Denbigh Town F.C.

Club history

Early years

The club was founded in 1876 when a group of soldiers formed the side at 'The Parks' in the Town. The club played under a series of names including 'Town', Caledfryn Rangers, 'Juniors' and 'United'. In 1924 won both the Welsh Amateur Cup and the North Wales Coast Amateur Cup. During the 1970s, under manager John Trevor Roberts, the club won the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Division One Championship four times and the League Cup five times, as well as the 1970 North Wales Coast Amateur Cup and the 1972 North Wales Coast Amateur Cup.

Clwyd League

In the early 1980s Denbigh Town left the Wrexham Area League and joined the Clwyd Football League. The club was promoted to the Premier Division in 1992, under managers Bill Dawson and Roy Cook-Hannah. During the same season the club secured a 1–0 North Wales Challenge Cup victory over Caernarfon Town, then a semi-professional side sitting fourth in the Northern Premier League.

For the 1994–95 season the club won promotion to the Fitlock Welsh Alliance League, finishing fourth in 1995. In the 1995–96 season Denbigh Town won the League Championship and Cookson Cup double.

Cymru Alliance

In the 1996–97 season the club played in the Cymru Alliance. They were relegated in 2001–02 but regained promotion in 2006–07.

Welsh Alliance

Between 2002 and 2007 Denbigh Town played in the Welsh Alliance, reaching the semi-final of the 2002–03 Barritt Cup and winning the Alves Cup the same year. On 8 December 2003 manager Roy Cook-Hannah resigned; he was replaced by caretaker coaches Clwyd Williams and Nick Hailes on 11 December 2003. Denbigh finished the 2003–04 season in 12th place with 36 points from 30 matches.

Tim Dyer was appointed manager on 6 May 2004, and in 2005–06 guided the club to the Barritt Cup and Cookson Cup double. Denbigh Town finished the season as runners up in the Welsh Alliance League and winners of the Welsh Alliance Fair Play League, and reached the final of the North Wales Coast FA Challenge Cup.

Return to Cymru Alliance

Denbigh Town were again promoted into the Cymru Alliance on 9 April 2007, when Llanrwst United failed to beat Holywell Town at Halkyn Road.

Denbigh Town also won the 2007 Cookson Cup at Farrar Road to complete a 2006–07 League and Cup double, making Tim Dyer an unusual winner of both League and Cup as a manager and as a player.

In the 2015–16 final the team reached the final of the Welsh League Cup, their first appearance in a major final under manager Gareth (Perry) Thomas. The match was played at Maesdu Park, Llandudno where Denbigh went down to defending Welsh Premier League champions and Welsh League Cup holders The New Saints 2–0. On their way to the final they beat 3 top tier opposition.

In season 2017-18 the Club achieved their highest ever league position by being runners up in the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance under the management of Eddie Maurice-Jones. However at the end of that season Maurice-Jones left the club to take over as manager of close rivals Rhyl FC. Many of the players followed Maurice-Jones to Rhyl FC.

The Club appointed Matthew Jones & Dewi Llion Jones as Joint Managers for season 2018–19. They had to rebuild the squad as all of the previous seasons players left for pastures new. Despite a decent first half of the season the second half of the season saw them drop down the league and on the last day of the season they were relegated to the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance League for season 2019–20.

Dewi Llion Jones was appointed Manager during the close season and Owain Roberts joined him as Assistant Manager.

Back to the Welsh Alliance

At the end of the 2018–19 Cymru Alliance season, the team were relegated back to the Welsh Alliance League for the 2019–20 season. During the 2019–20 season Denbigh reached the Cookson Cup Final but the showpiece was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Denbigh wouldn't play another game following their semi-final win over Nantlle Vale in March 2020 until August 2021 – in a Nathaniel MG Cup loss to Llandudno.

Double winners

During the 2021–22 Ardal North-West campaign, Denbigh Town finished third in the table, missing out on a play-off spot by a point to Porthmadog. The 2022–23 campaign saw them recruit several new players as Denbigh sought promotion to the JD Cymru North, the second tier in Wales revamped from 2019 onwards. The club battled both Bangor 1876 and Rhyl, pipping both to the title on the final day of the season with a 2–0 win over Rhostyllen. [[File:Denbightownleaguewin2023.jpg|thumb|Denbigh Town lift the Lock Stock Ardal North West]]

In May 2023, a week after winning the title, Denbigh won the Ardal Northern League Cup beating Bow Street 6–1 in Caersws. The club had also reached their first national cup final in 99 years that season, the FAW Amateur Trophy, losing 2–1 to Trethomas Bluebirds in Newtown.

Cymru North

In Denbigh's first season back in the second tier, the club finished 6th in the Cymru North.

In the summer of 2024 work began on major renovations to Central Park with the demolition of the club's former changing rooms and kitchen, and the construction of a brand new multi-million-pound facility at the ground. [[File:24-01-2026 Denbigh Town v Newtown AFC -2.jpg|thumb|Central Park, Denbigh Town Football Club]]

The 2024/25 season saw a dip in league performance with a 9th placed finish, but the club had their best ever Welsh Cup campaign by reaching the Quarter-Final of the competition. They played Cymru South side Llanelli Town] at Central Park, losing 1-0 in the final minute of stoppage time.

The beginning of the 2025/26 season saw the team play their first three home games of the season at different venues. Their first game was played at Bala Town's Maes Tegid before two more were staged at Colwyn Bay's Llanelian Road. The club returned to Central Park on September 5th 2025 in a 1-1 draw with Buckley Town.

Current squad

:As of 25 January 2026 on loan from Colwyn Bay

Reserves

:With first-team squad appearances

Club staff

First team

• Manager: Dewi Llion
• Coach: Eddie Maurice-Jones
• Coach: Simon Roberts
• Coach: Dan Sleet
• Sports Therapist: Tesni Roberts

Reserves

• Manager: Liam Nash
• Assistant: Sion Jones
• Coach: Harry Lockley

Ladies

• Manager: Aled Davies
• Assistant Manager: Carla Rizzi

Backroom staff

• President: Clwyd Williams
• Chairman: Shon Powell
• Vice-chairman: Richard Blake
• Treasurer: Iwan Jones
• Secretary: Neall Condon
• Assistant Secretary: Stephen Whitfield
• Match-Day Secretary: Gareth Luke Jones
• Media Officer: Ollie Beech

Honours

• FAW Amateur Trophy
  • Winners: 1923–24
  • Finalists: 2022–23
• North Wales Coast Amateur Cup
  • Winners: 1924, 1970, 1972
• Welsh National League Cup
  • Finalists: 1933–34
• Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Division One
  • Champions: 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76
• Clwyd Football League Division One
  • 3rd-place finish: 1991–92 (Promoted)
• Clwyd Football League Premier
  • Runners-Up (Promoted): 1993–94
• Welsh Alliance League
  • Champions: 1995–96, 2006–07, 2013–14 (Undefeated)
• Ardal North-West
  • Champions: 2022–23
• Cookson Challenge Cup
  • Winners: 1995–96, 2005–06, 2006–07
• Alves Cup
  • Winners: 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07
• Barrit Cup
  • Winners: 2005–06
• North Wales Coast Challenge Cup
  • Finalists: 2005–06
• Mawddach Cup
  • Winners: 2013–14
• Welsh League Cup
  • Finalists: 2015–16
• Ardal North Cup
  • Winners: 2022–23

Club records

• Highest Recorded Finish: 2nd (Cymru Alliance/North): 2017–18
• Top Goalscorer: Mark Roberts (167)
• Highest Attendance: 1,145 v Ruthin Town (26/12/2023)

Recorded History, goals from 1994 onwards.

Former players

• Gary Roberts – Accrington Stanley, Ipswich Town, Huddersfield Town, Swindon Town, Chesterfield and Portsmouth player.
• Stephen Wright - Liverpool, Coventry City and Sunderland player.

References

References

1. "Denbigh Town – Ardel Lock Stock West – Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Football League".
2. "Welsh football third division club guide – Denbigh Town".
3. https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/denbigh/24315532.new-six-figure-facility-denbigh-town-fcs-central-park-green-lit/
4. https://www.denbightownfc.co.uk/teams/19413/match-centre/2-11217866/report
5. https://www.denbightownfc.co.uk/news/statement--venue-change-for-first-three-home-games-2925766.html
6. https://www.denbightownfc.co.uk/teams/19413/match-centre/1-17505861/report
7. "First Team squad".
8. https://www.denbightownfc.co.uk/teams/19438/the-team
9. (29 April 2023). "Trethomas Bluebirds crowned Dragon Signs Amateur Trophy winners". Football Association of Wales.
10. "North Wales".
11. (21 May 2023). "Take a Bow! Dynamic Denbigh prove themselves to be double specialists – again!". Grassroots North Wales.