Barry Town United F.C.

"Barry Town" redirects here. For town the football team is based in, see Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.

Barry Town United

Full name	Barry Town United Football Club
Nickname(s)	Dragons, Linnets, Town
Founded	1912 (as Barry AFC)
Ground	Jenner Park, Barry
Capacity	2,000
Manager	Gavin Chesterfield
League	MacWhirter Welsh League Division One
2013–14	MacWhirter Welsh League Division Two, 1st
Home colours Away colours

Barry Town United F.C. (Welsh: Clwb Pêl Droed Tref Y Barri) is an association football team based in Barry. They are known for representing Wales in Europe as winners of the Welsh Premier League and Welsh Cup during the 1990s and early 2000s and have also competed in England's Southern League and FA Cup. The team, which has contained over 50 full international over the years, is now run by supporters. They play at traditional home Jenner Park, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, which accommodates 2,000 spectators.

History

Formation

Steel

Wightman

Molyneux

White

Thomas

Bates

Woolridge

Greenaway

McNaught

Sheldon

Isherwood

First ever Barry XI at Jenner Park

Barry Town United's history dates back to 1892 when a football side named Barry and Cadoxton District was formed in the area. During the early years, this team endured many upheavals, playing on five different grounds under various identities, including Barry Unionist Athletic, Barry United Athletic and Barry District. Players who featured during these years included Ted Vizard and Billy Jennings; who would each go on to play in the famous ‘White Horse’ FA Cup Final.

In November 1912, a meeting at The Windsor in Holton Road saw townsfolk choose to pursue membership of the thriving Southern League as Barry AFC (the 'Town' suffix was added in 1931). The club would secure land owned by the Jenner family, before coming together to people of the town then came together to build Jenner Park, ahead of the first match of the 1912-13 season.

On 6 September 1913, Barry played their first ever fixture; a Southern League match against Mid-Rhondda United at Jenner Park. The game attracted 4,000 spectators, including 1,000 travelling supporters. Fittingly, the new Barry team would register a surprise, albeit merited, victory, with Barry's Ralph Isherwood scoring the very first goal at Jenner Park just three minutes into the contest. His second, midway through the second half, sealed a 2–1 Barry victory, a fine start for the side on, coincidentally, the same afternoon that the Arsenal FC played their first ever match at Highbury Stadium.

The ensuing two seasons would see Stoke City, Brentford FC, Coventry City and others visit the new ground. However, the First World War would soon interrupt competitive proceedings; with Barry captain Jim Wightman one of many casualties at the Somme.

Southern League

The 1920–21 season ranks as one of the finest in Barry's history, as they surprised many by becoming champions of the Southern League (Welsh). The achievement was all the more impressive when considering the small Barry squad played in over 100 matches in all competitions during the course of the season. Competing simultaneously in both the Welsh and Western League, the Barry board gave priority to Southern League fixtures, swayed by aspirations of joining the new English Third Division.

Inspired by Stanley Cowie, the title was clinched in early May, and yet hopes of Barry being able to play in the Football League were scuppered just a month later, when their application failed and Charlton Athletic and Aberdare Athletic were elected instead. The club retained membership of the Southern League for more than 60 years – their highest finishing place being fourth in the 1930s.

Among the notable players of the era were Johnny Gardner (500+ appearances), Dai Ward (300+ goals) and Fred Whitlow (100+ goals). Meanwhile, Barry-born sportsman Ernie Carless combined his footballing exploits with a successful cricketing career at Glamorgan CCC.

FA Cup and Welsh Cup

Morris

Lyske

Wright

Williams

Bellas

Foxton

Allen

Dyke

Niblett

Goodfellow

Cain

1955 Welsh Cup winning XI

At the end of the 1920s, a crowd of 6,000 at Upton Park saw Barry beat Dagenham 1-0 to progress to the FA Cup 2nd Round; before losing to Brighton & Hove Albion 10 days later. It was the club's most successful run in the competition, a record that stands to this day. Barry would reach the 1st Round again in 1934-35, losing 1-0 to Northampton Town at Jenner Park, after the build-up to the match had been tainted by a fire that ravaged the grandstand.

Football again took a backseat in 1939, with the eruption of the Second World War. Barry’s Chris Mason would be captured as a prisoner of war during the conflict, though would return to Jenner Park to resume his career afterwards; entertaining spectators thrilled by the adventures of players such as Derek Tapscott( who would later signed for Arsenal, celebrated striker Stan Richards and Gwilym “Cannonball” Cain.

In the 1949-50 season, Jenner Park became one of the first grounds in the country to introduce floodlights, with Newport, Swansea and Cardiff City all visiting to showcase the facilities. Two seasons later, an all-Welsh showdown in the FA Cup 1st Round saw Barry outclassed by Newport County 4-0. Nevertheless, the town’s most celebrated footballing achievement was right around the corner.

In May 1955, after a 1-1 draw at the Racecourse in Wrexham, Barry beat Chester City 4-3 at Ninian Park to lift the Welsh Cup for the first time. Former Chelsea midfielder Charlie Dyke scored the winner, a dramatic late free-kick to take the cup back to Barry.

Sixties, Seventies and Eighties

In the late 1950s, a host of Scandinavian stars made their way to Jenner Park, and dazzled Barry football enthusiasts with their skill. Among their number were Finland’s Hannu Kankkonen and Bengt ‘Folet’ Berndtsson; a member of the Sweden squad that reach the 1958 World Cup Final. The influx of players from continental came as a reslt of chairman John Bailey's business interests overseas.

1961 saw another huge match as QPR visited Jenner Park in the FA Cup. A crowd of 7,000 saw Laurie Sheffield’s opener for Barry cancelled out late on. QPR would win the replay at Loftus Road comfortably. The 1960s and 70s are perhaps remembered most fondly for the personalities that pulled on the Barry shirt. Among them, prolific goalscorers Ken Gully and Clive Ayres, brothers John and Dickie Batt, long-serving Bobby Smith and Ashley Griffiths, and Mike Cosslett; now a member of the Barry coaching staff.

In 1982, Barry would leave the Southern League, focusing on Welsh League competition and winning six Welsh League titles before the decade’s end; thanks in no small part to the goals of Steve Williams. The most significant match of the decade though came on 17th November 1984, as 3,850 crammed into Jenner Park to see Barry vs Reading FC in the FA Cup 1st Round. Despite Ian Love‘s goal, an injury-time winner by Trevor Senior was enough to send the Royals through.

Exile

After a lack of floodlighting had stopped the club being able to compete in the Southern League for most of the 1980s, the decade's final year saw the necessary ground improvements to support a return to England. Barry entered the Southern League’s Midland Division and would consistently finish in the top six, yet were denied the opportunity to field a reserve XI in the Welsh League as they had done in previous decades.

The creation of the League of Wales (now Welsh Premier League) in 1992 then prompted a decree that Barry would no longer be able to compete in the English pyramid at all while based out of Jenner Park. As part of a group of rebel clubs known as the 'Irate Eight', the Town were forced into exile; with the first team adopting the name of Barri and playing 'home' matches out of Worcester City’s ground, while the reserves (by now, a local league outfit), manned the Jenner Park fort. However, this arrangement would last only one season, as O’ Halloran performed a shock u-turn that saw the Barry first team return home, accepted into the Welsh League Division One for the 1993/94 campaign.

Decade of dominance

Barry's return to Jenner Park would spark arguably the club's most successful period. In their first season back in Wales (1993–94), Barry earned immediate promotion to the top flight, while snaring a unique quadruple of Welsh League championship, the Welsh League Cup, the FAW Trophy and the Welsh Cup – for the first time since 1955 no less. The latter was one of Barry's finest moments, as they upset Football League Second Division outfit Cardiff City in front of 16,000 spectators at the old National Stadium. Barry's reward for winning the Welsh Cup was a European Cup Winners Cup tie against FK Žalgiris Vilnius of Lithuania, but they crashed out 7–0 on aggregate. Greater glory was on the horizon.

After one season in the League of Wales, Barry opted to become the league's first fully professional club and, thereafter, won their first league championship in 1995–96. The next year saw the Dragons create history as the first League of Wales side to progress beyond the opening round of a European competition. Following victory in Latvia over Dinaburg FC, Barry ousted Hungarian side Budapest Vasutas in one of several epic European nights at Jenner Park. Despite trailing 3–1 from the away leg, Barry stormed to a victory in the return match by the same score-line, and then won a penalty shoot-out 4–2. A 'Battle of Britain' with Scottish club Aberdeen was their reward and, after losing 3–1 at Pittodrie, the Welsh side drew 3–3 at a rain-swept Jenner Park, to exit the cup.

On the domestic scene, Barry were all-conquering, clinching a first ever treble of League of Wales championship, Welsh League Cup and Welsh Cup. The championship was claimed with a record 105 points and a goal difference of more than +100. Then, from March 1997, the Dragons went 51 matches without tasting defeat in a league game, just one of many records they would set in the 1990s.

1999 saw the Dragons become the first League of Wales outfit to win the FAW Premier Cup, with a 2–1 win over Wrexham at the club's own Racecourse Ground. Pipped to the title in 2000 by the emerging Total Network Solutions, Barry would regain their silverware the following campaign, while European battles with the likes of Dynamo Kiev and Boavista saw players of the highest calibre grace the Jenner Park surface.

Then, the 2000–01 season, Barry famously became the first League of Wales team to win a European Champions League tie, when they defeated the Azerbaijan champions FC Shamkir both home and away. They went on to meet Portuguese club FC Porto. Barry lost the first leg in Portugal by an emphatic 8–0 margin, after conceding two early penalties in front of a partisan 55,000 crowd. However, the Town would restore pride by winning the home leg 3–1, recording a memorable result that continues to grow in legend.

Decline and turmoil

The golden era would not last forever, and the constant challenge of securing prize money to sustain a winning squad would soon catch up with those running the club around the turn of the century. After chairperson and backer Paula O' Halloran stood aside; 'football troubleshooter' Kevin Green came in as the club's new Chief Executive, yet his varying initiatives failed to stop the rot. In what appeared a masterstroke, Green brought in footballer and celebrity John Fashanu as the club's high-profile new chairman in the winter of 2002. Some saw Fashanu as the missing piece of the jigsaw, and the man who would help sustain Barry's success going forward. Promising African and Chinese TV deals and an influx of Nigerian internationals, Fashanu made headlines, yet did little to steady the Barry ship, which looked to be in increasingly rough seas. Then, after a stint in ITV's I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here saw him attain new-found popularity, Fashanu left the club, which by now was in a perilous financial state.

In the summer of 2003, the club went into administration and the professional squad would quickly disintegrate. An interim management was appointed, together with an amateur team drawn mostly from N & M Construction of the South Wales Amateur League Division 2 (five levels below the Welsh Premier). Within a month, Barry had gone from winning a match in Europe to losing 8–0 at Caernarfon Town. Though the professional-era bubble had well and truly burst, fans set about raising money to help keep the club alive. Eventually though, mystery man Stuart Lovering arrived to purchase of the club on 10th December 2003. Few at the time could have foreseen what was to come.

2003-04 was a difficult season to say the least, with champions Barry's first league win not coming until February 2004 when they beat fellow strugglers Welshpool Town 5–4 with a 98th-minute winning penalty from youngster Luke Sherbon. Manager Colin Addison was brought in resuscitate the team's ailing fortunes, yet the Dragons still ended up bottom of the division, four points off safety, and were relegated to the Welsh League Division One. Controversially, Addison was replaced as boss on the eve of the new campaign with assistant David Hughes, who himself had had a spell in charge the previous year. In the meantime, an independent district valuer had determined that the club would have to pay £42,000 rent and rates for that and each subsequent season for the remainder of the lease. Judging the figure to be unfairly based on the club's relinquished professional status, the club chairman refused to pay this amount and instead moved the senior side to Treforest FC's ground near Pontypridd from January 2005 to May 2006. During the absence, a number of staunch supporters formed breakaway side Barry FC – the culmination of a series of disputes with chairman Stuart Lovering, who had banned them from fundraising at the ground. With Town relegated to its lowest-ever league status at the end of the 2005-06 season, the future appeared bleak for this fallen giant of Welsh football.

Resurgence

While chaos reigned off the field for much of the decade, new manager Gavin Chesterfield helped lead Barry back to Welsh League Division One in 2008, with the hope that a winning run of form in the second tier, back at Jenner Park, would see the club's dwindling support return. After stumbling early on, Barry enjoyed a 21-match unbeaten streak and finished the season a credible third. In December 2008, a crisis meeting at Jenner Park saw supporters come forward to pledge their commitment to operating the first team, while Lovering focused on finding a new owner. In one of a number of close calls, the club appeared on the verge of being sold in 2010, when Shamrock Coaches owner Clayton Jones appeared to strike a deal. However, this fell through at the eleventh hour, scuppering a plan to bring in former Wales international John Hartson as a possible director of football.

May 2011 then saw Lovering announce his intent of withdrawing the first team from higher league football. To prevent this, the BTSC agreed to take on the running of all football; resulting in what some supporters called the 'DIY football' era. A rejuvenated, fan-run Barry enjoyed their most successful Welsh Cup campaign in several seasons during 2011; defeating rivals Merthyr Town at Penydarren Park and winning away at Haverfordwest County in extra-time, before being narrowly beaten 3–2 at Newport County.

2012 then marked the 100th anniversary of the club's formation, with a series of events lined up to mark this and the subsequent centenary season. To begin festivities, the BTSC hosted Cardiff City in an August fundraising friendly match attended by some 2,000 spectators. However, Lovering's threat to withdraw Barry from the Welsh Football League would intensify in the weeks prior, which threatened to cast a cloud over these celebrations. In November, the Barry Town Supporters Committee held a successful '100 Years of Barry Town' event at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff, before the first team beat champions Cambrian and Clydach on the date of the 100th anniversary.

In March 2013, following wins against Caerleon, Penrhyncoch, Ely Rangers and Pontardawe Town, Barry won 2–0 at Flint Town United to progress to the Welsh Cup semi-final for the first time in a decade. They lost 1-2 to eventual winners Prestatyn Town, but the match marked the first ever appearance of a fully amateur Barry side at that stage.

Restart

On 7 May 2013, Lovering inexplicably withdrew the senior team from the Welsh Football League, against the will of the BTSC, players and supporters, who were ready, willing and able to fulfill the remaining two fixtures. Rejecting this apparent act of sabotage, those running the football outlined their intentions to continue as they were, adopting the name of Barry Town United to emphasise their continuing unity and endeavour. However, a meeting of the FAW Council in Betws-y-Coed in June 2013 announced that the Barry side would have to play "recreational football" henceforth; a declaration that prompted significant public outcry locally and far further afield.

There appeared hope for beleaguered Barry when second meeting was arranged for July 2013 in Caersws to hear new evidence as why the team should be able to continue on at a Welsh League level. At this second gathering, 15 of the FAW Councillors voted not even to discuss the club's future, thus concluding the meeting in no more than five minutes and at considerable expense. Notably, it emerged that this decision went against the recommendations of the FAW's own Domestic Committee and legal team

With their immediate and long-term future unclear, Barry began their pre-season with wins at Moreton and Elmore that same month, followed by a narrow 3-2 loss to Premiership newcomers Cardiff City, watched by a home crowd of 1,650 supporters on Saturday 27 July. Remarkably, given the bizarre set of circumstances, Barry had led 2-1 at the break.

Eventually, justice was done as a High Court judge in Cardiff ruled in favour of Barry Town United; stating that the FAW had acted unlawfully in denying them their licence to play Welsh League football in 2013-14. As a result, the fan-run Town side was entered back into the structure.

In the years that have followed, Barry would win two consecutive league titles, reclaiming their place as a top tier Welsh League side, while continuing to develop as a club, on and off the pitch. 2015-16 will see the Town field sides at senior, youth and junior levels, along with two ladies' sides and pan disability teams in the over and under 16 age groups.

Current Squad

Richards, James, Morgan, Baldock, Mike Cosslett (coach), Evans, Lewis Cosslett and Dixon with the Welsh League Division Two trophy, 2015.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	WAL	Dan Bradley
2	DF	WAL	Lee Baldock
3	DF	WAL	Lewis Cosslett
4	DF	WAL	Ryan Evans
6	DF	WAL	Paul Morgan
7	DF	WAL	Bobby Briers
8	DF	WAL	Oliver Dalton
9	DF	WAL	Theo Richards
10	MF	WAL	James Saddler
11	MF	WAL	Troy Greening

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
12	MF	WAL	Ryan Dorrian
14	MF	WAL	Rhys James
16	MF	WAL	Louis Feeley
18	FW	ENG	Michael Hartley
19	FW	WAL	TJ Nagi
20	FW	WAL	James Dixon
21	FW	WAL	Jordan Cotterill
22	FW	WAL	Drew Fahiya
25	GK	WAL	Joe Massaro

Current Coaching Staff

Gavin Chesterfield is the current manager of Barry Town United

Position	Name
Manager	Gavin Chesterfield
Assistant Manager	Damon Searle
Coach	Mike Cosslett
Coach	Damian Flynn
Therapist	Ben Clinton
Kit Manager	Matthew Case

Colours

For many decades, Barry wore green as their primary colour – thought to be due to early club officials securing the club's first kit from Plymouth Argyle. On being forced into exile in 1992, Barri adopted a red and white 'Dragons' kit, which would remain with them on their return to the Welsh pyramid. It was the following season that the club adopted its yellow change kit (deemed lucky for the success it brought in Welsh Cup competition) as the Barry home strip - and it is this colour that has become most synonymous with Barry Town football, with typical variations including uses of blue.

Two of the club's most memorable home strips are the fluorescent lime and navy ordered in error in 2006, and the experimental claret and blue kit worn in the early 1970s – both of which saw the club simultaneously plummet in footballing fortune. Nowadays, the club tends to wear yellow at home and green on the road.

Green and white Linnets strip, worn with longevity by various Barry sides.

Green and blue Linnets strip, colour co-ordinated with Jenner Park seating.

Red and white Dragons strip, worn on return to the Welsh pyramid.

Yellow Dragons strip, adopted from cup kit, associated with 90s success.

Fluorescent lime Dragons strip, worn in descent to lowest ever league status.

Claret and blue Linnets strip, worn in the club's worst ever season.

Stadium

Jenner Park occupies the space of land between Gladstone Road and Barry Road and has been the home of Barry football since 1912, when given as a gift by the Jenner family. Initially starting with two wooden stands, popular bank terracing was added in 1923, but years of battling with financial problems saw the ground deteriorate.

During the 1980s, however, the local council rebuilt Jenner Park, installing a synthetic running track, a new grandstand and floodlights.

To bring Jenner Park up to UEFA standards, a second stand was built in 1996, increasing the seating capacity to 2,500.

In addition, a new hospitality complex was constructed along with new dressing rooms, floodlights and clubhouse. Since then, the ground has international matches at various levels, including under-21 and women's ties.

Jenner Park had hosted floodlit football as early as the late-1940s, with Barry hosting three floodlit friendlies in the 1949/50 season – some years ahead of most other clubs.

Championships

Barry team with Welsh League Division Three trophy, 2014.

Southern League (Welsh)
1920–21

Welsh Premier
1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03

Welsh Football League
Division One
1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94
Division Two
1951–52, 1957–58, 2014-15
Division Three
2013-14

Barry & District League
1992–93

Championship seasons

Year	League	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Manager	Goalkeeper	Top Scorer
1920–21	Southern League	20	13	4	3	35	12	+23	30	Syd Beaumont	Bill Bowen	Bill Saunders
1982–83	Welsh League 1	34	26	3	5	103	35	+68	55	Alan Harrington	John Macey	Steve Williams
1983–84	Welsh League 1	30	21	5	4	85	24	+61	47	Les Dickerson	Matt Simpson	Steve Williams
1984–85	Welsh League 1	32	21	8	3	91	29	+62	71	Les Dickerson	Trevor Nott	Steve Williams
1985–86	Welsh League 1	32	23	9	0	84	26	+58	78	Richie Morgan	Trevor Nott	Martin Goldsmith
1986–87	Welsh League 1	32	26	5	1	81	20	+61	83	Richie Morgan	Chris Sander	Martin Goldsmith
1988–89	Welsh League 1	32	28	4	0	96	20	+76	88	Mel Donovan	Chris Sander	Paul Evans
1993–94	Welsh League 1	34	27	4	3	94	28	+66	85	Andy Beattie	Steve Morris	Dai Withers
1995–96	Welsh Premier League	40	30	7	3	92	23	+69	97	Paul Giles	Mark Ovendale	Paul Hunter
1996–97	Welsh Premier League	40	33	6	1	129	26	+103	105	Gary Barnett	Mark Ovendale	Tony Bird
1997–98	Welsh Premier League	38	33	5	0	134	31	+103	104	Gary Barnett	Mark Ovendale	Eifion Williams
1998–99	Welsh Premier League	32	23	7	2	82	23	+59	76	Gary Barnett	Dave Wells	Eifion Williams
2000–01	Welsh Premier League	34	24	5	5	84	30	+54	77	Peter Nicholas	Kendall, Tucker	Jamie Moralee
2001–02	Welsh Premier League	34	23	8	3	82	29	+53	77	Kenny Brown	Forde, Rayner	Jamie Moralee
2002–03	Welsh Premier League	34	26	5	3	84	26	+58	83	Kenny Brown	Abi Baruwa	Jamie Moralee
2013–14	Welsh League 3	36	29	3	4	116	29	+87	90	Gavin Chesterfield	Dan Bradley	Jordan Cotterill
2014–15	Welsh League 2	30	22	6	2	77	32	+45	72	Gavin Chesterfield	Dan Bradley	TJ Nagi

Championship play-offs

Season	Competition	Date	Country	Club	Score	Scorers	Attendance	Venue
1920–21	Southern League	22/09/21 19/10/21		Brighton & Hove Albion	1–1 1–2	Saunders Beaumont	2,000 Unknown	Millwall Cardiff

Trophies

Welsh Cup
1954–55, 1993–94, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03

Welsh League Cup
1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000

FAW Premier Cup
1998–99

FAW Trophy
1993–94

Welsh Football League Cup
1934–35, 1946–47, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1993/94

South Wales Senior Cup
1925–26, 1926–27, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1965–66, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1991–92

West Wales Senior Cup
1927–28

ASRS Cup
1913–14

Cup finals

Season	Competition	Date	Country	Club	Score	Scorers	Attendance	Venue
1913–14	ASRS Cup	30/04/14		Cadoxton Old Boys	2–1	Green (P), Farmer	Unknown	Barry
1926–27	South Wales Senior Cup	02/05/27		Ebbw Vale	4–0	Brittan (2), Cowie (2, 1P)	Unknown	Barry
1927–28	West Wales Senior Cup	Unknown		Swansea Town	3–0	Condon, Brown, B. Davies	Unknown	Barry
1929–30	Welsh League Cup	28/04/30		Llanelly	0–1	N/A	Unknown	Barry
1934–35	Welsh League Cup	Unknown		Gelli Colliery	2–0	Unknown	Unknown	Treorchy
1935–36	South Wales Senior Cup	09/05/36		Swansea Town	3–0	Whitlow (2), Carless	4,500	Barry
1937–38	South Wales Senior Cup	07/05/38		Lovells Athletic	3–0	Carless (2), W. Jones	3,000	Barry
1938–39	South Wales Senior Cup	03/05/39		Swansea Town	2–0	Carless, Green	4,000	Barry
1946–47	Welsh League Cup	05/10/46		Milford United	1–0	Clayton	Unknown	Haverfordwest
1952–53	South Wales Senior Cup	09/05/53		Cardiff City	3–0	Richards, Tapscott, Dyke	4,500	Barry
1953–54	South Wales Senior Cup	08/05/54		Tonyrefail	7–0	Dyke (2), Allen, Powell, Foxton, Richards, Bright	2,600	Barry
1954–55	Welsh Cup	15/05/55 19/05/55		Chester City	1–1 4–3 (R)	Niblett Niblett (2), Goodfellow, Dyke	6,766 8,450	Wrexham Cardiff
1958–59	South Wales Senior Cup	09/05/59		Gwynfi Welfare	3–2	Sheffield (2), Bowkett	Unknown	Ton Pentre
1959–60	South Wales Senior Cup	07/05/60 29/08/60		Ton Pentre	2–2 (A) 1–0 (H)	Sheffield, Loader Sheffield	Unknown Unknown	Ton Pentre Barry
1965–66	South Wales Senior Cup	23/08/66 07/09/66		Abergavenny	3–2 (A) 2–0 (H)	Clark (2), Watkins Curtin, Bright	Unknown Unknown	Abergavenny Barry
1975–76	South Wales Senior Cup	27/04/76 03/05/76		Ferndale Athletic	1–1 (H) 2–1 (A)	D. Batt Evans (2)	Unknown Unknown	Barry Ferndale
1976–77	South Wales Senior Cup	16/05/77 23/05/77		Merthyr Tydfil	3–3 (H) 1–2 (A)	Ayres, D. Batt, Smith Ayres	Unknown Unknown	Barry Merthyr
1977–78	South Wales Senior Cup	15/05/78 18/05/78		Cardiff City	2–0 (H) 2–0 (A)	D. Batt, Hancock D. Batt, Ayres	Unknown Unknown	Barry Cardiff
1978–79	Welsh League Cup	Unknown		Pontllanfraith	0–0 AET (5–4 pens)	N/A	Unknown	Ton Pentre
1982–83	Welsh Football League Cup	24/03/83		Merthyr Tydfil	2–1	Green, Griffiths	Unknown	Bridgend
1983–84	South Wales Senior Cup	30/04/84 05/05/84		Ton Pentre	7–1 (H) 2–1 (A)	Redwood (3P), Foley (2), McNeil, Griffiths Redwood (P), Smith	Unknown Unknown	Barry Ton Pentre
1986–87	Welsh League Cup	30/04/87		AFC Cardiff	2–0	Waddle, Giles	Unknown	Maesteg
1986–87	South Wales Senior Cup	18/05/87 21/05/87		Ton Pentre	2–0 (N) 2–1 (A)	Sullivan, Randall Dowd, Smith	Unknown Unknown	Cardiff Ton Pentre
1987–88	Welsh League Cup	07/04/88		Bridgend Town	0–2	N/A	Unknown	Ton Pentre
1987–88	South Wales Senior Cup	07/05/88 14/05/88		Cardiff City	3–0 (H) 2–1 (A)	Davies (2), Preece Davies, Pontin	Unknown Unknown	Barry Cardiff
1988–89	Welsh League Cup	09/05/89		Haverfordwest County	0–3	N/A	Unknown	Ebbw Vale
1991–92	South Wales Senior Cup	06/05/92		Maesteg Park	2–1	Ph. Evans, R. John	210	Bridgend
1993–94	FAW Trophy	07/05/94		Aberaman Athletic	2–1	Sanderson, Threlfall	Unknown	Porth
1993–94	Welsh Cup	15/05/94		Cardiff City	2–1	D'Auria, Hough	16,000	Cardiff
1993–94	Welsh League Cup	17/05/94		Treowen Stars	4–1	Wimbleton (2), Sanderson (2)	Unknown	Bridgend
1995–96	Welsh Cup	19/05/96		Llansantffraid	3–3 AET (2–4 pens)	Lloyd, Pike, Bird	3,500	Cardiff
1996–97	League of Wales Cup	10/05/97		Bangor City	2–2 AET (4–2 pens)	Ryan (2)	1,000	Aberystwyth
1996–97	Welsh Cup	18/05/97		Cwmbran Town	2–1	Griffith (2)	1,590	Cardiff
1997–98	League of Wales Cup	04/05/97		Bangor City	1–1 AET (5–4 pens)	Jones (P)	1,000	Bangor
1998–99	League of Wales Cup	03/05/99		Caernarfon Town	3–0	Jones (3)	Unknown	Aberystwyth
1998–99	FAW Premier Cup	23/05/99		Wrexham	2–1	Perry, Barrow	3,142	Wrexham
1999–00	Welsh League Cup	01/05/00		Bangor City	6–0	Jones, P. Evans, Perry (2), Ja. Jenkins	Unknown	Aberystwyth
2000–01	Welsh League Cup	07/05/01		Caersws	0–2	N/A	820	Aberystwyth
2000–01	Welsh Cup	25/05/01		TNS	2–0	Moralee, Lloyd	1,022	Wrexham
2001–02	Welsh Cup	05/05/02		Bangor City	4–1	Moralee (2), French, Flynn	2,560	Aberystwyth
2002–03	Welsh Cup	11/05/03		Cwmbran Town	2–2 AET (4–3 pens)	Ramasut (P), Phillips	852	Llanelli

Awards

BBC Wales Sport Team of the Year
1996

European competition

Barry Town have played in 24 competitive matches in European competitions; in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners Cup. The team has won three full ties, against opposition from Latvia, Hungary and Azerbaijan, in addition to single victories against FC Porto and Vardar Skopje. They scored 21 goals, and four shoot-out penalties.

Season	Competition	Round	Date	Country	Club	Score	Scorers	Attendance	City
1994/95	Cup Winners Cup	Q	11/08/94 25/08/94		Žalgiris Vilnius	0–1 0–6	N/A N/A	1,914 2,900	Cardiff Vilnius
1996/97	UEFA Cup	1Q	17/07/96 24/07/96		Dinaburg	0–0 2–1	N/A Pike, T. Evans	2,500 2,250	Barry Daugavpils
1996/97	UEFA Cup	2Q	06/08/96 20/08/96		Budapest Vasutas	1–3 3–1 (4–2 pens)	T. Evans Pike (P), O' Gorman, C. Evans	2,000 2,500	Budapest Barry
1996/97	UEFA Cup	1R	10/09/96 24/09/96		Aberdeen	1–3 3–3	Jones O' Gorman, Ryan (P), Bird	13,500 6,500	Aberdeen Barry
1997/98	Champions League	1Q	23/07/97 30/07/97		Dynamo Kyiv	0–2 0–4	N/A N/A	12,000 2,380	Kiev Barry
1998/99	Champions League	1Q	22/07/98 29/07/98		Dynamo Kyiv	0–8 1–2	N/A Williams	11,800 890	Kiev Barry
1999/00	Champions League	1Q	13/07/99 21/07/99		Valletta	0–0 2–3	N/A Sloan (2)	2,005 2,996	Barry Valletta
2000/01	UEFA Cup	Q	10/08/00 24/08/00		Boavista	0–2 0–3	N/A N/A	3,039 1,372	Oporto Barry
2001/02	Champions League	1Q	11/07/01 18/07/01		FK Shamkir	2–0 1–0	York, French Phillips	1,992 7,000	Barry Baku
2001/02	Champions League	2Q	25/07/00 01/08/00		FC Porto	0–8 3–1	N/A Phillips, Flynn, Lloyd (P)	55,000 2,377	Oporto Barry
2002/03	Champions League	1Q	17/07/02 24/07/02		Skonto Riga	0–5 0–1	N/A N/A	3,500 1,507	Riga Barry
2003/04	Champions League	1Q	16/07/03 23/07/03		Vardar Skopje	0–3 2–1	N/A Jarman, Moralee	5,000 1,400	Skopje Barry

FA Cup qualification

Barry Town competed regularly in the FA Cup, prior to 1993. The table below denotes the occasions on which the team progressed through the qualifying rounds to the first round. Barry's sole second round appearance came in 1929 against Brighton and Hove Albion, after a replay win over Dagenham at Upton Park, home of West Ham United.

Season	Date	Round	Country	Club	Score	Scorers	Attendance
1929–30	30/11/29 04/12/29	1		Dagenham	0–0 1–0	N/A Jones	Unknown 6,000
1929–30	14/12/29	2		Brighton & Hove Albion	1–4	Ward	Unknown
1934–35	24/11/35	1		Northampton Town	0–1	N/A	5,327
1951–52	24/11/52	1		Newport County	0–4	N/A	11,844
1961–62	04/11/62 07/11/62	1		Queen's Park Rangers	1–1 0–7	Sheffield N/A	7,000 11,328
1984–85	17/11/84	1		Reading	1–2	Love	3,850

Team records

Record wins

• 13–0 vs Milford United (H), Welsh League, 26 January 1985.
• 12–0 vs Cemaes Bay (H), Welsh Premier, 4 April 1998.
• 12–1 vs Bedminster (H), FA Cup, 10 October 1927.

Record defeats

• 0–11 vs Llanelly (A), Welsh League, 6 August 1961.
• 1–11 vs Newport (A), Southern League, 16 December 1932.
• 0–10 vs Bath (A), Southern League Cup, 29 August 1966.

High-scoring matches

• 10–5 vs Merthyr (A), Southern League, 19 February 1930.
• 6–6 vs Gillingham (H), Southern League, 15 March 1947.
• 6-6 vs Bristol Rovers (A), Southern League, Date unknown.

Other notable opponents

Top flight clubs (non-domestic) that have matches played against Barry Town, previously unlisted.

• Arsenal
• Åtvidabergs
• Brentford
• Bristol City
• Bolton Wanderers
• Coventry City

• Crusaders
• Crystal Palace
• Hibernians
• IFK Stockholm
• Ipswich Town
• Luton Town

• Manchester United
• Norwich City
• Sliema Wanderers
• Swindon Town
• West Ham United
• Wimbledon FC

Full internationals

Pos. Player GK Andy Dibble GK Len Evans GK Ron Howells GK Graham Vearncombe

Pos. Player DF Terry Boyle DF Don Dearson DF Steve Derrett DF Phil Dwyer DF Bob John DF Keith Pontin DF Dave Roberts DF Alf Sherwood DF Nigel Stevenson

Pos. Player MF Bryn Allen MF John Emanuel MF David Giles MF Robbie James MF Billy Jennings MF Chris Marustik MF Ivor Powell MF Gil Reece MF Ted Vizard

Pos. Player FW George Baker FW Alan Curtis FW Nick Deacy FW Leslie Jones FW Stan Richards FW Derek Showers FW Derek Tapscott FW Dai Ward Jr. FW Fred Warren

Pos. Player GK Abiodun Baruwa GK David Forde DF Atif Bashir DF Paul Ramsay MF Bengt Berndtsson MF Jackie Brown MF Stig Holmqvist MF Hannu Kankkonnen MF Rolf Rosqvist

Hall of Fame

The club's Hall of Fame was established by the Barry Town Supporters Committee in the 2011/12 season to celebrate the achievements of past players, managers and other influential figures. Further additions are set to be made each year.

Year	Name	Position	Significant achievements	Years of service	Other notable clubs
2012/13	Chris Mason	Defender	A POW in WW2, amassed 400+ appearances either side of war.	1937–1951
2012/13	Ashley Griffiths	Defender	22-year association, appearances in finals, Europe and FA Cup	1973–2005	Bristol Rovers
2012/13	Neil O' Halloran	Various	Player, boss and chairman, launched an era of success	1958–1996	Newport County, Cardiff City
2012/13	Charlie Dyke	Midfielder	Welsh Cup winner in 1955, associated with club forty years on.	1951–1964	Chelsea FC
2012/13	The Batt Bros	Various	John/"Percy" and Richard/"Dicky", the club's most famous siblings.	1972–1980	Merthyr Tydfil
2012/13	Bill Bowen	Goalkeeper	Goalkeeper, manager and secretary in inaugural era of success.	1919–1927
2012/13	Derek Tapscott	Midfielder	Barry-born Welsh international who found fame with Arsenal.	1949–1953	Arsenal FC, Cardiff City
2011/12	Bill Jones	Manager	Manager in the golden 1950s, played before and after war.	1934–1953	Notts County, Worcester City
2011/12	Mark Ovendale	Goalkeeper	Record-setting keeper, 1000+ league minutes without conceding.	1995–1998, 2003	AFC Bournemouth, Luton Town
2011/12	Eifion Williams	Forward	Record signing, dynamic first Champions League goalscorer.	1997, 1999	Torquay United, Hartlepool United
2011/12	Fred Whitlow	Forward	Three stints, with two-season spell of 13 hat-tricks and 100+ goals.	1922–23, 24–25, 35–37	Charlton Athletic, Exeter City
2011/12	Ernie Carless	Forward	Barry-born footballer and cricketer, played in four decades.	1929–1953	Cardiff City, Plymouth Argyle
2011/12	Dai Ward Snr.	Forward	Top marksman for eight seasons with over 300 goals.	1926–1935	Cardiff City, Newport County
2011/12	Johnny Gardner	Defender	500+ appearances, including in FA Cup first and second rounds.	1921–1932
2011/12	Clive Ayres	Forward	Goalscorer. 46 goals in one season and three straight hat-tricks.	1972–1978	Cheltenham Town
2011/12	Basil Bright	Manager	One-man dynasty as player/coach, signed many key players.	1951, 1952–67, 1971–78	Stoke City, Tottenham Hotspur
2011/12	Stan Richards	Forward	130 goals in 174 outings, set scoring records everywhere.	1952–1955	Cardiff City, Swansea City
2011/12	Gwilym Cain	Forward	Dubbed 'Cannonball' for penalty prowess, scored over 150 goals.	1947–1956, 1960	Cardiff City, Haverfordwest County
2011/12	Stanley Cowie	Defender	Key part of Barry's only Southern League title-winning side.	1920–1927	Blackpool FC, Exeter City
2012/13	Steve Williams	Forward	Trophy-winning goalscorer, netting 166 times in 230 appearances.	1982–85, 89–90, 94–95	Bristol Rovers, Bideford AFC
2012/13	Gary Barnett	Manager	Player-manager for European wins, brought passing philosophy	1996–99	Coventry City, Fulham
2012/13	Gary Lloyd	Defender	Free-kick specialist, with European appearances and Wales call-up	1994–2003	Llanelli AFC , Carmarthen Town
2012/13	Ken Gully	Forward	Prolific Barry goalscorer in Welsh and English leagues alike.	1960–65	Kettering Town
2012/13	Mike Cosslett	Defender	Defender and coach, 38-year association with the club.	1974–	Aberystwyth Town , Weymouth F.C.
2012/13	Bobby Smith	Midfielder	True clubman, over 500+ outings across a 20-year stint.	1975–94
2013/14	Billy Jennings	Manager	First Barrian to be capped for Wales, managed Barry twice.	1930–49	Bolton Wanderers, Cardiff City
2013/14	Derek Redwood	Defender	All-time leading penalty taker, won much silverware in the 1980s.	1980s

Other information

• The book The Linnets – An Illustrated, Narrative History of Barry Town AFC, 1888–1993 by Jeff McInery was published in 1994, and is available locally.
• A number of fanzines devoted to the club have been published over the years, including The Unofficial Programme, 38 Hours From Vilnius, and Yma O Hyd.
• Journalist and Manic Street Preachers biographer Simon Price, Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns and Plaid Cymru councillor Dr. Ian Johnson are all known to be Barry Town United supporters, as is the Barry-born weather forecaster Derek Brockway and PGA professional Simon Cox.

External links

• Barry Town United Website
• Barry Town United Facebook
• Barry Town United Twitter

References

• McInery, Jeff (1993). The Linnets – An Illustrated, Narrative History of Barry Town AFC, 1888–1993. Nomad Books. ISBN 9780952284604.
• Grandin, Terry (1998). Red Dragons in Europe, 1961–1998 – A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-01-5.