The sudden death of Charlie Tully on July 27 1971 shocked Bangor and the football world. Tully was only 47 years old.

Bangor were next to taste real success under Bertie Neill who guided the team to a Co. Antrim Shield success in 1975. Bangor had no easy run to the final: in the first round they came from 0-2 down to defeat Linfield 3-2 at Windsor Park, then beat Ards 4-2 and in the semi-final Distillery were swept aside 4-1 on May 10 at Clandeboye Park. Bangor were now to play Glentoran three days later at the Oval in the final. It was a bad tempered game, but Bangor took their chances and deserved a 2-1 victory through goals by Raymond Erskine and a certain Gerry Armstrong. The team read: Selby, Addis, Stephen Feeney, Jim Hume, Ronnie McCullough, Ian Jaffrey, Jim Thompson, Gordon Stewart, Ernie Baillie, Gerry Armstrong, Clifford Whiteside and Raymond Erskine.

Gerry Armstrong & The trophy winning side of the 1975/76 season

The following season Bangor repeated their double of 1970 and won the City Cup again. Qualifying for the final without defeat from a six team section Bangor were due to play Coleraine at Seaview on December 10 1975. Although underdogs Bangor had the better of things the game remained scoreless after 120 minutes, but Bangor kept their cool in the dramatic penalty shootout, winning 3-1: scorers were Jim Thompson, Stephen Feeney and Ronnie McCullough. Shortly before that final Gerry Armstrong (later to win 63 caps and score 12 goals for N. Ireland) was transferred to Tottenharn Hotspur.

There then followed lean years - managers came and went: Billy Neill, Jim Emery, Billy Johnston, Bertie Neill again, Eric Halliday, Billy Humphries, Ronnie McQuillan, but to be honest they were all working on a tiny budget and success wasn't to come, though Ronnie McQuillan did take the team to two semi-finals, and Billy Humphries to one.

1989 Co Antrim Shield Winners

The man who was to work the miracle was John Flanagan, originally signed as a player, then assistant manager, and finally appointed manager in February 1988. Success did not come quickly as Flanagan patiently and painstakingly built up Bangor's strongest squad for many years. His efforts were crowned in 1988/89 when the team finished fourth in the League with the following record: played 26, won 12, drawn 9, lost 5, goals for 42, against 30, points 45. Top scorer in the season was Stephen Douglas with 21 goals. The team created a club record of going the first nine League games without defeat. Flanagan's feat was recognised when he was awarded the Football Writers' award as "Manager of the Season" and the season was capped on Monday, May 15 1989 when Glentoran were defeated 2-1 after extra time in the final of the Cawoods Co. Antrim Shield. It was a gutsy, fighting performance and from keeper Stephen Eachus through to striker Stephen Douglas they were an heroes: team: Stephen Eachus, Reg Dornan, Mark Glendinning, George Gibson, Stephen Brown, John O'Connor, John Cunningham, Warren Shields, David Eddis, Jim Campbell, Stephen Douglas and subs Jackie Coulter and Stephen McKee. Scorers were Jim Campbell and - appropriately - skipper George Gibson headed the winner in overtime. Mark Glendinning, Stephen Brown and Derryman John Cunningham were awarded with representative honours for the Irish League.

Season 1989/90 proved to be one of consolidation rather than spectacular success, though some notable signings were made: in August Bangor made their most expensive ever purchase, former Irish International Mark Caughey was bought from near-neighbours Ards as a replacement for striker Stephen Douglas who moved to Glentoran. In November midfielder Colin Woods came from Distillery and "Big Mac", Barry McCreadie, added to the strike force when he was signed from Coleraine.Bangor's main problem in that season was, however, goalscoring and a poor start was made to the League campaign with only one victory, one draw and three goals being notched up in the opening eight matches. However, the defence was sound and in the next eight games not a single goal was conceded in six victories and two draws, creating a new club record. Indeed, the defence only conceded 22 goals in the entire Smirnoff League campaign (26 matches) - another club record, and Bangor finished a very creditable sixth.

Biggest disappointment was in the quarter-final of the Bass Irish Cup when Bangor, leading 1 -0 and looking comfortably in charge, conceded two needless penalties at Portadown to throw away a game they should have won. It was, nevertheless, a measure of the club's continued progress that the Youth team won the IFA Youth Cup on December 29 1989, defeating Glenavon 1-0 at Castlereagh Park (scorer Dean Nelson, the team captain).

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Acknowledgement to the County Down Spectator