RUNNING BLIND
Colwyn Bay F.C. History
Founded in 1881, Colwyn Bay are a semi-professional Welsh club currently playing in the JD Cymru North, which is in the second tier of the Welsh football pyramid. The club play their home games at Llanelian Road and possess below average training facilities and youth facilities. The club has average academy coaching and a basic youth recruitment network. The club is affectionately known as The Seagulls.
Colwyn Bay spent most of the 20th century bouncing around various levels of Welsh and English competition. In 1984, after winning the Welsh League (North) for the third time in a row, Colwyn Bay left the Welsh competition pyramid for the seventh level of the English pyramid. The Bay spent nearly two decades avoiding relegation. Colwyn Bay's most recent and highest level of success may be remembered as their climb into the 2010s, climbing two tiers in five seasons in England.
Most would believe a club like Colwyn Bay's would be elated to go on a run like they did in the 2010s, but it brought on more challenges than rewards for the Bay. Jumping two tiers in the English system in two seasons, Colwyn Bay's rapid development on the field was not represented in their facilities. They were forced to either make upgrades to their grounds or be relegated. In 2019, facing financial issues stemming from this and other issues playing in the English pyramid system and left with no other option besides fold the 120+ year old club, the club's shareholders made the decision to withdraw and return to the Welsh system.
Colwyn Bay joined the 2nd level of the Welsh Pyramid, the JD Cymru North, as an inaugural member in 2019-2020. Colwyn Bay's most recent effort resulted in being relegated back from the JD Premier, the highest level of the Welsh pyramid, only a season after securing the promotion in 2021-2022.
Grounds
Colwyn Bay currently plays their matches at Llanelian Road. Llanelian Road was constructed in 1985. Colwyn Bay was a nomadic club prior to 1985. In their early history, The Seagulls played in various locations nearby current-day Llanelian Road, playing where they could until being forced to move due to infrastructure development and construction forcing them out.
A shelter was erected at the town end of the ground in 1985, locally known as Shed End. Two further covered stands and floodlights were erected by the end of 1990. After the club's promotion in 2011, the club were forced to make improvements to Llanelian Road or face relegation, erecting a new covered stand and replacing lighting. The covered stands previously built in 1990 were replaced before the 2023-2024 season. Llanelian Road currently holds up to 1,800 spectators (500 seated).
