Porthmadog F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Clwb Pel Droed Porthmadog / Porthmadog Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Port | ||
| Founded | 1884 | ||
| Ground | Y Traeth | ||
| Capacity | 3,000 (800 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Phil Jones | ||
| Manager | Chris Jones | ||
| League | Cymru North | ||
| 2021–22 | Ardal NW League, 2nd of 16 (promoted via playoff) | ||
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Porthmadog Football Club, often called Port, is a football team from Porthmadog, Wales. They play their games at Y Traeth stadium, which can hold 3,000 fans. This club was started way back in 1872, making it one of the oldest football clubs in Wales.
Contents
The History of Porthmadog FC
How it All Started
Porthmadog Football Club began in October 1872. Their very first game was against a team from Pwllheli. The first captain of the club was Mr R Humphreys. In 1900, the club joined the North Wales League and won it in the 1902–03 season.
The years from the 1950s to the 1970s were very successful for Port. They won the Welsh Amateur Cup two years in a row, in 1955–56 and 1956–57. After they became a professional team and signed player Mel Charles, they had even more success.
In 1966, Port played against Swansea City in the Welsh Cup. The replay game attracted a huge crowd of 10,941 fans in Swansea! Port then won the Welsh League (North) five times in the next nine years.
Port won another championship in 1989–90, called the Daily Post Welsh Alliance. This win helped them become one of the first teams in the Cymru Alliance League in 1990. In 1992, Port also became one of the first teams in the League of Wales, which was then known as the Konica League.
Playing in the League of Wales
In the 1992–93 season, the team had a slow start. But they got much better towards the end, especially after signing striker Dave Taylor. They finished in a good ninth place. In his second season, Taylor became the top scorer in the league and in Europe, winning the European Golden Boot. He scored an amazing 62 goals in 66 games for the club!
Even with 70 goals scored by Taylor and Marc Lloyd-Williams in the 1993–94 season, the team finished eleventh. However, Port set a new record for the biggest crowd in the League of Wales. 3,250 fans came to watch Bangor City try to win the league title. Bangor City won that game 2–0 and took home the league title.
The third season brought a new manager, Ian Edwards, a former Wales International player. After a good start, the team's performance dropped. Later, Mickey Thomas, a famous player from Manchester United and Wales, took over. But the team still struggled and almost got sent down to a lower league.
The fourth season started with another change in manager. The club faced serious money problems and almost closed down. But fans and supporters helped raise £10,000 by buying shares. They also played friendly matches against teams like Blackburn Rovers to raise more money.
Things got better financially in 1996–97. The team started the season well, winning all their home games until the New Year. Paul Roberts was a key player for Port. He was the league's top scorer and played for Wales Under-21s before joining Wrexham for £10,000.
After Roberts left, Port didn't play as well and finished tenth. But they ended the season on a high note! They won the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup Final against their local rivals Caernarfon Town.
The 1997–98 season was Port's last in the League of Wales. Even though they seemed safe in April, a series of losses in May meant they were relegated. On May 2nd, their fate was sealed when Haverfordwest County beat Bangor City. Port finished fourth from the bottom.
There was a small chance that Port could stay in the league. They thought about taking legal action because the decision to relegate four clubs was made during the season. But in the end, Port had to join the Cymru Alliance.
Back in the Cymru Alliance
In the 1998–99 season, Port was in second place for most of the year. But then it was announced that they couldn't be promoted because their stadium didn't meet the rules. Port ended up finishing in the middle of the table. They did win the League Cup that season, beating Rhydymwyn in the final.
After a few more seasons, Port started to improve in 2001–02. The 2002–03 season was one of the most successful in their history! They won every home game and only lost twice. They secured promotion to the Welsh Premier League with a huge 19-point lead at the top of the Cymru Alliance. Port also won two more cups that season: the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup and the League Cup.
Playing in the Welsh Premier League
On January 16, 2007, Port faced a penalty from the Football Association of Wales. They lost three points and were fined because of bad behavior from a fan during a game. Many people protested this decision, and over 750 people signed an online petition. Porthmadog banned the person responsible from their stadium. The club appealed, and they won! The fine was greatly reduced, and the points deduction was reversed.
In May 2007, Port's management team, Osian Roberts and Viv Williams, left the club. Clayton Blackmore, a former Wales and Manchester United player, took over as manager. But he was sacked after three months because of poor results. Viv Williams then returned to manage the team temporarily.
The season continued to be tough, especially at home. Porthmadog didn't win a league game at home until the very last day of the season against Rhyl. This win helped them avoid relegation.
In May 2008, former player Paul Whelan became the new manager. After eight months, with the team struggling, he was replaced by Tomi Morgan. The team finished sixteenth, just above the relegation spots. Striker Marc Lloyd Williams was a highlight, scoring 24 goals that season.
The 2009–10 season saw many changes to the squad. But the team still struggled, finishing fifteenth. The FAW decided to change the Welsh Premier League, which meant Porthmadog, along with six other teams, was relegated back to the Cymru Alliance League for the 2010–11 season.
Big Wins and Losses
- Biggest League of Wales win: 9–0 against Abergavenny Thursdays in 1993 and against Haverfordwest County in 1994.
- Biggest League of Wales defeat: 0–7 by Total Network Solutions in 2006.
Club Trophies
- Huws Gray Cup
- Champions: 1998–99, 2002–03
- Cymru Alliance
- Champions: 2002–03
- Welsh Amateur Cup
- Champions: 1955–56, 1956–57
- Welsh League North
- Champions: 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69
- Welsh Alliance
- Champions: 1989–90
- Ardal Northwest
- Runners-up: 2021–22
- Ardal North Playoff – Winners: 2021–22
Current Squad
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The Fans of Port
Porthmadog has many loyal fans, not just from the local area but also from places like Manchester and Leicestershire. They are one of the most supported clubs in the Cymru Alliance!
