Club History

THE first football club in Caernarfon, known as Caernarvon Athletic, was formed in September 1876 and played at various grounds before moving to the Oval in 1888. On 30th October 1886 Caernarfon were the 1st team from NW Wales to enter the English FA Cup and lost 10-1 away to Stoke City. Five years later, however, that particular club went out of existence but, in 1894, several former players began a new team called Caernarvon Ironopolis. That club competed in the North Wales Coast League, winning the championship on two occasions and reaching the semi-final of the Welsh Cup in 1900 and again in 1902. Unfortunately, following a dispute with the league, Ironopolis folded in 1903. The demise of the club resulted in some of the players forming the Caernarvon Colts while others affiliated to the Caernarvon RWF (Royal Welsh Fusiliers), both clubs playing at the Oval.

In 1906, the clubs amalgamated to form Caernarvon United and in 1909 the new club won both the Welsh and North Wales Amateur Cups. After the Great War, the demobbed United players formed a new club (Caernarvon Athletic) which, until 1921, played in the North Wales Coast League and thereafter the Welsh National League Division Two (West), with mixed fortune. In 1926, however, a limited company was formed and a full-time manager and professional team engaged. The club met with immediate success, winning the Welsh National League Division One championship in 1926/27, ahead of Bangor City and Rhyl, and repeating the feat in 1929/30 having been pipped to the title by Connah’s Quay & Shotton 12 months earlier. Caernarvon Athletic are still remembered for their F.A. Cup run in 1929 when they defeated Darlington before going out to Bournemouth in a second round replay, the first game at the Oval attracting a crowd of some 9,000. In 1930, however, the club went into liquidation but two years later a re-formed team won the Welsh Combination before quitting over problems in using the Oval.

It was in 1937 that a group of local soccer enthusiasts began Caernarfon Town F.C. and entered a team in the Welsh League (North) Division One. A 39 year unbroken membership of the league was begun and Caernarfon Town won the championship in 1946/47 and 1965/66 and finished runners-up in both 1956/57 and 1957/58 and once again in 1972/73. Unfortunately, in 1976 internal problems led to the club’s withdrawal from the league after just six matches but, within a matter of months, the club was once again re-formed and bounced back 12 months later. Astonishingly, the club then proceeded to win the league championship in each of the next two seasons! After taking those two league titles in 1977/78 and 1978/79, losing only one game in total (Nantlle Vale winning 1-0 in 1977/78), Caernarfon were granted permission by the Welsh Football Association to join the Lancashire Combination league. The club went on to win the Combination Cup in 1981 (beating Bacup Borough in the two-legged final) and then the league championship in 1981/82, heading off the challenge of Colne Dynamoes by two points.

The following season, Caernarfon moved into the newly-created North West Counties League and achieved promotion, along with Radcliffe Borough, at the first attempt. In 1985, Caernarfon Town were runners-up in the first division and were elected to the Northern Premier League. Despite a poor start, new manager John King turned playing affairs round and the club enjoyed its most successful F.A. Cup run in 1986/87. Caernarfon Town defeated 4th Division Stockport County at the Oval and then defeated 3rd Division York City in a replay before losing a third round replay again to second division Barnsley by a goal to nil. The Canaries finished third in the NPL and felt if not for the FA Cup run they would probably have gained promotion to the Football Conference. In May 1987, King left to become manager of Tranmere Rovers and former LiverpooI wing-half Tommy Smith was appointed manager but left in December 1987 after a series of poor results, giving way to Phil Wilson who had been a player with the club the previous season.

A revival in the latter half of the 1987/88 campaign lifted Caernarfon up to third place and they also reached the semi-final of the Welsh Cup before losing out (on a 2-1 aggregate) to Cardiff City. In 1989/90, Caernarfon were relegated to the NPL's first division and, following a series of mediocre performances over a five-year period, the club’s board of directors decided to return to Welsh soccer which many supporters thought was the biggest mistake in the Club's history. Thus, Caernarfon were welcomed into the League of Wales in August 1995. The 1995/96 season was very successful with Caernarfon achieving sixth place in the league table and reaching the semi-finals of both the League of Wales League Cup and the North Wales Coast F.A. Cup. That led to an even more enjoyable 1996/97 season when the Canaries challenged Barry Town for the league title before finishing fourth, just behind Ebbw Vale on goal difference and missing out on a place in Europe. The Canaries also progressed to the final of the North Wales Coast F.A. Cup before going down 2-1 to Porthmadog. Eifion Williams, the club’s leading goalscorer, twice won international recognition for Wales at under-21 level and earned Caernarfon a reported £25,000 when transferred to champions Barry Town in 1997. 1997/98 proved to be a difficult campaign marked by the failure to replace Eifion Williams in attack. The club languished at the wrong end of the table for most of the season, before pulling clear of relegation.

Paul Rowlands became the Canaries’ fourth manager that season and his contagious enthusiasm turned fortunes around. Twelve months later, Town just missed out on a place in Europe after ending in fifth place and reaching the final of the Gilbert League Cup, before losing to Barry Town. Nonetheless, the disasters of 1999/2000 were just around the corner. Town began the new term badly and an even worse financial plight saw the club part company with all its players. Dixie McNeill was appointed as manager in an attempt to avert the increasingly inevitable threat of relegation. The one bright spot was Caernarfon’s 1-0 success over Swansea City in the FAW Premier Cup. The following season, however, was a marvellous time for the Canaries. The club won the Cymru Alliance championship and League Cup and also picked up the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup.

Manager Adrian Jones guided the team through this deserved success, and off the field a new stand and changing facilities were finally completed early in 2001. In 2001/2, the club enjoyed an encouraging League of Wales campaign but faded somewhat in the last third of the season and 2002/3 saw them achieve only 14th place. By early 2004, the Canaries were in contention for a top eight spot, but surprisingly decided to part company with manager Adie Jones after more than three years at the helm. Former Wrexham midfielder Waynne Phillips took the job in a caretaker role and continued on a permanent player/manager basis in 2004/5, but results did not really improve over his two seasons in charge and he stepped down in June 2007, to be replaced by former Oswestry Town and Cefn Druids manager Steve O'Shaughnessy. After occupying bottom place for much of the season, the Canaries finally improved their position at Easter and ended the season safe from the drop.

Steve O'Shaughnessey left Town at the end season 2007/08 to take over the hot seat at Connah's Quay and was replaced by David Rowe. Rowe found his first season in the Welsh Premier extremely difficult but improved results in the latter part of the season failed to rescue Caernarfon from the drop to the Cymru Alliance.

Rowe resigned due to work commitments in September 2009 and was succeeded by the current management duo of Derek Roberts and Mel Jones, the first locally based management team for 20+ years. Bouncing back at the first time of asking was the aim for this season and striving to obtain the UEFA Domestic Licence but this aim was drastically re-evaluated after a disappointing run of results saw the club languish at the bottom end of the table. Derek and Mel parted company with the club in November 2009 and Ex-Buckley Town manager Simon Sedgwick was appointed to the manager’s role, along with assistant Paul Dodd.

In March 2009, with finances at an all time low, and the club’s entire future in doubt, the Chairman, George Denham and fellow directors resigned. A group of current club officials and supporters took over the running of the Club and have put in place a plan to keep the Club in existence. A new management team of Geraint Williams and Ernie Talbot put together a locally based squad to see the club through the last games of the 2009/10 season.

The Club were relegated to the Welsh Alliance for the start of the 2010/11 season and appointed Clive Jones as their new manager after the sudden resignation of Geraint Williams. A new youth system also began to develop with the formation of an U18’s side, managed by ex-Town player Bryn Williams. The youth team will play in the Colwyn & Aberconwy Junior League. This season (2011/12) the youth team will play in the Anglesey Junior League and also take part in the Welsh Youth Cup, hoping to at least match achievement of getting to the quarter final stage this season.

After a poor run of results and with the Club on the bottom of the Welsh Alliance League (Division 1), Clive Jones left the managerial post by mutual consent. Steve ‘Psycho’ Smith was appointed manager in November 2010 with the task of keeping the Club in the Welsh Alliance Division 1 and developing a squad that can challenge for honours next season. Steve was assisted in this period by Colin Saynor (now joint manager) who stepped down from his role as Chairman of Llanberis FC, and head-coach Steven Bee decided to remain in his role. The Club managed to end the season in a creditable 5th place, losing only three of their matches since November 2010 and also managed to lift the Barritt Cup by beating Nefyn United in the final at Conwy United.

During season 2011/12 the aim was promotion to the Cymru Alliance under the leadership of Steve Smith and Colin Saynor but results did not go their way and Steve Smith resigned by mutual consent towards the end of the campaign. Colin Saynor took charge until the end of the season and Lee Dixon was selected as manager-elect during March 2012.

Lee Dixon took over the reins, assisted by Warren Gibbs and Nigel Barry and rebuilt the squad with numerous exciting additions. The squad played some excellent football during the season and managed to secure the treble of the Welsh Alliance League title, Cookson Cup and the FAW Trophy. Dixon built on the squad’s success by adding more quality players for the squad in order to challenge for honours in the Cymru Alliance League last season. The Club narrowly missed out on winning the League title after an indifferent period of form in January 2015 cost them vital points. Lee Dixon announced his resignation as first team manager before the end of the season.

A new, young manager was appointed in ex-Caersws midfielder Iwan Williams from Llanfairpwll. The club won the Cymru Alliance League in 2015/2016 season and won the League Cup but were denied promotion as the FAW Domestic Licence was refused. Cefn Druids were promoted to the Welsh Premier League instead as runners-up. Unbowed by this setback, Iwan set about building another squad capable of winning the League last season, but finished second to a very strong Prestatyn Town. On the positive side, the Canaries retained the League Cup and achieved the Domestic Licence for the first time in their history.

The club built on their success that season were finally promoted to the Welsh Premier League. Manager Iwan Williams left the club for Llandudno at the end of 2017 and his assistant Sean Eardley was appointed first team manager. The squad managed to maintain the momentum and crossed the line as Huws Gray Alliance Champions. The club took up their place in the Welsh Premier League for season 2018-19 with Sean Eardley at the helm as manager and talisman Nathan Craig shone brightly as club captain. They finished in a creditable 4th place after being tipped for relegation, qualifying for the Europa League playoff semi finals. Sadly they were knocked out in front of 1280 fans at the Oval in a 3-2 defeat to Cardiff Met.

Season 2020-21 started on 12/09/20 due to the COVID pandemic and all matches were played behind closed doors due to the restrictions imposed by Public Health Wales and the Welsh Government. The club also appointed Huw Griffiths as their new first team manager to take over from the shock departure of Llandudno-bound Sean Eardley during the close season of 2020. Despite the upheaval in the management team and the difficulties presented by the pandemic, the club once again managed to secure an European playoff spot by finishing the season in 6th place. They almost went one better than last season by getting the playoff final, but dramatically lost the final 3-5 when leading 3-2 with 15 minutes to go.

By season 2021-22, the Cymru Premier League (as it is now known) had lost one of their European qualification spots due to the lowering of Wales’s UEFA coefficient. Ironically, this was the first year that the club were successful in winning the play offs at the end of the season as they beat Flint Town United 2-1 at the Oval, with their prize being qualification for the Scottish Challenge Cup. The club finished a creditable 4th place in the table.

Season 2022-23 was not so successful at the club flirted with relegation from the Cymru Premier but managed to stay up by just 4 points. As a result, the club parted company with manager Huw Griffiths and appointed his deputy, Richard ‘Fish’ Davies in April 2023 as first team manager.

Following on from the disappointing season of 2022-23, expectations were low from outside the club for season 2023-24, and they were tipped to be fighting relegation once more. However, the addition of some excellent signings and the coaching skills of the management team, contributed towards arguably the club’s most successful top flight season ever. The club qualified for the UEFA Conference League for the first time in their history by beating Penybont 3-1 at the Oval in May 2024.