Conwy Borough Football Club – History

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 / Chris Herbert
League / Cymru Alliance
2011-12 / Cymru Alliance, 10th


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 1870’s. 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 tio 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 InterToto Cup and played Charleroi (Belgium) and SV Reid (Austria) at The Racecourse, Wrexham, and travelled to ZeglebieLubin (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 Reid.
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. However the financial burden had began to take its toll on the club and in 2000 were relegated.
The club decided not to progress to the next level being 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.

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 theHuws Gray Cymru Alliance. Conwy also reached the final of the FAW Trophy 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 40 plus goals 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 the new management team of Steve Jones and Dean Martin. However, the promising form dropped dramatically and in December the duo left the club and the new chairman, Geoff Cartwright, appointed Mick McGraa as manager. The club signed a number of key players including local lad, Robbie Williams, Dean Canning, Eddie Jebb & John Owen (both on-loan from Bangor). Results began to improve instantly and the club secured safety and a 10th place finish.
After Mick McGraa left the club at the end of the season former Welshpool manager, Chris Herbert, was appointed as the new first team manager in May 2012 with John Keegan joining as his assistant.

In June 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. To fit with the name change a new club badge was chosen by supporters via the clubs website as part of a re-branding of the club.

Over the summer, a great deal of work has gone in on improving Y Morfa as the club begins working towards looking to secure an FAW club license in the future.
Past players for the club who have gone on to the Football League include; Neville Southall, Carl Dale and Kevin Ellison.