In their first season since returning to the Welsh Football pyramid, Colwyn Bay are one of the best known clubs in Wales. But they are probably more known for their football in the English system. Having been a bit of a yo-yo club in switching between the Welsh and English footballing systems, their return to the JD Cymru North league was a welcome return for North Wales football and for Welsh Football in general.
The club was formed in 1881 and joined the North Wales Coast League in 1898 but a couple of years later were forced to withdraw from that very league due to the fact they had no ground to play at. However they returned the next season, in 1907 the club became known as Colwyn Bay United and after the North Wales Coast League folded in 1921, they joined the Welsh National League. Having had minor cup success , the Welsh National League folded by the end of the 1929-30 season, subsequently Colwyn Bay were founder members of the North Wales Football Combination, in which they won the league in the first season. The club’s first jaunt outside of the Welsh Football system came in 1935 as they joined the Birmingham and District League, but they struggled in this league but finished bottom in 1935-36 and 1936-37, and they switched back to the now defunct Welsh League (North).
In the first season following the Second World War, Colwyn Bay finished runners-up in the Welsh League (North), following a period of no success, the club came back to prominence in the early 1960’s, they were runners-up in 1963-64 during this season a crowd of 5,000 saw them play local rivals Borough United at Eirias Park. The following season they won the league, however after this title success, another dry period came with the club not really gaining any success. In the early 1980’s the club had another period of success in the Welsh League (North) as they were crowned champions in 1980-81. In the 1982-83 season, the club won the league and reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup but lost 4-0 on aggregate to Swansea City. The following season the club left Eirias Park to play at Llaneilian Park where they still play today, they retained their league title, but after this success the club announced they were rejoining the English Football League system.
The club joined the third Division of the North West Counties League, a runners-up spot in their first season secured promotion to the second Divison, and in 1986-87 they were promoted to division one. In their first season in Division one, the club reached the first round of the F.A. Cup for the first time but lost narrowly by a goal to nil to Northwich Victoria. Cup success followed in 1988-89 as they won the League Cup with a 3-0 triumph over Warrington Town in the final which was played at Gigg Lane. They finished runners-up in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League in 1990-91, they were promoted to Division One of the Northern Premier League, after a spot came available after South Liverpool folded. They won the league at the first attempt and were promoted to the Premier Division. The season also saw cup success after they won the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup, but were defeated in the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup after losing to Hednesford Town.
A public dispute with the FAW at the end of the 1991-92, which saw Colwyn Bay being ordered to join the newly-formed League of Wales or cease playing in Wales. After refusing the FAW’s demands, the club began the season at Drill Field in Northwich before moving to play at the Ellesmere Port Stadium. A court injunction allowed the club to come back to their rightful home in 1994, before they won the case in the High Court of Justice in April 1995. In 1995-96, a good run through the qualifying rounds of the F.A. Cup saw the club again reach the first round where they beat Spennymoor United but lost to Blackpool in the second. The following season, saw a North Wales derby in the first round of the F.A. Cup but the Bay lost 2-0 to Wrexham in a replay. After several seasons of solid displays, in 2002-03 the club were relegated to Division one of the Northern Premier League. The club finished fifth in the 2006-07 season which was a play-off berth but were beaten by Cammell Laird.
League restructuring saw the club placed in the Southern division for the 2007-08 season but were switched back to North the following season. In their first season back in Division One North , the club again reached the play-offs but lost on penalties to Newcastle Blue Star. The next season again saw them keep up consistent run of reaching the play-offs, but in a change to previous seasons, they beat Curzon Ashton in the semi-finals. A final against Lancaster City followed and the Bay won 1-0 and gained promotion back to the Premier Division.
A storming season in the Premier Division saw newly promoted Colwyn Bay finish runners-up, which saw them again in them familiar play-offs. The semi-finals saw them beat North Ferriby United and in the final they beat FC United of Manchester to earn promotion to the Conference North, their highest ever position in the English system. After four seasons in the Conference North the club were relegated back to the Northern Premier League’s Premier Division, another relegation followed and by the 2016-17 season they were again in Northern Premier League’s Division One. Rumours started about the club’s return to the Welsh Football system as travelling costs and sustainability costs saw the club contemplate coming back to play in Wales for the first time since 1984.
In March, 2019 the club confirmed they would be returning to the Welsh Football system and the FAW integrated the club into the second tier where a number of local derbies would be awaiting them against sides such as Rhyl, Llandudno and Prestatyn Town. The club have started life back in Wales fantastically well with manager Craig Hogg saying the club are enjoying life in the JD Cymru North. The club’s policy of signing local players and trusting youth has been well supported by the fans. The club currently sit fifth in the JD Cymru North having won 10 of their 20 games with 5 draws and 5 defeats, a notable league victory was a 3-0 success at Rhyl. The club also saw off JD Cymru Premier side Airbus UK in the third round of the Welsh Cup after a fantastic effort from Tom McCready. Their return to the Welsh leagues has been a welcomed one and North Wales football is much healthier for having a club with the infrastructure and size of Colwyn Bay.
Story of football in Wales and all over the world 