Barry Town United F.C.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Barry Town F.C.)

Barry Town United
Full nameBarry Town United Football Club
Nickname(s)Town, Linnets, Dragons
Founded1912; 112 years ago (1912) (as Barry AFC)
GroundJenner Park, Barry
Capacity3,500 (2,200 seated)
ManagerSteve Jenkins
LeagueCymru Premier
2022–23Cymru South, 1st of 12 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

Barry Town United Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl Droed Tref Y Barri) is a semi-professional association football team based in Barry, Wales. They are known for representing Wales in Europe as winners of the Cymru Premier and Welsh Cup during the 1990s and early 2000s and have also competed in England's Southern League and FA Cup. The team, which has contained more than 50 full internationals, is now run by supporters. They play at their traditional home of Jenner Park, Barry, which holds 3,500 spectators.

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

Wales
Steel
Wales
Wightman
Wales
Molyneux
Wales
White
Wales
Thomas
Wales
Bates
Wales
Woolridge
Wales
Greenaway
Wales
McNaught
Wales
Sheldon
Wales
Isherwood
First ever Barry XI at Jenner Park

Barry Town United's history dates back to 1892 when an association football team named Barry and Cadoxton District was formed in the area. During the early years, this side endured many upheavals, playing on five different grounds under various identities, including Barry Unionist Athletic, Barry United Athletic and Barry District. Players who featured during these years included Ted Vizard and Billy Jennings; who would each go on to play in the famous 'White Horse' FA Cup Final.

Barry AFC team photograph, featuring players/officials of 1913–14

In November 1912, a meeting at The Windsor public house in Holton Road saw townsfolk choose to pursue membership of the thriving Southern League as Barry AFC (the 'Town' suffix was added after World War II). The club would secure land owned by the Jenner family and the people of the town came together to build Jenner Park, ahead of the first match of the 1912–13 season.

On 6 September 1913, Barry played their first fixture; a Southern League match against Mid-Rhondda at Jenner Park. The game attracted 4,000 spectators, including 1,000 travelling supporters.

Fittingly, the new team would register a surprise, albeit merited, victory, with Barry's Ralph Isherwood scoring the very first goal at Jenner Park just three minutes in. His second, midway through the second half, sealed a 2–1 victory, a fine start for the Barry side on, coincidentally, the same afternoon that Arsenal played their first match at Highbury.

The ensuing two seasons would see Stoke City, Brentford, Coventry City and others visit the new ground. However, the Great War would soon interrupt any competitive proceedings; with Barry captain Major James Wightman one of the many casualties of The Battle of the Somme.

Southern League success[edit]

The 1920–21 season ranks as one of the finest in Barry's history, as they surprised many by becoming champions of the Southern League's Welsh section. The achievement was all the more impressive when considering the small Barry squad played over 100 matches in all competitions during the course of the season. Competing simultaneously in both the Welsh and Western League, the Barry board gave priority to Southern League fixtures, swayed by aspirations of joining the new English Third Division.

Inspired by Stanley Cowie, the title was clinched in early May, and yet hopes of Barry being able to move up to the Football League were scuppered just a month later, when their application failed and Charlton Athletic and Aberdare Athletic (the latter of whom finished second to Barry in their section) were elected instead.

Barry retained membership of the Southern League for more than 60 years – their highest finish being fourth in the 1930s. Among the notable players of the era were Johnny Gardner (with over 500 appearances), Dai Ward (scorer of more than 300 goals) and Fred Whitlow (a 100+ goal marksman). Meanwhile, Barry-born sportsman Ernie Carless combined his footballing exploits with a successful cricketing career with Glamorgan.

FA Cup and Welsh Cup glory[edit]

Wales
Morris
Wales
Lyske
Wales
Bright
Wales
Williams
Wales
Bellas
Wales
Foxton
Wales
Allen
Wales
Dyke
Wales
Niblett
Wales
Goodfellow
Wales
Cain
1955 Welsh Cup winning XI

At the end of the 1920s, a crowd of 6,000 at Upton Park saw Barry beat Dagenham Town 1–0 to progress to the FA Cup 2nd Round; before losing to Brighton & Hove Albion ten days later. It proved to be their most successful run in the competition. Barry would reach the 1st Round again in 1934–35, losing 1–0 to Northampton Town at Jenner Park, but the build-up to the match was tainted by a fire that ravaged the grandstand.

Football again took a backseat in 1939, with the eruption of World War II . Barry's Chris Mason would be captured as a prisoner of war during the conflict, though would return to Jenner Park to resume his career afterwards; entertaining spectators thrilled by the adventures of players such as Derek Tapscott (who would later sign for Arsenal), celebrated striker Stan Richards and Gwilym 'Cannonball' Cain.

In the 1949–50 season, Jenner Park became one of the first grounds in the country to introduce floodlights, with Newport County, Swansea City and Cardiff City all visiting to showcase the facilities. Two seasons later, an all-Welsh showdown in the FA Cup 1st Round saw Barry beaten by Newport, 4–0. Nevertheless, the town's most celebrated footballing achievement was right around the corner.

In May 1955, following a 1–1 draw at the Racecourse in Wrexham, Barry beat Chester City 4–3 at Ninian Park to lift the Welsh Cup for the first time. Former Chelsea right-wing Charlie Dyke scored the winner, a dramatic late free-kick to take the cup back to Barry.

1960s, 1970s and 1980s[edit]

In the late 1950s, a host of Scandinavian stars made their way to Jenner Park, and dazzled Barry football enthusiasts with their skill. Among their number were Finland's Hannu Kankkonen and Bengt 'Folet' Berndtsson; a member of the Sweden squad that reached the final of the 1958 World Cup. The influx of players from continental Europe came as a result of chairman John Bailey's business interests overseas.

During this period, the club embarked on an overseas tour, playing three games in Malta in 1960 against Sliema Wanderers, Hibernians and Valletta that all ended in draws.

1961 saw another big match as QPR visited Jenner Park in the FA Cup. A crowd of 7,000 saw Laurie Sheffield's opener for Barry cancelled out late on. QPR would win the replay at Loftus Road comfortably. The 1960s and 70s are perhaps most fondly remembered for the personalities that pulled on the Barry shirt. Among them, prolific goalscorers Ken Gully and Clive Ayres, brothers John and Dickie Batt, long-serving Bobby Smith and Ashley Griffiths, and tall defender Mike Cosslett; now a member of the club coaching staff.

In 1982, Barry would leave the Southern League, focusing on Welsh League competition and winning six Welsh League titles before the decade's end; thanks in no small part to the goals of striker Steve Williams. The most significant match of the decade though came on 17 November 1984, as 3,850 crammed into Jenner Park to see Barry vs Reading in the FA Cup 1st Round. Despite Ian Love's goal, an injury-time winner by Trevor Senior was enough to send the Royals through.

Exile and return[edit]

Barri in Worcester, 1992–93

After insufficient floodlighting had stopped the club being able to compete in the Southern League for most of the 1980s, the tail end of the decade saw the necessary ground improvements to support a return to England. Barry entered the league's Midland Division and would consistently finish in the top six, yet were denied the opportunity to field a reserve XI in the Welsh League as they had done previously.

The creation of the League of Wales (now Cymru Premier) in 1992 then prompted a decree that Barry would no longer be able to compete in the English pyramid at all while based on Welsh soil. As part of a group of rebel clubs known as the Irate Eight (alongside Newport, Merthyr, Colwyn Bay, Bangor City, Caernarfon Town, Newtown and Rhyl), the Town were forced into exile; with the first team adopting the name of Barri AFC and playing 'home' matches out of Worcester City's ground, while the reserves (by now, a local league outfit), manned the Jenner Park fort. However, this arrangement would last only one season, as chairman O' Halloran performed a shock u-turn that saw the Barry first team return home; eventually accepted into Welsh League Division One for the 1993–94 campaign.

Decade of dominance[edit]

Barry (in yellow) in action in Lithuania in the summer of 1994

Barry's return to Jenner Park would spark the side's most successful period, as they earned immediate promotion to the top flight and a unique quadruple of Welsh League championship, Welsh League Cup, FAW Trophy and Welsh Cup (for the first time since 1955).

The latter was one of the Town's most famous achievements, as they upset Football League Second Division outfit Cardiff City in front of 16,000 spectators at the old National Stadium. Barry's reward for winning the Welsh Cup was a European Cup Winners Cup tie against Žalgiris Vilnius of Lithuania, but they crashed out 7–0 on aggregate. Greater glory was on the horizon.

After one season in the League of Wales, Barry opted to become the league's first fully professional club and, thereafter, won their first league championship in 1995–96. The season was though marred by the deaths of chairman Neil O' Halloran and young midfielder Matthew Holtham, the latter in a motorway accident on the way back from an away match in April.

1996 saw the club create history as the first League of Wales side to progress beyond the opening round of a European competition.

Following victory in Latvia over Dinaburg, Barry ousted Hungarian side Budapest Vasutas in one of several epic European nights at Jenner Park. Despite trailing 3–1 from the away leg, Barry stormed to a victory in the return match by the same score-line, and then won a penalty shoot-out 4–2.

A memorable all-British tie with Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen was their reward and, after losing 3–1 to Roy Aitken's side at Pittodrie, the Welshmen were held to a pulsating 3–3 draw at a rain-swept Jenner Park; exiting the cup in thrilling fashion before a crowd of over 6,000.

The Barry squad of 1999 at Jenner Park, with the League of Wales Cup, FAW Premier Cup and Cymru Premier trophies.

On the domestic scene, Barry were all-conquering, clinching a first treble of League of Wales championship, Welsh League Cup and Welsh Cup. The championship was claimed with a record 105 points and a goal difference of more than +100. In January 1997, the team was part of the first League of Wales match to be broadcast live on television; a 5–2 win over visitors Caernarfon Town that still holds the league's attendance record. Then, from March, Barry went 51 matches without tasting a single defeat in a league fixture.

1999 saw Barry become the first League of Wales team to win the FAW Premier Cup, with a 2–1 win over Wrexham at the club's own Racecourse Ground. Pipped to the title in 2000 by the emerging TNS, Barry would regain their crown the following campaign, while European battles with the likes of Dynamo Kyiv and Boavista saw players of the highest calibre grace Jenner Park (among them, the likes of Andriy Shevchenko and Serhii Rebrov.)

Then, in the 2001–02 season, Barry notably became the first League of Wales team to win a European Champions League tie, when they defeated the Azerbaijan champions FC Shamkir to set up a tie with Portuguese club FC Porto. Barry lost the first leg in Portugal by an emphatic 8–0 margin, after conceding two early penalties in front of a partisan 55,000 crowd. However, the Town would win the home leg 3–1, recording a famous result that has grown in legend with the career success of Porto's Ricardo Carvalho, Helder Postiga and others.[1] [2] [3]

Decline and turmoil[edit]

The golden era would not last forever, and the continual challenge of securing enough prize money to sustain their high standards set would eventually catch up with those running the club. After chairperson and backer Paula O' Halloran stood aside, former Scarborough and Grantham Town official Kevin Green came in as the club's new chief executive; yet his varying initiatives failed to stop the rot. In one move that garnered significant press, Green would recruit ex-footballer and celebrity John Fashanu as the club's high-profile chairman in the winter of 2002. Some saw Fashanu as the missing piece of the puzzle, and the man who would help sustain Barry's success going forward. Promising African and Chinese TV deals and an influx of Nigerian internationals, Fashanu made headlines, yet did little to steady a Barry ship in increasingly rough seas. Then, after success on ITV reality show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! saw him attain new-found popularity, Fashanu left the club; which by now was in a perilous financial state.

In the summer of 2003, the club went into administration and the professional squad would quickly disintegrate. An interim management team was appointed, together with an amateur squad drawn primarily from local side N & M Construction of the South Wales Amateur League (five levels below the Welsh Premier). Within a month, Barry had gone from winning a match in Europe to losing 8–0 at Caernarfon Town. Though the professional-era bubble had well and truly burst, fans set about raising money to help keep the club alive. Eventually, mystery man Stuart Lovering arrived to purchase of the club on 10 December 2003. Few could have foreseen what was to come.

2003–04 was a difficult season, with champions Barry's first league win not coming until February 2004 when they beat fellow strugglers Welshpool Town 5–4 with a 98th-minute winning penalty from youngster Luke Sherbon. Manager Colin Addison was brought in resuscitate the team's ailing fortunes, yet the Dragons still ended up bottom of the division, four points off safety, and were relegated to the Welsh League Division One. Controversially, Addison was dismissed by Lovering on the eve of the new campaign, with assistant David Hughes replacing him; only to leave himself months later on finding his budget slashed. In the meantime, an independent district valuer had determined that the club should pay £42,000 in rent and rates each season for the remainder of the lease. Judging the figure to be unfairly based on the club's relinquished professional status, Lovering refused to pay this amount and instead moved the senior side to the White Tips Stadium in Treforest from January 2005 to May 2006. During the absence, a number of staunch supporters formed breakaway club Barry FC; the culmination of a series of disputes with chairman Lovering, who had banned them from fundraising at club. With the Town relegated to their lowest-ever league status at the end of the 2005–06 season, the future appeared bleak for this fallen giant of Welsh football.

Fan-led fightback[edit]

While chaos reigned off the field for much of the decade, the roots of recovery began to grow in 2007, with the appointment of new manager Gavin Chesterfield. Chesterfield led Barry to promotion in 2008, with the hope that a winning run of form in the second tier would see the club's dwindling support return. After stumbling early on, Barry enjoyed a 21-match unbeaten streak and finished the season a credible third. Nevertheless, the team's achievements were continually overshadowed by events behind the scenes.

In December 2008, a crisis meeting at Jenner Park saw supporters come forward to pledge their commitment to operating the first team (forming a new company for this purpose), to allow Lovering to focus on finding a buyer. In one of a number of close calls, the club appeared on the verge of being sold in 2010, when businessman Clayton Jones appeared to strike a deal. However, this fell through at the eleventh hour, scuppering a plan to bring in Wales international John Hartson as Director of Football.

Undeterred, 2010 saw the Stand Up For Barry campaign launch, using new social media platforms such as Twitter to spread news of the club's plight with a wider online audience. The resulting support from across the football community proved an invaluable asset as supporters strived to keep the club alive.

Shortly after the close of the 2010–11 season, Lovering announced his fresh intent of withdrawing the first team from higher league competition. To prevent this, the Barry Town Supporters' Committee (BTSC) took complete control of all football and its funding; resulting in what became known to some supporters as the 'DIY Football' era. In the months that followed, the rejuvenated, fan-run Barry set-up enjoyed their most successful Welsh Cup campaign in several seasons; defeating rivals Merthyr Town at Penydarren Park and winning at Haverfordwest County in extra-time, before being edged out 3–2 at Newport County.

A TV cameraman records Barry fans and players celebrating after their Welsh Cup Quarter Final win at Flint Town United on 2 March 2013.

2012 marked the 100th anniversary of the club's formation, with a series of events lined up to mark this and the subsequent centenary season. To launch the festivities, the BTSC hosted Cardiff City in an August fundraising friendly attended by 2,000 spectators. However, Lovering's threats to withdraw Barry from the Welsh Football League would intensify in the weeks prior, threatening to cast a cloud over these celebrations. Nevertheless, the BTSC held a successful '100 Years of Barry Town' event at the Angel Hotel (attended by many past and present players), before the current team beat Welsh League champions Cambrian and Clydach on the 100th anniversary itself.

In March 2013, following wins against Caerleon, Penrhyncoch, Ely Rangers and Pontardawe Town, Barry won 2–0 at Flint Town United to progress to the Welsh Cup semi-final for the first time in a decade. Eventually, the team narrowly lost 1–2 to eventual winners Prestatyn Town, marking the first appearance of a fully amateur Barry side at the Welsh Cup semi-final stage.

Survival and resurgence[edit]

On 7 May 2013, Lovering withdrew the senior team from the Welsh Football League, against the will of the BTSC, players and supporters; who were ready, willing and able to fulfill the remaining two league fixtures (both against Ton Pentre). Rejecting this perceived act of sabotage, those running the football outlined their intentions to continue as they were, adopting the Barry Town United suffix to emphasise their continuing unity and endeavour. However, a meeting of the FAW Council in Betws-y-Coed in June 2013 announced that the Barry side would have to play "recreational football" henceforth; a declaration that prompted significant outcry, both locally and further afield.

Barry at Maesmawr Hall before Welsh Cup Semi-final in Newtown.

There appeared hope for beleaguered Barry as second meeting was arranged for July 2013 at Maesmawr Hall in Caersws to hear new evidence as why the team should be able to continue on. At this second gathering, 15 of the FAW Councillors voted against discussing Barry's future, thus concluding the meeting in no more than five minutes and at considerable expense. Notably, it emerged that this decision went against the recommendations of the FAW's own Domestic Committee and legal team.

With their immediate and long-term future unclear, Barry began their pre-season with wins at Moreton and Elmore that same month, followed by a narrow 3–2 loss to Premier League newcomers Cardiff City, watched by a home crowd of 1,650 supporters on Saturday 27 July. Remarkably, given the bizarre set of circumstances, Barry had led 2–1 at half-time.

Eventually, a High Court judge in Cardiff ruled in Barry's favour; stating that the FAW Council had acted unlawfully in denying them their licence to play Welsh League football. As a result, the fan-run Town side was entered back into the structure.

In the years that have followed, Barry would win two consecutive league titles, reclaiming their place in the second tier, while continuing to develop as a club, on and off the pitch. Today, the club competes at senior, development, youth and junior levels, along with various ladies' teams and pan disability sides in the over and under-16 age groups. In the 2016–17 season, the first team reached the final of Welsh League Cup for the first time since 2001, becoming only the second side from outside the national top flight to achieve this feat since the competition was expanded several years prior. In April 2017, the club secured its return to the Welsh Premier as champions of the Welsh Football League, continuing this remarkable revival.

On Saturday 6 April 2019, a remarkable 5–2 victory at Bala Town, coupled with a 6–0 win for The New Saints away against Newtown, ensured Barry would finish at least third in the 2018–19 JD Cymru Premier and qualify for the preliminary round of the UEFA Europa League. This marked a remarkable transformation for the club, qualifying for European competition for the first time since winning the JD Cymru Premier in the 2002–03 season.

A second European appearance in as many years would follow, as Barry travelled to the Faroe Islands to play NSI Runavik in a one-legged tie, following the abandonment of the 2019-20 season in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the club's league results had begun to decline and Barry were ultimately relegated to the Cymru South in April 2022, having finished 11th out of 12 in the 2021-22 Cymru Premier. Nevertheless, the club would bounce back, with new manager Lee Kendall, a former goalkeeper at Jenner Park, guiding the team to the Cymru South championship with three games to spare.

On 25 July 2023, Kendall resigned as manager after just nine months in charge, despite signing a two-year contract with the club following their promotion back to the Cymru Premier.[4] Kendall would be replaced by former Wales international defender Steve Jenkins.

Colours[edit]

For many decades, Barry wore green as their primary colour – thought to be due to officials securing the club's first kit from Plymouth Argyle. On exile in 1992, Barri adopted a red and white strip, which would remain with them on their return to the Welsh pyramid. It was the following season that the club adopted its yellow change kit (deemed lucky for the success it brought in Welsh Cup competition) as a home strip – and it is this colour that has become synonymous with Town football, with variations including uses of blue.

Two of the club's most memorable home strips are the fluorescent lime and navy ordered in error in 2006, and the experimental claret and blue kit worn in the early 1970s – both of which saw the club simultaneously plummet in footballing fortune. Nowadays, the club tends to wear yellow at home and green on the road, though red and then grey-based kits were worn in the past few seasons.

Stadium[edit]

Jenner Park Stadium, Barry

Jenner Park occupies the space of land between Gladstone Road and Barry Road in central Barry and has been the setting for the evolution of Barry's senior football club for more than 100 years.

Named after the Jenner family who had gifted the land, the ground was built by the Barry football enthusiasts for their representative side to compete at the highest possible level and was completed between the landmark meeting of 1912 and the opening fixture of 1913–14.

Among the most notable Barry matches played at Jenner Park have been European ties, domestic cup finals, major semi-finals and quarter-finals, FA Cup fixtures, televised matches, testimonials, high-scoring thrillers and friendlies against high-profile opposition.

Comprised initially of two wooden stands, popular bank terracing was added in 1923 and floodlights added in the 1940s, allowing Jenner Park to host Wales' first floodlit football match between Barry and Newport in 1949–50.

During the 1980s, the local council rebuilt Jenner Park, installing a synthetic running track, a new all-seater stand and improved floodlights.

To bring Jenner Park up to UEFA standards, a second covered stand was built in the mid 1990s, boosting the seating capacity to 2,500. This was temporarily increased to 6,000+ for the visits of Aberdeen and Manchester United with the use of temporary bleachers.

Recent years have seen the addition of a special viewing area for wheelchair users in the grandstand (known colloquially as the 'Old Stand'), accessible via the stadium's Devon Avenue entrance. Meanwhile, October 2015 saw work completed on a new, state-of-the-art 3G pitch, with its inaugural game, a Welsh Cup match against Aberdare Town.

Current squad[edit]

As of 21 January 2024[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Wales WAL Mike Lewis
2 MF Wales WAL Michael George
3 DF Wales WAL Chris Hugh
4 MF Wales WAL Keenan Patten
5 MF Wales WAL Callum Sainty
6 DF Wales WAL Curtis McDonald
7 FW Wales WAL Kayne McLaggon
9 FW Wales WAL Sam Snaith
10 MF Wales WAL Jordan Cotterill
14 MF Wales WAL Jamie Veale
15 FW Wales WAL Drew Perrett
16 MF Wales WAL Aiden Lewis
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF England ENG Ben Blythe (on loan from Swansea City)
20 DF Wales WAL Rhys Davies
21 GK Wales WAL Luc Rees
22 FW England ENG Ollie Hulbert
24 DF England ENG Will Richards
27 FW Wales WAL Finn Roberts
28 MF England ENG Lucas Tomlinson
31 MF Wales WAL Lee Lucas
32 DF Wales WAL Cai Rowlands (on loan at Llantwit Major)
33 DF Wales WAL Evan Press
35 GK Wales WAL Harley Tucker
38 FW Wales WAL Callum Huggins

Out on loan[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
49 FW Wales WAL Mo Djalo (on loan at Llantwit Major)

Technical staff[edit]

Position Name
Manager Wales Steve Jenkins
Coach Wales Mike Cosslett
Coach Wales Damian Flynn
Coach Wales Lawrence Badman
Kitman Wales Matthew Case

Notable former players[edit]

For all players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Barry Town United F.C. players.

Championships[edit]

The Barry first team with the Welsh League Division Three trophy in 2014.

League of Wales / Welsh Premier League / Cymru Premier (7)
1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03
Welsh League Division One / Cymru South (10)
1926–27, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 2016–17, 2022-23
Welsh League Division Two (3)
1951–52, 1957–58, 2014–15
Welsh League Division Three (1)
2013–14
Southern League, Welsh Section (1)
1920–21

Championship seasons[edit]

Season League Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Manager Goalkeeper(s) Top Goalscorer
1920–21 Southern League 20 13 4 3 35 12 +23 30 Syd Beaumont Bill Bowen Bill Sanders
1982–83 Welsh League Division One 34 26 3 5 103 35 +68 55 Alan Harrington John Macey Steve Williams
1983–84 Welsh League Division One 30 21 5 4 85 24 +61 47 Les Dickerson Matt Simpson Steve Williams
1984–85 Welsh League Division One 32 21 8 3 91 29 +62 71 Les Dickerson Trevor Nott Steve Williams
1985–86 Welsh League Division One 32 23 9 0 84 26 +58 78 Richie Morgan Trevor Nott Martin Goldsmith
1986–87 Welsh League Division One 32 26 5 1 81 20 +61 83 Richie Morgan Chris Sander Martin Goldsmith
1988–89 Welsh League Division One 32 28 4 0 96 20 +76 88 Mel Donovan Chris Sander Paul Evans
1993–94 Welsh League Division One 34 27 4 3 94 28 +66 85 Andy Beattie Steve Morris Dai Withers
1995–96 League of Wales 40 30 7 3 92 23 +69 97 Paul Giles Mark Ovendale Paul Hunter
1996–97 League of Wales 40 33 6 1 129 26 +103 105 Gary Barnett Mark Ovendale Tony Bird
1997–98 League of Wales 38 33 5 0 134 31 +103 104 Gary Barnett Mark Ovendale Eifion Williams
1998–99 League of Wales 32 23 7 2 82 23 +59 76 Gary Barnett Dave Wells Eifion Williams
2000–01 League of Wales 34 24 5 5 84 30 +54 77 Peter Nicholas Lee Kendall/Tony Tucker Jamie Moralee
2001–02 League of Wales 34 23 8 3 82 29 +53 77 Kenny Brown David Forde/Simon Rayner Jamie Moralee
2002–03 Welsh Premier League 34 26 5 3 84 26 +58 83 Kenny Brown Abi Baruwa Jamie Moralee
2013–14 Welsh League Division Three 36 29 3 4 116 29 +87 90 Gavin Chesterfield Dan Bradley Jordan Cotterill
2014–15 Welsh League Division Two 30 22 6 2 77 32 +45 72 Gavin Chesterfield Dan Bradley TJ Nagi
2016–17 Welsh League Division One 30 20 6 4 69 18 +51 66 Gavin Chesterfield Mike Lewis Nagi/Drew Fahiya
2022-23 Cymru South 30 25 3 2 78 25 +53 78 Lee Kendall Mike Lewis Kayne McLaggon

Championship play-offs[edit]

Season Competition Date Country Club Score Scorers Attendance Venue
1920–21 Southern League 22/09/21

19/10/21

England Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1

1–2

Sanders

Beaumont

2,000

Unknown

Millwall

Cardiff

This match pitted the winners of the Southern League's English and Welsh sections against each other to determine an overall champion.

Cups[edit]

  • Welsh Cup (6)
    • 1954–55, 1993–94, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001-02, 2002–03
  • Welsh League Cup (6)
    • 1934–35, 1946–47, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1993–94
  • South Wales Senior Cup (15)
    • 1925–26, 1926–27, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1965–66, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1991–92
  • Welsh Blood Service Cup, National (1)
    • 2022-23
  • Welsh Blood Service Cup, Southern (1)
    • 2022-23

Cup finals[edit]

Season Competition Date Opponent Score Scorers Attendance Venue
1926–27 South Wales Senior Cup 02/05/27 Ebbw Vale 4–0 Brittan (2), Cowie (2, 1P) Unknown Barry
1927–28 West Wales Senior Cup Unknown Swansea Town 3–0 Condon, Brown, B. Davies Unknown Barry
1929–30 Welsh League Cup 28/04/30 Llanelly 0–1 N/A Unknown Barry
1934–35 Welsh League Cup Unknown Gelli Colliery 2–0 Unknown Unknown Treorchy
1935–36 South Wales Senior Cup 09/05/36 Swansea Town 3–0 Whitlow (2), Carless 4,500 Barry
1937–38 South Wales Senior Cup 07/05/38 Lovells Athletic 3–0 Carless (2), W. Jones 3,000 Barry
1938–39 South Wales Senior Cup 03/05/39 Swansea Town 2–0 Carless, Green 4,000 Barry
1946–47 Welsh League Cup 05/10/46 Milford United 1–0 Clayton Unknown Haverfordwest
1952–53 South Wales Senior Cup 09/05/53 Cardiff City 3–0 Richards, Tapscott, Dyke 4,500 Barry
1953–54 South Wales Senior Cup 08/05/54 Tonyrefail 7–0 Dyke (2), Allen, Powell, Foxton, Richards, Bright 2,600 Barry
1954–55 Welsh Cup 15/05/55

19/05/55

Chester City 1–1

4–3 (R)

Niblett

Niblett (2), Goodfellow, Dyke

6,766

8,450

Wrexham

Cardiff

1958–59 South Wales Senior Cup 09/05/59 Gwynfi Welfare 3–2 Sheffield (2), Bowkett Unknown Ton Pentre
1959–60 South Wales Senior Cup 07/05/60

29/08/60

Ton Pentre 2–2 (A)

1–0 (H)

Sheffield, Loader

Sheffield

Unknown

Unknown

Ton Pentre

Barry

1965–66 South Wales Senior Cup 23/08/66

07/09/66

Abergavenny 3–2 (A)

2–0 (H)

Clark (2), Watkins

Curtin, Bright

Unknown

Unknown

Abergavenny

Barry

1975–76 South Wales Senior Cup 27/04/76

03/05/76

Ferndale Athletic 1–1 (H)

2–1 (A)

D. Batt

Evans (2)

Unknown

Unknown

Barry

Ferndale

1976–77 South Wales Senior Cup 16/05/77

23/05/77

Merthyr Tydfil 3–3 (H)

1–2 (A)

Ayres, D. Batt, Smith

Ayres

Unknown

Unknown

Barry

Merthyr

1977–78 South Wales Senior Cup 15/05/78

18/05/78

Cardiff City 2–0 (H)

2–0 (A)

D. Batt, Hancock

D. Batt, Ayres

Unknown

Unknown

Barry

Cardiff

1978–79 Welsh League Cup Unknown Pontllanfraith 0–0 AET* N/A Unknown Ton Pentre
1982–83 Welsh League Cup 24/03/83 Merthyr Tydfil 2–1 Green, Griffiths Unknown Bridgend
1983–84 South Wales Senior Cup 30/04/84

05/05/84

Ton Pentre 7–1 (H)

2–1 (A)

Redwood (3P), Foley (2), McNeil, Griffiths

Redwood (P), Smith

Unknown

Unknown

Barry

Ton Pentre

1986–87 Welsh League Cup 30/04/87 AFC Cardiff 2–0 Waddle, Giles Unknown Maesteg
1986–87 South Wales Senior Cup 18/05/87

21/05/87

Ton Pentre 2–0 (N)

2–1 (A)

Sullivan, Randall

Dowd, Smith

Unknown

Unknown

Cardiff

Ton Pentre

1987–88 Welsh League Cup 07/04/88 Bridgend Town 0–2 N/A Unknown Ton Pentre
1987–88 South Wales Senior Cup 07/05/88

14/05/88

Cardiff City 3–0 (H)

2–1 (A)

Davies (2), Preece

Davies, Pontin

Unknown

Unknown

Barry

Cardiff

1988–89 Welsh League Cup 09/05/89 Haverfordwest County 0–3 N/A Unknown Ebbw Vale
1991–92 South Wales Senior Cup 06/05/92 Maesteg Park 2–1 Ph. Evans, R. John 210 Bridgend
1993–94 FAW Trophy 07/05/94 Aberaman Athletic 2–1 Sanderson, Threlfall Unknown Porth
1993–94 Welsh Cup 15/05/94 Cardiff City 2–1 D'Auria, Hough 16,000 Cardiff
1993–94 Welsh League Cup 17/05/94 Treowen Stars 4–1 Wimbleton (2), Sanderson (2) Unknown Bridgend
1995–96 Welsh Cup 19/05/96 Llansantffraid 3–3 AET** Lloyd, Pike, Bird 3,500 Cardiff
1996–97 League of Wales Cup 10/05/97 Bangor City 2–2 AET* Ryan (2) 1,000 Aberystwyth
1996–97 Welsh Cup 18/05/97 Cwmbran Town 2–1 Griffith (2) 1,590 Cardiff
1997–98 League of Wales Cup 04/05/97 Bangor City 1–1 AET* Jones (P) 1,000 Bangor
1998–99 League of Wales Cup 03/05/99 Caernarfon Town 3–0 Jones (3) Unknown Aberystwyth
1998–99 FAW Premier Cup 23/05/99 Wrexham 2–1 Perry, Barrow 3,142 Wrexham
1999–00 League of Wales Cup 01/05/00 Bangor City 6–0 Jones, P. Evans, Perry (2), Ja. Jenkins Unknown Aberystwyth
2000–01 League of Wales Cup 07/05/01 Caersws 0–2 N/A 820 Aberystwyth
2000–01 Welsh Cup 25/05/01 TNS 2–0 Moralee, Lloyd 1,022 Wrexham
2001–02 Welsh Cup 05/05/02 Bangor City 4–1 Moralee (2), French, Flynn 2,560 Aberystwyth
2002–03 Welsh Cup 11/05/03 Cwmbran Town 2–2 AET* Ramasut (P), Phillips 852 Llanelli
2016–17 League of Wales Cup 21/01/17 The New Saints 0–4 N/A 1,116 Cardiff
2022-23 WBS Cup, Southern 10/04/23 Briton Ferry Llansawel 1-0 Press 926 Trefelin
2022-23 WBS Cup, National 29/04/23 Colwyn Bay 6-0 Greening, Graham, McLaggon, K. Jones, McDonald, A. Lewis 157 Newtown

Awards[edit]

European competition[edit]

Barry have played 27 competitive games in European club competitions; in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners Cup. The team has won three full qualifying ties, defeating opposition from Latvia, Hungary and Azerbaijan, in addition to single victories against FC Porto and Vardar Skopje and draws with Aberdeen, Valletta and Cliftonville. The club has scored 22 goals in regular European play, as well as four shootout penalties. Their return to European football came in the summer of 2019, after an absence of 16 seasons. They followed this up with another European tie the following summer, this time against Faroese opposition NSÍ Runavík where Kayne McLaggon became the first Barry player to score in Europe for 17 years.

Season Competition Round Date Country Club Score Scorers Attendance City/Town
1994–95 European Cup Winners' Cup Q 11/08/94

25/08/94

Lithuania Žalgiris Vilnius 0–1

0–6

N/A

N/A

1,914

2,900

Cardiff

Vilnius

1996–97 UEFA Cup 1Q 17/07/96

24/07/96

Latvia Dinaburg 0–0

2–1

N/A

Pike, T. Evans

2,500

2,250

Barry

Daugavpils

2Q 06/08/96

20/08/96

Hungary Budapest Vasutas 1–3

3–1*

T. Evans

Pike (P), O' Gorman, C. Evans

2,000

2,500

Budapest

Barry

1R 10/09/96

24/09/96

Scotland Aberdeen 1–3

3–3

Jones

O' Gorman, Ryan (P), Bird

13,500

6,500

Aberdeen

Barry

1997–98 UEFA Champions League 1Q 23/07/97

30/07/97

Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv 0–2

0–4

N/A

N/A

12,000

2,380

Kyiv

Barry

1998–99 UEFA Champions League 1Q 22/07/98

29/07/98

Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv 0–8

1–2

N/A

Williams

11,800

890

Kyiv

Barry

1999–00 UEFA Champions League 1Q 13/07/99

21/07/99

Malta Valletta 0–0

2–3

N/A

Sloan (2)

2,005

2,996

Barry

Valletta

2000–01 UEFA Cup Q 10/08/00

24/08/00

Portugal Boavista 0–2

0–3

N/A

N/A

3,039

1,372

Oporto

Barry

2001–02 UEFA Champions League 1Q 11/07/01

18/07/01

Azerbaijan FK Shamkir 2–0

1–0

York, French

Phillips

1,992

7,000

Barry

Baku

2Q 25/07/01

01/08/01

Portugal FC Porto 0–8

3–1

N/A

Phillips, Flynn, Lloyd (P)

55,000

2,377

Oporto

Barry

2002–03 UEFA Champions League 1Q 17/07/02

24/07/02

Latvia Skonto Riga 0–5

0–1

N/A

N/A

3,500

1,507

Riga

Barry

2003–04 UEFA Champions League 1Q 16/07/03

23/07/03

North Macedonia Vardar Skopje 0–3

2–1

N/A

Jarman, Moralee

5,000

1,400

Skopje

Barry

2019–20 UEFA Europa League PR 27/06/19

05/07/19

Northern Ireland Cliftonville 0–0

0–4

N/A

N/A

2,106

1,946

Cardiff

Belfast

2020–21 UEFA Europa League PR 20/08/20 Faroe Islands NSÍ Runavík 1–5 McLaggon 0 Toftir

FA Cup qualification[edit]

The club competed regularly in the FA Cup, prior to 1993. The table below denotes the occasions on which the team progressed through the qualifying rounds to the first round. Barry's sole second round appearance came in 1929 against Brighton and Hove Albion, after a replay win over Dagenham Town at the Boleyn Ground, home of West Ham United.

Season Date Round Country Club Score Scorers Attendance
1929–30 30/11/29

04/12/29

1 England Dagenham Town 0–0

1–0

N/A

Jones

Unknown

6,000

14/12/29 2 England Brighton & Hove Albion 1–4 Ward Unknown
1934–35 24/11/35 1 England Northampton Town 0–1 N/A 5,327
1951–52 24/11/52 1 Wales Newport County 0–4 N/A 11,844
1961–62 04/11/62

07/11/62

1 England Queen's Park Rangers 1–1

0–7

Sheffield

N/A

7,000

11,328

1984–85 17/11/84 1 England Reading 1–2 Love 3,850

Team records[edit]

Full internationals[edit]

Pos. Player
GK Wales Andy Dibble
GK Wales Len Evans
GK Wales Ron Howells
GK Wales Graham Vearncombe
 
Pos. Player
DF Wales Terry Boyle
DF Wales Don Dearson
DF Wales Steve Derrett
DF Wales Phil Dwyer
DF Wales Bob John
DF Wales Keith Pontin
DF Wales Dave Roberts
DF Wales Alf Sherwood
DF Wales Nigel Stevenson
 
Pos. Player
MF Wales Bryn Allen
MF Wales David Cotterill
MF Wales John Emanuel
MF Wales David Giles
MF Wales Robbie James
MF Wales Billy Jennings
MF Wales Chris Marustik
MF Wales Ivor Powell
MF Wales Gil Reece
MF Wales Ted Vizard
 
Pos. Player
FW Wales George Baker
FW Wales Alan Curtis
FW Wales Nick Deacy
FW Wales Leslie Jones
FW Wales Stan Richards
FW Wales Derek Showers
FW Wales Derek Tapscott
FW Wales Dai Ward Jr.
FW Wales Fred Warren
 
Pos. Player
GK Nigeria Abiodun Baruwa
GK Republic of Ireland David Forde
DF Pakistan Atif Bashir
DF Northern Ireland Paul Ramsay
MF Sweden Bengt Berndtsson
MF Northern Ireland Jackie Brown
MF Finland Stig Holmqvist
MF Finland Hannu Kankkonnen
MF Finland Rolf Rosqvist
MF Saint Kitts and Nevis Theo Wharton
FW Antigua and Barbuda Nathaniel Jarvis

Hall of Fame[edit]

The club's Hall of Fame was established by the Barry Town Supporters Committee in the 2011–12 season to celebrate the achievements of past players, managers and other influential figures. Further additions are set to be made each year.

Year Name Position Significant achievements Years of service Other notable clubs
2012–13 Chris Mason Defender A POW in WW2, amassed 400+ appearances either side of war. 1937–1951
2012–13 Ashley Griffiths Defender 22-year association, appearances in finals, Europe and FA Cup 1973–2005 Bristol Rovers
2014–15 James Wightman Captain First club captain and decorated victim of World War I. 1913-14
2012–13 Neil O' Halloran Various Player, boss and chairman, launched an era of success 1958–1996 Newport County, Cardiff City
2012–13 Charlie Dyke Right-wing Welsh Cup winner in 1955, associated with club forty years on. 1951–1964 Chelsea
2012–13 The Batt Brothers Various John/"Percy" and Richard/"Dicky", the club's most famous siblings. 1972–1980 Merthyr Tydfil
2012–13 Bill Bowen Goalkeeper Goalkeeper, manager and secretary in inaugural era of success. 1919–1927
2012–13 Derek Tapscott Forward Barry-born Welsh international who found fame with Arsenal. 1949–1953 Arsenal , Cardiff City
2011–12 Bill Jones Manager Manager in the golden 1950s, played before and after war. 1934–1953 Notts County, Worcester City
2011–12 Mark Ovendale Goalkeeper Record-setting keeper, 1000+ league minutes without conceding. 1995–1998, 2003 AFC Bournemouth, Luton Town
2011–12 Eifion Williams Forward Record signing, dynamic first Champions League goalscorer. 1997, 1999 Torquay United, Hartlepool United
2011–12 Fred Whitlow Forward Three stints, with two-season spell of 13 hat-tricks and 100+ goals. 1922–23, 24–25, 35–37 Charlton Athletic, Exeter City
2011–12 Ernie Carless Forward Barry-born footballer and cricketer, played in four decades. 1929–1953 Cardiff City, Plymouth Argyle
2011–12 Dai Ward Forward Top marksman for eight seasons with over 300 goals. 1926–1935 Cardiff City, Newport County
2011–12 Johnny Gardner Defender 500+ appearances, including in FA Cup first and second rounds. 1921–1932
2011–12 Clive Ayres Forward Goalscorer. 46 goals in one season and three straight hat-tricks. 1972–1978 Cheltenham Town
2011–12 Basil Bright Manager One-man dynasty as player/coach, signed many key players. 1951, 1952–67, 1971–78 Stoke City, Tottenham Hotspur
2011–12 Stan Richards Forward 130 goals in 174 outings, set scoring records everywhere. 1952–1955 Cardiff City, Swansea City
2011–12 Gwilym Cain Forward Dubbed 'Cannonball' for penalty prowess, scored over 150 goals. 1947–1956, 1960 Cardiff City, Haverfordwest County
2011–12 Stanley Cowie Defender Key part of Barry's only Southern League title-winning side. 1920–1927 Blackpool , Exeter City
2012–13 Steve Williams Forward Trophy-winning goalscorer, netting 166 times in 230 appearances. 1982–85, 89–90, 94–95 Bristol Rovers, Bideford
2012–13 Gary Barnett Manager Player-manager for European wins, brought passing philosophy 1996–99 Coventry City, Fulham
2012–13 Gary Lloyd Defender Free-kick specialist, with European appearances and Wales call-up 1994–2003 Llanelli , Carmarthen Town
2012–13 Ken Gully Forward Prolific Barry goalscorer in Welsh and English leagues alike. 1960–65 Kettering Town
2012–13 Mike Cosslett Defender Defender and coach, 40+-year association with the club. 1974– Aberystwyth Town , Weymouth
2012–13 Bobby Smith Midfielder True clubman, over 500+ outings across a 20-year stint. 1975–94
2013–14 Billy Jennings Manager First Barrian to be capped for Wales, managed Barry twice. 1930–49 Bolton Wanderers, Cardiff City
2013–14 Derek Redwood Defender All-time leading penalty taker, won much silverware in the 1980s. 1980s
2016–17 George Green Defender International, Wembley goalscorer, first Welshman to play in Spain. 1930s Espanyol , Charlton Athletic
2022–23 Idris Niblett Forward Town's only Barry-born Welsh Cup Final goalscorer, netting three in 1955. 1951-1962 Cardiff City, Hereford United
2017–18 Dan Bradley Goalkeeper Goalkeeper, Barry's all-time record Welsh League appearance holder. 2006–2017

Other information[edit]

  • The paperback book The Linnets – An Illustrated, Narrative History of Barry Town AFC, 1888–1993 by Jeff McInery was published in 1993, and is available locally.
  • A number of fanzines devoted to the club have been published, including The Unofficial Programme, 38 Hours From Vilnius, Yma O Hyd and Keep It Going, Cohen.

External links[edit]

References[edit]

Citations

  1. ^ "Battered Barry ship eight". Guardian. 25 July 2001. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Clockwatch: FC Porto 8–0 Barry Town". BBC Sport. 25 July 2001. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Barry show pride to sink Porto". BBC Sport. 2 August 2001. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  4. ^ Kendall leaves Barry Town United, broradio.fm, 25 July 2023
  5. ^ "Squad". Barry Town United F.C. Retrieved 26 August 2021.

Bibliography

  • McInery, Jeff (1993). The Linnets – An Illustrated, Narrative History of Barry Town AFC, 1888–1993. Nomad Books. ISBN 9780952284604.
  • Grandin, Terry (1998). Red Dragons in Europe, 1961–1998 – A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-01-5.