Sources are mixed on where the two international fixtures undertaken by Ireland in Bangor were actually played. Most modern sources appear to have settled on Penrhyn Park for both games. However, it appears that the 1904 fixture was actually played at Farrar Road Cricket Ground, later home of Bangor City FC.
Today the first international football match between Wales and Ireland will take place at the Penrhyn Park, Bangor, kindly lent by the Right Hon. Lord Penrhyn. The B.F.C. (Bangor Football Club) committee are to be congratulated for the successful issue of their endeavour in securing the international game to be played for the first time in this division, and it is to be hoped it will not be the last. The Park Gate (Ty Newydd) will be opened at 2.30 p.m. (not two as previously advertised).
(North Wales Chronicle: February 27, 1892)
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| Penrhyn Castle overlooks Penrhyn Park in Bangor |
The Cricket Ground, Farrar Road
The cricket field was the scene of the encounter, which afforded heavy going, and this probably accounted for the slowness of the game. There were about 4,000 spectators. (The Welsh Coast Pioneer, 25th March 1904)
The cricket field was the scene of the encounter, which afforded heavy going, and this probably accounted for the slowness of the game. There were about 4,000 spectators. (The Welsh Coast Pioneer, 25th March 1904)
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Half-an-hour before the kick-off the grand stand was packed and the popular side was thickly lined, whilst the "free list" in Farrar road and at the back of the houses in the vicinity was unusually large.
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The number of persons who passed the turn-stiles was 4,642 and the total receipts amounted to £235 18s. The amount taken at the gate was only half the "gate" at Wrexham when England were the visitors.
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Some memorable matches were played at Farrar Road against some of the biggest sides in Europe. In September 1962 Bangor City were drawn against the Italian giants AC Napoli in the European Cup Winners' Cup. Bangor, at the time being a team of part-timers and playing in the then Cheshire League, beat the Italian club 2-0 in a memorable match at Farrar Road, in doing so becoming the first club in Wales to win in a European competition. The second leg in Italy saw Napoli win 3-1. With scores tied after two legs (and no away goal ruling at the time), a replay was played at Highbury, London, in which Napoli won narrowly 2-1 and progressed to the next round. Another European giant, Spanish side Atletico Madrid, then played at Farrar Road in November 1985, also in the European Cup Winners' Cup, and defeated Bangor 2-0 in front of over 5,000 fans. The second leg in Madrid was also won by Atleti 1-0.
In the last full season ever played at Farrar Road, Bangor City managed to win the Welsh Premier League on the final day of the season in a memorable fixture, defeating the full time outfit, The New Saints 1-0 courtesy of a Craig Garside goal in the 68th minute. That season Bangor set a league record of 14 consecutive victories at the beginning of the season. This was Bangor's first Welsh Premier League title in 16 years. The final match at Farrar Road was played on 27th December 2011 in which Bangor defeated Prestatyn 5-3 in a Welsh Premier Lague fixture. Over 2,500 fans were in attendance.
The stadium was then demolished in 2012 and the site is now occupied by ASDA supermaket. The club moved to the newly built Nantporth Stadium on the Menai banks in January 2012, the site of which had previously been used by Bangor University sports clubs. (Farrar Road Stadium)
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| Farrar Road Stadium c.1950 |
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