| CONWY UNITED |
CONWY United Football Club was born in 1977 out of an
amalgamation between Conwy British Legion FC and Conwy Town FC, both of whom played
in the local Vale of Conwy League. Since the famous Borough United had folded
ten years earlier, there had been a dearth of Welsh League clubs within the area.
Borough United, of course, are famous for winning the Welsh Cup in 1963 and representing
Wales in the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following season.
In 1977, Conwy United FC was elected as a member of the Welsh League (North),
which later became the Welsh Alliance league in which the club presently features.
In the 1981/82 season, Conwy won the Welsh Intermediate Cup (formerly the Welsh
Amateur Cup and now the FAW Trophy) beating Llanberis Athletic, Cefn Albion, Newport
Corinthians, Brecon Corinthians and Newtown on their way to the final. Their opponents
in the Trophy Final, played at Farrar Road, Bangor, were Blaenau Ffestiniog and
Conwy came out winners courtesy of the game’s only goal.
Following seven relatively successful seasons in the Welsh League (North), Conwy
United became champions in both 1984/85 and 1985/86, winning 42 of their fifty-eight
league games during those two campaigns and scoring 195 goals. Despite four mediocre
seasons thereafter, Conwy United were invited to become founder members of the
Cymru Alliance in 1990 as the new Welsh soccer pyramid began to take shape. In
each of their two seasons at that level, Conwy finished fifth and were ready to
join the newly formed League of Wales in August 1992.
United had a fairly successful term in 1992/93 finishing in a creditable seventh
place. A rather disappointing thirteenth in 1993/94 led to the club appointing
a new management team although, initially, the improvement to 12th place in 1995
was only moderate. Further reorganisation saw John Hulse appointed manager for
the 1995/96 campaign, having been assisted by Paul Rowlands the previous season.
A further managerial reshuffle in November 1997 saw Stan Allan appointed as manager,
following the brief reign of Nigel and Phil Roberts.
Such was the effect on the team that they shot up to finish
third in 1995/96 and qualified for a place in the Inter Toto Cup. They played
teams from Belgium (gaining a deserved draw with Charleroi at Wrexham’s
Racecourse ground), Poland, Austria and Denmark. Conwy played some very disciplined
football and gave a good account of themselves. 1996/97 saw The Musselmen finish
7th in the league and reach the semi-final of the Welsh Cup for the first time
and in 1998/99 Conwy secured a place in the FAW Premier Cup following another
good season. They also reached the semi-final of the Welsh Cup for the second
time in three years before losing 1-0 to Carmarthen Town.
Ground improvements were completed in 1997 and included the building of an excellent
stand behind one goal at The Morfa, which increased the overall seating capacity
to 620. The ground boasts ample terracing and the excellent facilities have led
to The Morfa being chosen as the venue for several neutral games and has hosted
both Under-18 and Women’s international matches.
In January 2000, however, a dispute led to Conwy United’s first team players
walking out on the club en bloc. Matt Corcoran, the only one to remain, was appointed
player-manager and given the task of finding eleven players at very short notice.
That he did, though most were desperately short of both skill and fitness, and
Conwy lost the next two games 10-0 at Connah’s Quay and 8-0 at Bangor. Relegated
at the end of that season, the club re-grouped and chose to go down two rungs
of the ladder into the Welsh Alliance.
Neville Southall, the former Welsh international goalkeeper, played for Conwy
United in his younger days, before moving on to Winsford United, Bury and Everton.
Carl Dale, of Chester City and Cardiff City fame, was another to learn his trade
with The Musselmen. In 1984/85, Dale netted 47 goals for the club during their
first Welsh League (North) championship season. Indeed, that stood as a club record
until Ken McKenna scored 49 league and cup goals in 1995/96.
Welsh Alliance life has proved harsh for Conwy United. A poor season in 2000/01
saw the team gain just 20 points from 26 games and, despite a vast improvement
to finish runners-up to Amlwch Town the following term, the campaign was one of
despair. In mid-March 2003, Conwy United were rooted to the bottom of the league,
cast adrift with a mere eight points.
Welsh Premier football returned briefly to Morfa Conwy in 2004 when Airbus UK chose to ground-share. But it seems it will be some time before the home
town club brings top flight football back to the ground. |
|
|
| Season |
Comp |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
Pos |
 |
| 1992/3 |
LoW |
38 |
16 |
9 |
13 |
51 |
51 |
57 |
7 |
|
| 1993/4 |
LoW |
38 |
13 |
6 |
19 |
55 |
70 |
45 |
13 |
|
| 1994/5 |
LoW |
38 |
14 |
7 |
17 |
60 |
69 |
49 |
12 |
|
| 1995/6 |
LoW |
40 |
21 |
13 |
6 |
101 |
58 |
76 |
3 |
|
| 1996/7 |
LoW |
40 |
20 |
8 |
12 |
66 |
44 |
68 |
7 |
|
| 1997/8 |
LoW |
38 |
15 |
8 |
15 |
66 |
59 |
53 |
9 |
|
| 1998/9 |
LoW |
32 |
14 |
7 |
11 |
55 |
49 |
49 |
7 |
|
| 1999/0 |
LoW |
34 |
6 |
5 |
23 |
33 |
97 |
20 |
17 |
|
| 2000/1 |
WA |
26 |
4 |
8 |
14 |
38 |
86 |
20 |
13 |
|
| 2001/2 |
WA |
34 |
18 |
2 |
4 |
57 |
28 |
56 |
2 |
|
| TOTAL |
|
334 |
133 |
44 |
157 |
645 |
668 |
434 |
|
|
* Three points
deducted in 1999/2000 |
|
LoW=League
of Wales/WP |
WA=Welsh
Alliance |
|
|
 |
|
|
Biggest
Home Wins |
7-2 v Rhyl 25/11/95
7-3 v Caersws 02/09/95
6-0 v Briton Ferry Athletic 19/04/97 |
|
Biggest
Away Wins |
6-1 at Flint Town United 10/01/98
6-2 at Caersws 07/09/96
5-2 at Llansantffraid 29/08/95
5-2 at Briton Ferry Athletic 13/01/96 |
|
Biggest
Home Defeats |
0-5 by Cwmbran Town 25/03/00
0-4 by Mold Alexandra 02/01/93
0-4 by Barry Town 21/03/00
0-4 by Caersws 05/04/00 |
|
Biggest
Away Defeats |
0-10 at Connah’s Quay Nomads 22/01/00
0-8 at Bangor City 25/01/00
0-7 at Total Network Solutions 19/02/00
1-6 at Llanelli 25/09/93 |
|
Most
Goals in One Season |
38 by Ken McKenna 1995/1996 |
|
Most
Goals in One Match |
4 by Ken McKenna v Flint Town United 27/02/95
4 by Ken McKenna v Aberystwyth Town 28/09/96 |
|
Top
Scorers in Aggregate |
89 by Ken McKenna (1994 – 1997)
38 by John Toner (1997 – 2000) |
|
Most
Appearances |
109 (+10 Sub) by Mally Tidswell (1992 – 2000)
101 by Chris Taylor (1994 – 1997) |
|
|
|
|
Mark Jones (1992 - May 1994)
Paul Rowlands (Jun 1994 - cs 1995)
John Hulse (cs 1995 - Jun 1997)
Nigel Roberts (Jul 1997 - Dec 1997)
Stan Allen (Dec 1997 – Mar 2000)
Dave Roberts (Mar 2000 – May 2000) |
|
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