WCupF1896

Bangor City
Welsh Cup Finals 1889 onwards

The Welsh Cup Final
Season 1895-96
Bangor 3 v 1 Wrexham
played at the Council Field, Llandudno on 6 April 1896

Bangor 3

1 Wrexham

Tom Thomas
Charlie Jones
Joe Roberts

David Pugh

City had needed a replay to get the better of Newtown in the semi final, both games played at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham with the first match drawing a crowd estimated as much as 9000 by some reporters.

The eye catching name in the Bangor starting line up was goalkeeper William Arridge whose better known brother Smart was with Everton..
Bangor fans packed Llandudno Swifts ground, the Council Field, as part of a record crowd of 7000 but it was David Pugh who forced a good save out of William Arridge
City took the lead through Tom Thomas as Wrexham goalkeeper Ball dropped Walter Lewis' cross and the Welsh International slid home ten minutes after the kick off. Wrexham responded but Arridge saved well from another Welsh cap William Harrison.
The blues pressed further and had two goals in quick succession disallowed for reasons not obvious at the time or since!
It got better for Bangor when Charlie Jones was on hand after Ball had failed to hold a dipping volley from W H Jones for City.
Wrexham hit back just before half time through former Wrexham Grovesnor outside right David Pugh after Buckland had failed to clear and immediately after the restart Arridge was busy keeping The Robins at bay with both Harrison and Williams firing on target.
The second half sawe Wrexham enjoy the backing of a strong wind which immediately tipped the balance of play in their favour.
But the Citizens were not to be denied and a surging run by Charlie Jones found Joe "Johny Bach" Roberts who hit a conclusive third - via a slight deflection off Samuels - to send the Bangor fans home happy. Goalkeeper Arridge was called into the action three times in the closing minutes as Wrexham threatened but at the final whistle Bangor's Dick Owen was in full charge at goal but his progress was halted.
Mr Paterson presented the cup to Bangor captain William Arridge who was duly proud of his young team and their tremendous success.
Wrexham lodged a protest that Bangor fans had swarmed onto the pitch, but whilst true enough this was refused the FAW.
This was a hugely successful season for Bangor who also won the North Wales Coast League and Challenge Cup.
When the Welsh Cup winners returned by train to Bangor they were carried shoulder high along the streets to a celebratory dinner at the Wicklow Temperance Hotel!

Bangor City:

William Arridge, Robin (?) Roberts, D R Williams, W H Jones, Thomas Buckland C, Sam Roberts, Walter Lewis, Richard Owen,
Charlie Jones, Joe Roberts, Tom Thomas C

Wrexham
H Ball, E Samuels, A E Ellis, F Stokes, E Robinson, Joseph P Rogers, David H Pugh C, Trevor Owen, J Hughes,
William C Harrison C, A Williams

Referee: Mr Tom Gough (Oswestry)

Attendance: 7000

C Welsh International (may not have been capped at the date shown)

Bangor City	Wrexham
William George Arridge Goalkeeper William was the brother of Smart Arridge, was born in Southwick, Durham and moved to Bangor as child. William was also a keen Bangor cricketer and active member of the football club. William was selected to keep goal in a Welsh International trial match on 17th February 1896 but was not selected for the International side.	W Ball
Robin (?) Roberts	E Samuels
D H Williams	A E Ellis
W H Jones	F Stokes
Thomas Buckland Tom was the son of a ships agent and a strong centreback. He was a key defender in the Bangor side which won the 1896 Welsh Cup but was only capped the once by Wales against England in 1899. Former Bangor favourite Smart Arridge also played.whilst England included Middlesbrough & Derby County legend Steve Bloomer. Tom played for Bangor from 1891 to 1904.	E Robinson
Sam Roberts	Joseph P Rogers Brymbo born Joe Rogers was quick enough to have won sprint trophies in local competitions. he joined Wrexham from Brymbo Institute in 1895 and was capped three times by Wales whilst with The Robins. Upon his retirement Joe manned the turnstyles at The Racecourse whilst working as a coalminer, first in Gatewen and then Plas Power.
Walter Lewis Walter was selected to play in a Welsh International trial match on 17th February 1896 but was not selected for the International side.	David Henry Pugh Wrexham born outside right David Pugh was described as "an orthodox winger with good dribbling qualities". He began his career with Wrexham Grosvenor, spent two years at The Racecourse from 1895-97 before moving to Stoke and finally Lincoln City. David was capped seven times by Wales.
Richard "Dick" Owen	Trevor Owen Llangollen born Trevor Owen started his football career with his home town side before joining Wrexham in 1892. After three years he joined Druids and three years further still, in 1898, he moved to Crewe Alexandra. He finished his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Trevor played twice for Wales, in 1899, againts Scotland and England.
Charlie Jones	J Hughes
John "Joe" Roberts Locally based and better known as John Bach (Little John), he was selected to play in a Welsh International trial match in 17th February 1896 but was not selected for the International side.	William Clarke Harrison Irish born William was wrongly assumed to have been born in Porthmadog and selected to represent Wales five times between 1899-1901. Having moved to Wales from Ireland as a child he began his career with Wrexham Gymnasium but spent sixteen years at The Racecourse after joining Wrexham FC in 1893. After retirement William stayed on as a club director and later club chairman who once fell off the roof of the stand when trying to carry out a repair!
Tom Thomas Thomas was born in Bangor and attended Friars School. Better known as "Tom Tom" the lightly built inside forward scored for Bangor in the 1896 Welsh Cup Final win over Wrexham before a crowd of 7000 at the Council Field, Llandudno. He also scored in his second and final international, the 5-2 defeat in Scotland. Tom played for Bangor for twelve years from 1894 to 1906.	A Williams

The Road to The Final 1895-96
Bangor					Wrexham
First Round
Llandudno Swifts	2	v	3	Bangor (AET)	bye
Hugh Williams 2
Second Round
bye					bye

Third Round
Bangor	1	v	1	Westminster Rvs	bye

Westminster Rvs	1	v	3	Bangor City
				Riachard Owen Tom Thomas Walter Lewis
Fourth Round
Bangor	1	v	1	Wellington St G	Wrexham	4	v	0	Chirk
Joe Roberts				Rigby
Bangor	4	v	0	Wellington St G

Semi Final
Newtown	1	v	1	Bangor	Wrexham	1	v	0	Aberystwyth
Charlie Bannister				Joe Roberts	Trevor Owen
Newtown	0	v	3	Bangor
				Tom Thomas 2 Charlie Jones
both played at The Racecourse					game played at Welshpool