Bangor (Northern Ireland)

Bangor FC is a semi-professional football club from the seaside town of Bangor in County Down, Northern Ireland, that was formed in 1918, taking over from a previous Bangor FC which led a controversial existence.

In 1914, two young men Bob Lindsay and Jimmy Savage, had a row in a boat in Bangor Bay. Despite the nation being at war, they felt a need for a local football club. They set up the original club of the same name to play at Recreation Ground off the Brunswick Road.

The team became a successful member of the Irish Football Alliance. However, there was a feeling among some members that it was wrong for young men to be playing football while compatriots were losing their lives during the conflict.

Some others thought that life should continue as near to normal as possible for morale and set up the current Bangor FC within a few days. The club became members of the Intermediate league prior to being accepted into the Irish League in 1927 with Tommy Stevenson as manager.

'The Seasiders' had spells playing their home games at Castle Street and the Ballyholme Showgrounds which was located just behind Ballyholme Esplanade. They moved to Clandeboye Park in 1935, the site of which was provided by the local council.

Despite a desperate financial situation during the depression, Bangor had managed sixth place finishes in 1929-30 and 1932-33, improving post war to fifth in 1948-49. Third place was achieved in 1955-56 at a time Terry Neil was a youth with the club before joining Arsenal in 1959.

Gerry Armstrong would be the next big name going onto greater things after his time at Clandeboye Park as he was in the team that finished sixth in the Irish League season of 1974-75 before being signed by Tottenham Hotspur.

Bangor improved to fifth place in 1975-76 although like as much of their history the team struggled for several seasons at the wrong end of the table. However, the 1988-89 campaign saw the team finish fourth under manager John Flanagan.

The 1990-91 season saw Bangor finish as Irish League runners-up prior to third place in 1992-93 after Nigel Best had taken over as manager. Consolation arrived as the club won their first major honour.

Wins over Carrick Rangers, Armagh City, Linfield and Glentoran took Bangor to the Irish Cup final against local rivals Ards. The two sides drew twice 1-1 after extra time before the Seasiders won the trophy 1-0 with a last gasp goal from Paul Byrne, who then moved on to Celtic.

The Irish League was split into two for 1995-96 with Bangor gaining a place in the eight team Premier Division. Their spell lasted just a season before being relegated to the First Division, where they missed out on an immediate return after losing to Ards in the play-offs.

Defeat in the play-offs to Newry Town followed in 2002-03 before similar disappointment followed in 2006-07 against Glenavon. In 2007 the club sold spare land around Clandeboye Park for housing to clear their debts.

Bangor successfully applied for a place in the new IFA Premiership for 2008-09 despite finishing third in Division One the previous season. Again their top flight spell lasted just twelve months with the club not applying for a professional license owing to low crowds and poor finances.

Manager Marty Quinn resigned as Bangor took up a place in Championship 1 with Colin McCurdy being appointed as new team boss, where he remained in place until September 2010 when former player Frankie Wilson replaced him.

Garth Scates came in as manager in January 2013 after a poor run of results after the second tier league had been renamed the IFA Championship. Ards moved in as tenants after losing their Castlereagh Park home prior to a new artificial surface being laid at Clandeboye Park in October 2013.

Bangor finished as runners-up in 2013-14 as their home was renamed The Bangor Fuels Stadium in a sponsorship deal. The play-offs were reached as runners-up in 2014-15 before the Seasiders lost on penalties to Warrenpoint Town.

A winding up order was served on the club by the company who installed their artificial pitch which was managed to be overturned. However, it meant that Bangor missed out on renewing their license which led to relegation to the NIFL Premier Intermediate League.

Worse was to follow. The playing budget was slashed as Bangor finished bottom of the league in 2016-17 to drop down to the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League before Hugh Sinclair took over as manager.

The club rebuilt on and off the pitch and claimed the title in 2018-19 to return to national football. Bangor finished the truncated 2019-20 in fourth place after Lee Feeney had taken over as manager mid-season.

Bangor FC will play in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League in the 2020-21 season.

My visit

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

I was Northern Ireland for a couple of days centred around football activity. I had got on board the train after visiting Lisburn Distillery and now I could relax on the train, as I was to stay on board all the way through Belfast and onwards towards the seaside resort of Bangor. 

The journey showed me some beautiful scenery and towns and villages I could very easily spend some lazy hours in, although the weather could do with being better. I found Clandeboye Park easily even if it was further from the station than I had anticipated, but once again had to do with a view from a slope outside to take my photos. 

The ground looked very compact with low covers and plenty of seats which seemed as though they had been converted. The clubhouse and clubroom stood elevated along one side. The ground stood next door to the basic, but fully enclosed by high security metal fences, home of Bangor Amateurs FC.

Bangor looked a very pretty place, deserving of a further look one day in the future. Ideally it will be with a walk along the seafront and a night out. On this occasion I needed to head back to my hotel for a freshen up and quick nap before heading to the League Cup semi-final at The Oval.