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Bala’s early history is not well documented but first
memories are of a team in the early 1880’s playing games on the Lake foreshore.
After Bala formed 2 teams, Bala North End and Bala South End who competed until
1897 when a team called Bala Thursdays was formed and played on Castle Park (the
present cricket field). The Bala Press Team was established then in the 1900’s
and became one of the best amateur sides in North Wales winning many trophies
including the Dolgellau Cup and Cambrian Coast League (no dates are available).
The local Bragdy Cup was first played for by local teams in the early 1930’s and
this competition is still alive and flourishing today.
The first available League status record is of Bala playing
in the Welsh National League North Division 2 East in 1921/22 Season – no
further league records are to hand. Bala were still playing at Castle Park
where one of the most epic games in the Club’s history was played in 1946
against Shrewsbury Town of the English Midland League in the 4th
round of the Welsh Senior Cup. Bala held their illustrious opponents to a 1-1
draw.
In the early 50’s Bala then moved to the adjacent Maes Tegid
where they have maintained since and played in the Welsh National League Wrexham
Area from 1950-54. They rejoined the Cambrian Coast League in 1954 and were
League Runners-up in 1957/58. They had a treble winning season in 1958/59
winning League, Cup and Mid Wales Cup. They were again runners up in 1960/61
before being Champions again in 1962/63.
 The Club then re-entered the Welsh National League Wrexham
Area in 1963/64 and have been ever present in the League since then. Bala were
Division 2 Champions in 1967/68 and were promoted to Division 1 for the 1968/69
season. They remained in the top division for 20 years until relegated in
1987/88 season. By now Division 1 had been re-named the Premier Division
therefore Bala were again in Division 1 after relegation. They won the Division
1 Championship in 1989/90 but after promotion to the Premier League were
relegated back after 1990/91 and further dropped to Division 2 in 1992/93 when
the Reserves Team folded due to lack of support.
They were promoted to Division 1 for 1995/96 Season and won
the Division 1 Championship in 1997/98 to be promoted to the Premier Division
where they remained until Premier Division Champions in 2003/04, and promoted to
the Cymru Alliance League for 2004/05 Season.
Bala won the NEWFA Challenge Cup in 2004 with an extra time
victory over Buckley Town at Cefn Druids.
In their first season in the Cymru Alliance 2004/05 the club
finished in a very creditable 4th place, reached the Quarter Final of
the Welsh Senior Cup, were losing finalists against Buckley Town in the NEWFA
Challenge Cup Final held at the Racecourse, Wrexham, and won the Cymru Alliance
League Cup. The Youth Team also reached the Semi-Final of the Welsh Youth Cup. A
momentous year for the Maes Tegid club under the Managerial guidance of Colin
Caton.
The club finished in 7th position in the Cymru
Alliance 2005/6 and lost on penalties in the Final of the League Cup. The
Reserves however had a momentous double winning season as Champions of Div 2 WNL
Wrexham area and also winning the League Cup. The club finished as runners up in
2006/7 & 2007/8 and won the League Cup and NEWFA Challenge Cups also.
Floodlights were installed for
the 2006/7 season and further spectator stand extensions have also being carried
out to give the club 300+ seats with room for more. The pitch now has hard
standing all round and two turn-styles have been erected by the club house.
The Management team of Colin Caton and Steve Crompton remain in place and
the club has high hopes of further success in the years to come having knocked
on the door of the Welsh Premier League for the past few seasons.
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