Wales vs Montenegro & England

During the final days of Mark Hughes reign at the helm of the Wales national team when the marvellous win in Helsinki and a fully deserved victory over Italy were a fading memory, Welsh fans would often travel to games more in hope than expectation.  Then John Toshack came and  killed the hope. An inevitable slide down the world rankings ensued with defeats home and away to Russia, Germany and Finland. Gary Speed left his Sheffield United managerial post to take over another sinking ship, the Welsh national side, but he seemingly couldn’t halt the slide as Wales slumped to 117th in the world and faced the ignominy of being seeded last in World Cup qualification for Brazil 2014. Wales faced humiliation after being leapfrogged by the Faroe Islands after some smart work by a software developer from Bucharest.

Whilst Gary Speed’s start as Wales boss had been less than inspiring he had made some positive changes to the Welsh setup. Roy Evans departed as assistant boss and was replaced by Dutch twitter enigma and physio extrodanaire Raymond Verheijen. The focus of international matches appeared to be on keeping the players fit and happy rather than upsetting and alienating them. And the fruits of this labour were seen on Friday night as Wales fielded what was probably their full strength XI (minus the suspended James Collins and injured Sam Ricketts). The last time Wales fielded a line-up with so few withdrawals was probably the memorable win over Italy at the Millennium Stadium, the Montenegro game ended the same way, a satisfying 2-1 home victory.

The win against Montenegro hasn’t given Welsh football a boost it desperately needed and will see the team climb into the top 100 of the World Rankings. Whilst not quite dining at “football’s top table” Wales will perhaps be eating at a Pizza Express rather than a Pizza Hut in weeks to come. Indeed it was Darcy Blake, a man who had difficulties with his fast-food lifestyle (too many burgers and too much time at the bar) only a season or two ago who was given the unenviable task of shackling Wayne Rooney on Tuesday night – a job he excelled at. Ultimately despite a solid performance in which Wales held possession of the ball for long periods and were never really put under a sustained spell of pressure, they lost the game by a solitary goal to nil.

Much of the press focus with regards to Wales’ game with England  focussed on Gareth Bale. Whilst Bale is a remarkably important part of the Wales team and a very talented player he’s a peripheral figure on a football pitch, hanging out wide waiting for supply. It’s Aaron Ramsey in central midfield who will almost certainly be the figurehead for this new Welsh side. The problem with a player like Bale is that he cannot dictate play from out wide and he’s certainly not talented enough to run a game from the centre in the same way that Ramsey can. It should be remembered that Wales already have a lot of experience with a player like Bale in the form of Ryan Giggs, who despite his inability to play in friendlies still notched over 60 caps for Wales. He was undoubtedly a world-class (whatever that means) player but often found it difficult to truly influence games whatever position the manager at the time selected him in. Aaron Ramsey has the ability to be what Hagi was for Romania, a player who can pull the strings in midfield and lead his often less illustrious team-mates to qualification. That’s not to say there aren’t other talented players there, Bale could quite easily be labelled Wales’ Dumitrescu. Though admittedly this analogy does start to fall apart when Ashley Williams becomes Wales’ Popescu and Steve Morison Wakes’ Răducioiu.

Friday and Tuesday were the first time that the graduates of Wales wonderful U21 side of a season or so ago have played with the same verve, intensity and ability that they showed for Brian Flynn. Alongside these great young players you have the fact that the whole back four that played against Montenegro and England had at one point played for Welsh clubs. Perhaps now is the time that the Wales international team begins to truly benefit from Swansea City and Cardiff City’s unfamiliarly lofty position in the league pyramid. The pieces do seem to be finally falling into place.

However, now is no the time for Gary Speed and his staff to get too cocky, the Welsh national side has had more false dawns than a Celebrity Lookalike agency who specialise in characters from the Office.  Speed and Verheijen look as if they’ve got the right ingredients of a side that can be competitive internationally. The 2014 World Cup may be too early for this group of players as Belgium, Croatia, Serbia, Scotland and Macedonia are tough opponents but Speed has to be confident that this set of players can have a real go at qualifying for Euro 2016 in France where the tournament is to be extended to 24 sides.

 

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Why was 26th March 1927 a big day for Welsh football?

26th March 1927 was an important day in Cardiff City’s history, it was the day they beat Reading at Molineux in the FA Cup semi final in a competition they would go on to win for the only time in their history. A big moment for the club, but also a very good day for Welsh football. Amazing as it seems now, at the time there were six Welsh clubs in the Football League. They were Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea (then Town), Aberdare Athletic and Merthyr Town. And on the 26th Match 1927 every single one of the sides won!

Results: 26/3/1927

• Cardiff City 3 Reading 0 (FA Cup Semi Final)
• Swansea 2 Gateshead 0 (Division 2)
• Wrexham 3 Durham City 1 (Division 3 North)
• Aberdare Athletic 3 Exeter City 1 (Division 3 South)
• Gillingham 0 Merthyr Town 1 (Division 3 South)
• Newport County 5 Swindon Town 3 (Division 3 South)

Six wins out of a possible six! Despite this excellent record it was a mixed year for the Welsh clubs. As previously mentioned Cardiff City went on to win the FA Cup. Swansea Town finished the season midtable in Division Two, with Wrexham finishing in a similar position in Division Three North.Of the three Welsh clubs in Division Three South Newport County finished highest in eighth place, Aberdare Athetic finished the season rock bottom of the division and ultimately failed to be re-elected, being replaced by Torquay United. It was the last season that six Welsh clubs competed in the Football League.

The last time Welsh clubs won three matches on the same day was the 11th November 2006. Sadly Wrexham lost their football league status recently so only two sides remain in the Football League (Cardiff City and Swansea City)

Full Results (of each occassion where Welsh clubs won three or more matches one the same day (in FA Cup, League or League Cup)

09/10/1920	3	Cardiff City, Merthyr Town, Newport County
23/10/1920	3	Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Newport County
06/11/1920	3	Swansea City, Merthyr Town, Newport County
13/11/1920	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Cardiff City
28/03/1921	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Swansea City
03/09/1921	4	Swansea City, Wrexham, Merthyr Town, Newport County
24/09/1921	3	Aberdare Athletic, Wrexham, Cardiff City
15/10/1921	3	Merthyr Town, Newport County, Cardiff City
29/10/1921	3	Cardiff City, Aberdare Athletic, Wrexham
05/11/1921	4	Aberdare Athletic, Wrexham, Merthyr Town, Swansea City
24/12/1921	3	Aberdare Athletic, Merthyr Town, Cardiff City
27/12/1921	4	Swansea City, Aberdare Athletic, Cardiff City, Newport County
21/01/1922	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County
04/02/1922	3	Merthyr Town, Swansea City, Cardiff City
11/03/1922	4	Cardiff City, Aberdare Athletic, Swansea City, Merthyr Town
29/04/1922	3	Aberdare Athletic, Merthyr Town, Swansea City
28/10/1922	3	Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Wrexham
25/11/1922	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Aberdare Athletic
26/12/1922	4	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Aberdare Athletic, Swansea City
27/01/1923	3	Aberdare Athletic, Cardiff City, Swansea City
03/02/1923	4	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
10/02/1923	3	Swansea City, Aberdare Athletic, Cardiff City
24/02/1923	4	Swansea City, Wrexham, Merthyr Town, Aberdare Athletic
10/03/1923	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
02/04/1923	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
28/04/1923	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Merthyr Town
25/08/1923	5	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City, Merthyr Town, Newport County
01/09/1923	3	Wrexham, Aberdare Athletic, Swansea City
15/09/1923	3	Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Wrexham
29/09/1923	3	Swansea City, Aberdare Athletic, Cardiff City
06/10/1923	3	Aberdare Athletic, Cardiff City, Swansea City
27/10/1923	3	Swansea City, Merthyr Town, Newport County
10/11/1923	4	Swansea City, Aberdare Athletic, Wrexham, Cardiff City
01/12/1923	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Cardiff City
22/12/1923	3	Swansea City, Merthyr Town, Cardiff City
02/02/1924	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Merthyr Town
01/03/1924	3	Newport County, Merthyr Town, Swansea City
22/03/1924	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
19/04/1924	5	Wrexham, Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
13/09/1924	4	Aberdare Athletic, Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
20/09/1924	3	Aberdare Athletic, Newport County, Wrexham
11/10/1924	3	Merthyr Town, Swansea City, Newport County
18/10/1924	4	Newport County, Cardiff City, Wrexham, Aberdare Athletic
22/11/1924	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Merthyr Town
26/12/1924	3	Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Newport County
17/01/1925	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
31/01/1925	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
07/03/1925	4	Cardiff City, Merthyr Town, Wrexham, Swansea City
14/03/1925	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Aberdare Athletic
28/03/1925	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Aberdare Athletic
11/04/1925	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
13/04/1925	4	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City, Aberdare Athletic
29/08/1925	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Merthyr Town
12/09/1925	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Aberdare Athletic
31/10/1925	3	Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Swansea City
14/11/1925	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
28/11/1925	4	Swansea City, Newport County, Aberdare Athletic, Cardiff City
12/12/1925	4	Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Aberdare Athletic, Swansea City
16/01/1926	3	Merthyr Town, Newport County, Swansea City
06/02/1926	4	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Aberdare Athletic
13/02/1926	4	Aberdare Athletic, Swansea City, Newport County, Merthyr Town
20/02/1926	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Aberdare Athletic
25/02/1926	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Aberdare Athletic
27/02/1926	3	Aberdare Athletic, Wrexham, Swansea City
13/03/1926	3	Wrexham, Aberdare Athletic, Cardiff City
20/03/1926	3	Aberdare Athletic, Cardiff City, Swansea City
17/04/1926	3	Cardiff City, Merthyr Town, Swansea City
28/08/1926	4	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County, Aberdare Athletic
02/10/1926	3	Aberdare Athletic, Newport County, Swansea City
16/10/1926	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
23/10/1926	3	Cardiff City, Merthyr Town, Swansea City
30/10/1926	4	Newport County, Merthyr Town, Swansea City, Cardiff City
06/11/1926	3	Swansea City, Merthyr Town, Cardiff City
04/12/1926	4	Merthyr Town, Newport County, Wrexham, Aberdare Athletic
08/01/1927	4	Newport County, Aberdare Athletic, Cardiff City, Swansea City
29/01/1927	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
05/02/1927	3	Cardiff City, Merthyr Town, Aberdare Athletic
26/03/1927	6	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City, Merthyr Town, Aberdare Athletic, Newport County
16/04/1927	3	Merthyr Town, Cardiff City, Wrexham
17/09/1927	4	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
08/10/1927	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Merthyr Town
29/10/1927	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
10/12/1927	4	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Merthyr Town, Wrexham
17/12/1927	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
21/01/1928	4	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
04/02/1928	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Merthyr Town
18/02/1928	3	Newport County, Merthyr Town, Wrexham
25/02/1928	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
01/09/1928	3	Swansea City, Merthyr Town, Cardiff City
13/10/1928	3	Merthyr Town, Swansea City, Wrexham
10/11/1928	4	Newport County, Wrexham, Merthyr Town, Swansea City
24/11/1928	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Merthyr Town
08/12/1928	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
26/12/1928	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
12/01/1929	3	Swansea City, Merthyr Town, Wrexham
09/02/1929	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
02/03/1929	3	Merthyr Town, Swansea City, Wrexham
09/03/1929	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
16/03/1929	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Merthyr Town
30/03/1929	4	Wrexham, Newport County, Merthyr Town, Swansea City
30/11/1929	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County
28/12/1929	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
04/01/1930	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham
01/03/1930	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
08/03/1930	3	Cardiff City, Merthyr Town, Newport County
19/04/1930	3	Merthyr Town, Wrexham, Newport County
26/04/1930	4	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham, Cardiff City
01/11/1930	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
03/10/1931	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
17/10/1931	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
06/02/1932	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
20/02/1932	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
28/03/1932	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
26/11/1932	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
26/12/1932	4	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
11/02/1933	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham
18/02/1933	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
01/04/1933	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
17/04/1933	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
23/09/1933	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Cardiff City
20/01/1934	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
21/04/1934	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Cardiff City
05/05/1934	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
25/08/1934	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Swansea City
27/08/1934	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Swansea City
20/10/1934	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
05/01/1935	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
12/10/1935	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
16/11/1935	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
21/03/1936	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
24/10/1936	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham
07/11/1936	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
28/11/1936	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
19/12/1936	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
09/01/1937	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
30/10/1937	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
05/03/1938	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
17/12/1938	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
24/12/1938	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
14/01/1939	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
10/04/1939	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
15/04/1939	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
22/04/1939	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
14/09/1946	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
12/10/1946	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
26/10/1946	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
23/11/1946	4	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham, Cardiff City
10/05/1947	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
30/08/1947	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County
11/10/1947	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
29/11/1947	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Cardiff City
20/12/1947	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
21/02/1948	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
06/03/1948	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Swansea City
13/03/1948	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
25/09/1948	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
02/10/1948	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Swansea City
13/11/1948	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
27/12/1948	4	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
01/01/1949	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham
08/01/1949	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
29/01/1949	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
05/02/1949	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County
19/02/1949	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
05/03/1949	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
19/03/1949	4	Swansea City, Newport County, Cardiff City, Wrexham
09/04/1949	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Swansea City
23/04/1949	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
26/11/1949	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
18/02/1950	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
25/11/1950	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
23/12/1950	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
13/01/1951	4	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
03/02/1951	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Swansea City
24/02/1951	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Wrexham
26/03/1951	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
14/04/1951	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County
22/09/1951	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
03/11/1951	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
26/01/1952	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
09/02/1952	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
14/04/1952	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Cardiff City
22/11/1952	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
07/03/1953	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County
14/03/1953	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
21/03/1953	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
06/04/1953	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Cardiff City
29/08/1953	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
24/10/1953	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
19/12/1953	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
06/02/1954	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
06/03/1954	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
03/04/1954	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
16/04/1954	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
17/04/1954	4	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
27/08/1955	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham
24/09/1955	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
08/10/1955	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
05/11/1955	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
31/12/1955	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Wrexham
15/09/1956	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
17/11/1956	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
09/02/1957	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Swansea City
13/04/1957	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
19/04/1957	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
28/09/1957	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
21/12/1957	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
11/01/1958	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
19/04/1958	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
26/04/1958	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
04/10/1958	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
01/11/1958	4	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County, Swansea City
13/12/1958	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
12/09/1959	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Swansea City
26/09/1959	4	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
28/11/1959	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
05/12/1959	4	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
12/12/1959	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
09/04/1960	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
03/09/1960	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
11/02/1961	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
04/03/1961	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
04/11/1961	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
29/09/1962	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
17/11/1962	4	Newport County, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
01/05/1963	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Cardiff City
16/11/1963	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
04/01/1964	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
28/03/1964	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
19/04/1965	4	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County
11/09/1965	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
08/01/1966	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham
10/12/1966	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
31/12/1966	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
06/05/1967	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
13/05/1967	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
25/11/1967	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
26/12/1967	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
10/02/1968	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
16/04/1968	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
31/08/1968	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
21/09/1968	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County
28/09/1968	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
23/11/1968	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
21/12/1968	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
23/08/1969	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County
06/09/1969	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
20/09/1969	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
04/10/1969	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
11/10/1969	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
01/11/1969	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
08/11/1969	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
22/11/1969	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
04/04/1970	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
10/10/1970	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
13/02/1971	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
20/03/1971	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
27/03/1971	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
24/04/1971	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
02/10/1971	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
23/10/1971	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
30/10/1971	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
19/08/1972	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
10/02/1973	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
01/12/1973	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County
26/12/1973	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
13/04/1974	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
26/10/1974	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
21/12/1974	3	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham
29/03/1975	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Cardiff City
30/08/1975	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
13/09/1975	4	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City, Swansea City
27/09/1975	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
08/11/1975	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
06/12/1975	4	Newport County, Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
14/02/1976	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
10/04/1976	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
21/08/1976	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
16/04/1977	4	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
23/04/1977	4	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
24/09/1977	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
01/10/1977	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
05/11/1977	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
12/11/1977	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
19/11/1977	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
31/12/1977	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
24/03/1978	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
14/10/1978	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham
14/04/1979	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
18/08/1979	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham
01/09/1979	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
06/10/1979	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
13/10/1979	4	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
27/10/1979	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
01/12/1979	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
01/01/1980	3	Newport County, Wrexham, Swansea City
29/03/1980	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
12/04/1980	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Cardiff City
30/08/1980	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Wrexham
20/09/1980	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
28/02/1981	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County
04/04/1981	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Swansea City
25/04/1981	4	Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham, Cardiff City
26/09/1981	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
07/11/1981	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
27/02/1982	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Swansea City
20/03/1982	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
15/05/1982	3	Wrexham, Newport County, Cardiff City
18/09/1982	3	Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham
02/10/1982	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
01/01/1983	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
26/02/1983	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County
12/03/1983	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
26/03/1983	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County
27/12/1983	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County
25/02/1984	3	Newport County, Swansea City, Wrexham
16/11/1985	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County
19/04/1986	4	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County
02/09/1986	3	Newport County, Cardiff City, Swansea City
15/11/1986	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Newport County
12/09/1987	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County
21/11/1987	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
04/04/1988	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
02/05/1988	4	Wrexham, Swansea City, Newport County, Cardiff City
18/11/1989	3	Cardiff City, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea City
12/01/1991	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
22/08/1992	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
19/03/1994	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
05/11/1994	3	Swansea City, Wrexham, Cardiff City
21/02/1995	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
28/11/1998	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City
05/12/1998	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
14/08/1999	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
22/04/2000	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
24/08/2002	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
04/02/2003	3	Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham
18/03/2003	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
27/09/2003	3	Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham
20/03/2004	3	Wrexham, Cardiff City, Swansea City
10/08/2004	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
22/01/2005	3	Wrexham, Swansea City, Cardiff City
11/11/2006	3	Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City

 

Borough United Football Club

The first Welsh club to get past the first round of a European tie weren’t Cardiff City. They also weren’t Swansea, or Wrexham, Newport County, Bangor City or Merthyr Tydfil. They were the little known club from North Wales, Borough United.

Despite being a Cardiff City supporter for about fifteen years, and spending much of my time reading about Welsh football and some of the odder aspects of the European game until this week I had never even heard of Borough United.

Borough United were formed by a merger of Llandudno Junction and Conwy Borough in 1954. Only fifteen years later (1969) they folded and were no more. Yet, in those fifteen years Borough United packed in a Welsh Cup win and a European Cup Winners Cup run. When you consider how few teams have played in European competition it is incredible that a Welsh club such as Borough United managed it, yet so few years later ceased to exist.

The 1962/63 season saw Borough United’s finest cup triumph when they beat Newport County in a two-legged Welsh Cup final (after beating the likes of English club Hereford United, Rhyl and cup holders Bangor City). A 2-1 victory at home and a battling 0-0 draw at Somerton Park was enough to bring the cup up north. A summer of fundraising ensued in order to fund the club’s European adventure.

The 1963/64 European Cup Winners Cup contained the likes of Manchester United, Atalanta, Barcelona and Celtic but the Welsh minnows were drawn against the Maltese Cup winners Sleima Wanderers. The first leg, played in Malta ended in a creditable 0-0 draw at the Maltese National Stadium. This meant all Borough United needed to do was beat the Maltese side in order to get through to the second round, and that’s exactly what they did. In front of 17,000 Welshmen Borough United beat Sleima by 2 goals to 0. An incredible result for the European first timers.

The second round in those days was the last 16, Borough United were pitted against Slovan Bratislava (now Slovakia then from Czechoslovakia). The challenge was one step too far however and the Welsh side lost out 4-0 on aggregate. Far from the disgrace many would have expected. Especially when you consider that Sporting Lisbon beat Apoel Nicosia 18-1 (on aggregate) in the same round.

The full second round draw is here:

Borough United	v	Slovan Bratislava
Celtic	v	NK Dinamo Zagreb
FC Barcelona	v	Hamburger SV
Fenerbahce	v	Linfield
Motor Zwickau	v	MTK Budapest
Olympique Lyonnais	v	Olympiakos Pireus
Sporting CP Lisbon	v	Apoel Nicosia
Tottenham Hotspur	v	Manchester United

We salute you Borough United. Most may have forgotten you, but you will go down in history as the first Welsh club to get past the first round of a European tournament. Let’s hope Rhyl and TNS can take inspiration from this and perform their own European miracle.