What Is Happening At Bangor City?
As of November 30th 2021, the FAW have suspender Bangor City FC from all football-related activity following the club’s non-compliance with a Disciplinary Panel order. One of Wales’ oldest and well-known clubs are in a dire state following years of mismanagement and turmoil, so what is happening at Bangor City?
Formed 145 years ago and with history in both the Welsh and English football pyramid, Bangor have played the likes of Napoli and Athletico Madrid in European competition and the cathedral city is known as a hotspot of football in Wales.
Holders of the Cymru Premier title three times and Welsh Cup winners eight times, The Citizens have witnessed past successes but the previous decade has been less than glamorous for the side.
Many view Bangor’s move from their hostile home of Farrar Road in the heart of the city to their new site at Nantporth as the moment that fortunes began to change for the worst, with the club losing their identity by relocating outside of the city centre to a playing field first used by the city’s university. Next month will mark a decade since the move.
Poor ownership has also played a part in the sad demise of the club. 2016 saw VSM (Vaughan Sports Management) take over the club, with chairman Ivor Davies insisting that convicted criminal and owner of VSM Steven Vaughan would have no involvement in the handling of the club, despite himself being present at the launch of the new ownership.
Ex-professional footballer and also convicted criminal Steven Vaughan Jr became Bangor’s Director of Football and a coach soon after.
Two years later, the FAW had removed Bangor’s Tier 1 licence due to failing to meet their financial criteria. This meant relegation to the Cymru North (second tier of Welsh football) despite finishing second in the Cymru Premier, missing out on Europa League football as a result.
Multiple winding-up orders were given but paid off by VSM, but they sold their shares of the club to an Italian-based consortium headed up by Argentine musician Domenico Serafino in September 2019.
Domenico Serafino took over the club following a plea from his son Francesco who was playing for Bangor at the time.
For a club that has been dogged with financial struggle, last year’s pandemic has had a heavy hit to say the least. Despite this, Serafino made a £5000 donation to Ysbyty Gwynedd to help fight the outbreak of coronavirus.
The media began to report players and staff’s unpaid wages last month, with the FAW summoning the club for a hearing over the matter. Bangor owes upwards of £53,000 in unpaid wages and failure to do so has seen the club suspended from all football-related activities.
So what about the fans? Disillusioned after seeing their home demolished in place of an ASDA supermarket, starved of success after years of shady ownership, Bangor’s supporter’s association have taken a stand.
Clwb Pel Droed Bangor 1876 was founded in April 2019 after Bangor City’s Supporters Association overwhelmingly voted to create a breakaway club to protect football in the city.
Both a men’s and women’s side were formed, with 1876’s inaugural match being played away against FC United of Manchester, another fan-owned club in protest against poor owners.
The club gained promotion on a points per game basis, going unbeaten in their first season in the Gwynedd League to reach tier 4 of the pyramid.
Bangor City have been known to have some of Wales’ most passionate fans with an immense dedication to their club and city. It only takes one poor owner to ruin years of history and pride, 1876 are taking that back and good on them.
