Bala Town F.C.
GroundMaes Tegid,
Bala
Capacity3,000 (504 seated)
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Leftarm 1FFFFFF
Body 1FFFFFF
Rightarm 1FFFFFF
Shorts 1000000
Socks 1000000
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Leftarm 2555555
Body 2555555
Rightarm 2555555
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ClubnameBala Town
FullnameBala Town Football Club
Founded1880 (age 146)
ChairmanArwel Roberts
ManagerSteve Fisher
Websitewww.balatownfc.net

Bala Town Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Pêl-droed y Bala, lit. 'Bala football club') is a Welsh professional football club from Bala, Gwynedd, who play in the .[1] They play their home games at Maes Tegid.[2]

History

For a full history see; List of Bala Town FC seasons

Although the current Bala Town was formed in 1880, there is record of a football club competing in the 1877–78 Welsh Cup, losing to Corwen after two replays.[3] After Bala North End, Bala South End and Bala Thursdays merged, Bala Town's first available league status record is playing in the Welsh National League (North) Division 2 East in the 1921–22 season. Bala Town moved to their current home, Maes Tegid, in the early 1950s and joined the Wrexham Alliance in 1950,[4] however Bala Town had to wait for more than a century until they were promoted to the second tier of Welsh football, into the Cymru Alliance at the end of the 2003–04 season.[5] After only four seasons in the Cymru Alliance, Bala Town sealed promotion to the Cymru Premier.[6]

Bala Town secured European football for the first time in their history after a John Irving goal in the 89th minute was enough to see off Port Talbot Town 2–1 to ensure the Lakesiders a European place. Bala Town were drawn against Estonian outfit Levadia Tallinn in the Europa League first qualifying round but after winning the home leg 1–0, they lost 3–1 in the reverse fixture in Tallinn and were eliminated. In the 2014–15 season, the Lakesiders finished second, their highest ever league position, thus qualifying for the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League. Bala Town missed out the opportunity of playing Turkish giants Trabzonspor in the 2015–16 Europa League after losing on aggregate to FC Differdange 03 after falling victim to an injury time Differdange goal, however Bala maintained a proud record of a 100% win percentage at "home", playing at Rhyl's Belle Vue stadium due to UEFA stadium requirements on both occasions, in Europe.

After finishing second in the 2015–16 Cymru Premier they followed this success up by winning their first Welsh Cup, beating The New Saints 2–1 in the final ending their 8 trophy winning streak.

In the 2021–22 season Bala Town secured a runners-up finish for the third time in their history behind champions The New Saints. The 2023–24 season then saw Bala secure a third-place finish.

In June 2025 it was announced that Colin Caton had stepped down as manager after 22 years at the club. Before resigning he was the longest serving manager in the Cymru Premier.[7]

Stadium

Main article: Maes Tegid

Bala Town have played at Maes Tegid in Bala since the 1950s. For European matches they use Rhyl's Belle Vue stadium due to UEFA stadium regulations. They lost a 2021–22 Europa Conference League qualifying match at Park Hall to Sligo Rovers on 8 July 2021.[8]

European record

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
2013–14UEFA Europa League1QLevadia Tallinn1–01–32–3
2015–16UEFA Europa League1QDifferdange2–11–33–4
2016–17UEFA Europa League1QAIK0–20–20–4
2017–18UEFA Europa League1QVaduz1–20–31–5
2018–19UEFA Europa LeaguePRTre Fiori1–00–31–3
2020–21UEFA Europa League1QValletta1–0
2QStandard Liège0–2
2021–22UEFA Europa Conference League1QLarne0–10–10–2
2022–23UEFA Europa Conference League1QSligo Rovers1–21–02–2
2024–25UEFA Conference League1QPaide Linnameeskond1–21–12–3
Notes
  • PR: Preliminary round
  • 1Q: First qualifying round
  • 2Q: Second qualifying round

Current squad

[9]

Notable former players

For all players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Bala Town F.C. players.

Honours

Managerial history

  • Colin Caton (2003–June 2025)[10] – 880 matches
  • Steve Fisher (June 2025[11]–)

References

  1. ^ "Welsh Premier profile". Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Maes Tegid – The home of Bala Town". Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Welsh Football Data Archive:Welsh Cup 1877–78". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Welsh Data Archive:Wrexham Area 1950–51". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Welsh Football Data Archive: Wrexham Area 2003–04". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Welsh Football data Archive: Cymru Alliance 2008–09". Welsh Football data Archive. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2jd83gm5go
  8. ^ Pritchard, Tom (2021-06-15). "TNS, Bala and Newtown discover Europa Conference League opponents". Y Clwb Pêl-droed – Your home for Welsh football. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  9. ^ "Og-title-uefaeuropaconferenceleague-team-squad". Bala Town F.C. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Colin Caton departs Bala Town after historic 22-year tenure". Football Association of Wales. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  11. ^ "New Chapter at Maes Tegid begins!". Bala Town FC. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.