Bangor United launch and stadium plans will help city back to the top

Chairman Nick Pritchard and the stadium board invested in the refurbishment of Nantporth over the summer, transforming the site in just weeks. 

Now they have unveiled their new club, Bangor United, which will operate as a community club in Bangor. United has taken over Penrhosgarnedd and it's current U18s will take to the field for the first time as Bangor United for the 2025/26 season. 

"Our goal is to get as many kids playing on the stadium pitch as possible," said Nick. "That will provide a pathway to our first teams."

Penrhosgarnedd, who will become Bangor United from next season. (Image: Bangor United) Bangor United will operate separately to the fan-owned Bangor 1876, which was formed in the wake of Bangor City's controversial demise.

But there are hopes that one day, the stadium could be the catalyst to bring Bangor's major teams under one single club structure - and take the city all the way back to the top.

"At the moment 1876 is a fan-owned club," said Lee Dixon, Bangor City Stadium Director. "They've got a great committee there who've done an amazing job getting the football club from the lowest tier to where they are today.

"We've obviously got a partnership with them where they use the stadium and we’re supporting them – the stadium is one of the main sponsors supporting 1876 – and our ambition is to try and align with them and create hopefully a one-club structure.

"So those discussions are currently ongoing with them to see how that could potentially work."

For now, the clubs remain separate. In addition to working with 1876 however, Nick and the board are progressing plans to invest in creating a community football hub capable of hosting games from local youth level up to top-tier Welsh Premier League games European and international games.

Those plans will make the Bangor City Stadium an important asset for the community away from football. It has already opened up for wedding receptions, family occasions and business conferences and the board is investing around £1 million to make the stadium net-zero, with solar panels on the stadium roof and large storage batteries installed.

The interior and exterior of the Bangor City Stadium was transformed within weeks - now it is aiming to be net zero and to increase the capacity and facilities to create a community hub. (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest)

"At the moment the teams we have based here, across the ladies, juniors Perhosgarnedd, we have about 400 players using this facility as their main training base," said Lee.

"Bangor 1876 have plans to establish an academy which would increase that further so we are investing in the sporting facilities.

"We have also been hosting Uefa games this summer and have been chosen as a main hosting ground for the U19s European Championships. We're very proud of that.

"But we want to increase the tier rating of this ground so we have plans to extend and create three new stands - behind the goals and on the Menai side. 

"We also have plans to extend the main stand to create a community facility there. All these improvements will increase out licensing and enable us to host higher level games.

"Ultimately we want Bangor City Stadium to be the best in the region to give not just 1876 and Bangor United but all the teams that play here and the people of Bangor something to be proud of. 

There are plans to add new stands and upgrade the facilities to host more international games. (Image: Alec Doyle, Newsquest) "This facility is about the community. Obviously at a certain level winning becomes more important and if we could create one player in 10 years like Nathan Broadhead, who came out of the old Bangor City youth programme, that would be huge.

"But if we can create a place where everyone feels welcome, where winning is not the only thing and people can grow up to have a love of the game and a love of the teams that play here, then that is success to us and that will carry Bangor as a city all the way back to the top."