Bangor F.C.

Early history

The first Bangor FC was founded, according to local legend, in 1914 in a rowing boat on Bangor Bay. When The Great War was declared in the August of that year, football was abandoned in Bangor as many young men rushed to join up and the then leading junior teams in the town, Bangor Rangers and Clifton Amateurs, folded. Soon, however, two enthusiasts, Bob Lindsay and Jimmy Savage, found they could not face the prospect of a winter without football and so the idea of a "Bangor FC" was born as they discussed the situation when out for a row in the bay. Back on dry land, a committee was formed and the new Bangor FC played at the Recreation Ground off the Brunswick Road, as a successful member of the Irish Football Alliance. However, in August 1918, Bangor FC wound up its affairs as there was a feeling amongst some members that it was wrong to be playing sport while young men were being slaughtered in the carnage of Flanders. Others were convinced that life should continue as normally as possible and within a matter of days a "new" Bangor FC was born, taking over the fixtures and many of the players of the "old" Bangor FC. Encouraged by early success, Bangor joined the then Intermediate league where they played until gaining admission into the Irish League in 1927. Their first senior match was a local derby against Ards at Castlereagh Park on 20 August 1927. The late twenties and thirties were times of economic depression, money was scarce, gates…

Senior honours

Irish Cup: 1 1992–93 Irish League Cup: 1 1992–93 County Antrim Shield: 3 1969–70, 1974–75, 1988–89 NIFL Championship: 1 2024–25 Charity Shield: 1 1993 (shared) City Cup: 2 1970–71, 1975–76 Ulster Cup: 2 1991–92, 1994–95 Mid-Ulster Cup: 1 1995–96

Intermediate honours

NIFL Premier Intermediate League: 1 2022–23 Irish League B Division Section 2: 2 1993–94†, 1994–95† Irish Intermediate League: 3 1940–41†, 1942–43†, 1943–44† Irish Intermediate Cup: 4 1941–42†, 1943–44†, 1944–45†, 2013–14 IFA Intermediate League Cup: 1 2004–05 George Wilson Cup: 3 1992–93†, 1994–95†, 1997–98† Steel & Sons Cup: 7 1923–24, 1940–41†, 1945–46†, 1994–95†, 2004–05, 2011–12, 2022–23 McElroy Cup: 1 1946–47† Ballymena & Provincial Football League: 1 2018–19 O'Gorman Cup: 1 2017–18 McReynolds Cup: 1 2018–19 † Won by Bangor Reserves

Junior honours

Beattie Cup: 1 1907–08† † Won by Bangor Reserves