to prove the last season
for the competition. In July of that year, a meeting was held at the Albion
Hotel in Chester with a view to setting up the Cheshire Football Combination in
which clubs from Cheshire and North Wales would compete - the eventual title of
the competition was the North Wales Football Combination. The Bay became founder
members - and can rightly claim to
have first played in “English” football - in 1930-1931, and celebrated by
taking the title at the end of the season.
In
1931, the club joined the Birmingham & District League. In the Birmingham
League were the likes of Worcester City, Cradley Heath, Wrexham Reserves and
Kidderminster Harriers. Unfortunately this gave them transport difficulties and
results tailed off. Unable to halt a slide down the table, which saw them finish
bottom in 1935-1936 and 1936-1937 seasons, it was perhaps not surprising that
they left this league to join the Welsh League (North) in 1937.
After
the Second World War the club rejoined the competition and proved to be highly
successful, starting off with a
runners-up spot at the end of the first season and ending by taking the league
title in 19833 and 1984. Bay also finished as runners-up in 1964 and amongst
their cup successes were wins in the Alves Cup in 1964 and the Cookson Cup in
1974, 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1984, the Barrit Cup in 1980 and 1984 as well as the
North Wales Coast Challenge Cup in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1992 and 1996 and 1998.
In
1984, the club crossed the border with election to the Bass North West Counties
League. It was also at this time that the Bay left their Eirias Park ground for
their present Llanelian Road base. During their first season in the new league,
the club were promoted from the Third Division and following re-organisation of
the leagues in 1987 the club were promoted to the First Division. The Bay gained
further success, finishing fourth in the League and reaching the Final of the
Raab Karcher League Cup Final where they lost to Warrington Town at Gigg Lane,
Bury. The club also reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first
time in their history that season, losing 1-0 away to Northwich Victoria. The
following season the Seagulls again reached the Final of the Raab Karcher Cup
and gained revenge on Warrington Town winning 3-0 , again at Bury. In 1990/91
the club finished runners up in the league to Knowsley United, but due to the
demise of South Liverpool a vacancy was created in the Northern Premier League,
and despite a strong challenge from North Shields to fill the vacancy, the club
were duly elected to the NPL.
The
1991/92 campaign started with the club on the crest of a wave, topping the table
and enjoying an FA Cup run which saw them fall to Morecambe in the final
qualifying round. However in October 1991 news broke that the Football
Association of Wales, in readiness for a creation of a new League of Wales,
would withdraw a sanction for all non league clubs currently playing in England.
The clubs affected included Bangor City, Barry Town, Caernarfon Town, Merthyr
Tydfil, Newport AFC, Newtown, Rhyl and Colwyn Bay argued the case for their
right to play where they wished. The FA of Wales were challenged by the clubs
and an appeal was heard. This appeal was set up by the FAW and consisted of
members selected by the FAW. The appeal was turned down, except in the case of
Merthyr, who were allowed to continue playing in England. To the credit of the
players and management, off the field activities did not affect those on the
pitch and the club went on to secure a league and cup double as well as the
North Wales Coast Challenge Cup. The Welsh Cup semi-final was also reached
including a 3-1 win over Wrexham, only days after the Football League side had
beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup.
At
the end of a highly successful first season in the Northern Premier League, the
club had a big decision to make and gave it’s supporters a choice. Either join
the new League of Wales or go into exile whilst the club continued its battle
with the Welsh FA for the right to play in the English pyramid. The latter
option was decided and a new home base was chosen in Northwich where the club played all its home games, some 60 miles from Colwyn Bay.
This inevitably affected the support and for a following season a base nearer
home at Ellesmere Port was chosen. Financially the clubs choice was not easy,
but was supported by the local council, townspeople and supporters alike. The
fight was eventually finalised during April 1995 in the High Court in London,
where the three remaining clubs in exile; Newport, Caernarfon and the Bay won
the case against the Welsh FA. Without doubt the period in exile affected the
club both on and off the field and it is to the credit of everyone involved that
they maintained their position in the Premier Division of the Northern Premier
League. Since their return to Llanelian Road the club have held their own in the
league competition without really threatening to top the table. In the later
part of the nineties the club have had some great runs in the cup competitions,
reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Cup on three occasions and reaching
the Second Round of the competition for the first time in their history before
bowing out 2-0 away to Blackpool. In 1997 the club achieved it’s best ever
performance in the FA Trophy, when they reached the Quarter Finals of the
competition before the lost to then Conference Champions Stevenage Borough.
At
the end of season 2000/2001 manager Bryn Jones stepped down as manager after
eighteen years at the helm to be replaced by Colin Caton as player/manager. In
his first season at the helm, the Bay maintained their Northern Premier League
status. But the following season, 2002/2003, the Bay were relegated for the
first time in their history and Colin Caton stepped down as manager.
The Colwyn Bay FC board appointed Jimmy Mullen in May 2003 as their new manager. Despite relegation, the club are rebuilding for the future on and off the pitch with ground developments and the formation of a new Community Trust.