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The Early years

Blaenau the Early Years

Football in Blaenau
The Early Years

THE EARLY YEARS 1880-1914

During the latter part of the 19th century the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog was in the throes of a slate boom which saw the population rise from the hundreds into the tens of thousands. At the same time, organized football was beginning to take off in North Wales following its surge in popularity over the border in England.

The heartland of football in Wales during the formative years was the area around Wrexham where in March 1876 the Football Association of Wales was formed. Friendlies were the order of the day until the creation of the Welsh Senior Cup competition in 1877 and it was not until 1890 that a League was formed in Wales - two years after the Football League was created in England.

It was during the pre-League period that football gained a toehold in Blaenau with the earliest reference found of a team existing in the town being in an edition of the North Wales Chronicle which refers to a club called Festiniog Town existing in February 1882. Little more than this fact is stated but more interestingly is a reference in February 1883 to a match between Llanrwst Grammar School and Festiniog Town.
"After a spirited hour and a half [the match] resulted in a victory for the former by eight goals to nil"
The match is also listed in a summary of the school's matches in that year published in a March issue and interestingly refers to Llanrwst Grammar School FC playing Bala at Festiniog.
A match was played in Maentwrog during 1883 between players from Blaenau and Porthmadog as part of the 1880's trait of friendly matches between teams in the locality.
The Chronicle states that a club called the Blue Stars played in 1885 at Mr Oakley's field in Tanybwlch - a probable reference to Plas Tanybwlch near Maentwrog.
At least two clubs were in existence as 1885 ended. In November of that year Festiniog Athletic played Festiniog Juniors at "the ground of the former" with the result a 2-0 win for Athletic.
The return match took place in Tanygrisiau on 28th January 1886 "before above 1000 spectators".
The Chronicle reports that "the ground was slippery and the game somewhat one-sided resulting in a decisive victory for the latter by 11goals to nil.
"For the winners, Roland Hughes, J E Morgan and Richard Edwards played well while Griffiths, Parry and Morris did some good work for the Athletic".
The teams are listed thus:
Athletic: Griffiths; Parry, Powell; M Jones, H Jones, Thomas; Dr Samuel Morris,
R P Davies, Griffiths, W Jones. (only 10 listed)
Festiniog FC: W Thomas; B Hoddart, Richard Edwards, R Morgan; F M Hughes, R Jones;
R G Jones, G Hughes, O Hughes, Roland Hughes, J S Morgan

On November 18th 1886, Blaenau Festiniog Athletic Club played at Bala against Bala Grammar School and soundly lost 1-7. The Athletic line-up was:
W Powell; G Griffiths, R Williams; R Owen, J M Jones, T Morgan; H Morris, I O Griffths, T Jones, D Williams and R Davies.

It is likely that the same Plas Tanybwlch location was used in December 1889 as again the Chronicle refers to a match between Blaenau Festiniog Athletic and Portmadoc Heroes being "played at Maentwrog" on the fifth. The match report states -
"Blaenau had the best of the game in the first half with Ellis scoring after twenty minutes play. Fenn and Picton worked well down the left but were robbed in time and Evans on the right endeavoured to increase the lead but was unsuccessful. Half time 1-0.
"The Heroes worked hard and well together but could not break through the fine defence of the Athletic. Heroes continued to press and equalised from the feet of Morris. The Athletic left made several attacks towards the Heroes' citadel but were repulsed, but the Heroes added number two from a corner kick.
"Athletic tried hard to make matters even but were each time disappointed, the Heroes backs playing a good game. Fenn, the Blaenau left, secured and centred along the goalmouth and Ellis headed what meant a second goal but as the cross-tape was out of order the point (sic) was disallowed.
"Heroes attacked again in fine style but the Athletic defence was impregnable - Williams, Kyffin and Parry being conspicuous for stirling play. Heroes 2 Athletic 1.
The first ever account of a match between the two deadly rivals of Blaenau and Porthmadog!
Two months later the two sides "met at Festiniog in beautiful weather".
The Heroes were "strongly represented having obtained the assistance of four of the town team" indicating clearly that Portmadoc Heroes were the junior club in the town.
"Heroes won the toss but Athletic at once became aggressive and (before) many minutes secured their first and only point (sic)."
They continued to keep the ball in the visitor's quarters, with "Davies repeatedly saving in grand style". The visitors' forwards paid an occasional visit to the home end but Morris is reported to have been "safe between the uprights".
The Chronicle report continues "As the game progressed it became more even and the Heroes equalised only for the goal to be disallowed on the plea of offside.
"In the second half the game went more in the visitors' favour and Morris had to work hard to keep his citadel intact until about fifteen minutes from call of time he had to succumb. The Heroes registered another point (sic) which was disputed and disallowed, the game thus ending in a draw of one goal each."
Meetings between these clubs seem to have been popular with another match, this time at Porthmadog, being played on the 20th March 1890. This ended in a 3-1 win for the Athletic through two first-half goals from W.Ellis and a third by J.Ellis.

A brief summary of the early days of football in Blaenau by W J Penny appears in the March 9th 1950 edition of Y Rhedegydd where he states that the Blaenau Festiniog Working Town FC played at Ty'n Ddol in 1890 - this being the side that included Dr R H Mills-Roberts the former Wales and Preston goalkeeper. In the same piece he refers to the club being given Dinas field by the Oakley Quarry Co. a couple of years later. This became known as Holland Park after the Samuel Holland Slate Quarry which virtually over-hanged the field.
According to research carried out by the late Ernest Jones, a much respected journalist and local historian, the Working Town side recorded as playing in 1890 also took part in a competition in Caernarfon, for watches as prizes, with the following named team:
Dr Bob Mills-Roberts, Dick Kirchen, Guto Cribau, Ted Roberts, Dic Bach Shonat, John Elias Morgan, Rolant Hughes, Hugh Gwilym Jones, Bob Pwllheli, Dic Gwilym Bach, Evan Stoddart.

THE DARK AGES - 1890 to 1896 and 1901 to 1905
During the 1890's they played their matches at Holland Park, now buried under "Domen Fawr", the largest slate waste tip in the area. This was the first of many grounds used by local clubs but it has not been possible [so far] to find records of any matches being played between 1890 and 1896

With the formation of the North Wales Coast Senior League in 1890 and the North Wales Coast Football Association in 1894, football in North Wales was given a tremendous lift and Blaenau was no exception. Football in the town was given a huge boost due to the success of one local player in particular - Dr Robert Mills-Roberts. During his medical studies he played in goal for Preston North End during the 1887-88 and 1888-89 season which included two FA Cup Finals. It was a runners-up medal for Dr Mills Roberts in the first final as North End lost 1-2 to West Bromwich Albion, but success followed in the following season as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 at the Kennington Oval.

Even though the Coast FA was in being and the most senior clubs - then centred on Wrexham - had the Welsh League to participate in, information on the most local leagues is extremely sketchy.

According to the Cambrian News, a meeting was held on the 19th of October 1896 to establish the CAMBRIAN LEAGUE. The clubs present were Towyn, Barmouth, Dolgelley, Portmadoc, Blaenau Festiniog and Penygroes. The inaugural championship was won by Towyn in a playoff against Portmadoc. This seems to be the first appearance of a team representing the town in any organized League.
[CAMBRIAN LEAGUE NEEDS INVESTIGATION]
There is a photograph in existence of a North Wales XI that played a South Wales XI at Towyn, in what was believed to be a trial match for the full national XI in 1898. In the photo are two brothers from Blaenau, John Hughes Roberts and Griffith Hughes Roberts, confirming perhaps that the Cambrian League was home to a Blaenau side that year.
The former is the father of J H 'Non' Roberts who played for Blaenau and Tanygrisiau - amongst others - during the inter-war years. Non Roberts in turn was the father of Richard Hughes Roberts who played for both Blaenau Ffestiniog FC and Blaenau Colts in the 1960s. He was signed at 16 as a junior with Nottingham Forest by Bob Davies, himself a famous footballing native of Blaenau and at that time a player with Forest. Richard was a fine defender in his time and quotes other former Blaenau team-mates - Glyn Owen, Dai Thomas and Ronnie Jones - as some of the finest players of the era and a great influence on his football career.
Another photo has come to light of a Blaenau team taken at Manod Recreation Ground in 1898 which adds further to the possibilities of League membership.
A letter in the press from the then Secretary of Pwllheli FC records that a new League - the CARNARVONSHIRE & DISTRICT LEAGUE (not the current League of the same name) - was operating in 1899-1900, comprising clubs representing Bethesda, Llanberis, Vaynol Park, Pwllheli, Portmadoc and Festiniog. At the same time a SOUTH CARNARVON LEAGUE was also in existence and may have included a Blaenau side but a table for the 1902-03 season does not feature a club from the town. Records of both these Leagues will have been long lost and unfortunately press coverage of such localized football, especially in the Ffestiniog area, was very sparse.
However, in the Merioneth News & Herald of December 6th 1900 a match report covering the Festiniog v Portmadoc match in the Carnarvonshire and District League states that
"This match was played at Festiniog in the presence of a good gate. Much importance was attached to this match as the two clubs taking part in it are running neck and neck for the championship".
Both teams were at full strength and the visitors took the lead after ten minutes through A.Moseley Jones but Festiniog then piled on the pressure and sterling work by Port 'keeper Robert Jones and fullback Roland Jones kept them at bay.
Festiniog equalized immediately after the break through J Meirion Jones with 'a rattling shot'. The game became very rough after this but in the dying moments a controversial incident occurred. Festiniog scored but the referee decided that the goal had previously gone out of play and awarded a goal kick. Several spectators rushed onto the field to threaten the referee, Mr Evans of Llanberis, and some minutes were lost in clearing the field. Shortly afterwards the referee blew for time.
He was accosted again by some angry supporters but made it home unharmed.
Part 5

The same paper reports on the return match on the 27th December "played in fine weather before a big gate, a great proportion from Festiniog". The visitors took the lead through Llew Williams after about 20 minutes which seemed to jig the Port side into action. A.Moseley Jones equalized shortly afterwards after a fine passing move.
The second half was a defensive one for Festiniog and held out until four minutes from time when J Rogers Jones scored what was indeed the winner. The paper reported "This result was hailed with delight by the home supporters as it places Portmadoc on a par with Festiniog at the top of the table".
[From this point to the start of the 1905-06 season no record of Blaenau playing in any League has been found but as the long-running "Medals Competition" began in the first few years of that century, it can be at least assumed that a town club existed. MORE RESEARCH NEEDED ON C'VONSHIRE & DIST LGE]
1905-06
A club from Blaenau Ffestiniog first appears in an organized SENIOR League in 1905 when they entered the North Wales Coast League - the most senior League in the region and one that had been in existence since 1893. It is unlikely that Blaenau would be admitted directly into this League immediately after forming a club. Had this been the League's inaugural season then perhaps this could have been the case, but as the League was some seasons old it is not a plausible scenario.

The club seems to have been known as Festiniog Town according to the editions of The Cambrian News and North Wales Weekly News of the period. It coincides with a Festiniog Urban District Council decision in that same year to vote out a motion to drop the word Blaenau from the name of the town. The football club obviously found it more convenient.

Also, indications of the existence of the club prior to this season come from a match report in the North Wales Weekly News by their correspondent "Gwilym". He opens the report on an early season match at Penmaenmawr thus:
"For some unknown reason, the Festiniog team has joined the North Wales Coast League with an unenviable reputation for roughness hanging to their methods.
"I anticipated a rough and tumble sort of exposition - in fact, one of those bouts which do much to bring the soccer code into disrepute.
"Never, however, have I been more pleasurably disappointed and without more ado I commend the excellent sportsmanship of the slate town men fir emulation by all who pretend to play the game as men should play it…… in this I refer to their moral behaviour".

A glowing tribute indeed! Reports of the Cambrian League suggest that the bad reputation resulted from the general demeanour of Cambrian League members. A certain W. Taylor of Portmadoc was suspended in March 1898 by the FAW in a ban covering the rest of the season whilst Dolgelley's ground was closed after crowd trouble in a match against Barmouth.
'Gwilym' continues "So far they are novices compared with other organizations; nevertheless, they have a capital conception of football theory and with a little perseverance and practice I have no doubt in my own mind that they will attain an honourable place amongst the best of North Wales".
By this time the base for the club was at the Recreation Ground near Cefn-y-Maes, Bethania, and had been since 1898. The location eventually became the Manod Granite Quarry "Gwaith Setts Manod" and is now the site of the Hughes Specialist Transport Ltd haulage depot.

Part 6

The club's first North Wales Coast League match was on October 7th 1905 when Colwyn Bay were visitors. The Ffestiniog side lined up thus:
Ted Jones
Jack Jones Jack Williams
David Hughes William Meirion Jones H. Rowlands
J. Jones J. Jones
Evan Hughes L. Jones Richard Roberts
The North Wales Weekly News reported "This being the first League match played on the Ffestiniog ground great interest was centered on the fixture. A very large number of spectators were on the field, although rain fell very heavily throughout the game."
The result was a disappointing 0-3 defeat, but reports were very praiseworthy of Festiniog. In the North Wales Coast Pioneer their commentator added
"In the Blaenau Festiniog team the other clubs in the League will find a hard nut to crack. A more honest and hard-working set of players it would be hard to find. The go the whole ninety minutes and with a vim which is quite frankly refreshing"
Success was not long in coming when, on November 6th 1905, they won 2-1 at Penmaenmawr John Jones netted the first but the identity of the second scorer is not recorded. The press report simply states that the home 'keeper Coverley "punted the ball against an opponent and the ball rebounded into the net." It was, however, to prove a fruitless victory as the Penmaenmawr club withdrew from the League in mid-season and their record was expunged!
The season continued badly bar a 6-1 win over Penmaenmawr in the North Wales Amateur Cup and a string of six league defeats - the heaviest being a 1-9 thrashing at the hands of Bangor - meant that their first league point came in a 1-1 draw at home against Llanrwst followed by a 2-2 draw at Holyhead. This brief run of form gave them their only league win, in the next match at home against Llandudno by 4-2 with their opponents taking the honours in the reverse fixture by 4-0 the following week in the last match of the season.
In the May 25th edition of The Cambrian News the club reported that the receipts for the season were £61 with expenses incurred totaling £56.
1906-07
Their second season in the North Wales Coast League continued in much the same vein opening with a 0-1 defeat at Colwyn Bay. A stirring display at Bangor the following week restoredd some pride after the previous season's hammering with share of the points in a 2-2 draw. A fine 5-2 home win against neighbours Porthmadog in the North Wales Amateur Cup was followed by a 1-1 draw at Porthmadog in a League game. As in the previous season with Penmaenmawr, they were to lose this point as Porthmadog later resigned from the League.
Their most regular line-up during the early part of the season was
Ellis Hughes
William Jones Hugh John Rowlands
Bert Bradley Jack Jones James Lloyd
Dick Roberts W Rowlands William Williams Canon John Jones Tom Roberts

Part 7
Due to the small number of clubs in membership not all clubs played every week and having only played three matches their next match was not scheduled until Christmas when, not surprisingly, they lost 1-10 at Holyhead and 1-3 against Carnarvon RWF and continued a four match losing streak with 1-3 defeats at both Llandudno and Conwy. Following Porthmadog's resignation, Blaenau's first official win came at home against Bangor by 3-2 with a second soon following against Conwy, this time by 3-1.
However the season was to end on something of a high with three points from four coming via a 1-1 draw against champions Holyhead and a 4-0 thrashing of Colwyn Bay, a match allowed to stand despite a 78min abandonment because of……….. yes, rain!
A slight improvement on the previous season then, this time finishing a point above bottom placed Bangor FC Reserves.
The club also entered the Junior Cup fielding a reserve side. Their lineup against Llanrwst was:
Richard Jones
Griff Roberts Robert Powell
Thomas Hughes J Morris O Llew Smith
D Roberts O Roberts Bob Parry E J Williams J D Roberts
The hosts were victorious by 3-0 but it raises the question of regular matches for the reserves as reference to membership of a league has not been found. Vague references occur in newspapers of the day to the renewed existence of a Cambrian League but confirmation of this - or of Blaenau's participation has not surfaced.
[more work needed here]
The club had a run in with authority following the 1-3 home defeat at the hands of Llandudno Amateurs. The referee, Mr W Ll Jones of Llanrwst made a complaint to the League Council regarding his treatment after the match. According to the North Wales Weekly News "He stated that a big crowd hooted at him and used threats towards him in the street".
The club was represented by treasurer and goalkeeper Ellis Hughes who commented "….that certain members of the committee were under the impression that their responsibility regarding the referee ended when the game was over.
"He thought the greater part of those who hooted were children and that the referee was not at his best during the match unlike other matches in which he officiated."
On behalf of the club he appealed to the Council "for a lenient couson" as they were badly in debt through playing so many away matches.
The paper reports that "the Council desired Hughes to convey to his committee that notices would be sent to them to be posted on the ground regarding the conduct of spectators and that the Ffestiniog committee must understand that their responsibilities did not end until the referee had left town and a recurrence of a similar matter would be serious for the club."
No further disturbances were reported!

Part 8
1907-08
The North Wales Weekly News reported a pre-season trial match taking place between Town and Royal Artillery Trawsfynydd, the army side featuring some players with League experience in England. The Artillery won by 4-0 and a return match was reported scheduled but was not reported.
However, Blaenau did manage to sign up half-back Cpl J Kinnear for their League campaign. It started catastrophically with a 0-8 drubbing at Caernarfon United but in an amazing turnabout for their first home fixture they heroically took out reigning champions Holyhead by 3-2.
They started the match with only 10 men due to the late arrival of Kinnear, coming on after ten minutes to applause from his colleagues. Playing at centre-half between Morris Morris and Bert Bradley the former Derby County defender proved a key player in this much celebrated victory.
The match was finely balanced at 2-2 when Town captain Jack Jones latched on to a superb cross by G S Roberts narrowly beating Holyhead keeper Collier to sidefoot home. The visitors piled on the pressure and in the dying minutes controversy!
"Neither splish, splosh, nor mud, nor water (sounds like conditions were bad!) were regarded and Blaenau keeper Ellis Hughes received a hot shot.
"He hugged. He fell. Like birds of prey hovered the players round him, whilst he hugged and the scene became a most exiting and bewildering one. Right in the goalmouth the referee put the ball, and then there was a forest of legs moving this way and that way. The ball was lifted and punted out. Holyhead shouted goal. Festiniog demurred. Referee obdurate. Dissatisfaction on Holyhead side.
"Referee proceeds after G S Roberts who was chasing the ball towards Collier. Holyhead men seen leaving the field in protest. Before they have reached the ropes, referee Hughes blows his whistle for time and a loud cheer rends the air, and Festiniog have taken down the champions." And so records the reporter for the Weekly News!
The Festiniog side who recorded this famous victory was:
Ellis Hughes
J McNaughton James Lloyd
Morris Morris Cpl J Kinnear Bert Bradley
Jack Jones Wil Williams W Meirion Jones W Rowlands G S Roberts

If a definition of "inconsistency" is ever required then Festiniog Town should perhaps be the dictionary entry. After such a glorious victory they next traveled to Beaumaris and got absolutely hammered 2-8 but then beat Conwy 5-2 in their ensuing League fixture!
Perhaps buoyed on by their win over Holyhead, this season proved to be, in some ways, the most successful so far. A string of home wins over Llanrwst (1-0), Caernarfon (6-1), Rhyl (3-2) and Llandudno (4-3) made sure that they had by then surpassed their meager sum of wins IN TOTAL over the previous seasons. Come May 1908 they had amassed a total of seven wins and a draw to finish with 15 points but their abysmal away form left them next to bottom once again. In losing nine out of ten away matches they conceded 51 goals with their solitary success being a hard fought 3-3 draw at Colwyn Bay.
A leaky defence indeed and much room for improvement!
1908-09
The opening of the 1908-09 season saw them tagged by the North Wales Weekly News correspondent 'Vigilant' as "The Flamingoes". In his preview of the season he applied nicknames to all the clubs based on bird names. Caernarfon were already known as the Canaries of course, Denbigh were labeled the Thrushes and so on. But from reading match reports of the previous seasons it can be quite justifiably concluded that this reporter's selection of bird for the Festiniog side was based purely on the fact that the team spent most of their time standing in water!
Starting where they left off in May, Town struggled for most of the season. A 4-5 home defeat against Caernarfon United was a clear indication of how the term was to progress. The seven North Wales Coast League matches all ended in defeat with only six goals being scored before they recorded their first League win at home against Llanrwst on the 23rd of January 1909 by the score of 3-0. It was to be their only clean sheet of the season.
The regular line-up seems to have been:
Bob Smith (Joe Hughes)
Tony Hughes Jim Lloyd
M E Morris Jack Jones Wil Jones
Rob Roberts W R Owen Meirion Jones Wil Williams Ned Griffiths
The side was initially captained by left-half Wil Jones before the legendary Jim Lloyd took over.
Following this initial win there was some improvement and they added a second win during late February beating Llandudno 5-2 at Newborough Park.
Town's record away from home continued to be absolutely dire. They failed to pick up any points on foreign turf during the campaign but pushed their final points tally up to eleven with home wins over Colwyn Bay, Bangor, and Denbigh.
It did not, however, stop them from finishing bottom with Beaumaris taking the title.
1909-10
The close season had proved eventful. The North Wales Weekly News reported that the club had "been compelled to withdraw from the League" following a general meeting.
The committee elected to govern affairs for the season decided to re-enter the NWC League and were welcomed back into the fold.
This group "comprised in most part of young, enthusiastic and energetic gentlemen". The elected officers were John Rowlands as chairman, John Jones as vice-chairman, T.Goodman Jones as treasurer and J Evan Hughes as the Honorary Secretary.
Serving on the Committee were J Parry Thomas, Richard Morris, Owen Jones Ellis, Ivor Wynne Jones, W Williams, W H Roberts, J Jones Roberts and G Evans Roberts.
The side was captained by John "Jack Back" Jones with William Rowland Owen as vice-captain. All the players from the previous season re-signed including Arthur Williams, generally regarded as one the best half-backs in the League.
Former Oxford City keeper Llewelyn G Owen was persuaded to sign along with T L Edwards, previously with Chester and Buckley Engineers, but the club would be without three mainstays for the opening matches - Jim Lloyd, Wil Meirion Jones and John Hughes.
Town played a pre-season charity match against under-strength Bala Press. As it was the match was abandoned at half time with Blaenau 4-0 up……. rain, of course, was the reason for the early finish.
The usual staring line-up in the early part of the season was:
Bob Smith
Tom Hughes Meirion Jones
R Powell Wil Jones Wil Williams
Bob Roberts John Hughes Jack Jones Wil M Owen Ned Griffiths
The season began gloomily once again with three home defeats against Llanrwst, Pwllheli and Bangor split by the now customary defeat at Caernarfon. The clouds lifted partially with an 8-1 hammering of Conwy in the North Wales Junior Cup but the side continued to struggle.
A 5-1 win against Colwyn Bay broke the monotony before Wil Parry and Jim Lloyd returned to secure a 5-1 win against Llandudno. Three more customary away defeats followed before a truly magical day in the club's history - their first AWAY win EVER in the North Wales Coast League!
The North Wales Chronicle reports that Blaenau lined up thus:
T M Whittaker
Tom Hughes Wil Jones
Moses Roberts Jack Jones W H Williams
R Roberts O C Owen Collins John Hughes W R Owen
Blaenau started at a frightening pace, going 1-0 up after two minutes through centre-forward Collins. A Tom Hughes penalty put the Quarrymen 2-0 up and shortly before the break Collins bagged what turned out the winner in a somewhat farcical manner. The Chronicle's correspondent describes - "A through ball stopped n a puddle and while 'keeper Edmunds wondered what he could do, Collins popped the ball in the untenanted goal."
A Bangor fight back in the second half brought the score to 3-1 and were then awarded a penalty but "Harry Evans fired straight at the mighty Whittaker". This was a crucial point in the match as Bangor got a second in the last minute which would have robbed Blaenau of a deserved and historic victory.
John Hughes played for the East selection against the West in the annual regional representative match.
A 1-3 loss at home to Carnarfon United followed but form picked up in the final run in with wins at Conwy and at home against Llanberis, Holyhead and Pwllheli interrupted by a 0-7 hammering at Bangor University who finished as the season's champions.
In general though, form seemed to bode well for the future.
1910-11
Despite the encouraging finish to the previous season, this season drifted into a poor one for the club. A still rare way win 7-3 at Llanberis in the second match of the season was a bright start soon extinguished with defeat at Carnarvon in the next game on the road being the first of seven consecutive away losses reaching to the very last match at Llandudno Junction.
At home it was somewhat different - they went unbeaten in their nine fixtures, but unfortunately winning only three! Early exists in the cups made for a dull season although eighth from ten was their highest finish so far.
The standard line-up seems to be:
Bob Smith
Jim Lloyd Wil Trevor Jones
J J Roberts Ted Kinnear W H Williams
Owen Roberts G Hughes W J Hughes W R Owen Hugh Jones

1911-12
Festiniog Town were involved in one of the strangest happenings of the 1911-12 season by signing the former Wales, Stoke City and Everton goalkeeper L R Roose. The Quarrymen made much of the fact for several weeks after obtaining his signature but it soon became apparent that he would not be playing a single match for them.
W J Hughes, the 19year old 5'7" inside forward, was undoubtedly the star of the side and it is recorded that in 1911 he was submitted for a trial for the Welsh amateur international side.
Ll Gordon Owen / Bob Smith
Tom Hughes Jim Lloyd
W H Williams S Thomas J Jones Roberts
Walker John Hughes W J Hughes W Roberts T S Roberts
Also played: W J Penny, Caradog Davies, G R Davies, S Phillips

A reserve side was also run, but the only competitive match found was a 3-4 defeat at Llanrwst in the North Wales Junior Cup. The line-up was as follows:
L G Jones
W Ellis R H Jones
Dick Jones Moses Roberts Hugh Jones
E Lloyd Sam Davies Tom Jones R Roberts O Roberts
A 3-0 home win against Denbigh United made for a bright start to the season but the thoroughly abysmal away record continued with five straight defeats on the trot including a 0-2 North Wales Coast League Cup exit at Llandudno Junction and a 3-4 Junior Cup defeat at Llanrwst.
However their home form continued to improve with wins against Llanrwst and Llanberis United before another run of four consecutive away defeats. A point was snatched at Llandudno against the Amateurs before normal service was resumed with three more away defeats. A 3-2 win at home against Colwyn Bay was followed by a win AT Llandudno Junction.
They were almost unbeatable at home, winning every match except a 0-2 loss at the hands of Holyhead Swifts and the season became their most successful to date - finishing a very respectable fifth.
1912-13
This was to be the most important season in the town's footballing history for many a year as this was the "championship season", the club taking their first ever senior League title.
The season started with the side showing some promise. After being held to a 3-3 draw at home in the opening match by Holywell United a string of three wins, including a fine 3-1 win against title favourites Carnarvon United, pushed them into top spot.
Llanfairfechan provided a break from League action when they visited Newborough Park in the North Wales Amateur Cup Preliminary Round - and Festiniog soundly trounced them by 14-0. [Unfortunately no scorers have yet been found for this match.]
The first of only three League defeats came next with a 0-4 crash at Denbigh United but they recovered to beat a troubled Llandudno side 6-2. Not long after Llandudno resigned from the League and this result, including a hat-trick by Blaenau's star player W J Hughes, was expunged from official records.
As if overtaken by disappointment, Blaenau went next to Rhyl where they collapsed to a 1-5 defeat but in December came the lowest point as Town visited Holyhead Swifts.
Even in those days Blaenau were relying on players from outside the area and when four Wrexham based players failed to make it to Holyhead, Blaenau took the field with only seven players and inevitably lost 2-7!
However, this turned out to be a major turning point.
From their remaining thirteen matches they took 23 points - 10 wins and three draws - a truly remarkable run indeed. However, their main rivals for the title - Carnarvon United - kept in touch and it virtually boiled down to the meeting between the two with only a couple of rounds remaining in the campaign.
The match did not start well for Town. Regular custodian Ted Wesley was late and the Blaenau team started with G R Davies in goal and were soon a goal down. Wesley arrived ten minutes into the match and Blaenau then took control W J Hughes leveled the score - and then put Festiniog ahead.
At this point a press report states "play became very rough and the referee called the players together and admonished them". This may have put Festiniog on the back foot as United soon equalized.
The match finally swung the Quarrymen's way with two decisive incidents. First Festiniog forward Bailey scored what turned out to be the winner then Ted Wesley made what was not just a match winning save but possibly a title winning one. The Carnarvon & Denbigh Herald reported "In the last minute Wesley brought off a magnificent save from the foot of Jones" - making up for his late arrival in a big way!
A 3-0 win at home against Bangor Town followed with the match kick-off being delayed by several minutes to enable the massive crowd to be admitted into Newborough Park. Goals from centre half Richards and W J Hughes (2) secured both points. The championship trophy was awarded to the League trophy was presented to the team by Mr R D Richards following a 0-0 draw at home against Denbigh which gave them 28pts, one more than runners up Carnarvon United.
Research has surfaced the following players as representing the club. However, not all line-ups were printed in the press of the time.
Goal: Richard Jones, Sam Roberts, Ted Wesley, Bob Smith,
Full-backs: Tom Hughes, Jim Lloyd, R D Richards, Fossett
Half-backs: George Edwards, Sidney Thomas, Arthur Williams, M E Morris, Hugh Jones,
Walter Evans, Goodfellow, Ernest Jones, Evan Jones,
Inside forwards: J Hughes, Caradoc Davies, Dai Davies, T R Davies,
Forwards: G R Davies, W J Hughes, T J Bayliss, George Walter, Dick Roberts, E B Bailey,
Bayliff, Dick Hughes, W Ellis, J W Wright.
Press coverage during this period would not win any awards for accuracy and the author holds a belief that Bayliss, Bailey and Bayliff may well be the same player.
Blaenau Festiniog had a right to be proud of their team after such a hard fought and spirited season indeed and one which finally brought some silverware to the town.
Caradog Davies earned himself a trial with Bolton Wanderers following a very successful season for him personally.
1913-14
Still known as Ffestiniog Town it seems - a title used also for the 1911-12 season. References occur in the Cambrian News to Blaenau Ffestiniog only as being the home base of the club but the official registered name remains elusive. However, FA of Wales minutes record them as being affiliated as BLAENAU FESTINIOG in 1909-10 and FESTINIOG TOWN in 1911-12.
Following the euphoria of winning their first major title, the 1913-14 season was a disappointment. After seven League matches, Festiniog had but six points to their credit from two wins, a 2-0 home win over Bangor Town and a 3-0 win at Llanrwst, and two 1-1 draws - at home v Denbigh Town and Colwyn Bay United.
Matters brightened up somewhat after the turn of the year with wins at Llanrwst and, after some controversy, at home against Rhyl.
It all began after they incurred the wrath of the authorities by failing to fulfil a fixture at Rhyl. At a management committee meeting on January 17th 1914, Festiniog spokesman Mr Roberts explained "the failure was the result of the inability of the Festiniog Committee to put a representative team on the field owing to sickness etc among the players". Mr Roberts admitted though that at the time Festiniog had THIRTY players signed!
League Secretary Percy Weekes argued that under such circumstances Festiniog were to blame, as though they might not be able to put their best eleven on the field, they could presumably have put an eleven on the ground and that, officially, would have been a representative team.
A certain Mr Kelly representing Rhyl put their case by reminding the Committee that Festiniog had declined to come to Rhyl and would not agree to Rhyl going to Blaenau and that the Management Committee had ordered the match to be played on a certain date.
It was this match that Festiniog said they could not raise a side. As a result Rhyl, who had heavily advertised the match were then forced to further expense to announce its cancellation.
He then announced that Rhyl had "an engagement" with Festiniog on the 24th but would refuse to travel unless Festiniog came to Rhyl first and if the League Committee punished Rhyl then they would resign.
"Cries of protest" were reported at this point!
Anyway the upshot of it all was that Festiniog were fined 5shillings (25p) and would have to pay the expenses claimed by Rhyl. The scheduled match at Festiniog would go ahead as planned, but upon this announcement Rhyl resigned.
The match took place on the 24th with Rhyl fielding a weakened side giving Festiniog an easy 7-2 win. The match at Rhyl took place on February 20th with Festiniog lining up as follows:
Ted Wesley
Tom Hughes Jim Lloyd
Norman Williams E D Roberts W H Williams
Tom Williams Oswald Williams John Davies Edwin Jones E W Jones
"In the early stages there was a tendency for the players to scrap with each other but after a warning by the referee, Mr B Conway Evans of Colwyn Bay, the teams settled down.
Rhyl turned out winners by 2-0, but not until the referee had threatened to order the eviction of certain spectators or even abandon the match because he was "rather severely criticized by the crowd on the stand".
That afternoon, the annual North Wales Coast League's East v West match had taken place at Bangor. In the East side were two Festiniog players, namely right-half Ernest Jones and inside-right W J Hughes.
The latter proved to be undisputed 'man of the match' as the East routed the West by eight goals to nil. Hughes bagged four goals for himself and created three more. The North Wales Weekly News reported "After half an hour's play the persistence of the East was rewarded when W J Hughes scored a beauty and shortly before half time he added a second after some clever play.
"The West were still short of Moreton Williams when the second half opened. After a spell of midfield [play] W.J Hughes found the ball at his feet. He wormed his way through beating all opposition and registered his hat-trick.
"W.J.Hughes was playing excellent football. He parted to Joe Hughes with such good judgement that Joe had no problem piling on the score.
"The East were literally all over the West now and the sixth goal was came from Ted Hughes, but it was W.J Hughes who had worked it.
"The last goal of the match was also scored by W.J Hughes who sent the ball into an open goal after drawing Collier from his charge and dodging him."

Following the defeat against Rhyl, another was registered at Llandudno Junction by 0-2 before a somewhat remarkable pair of home wins.
Llanrwst came first and went home thoroughly walloped 9-1 with the brilliant W J Hughes bagging five of the goals. Then along came Junction for the return fixture and managed to concede one less. This time it was Sam Jones that took the limelight with a hattrick in an 8-1 win.
A narrow 0-1 loss at Holyhead saw them return home to play Caernarfon United and, with W J Hughes getting four, the Canaries went home thoroughly plucked 9-0.
The last two matches ended in home defeats to Holyhead Swifts and Holywell United with the return match against the latter, already champions, remaining unplayed.
A disappointing end with the club finishing in seventh place
At the North Wales Coast FA AGM in August 1913 Festiniog's W J Davies was re-elected to the Association's Council following his inception in 1912.

With the outbreak of The Great War, all football was suspended. This sad and ultimately horrific waste of human life is indeed an unfortunate reason to end the first period in the history of football in the world's slate capital.