Although there was no silverware at the end of the 1990/91 campaign,
celebrations at Clandeboye Park after the final match of the season
- a 2-1 victory over Carrick Rangers at Bangor - continued well
into the night, for it was generally agreed that Bangor FC had enjoyed
their best ever season since joining the Irish League in 1927. Never
before had the Seasiders achieved runners-up spot in the League,
and this feat brought with it the prize of a first ever European
qualification. In 1991/92 Bangor played in the UEFA Cup.
Bangor had been unlucky in knockout competitions during the season,
losing out twice in semi-finals: against League Champions Portadown
to a controversial extra time penalty in the TNT Gold Cup in October:
and in the Roadferry League Cup Bangor came close to defeating Glentoran
in a thrilling see-saw 90 minutes which ended 2-2 - but then the
Belfast team ran out 6-2 winners in extra time.
However it was against the mighty "Glens" that Bangor
were to achieve the vital result which secured the dream of European
football. On March 23 Bangor gave a disappointing display at home
to lose 1-2 in the League to Glenavon, and it wasn't with much optimism
that Bangor supporters travelled to the Oval for that so important
match on Tuesday, March 26. Bangor were in third place four points
behind Glentoran with 24 matches played. A dogged, determined, disciplined
full of the character imbued by the management team brought a 1
-0 victory courtesy of an 11 th minute goal by Barry McCreadie.
The following Saturday Bangor defeated Newry Town 2-0 at home and
Glentoran slipped up 1-2 at Cliftonville, allowing Bangor to leap-frog
over their rivals - a lead Bangor were never to lose.
There were a few heart-stopping moments on the way to the finishing
tape but finally Bangor made it among scenes of much joy on Saturday,
April 27 after two goals by veteran striker Francis Smith paved
the way for victory over Carrick Rangers.
