Bangor City 1876 Name Huw Griffiths New Manager 2026

Key Points

• Former Cefn Druids boss Huw Griffiths has been made first team manager of Bangor City 1876.
• According to BBC Sport, the 49-year-old follows Michael Johnston who stood down in August due to family and work commitments.
• The Cymru North outfit confirmed their new manager following a run of poor results that included a 6-2 defeat at home against Buckley Town.
• It is Griffiths’ return to management following his exit from Caernarfon Town in March of 2023.
• He was a former central defender for Bangor City and an assistant manager to Peter Davenport at Farrar Road.
• According to Jordan Jones of Clwb Peldroed, Bangor currently find themselves in fifth place in Cymru North, five points behind the leaders but having played a game more.
• This is the fourth managerial position for Griffiths following stints at Welshpool Town, Cefn Druids, Bala Town and Caernarfon Town.
• At Cefn Druids, he achieved promotion to the Welsh Premier League, won the Welsh Cup Final, European football and Welsh Premier League Manager of the Year Award in 2018.
• At Caernarfon Town, he took the club to two Cymru Premier play off finals.
• “Arriving with a clear vision that aligns with our ambitions here at Bangor City

Bangor (Wales Times) September 26, 2026 — uk/local/bangor/">Bangor City 1876 have appointed Huw Griffiths as their new first-team manager, bringing the experienced Welsh football figure back into management after more than three years away from a senior managerial role.

The announcement was confirmed by the Cymru North club after a challenging period on and off the pitch. As reported by BBC Sport, Griffiths, 49, replaces Michael Johnston, who left the manager’s position in August because of family and work commitments.

Bangor City 1876 confirmed the move in a statement, saying: “Bangor City 1876 can announce the appointment of experienced manager Huw Griffiths as our new first team manager.”

The club added: “Huw Griffiths arrives with a clear vision that aligns with those of the club’s, along with his ambition and determination to succeed – we’re delighted to have Huw on board.”

The appointment follows a heavy 6-2 home defeat to Buckley Town, a result that underlined the scale of the task facing the new manager. As reported by Jordan Jones of Clwb Peldroed, Griffiths takes charge of a Bangor side fifth in the Cymru North table, five points behind the leaders, although they have played a game more than the club at the top.

Why Has Bangor City 1876 Turned To Huw Griffiths?

Bangor City 1876 have moved quickly to appoint a manager with substantial experience in Welsh football. The club had been without a permanent first-team manager since Johnston’s departure, while Declan McManus completed a two-match caretaker spell that ended with Friday’s defeat to Buckley Town.

The result left Bangor facing a significant gap to the promotion places. According to Clwb Peldroed, the Citizens are four points behind second place, the position that would secure a play-off place, but have played two matches more than the team currently occupying that position.

Griffiths therefore inherits a squad still close enough to challenge for promotion, but with limited margin for further dropped points. The club’s board appears to have prioritised a manager familiar with the demands of Welsh league football and the particular pressures of a club seeking stability after a disruptive period.

As reported by Clwb Peldroed, Bangor City 1876 said the appointment reflected a shared vision for the future, with the club describing Griffiths as an experienced manager whose ambition and determination matched its own.

What Is Huw Griffiths’ Connection With Bangor City?

Griffiths’ link with Bangor football predates this managerial appointment. As reported by Dave Jones of NWSport, he joined Bangor City in 2001 after being signed by former Manchester United striker Peter Davenport, having previously played for Gresford Athletic, Lex XI, Cefn Druids and Newtown.

He spent three seasons as a centre-half with the Citizens and became a popular figure at Farrar Road. NWSport reports that he played and scored in Bangor City’s 4-1 Welsh Cup final defeat to Barry Town in 2001-02.

Griffiths was also part of the Bangor side that recorded a notable 1-0 home victory over Yugoslavia’s Sartid Smederevo in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup. His playing career was ultimately affected by persistent knee injuries.

After retiring, he worked as Davenport’s assistant manager at Bangor and later at Southport. He then joined Chester City as an assistant to Simon Davies, another former Bangor City player and Manchester United player.

That history gives Griffiths a direct personal connection to the club’s past, although Bangor City 1876 is the modern club formed after the original Bangor City was dissolved. His familiarity with Bangor football may help him settle quickly, but the immediate challenge remains a sporting one: restoring consistency and results.

What Experience Does Huw Griffiths Bring To Bangor City 1876?

Griffiths arrives with a managerial record spanning more than a decade in Welsh football. As reported by NWSport, his first senior managerial role came at Welshpool Town in November 2008, following Tomi Morgan’s departure.

He then returned to Cefn Druids as manager, beginning a period in which the club achieved several landmark results. In 2011-12, Druids reached the Welsh Cup final for the first time in 108 years, beating Prestatyn Town, Aberystwyth Town and Airbus UK Broughton before losing 2-0 to The New Saints.

Because The New Saints had also won the Welsh Premier League, Druids qualified for European competition. NWSport reports that the club played Finnish side MyPa-47 in the 2012-13 Europa League first qualifying round, drawing 0-0 at home before losing 5-0 in Finland.

Griffiths later joined Bala Town in 2014 before returning to Cefn Druids in 2015. In 2017-18, he guided Druids into European football for a second time after winning the Welsh Premier League play-off final against Cardiff Met.

He was named Welsh Premier League Manager of the Season in 2018, while Druids also recorded a highest-ever fifth-place finish in the division. As reported by Clwb Peldroed, his time in Welsh football also included managerial spells at Bala Town and Caernarfon Town, as well as assistant roles at Colwyn Bay, Southport and Chester City.

What Happened During His Time At Caernarfon Town?

Griffiths left Cefn Druids in January 2020 and joined Caernarfon Town less than 12 hours later, according to NWSport.

His three years and two months at Caernarfon included two play-off final campaigns. In 2020-21, Caernarfon reached the European Conference League play-offs, beating Barry Town United 3-1 before losing 5-3 to Newtown in the final.

The following season, Caernarfon won the play-offs, defeating Cardiff Met 1-0 and Flint Town United 2-1. However, NWSport reports that the club were denied a European place because of regulations relating to co-efficiency points; instead, Caernarfon were invited into the Scottish Challenge Cup, where they lost 1-0 at Clyde in September 2022 after a 91st-minute goal.

Griffiths’ final season at Caernarfon proved more difficult. NWSport reports that after a promising start, the club went eight league matches without victory, including seven defeats, before later results improved. Caernarfon finished in the bottom-half Play-Off Conference for their final 10 matches, and Griffiths left the club before the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

He has not managed since leaving Caernarfon in March 2023, making Bangor City 1876 his first managerial post in more than three years.

What Challenges Await Griffiths At Bangor City 1876?

Griffiths takes over a club seeking to recover momentum after a damaging defeat. As reported by NWSport, Bangor City 1876 lost 6-2 at home to Buckley Town, with Bangor’s goals scored by Godwin in the 11th minute and Creamer in the 21st minute. Buckley’s goals came through Guest, who scored twice, Nicholas, Mariette and further Buckley scorers.

The new manager’s immediate priority will be to stabilise results and rebuild confidence within the squad. Bangor remain within reach of the promotion race, but their position is complicated by having played more matches than several of the sides above them.

Clwb Peldroed reports that Bangor have four fixtures scheduled before the end of October, including two away league matches and a Welsh Cup tie. Their next league fixture is away to Porthmadog on October 3, followed by an away match at Newtown on October 10.

They are then due to play in the Welsh Cup on October 16 or 17, with opponents and venue still to be confirmed, before returning to league action at home to Ruthin Town on October 24.

Those fixtures will give Griffiths an early opportunity to assess the squad, implement his methods and judge whether Bangor can convert their remaining games into a sustained promotion challenge.

What Does Bangor City 1876 Expect From Griffiths?

The club’s public messaging emphasises alignment between Griffiths’ plans and its own ambitions. In its statement, Bangor City 1876 described him as an experienced manager with a clear vision, ambition and determination to succeed.

That language suggests the club views the appointment as more than a short-term response to one poor result. Bangor are fifth, but their schedule and points gap mean the coming weeks are likely to shape whether they remain in the promotion discussion.

Griffiths’ background suggests the club has appointed someone accustomed to working within Welsh football’s competitive structure. His record includes promotion with Cefn Druids, European qualification through play-offs, and two play-off final campaigns at Caernarfon Town.

At the same time, his most recent managerial spell ended with his departure from Caernarfon before the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. His task at Bangor will be to combine that experience with a fresh start and deliver improvement in a demanding Cymru North campaign.

Background Of The Development

Bangor City 1876 operate in Cymru North, the second tier of Welsh men’s football. The club has been seeking stability since Michael Johnston stepped down as manager in August, citing family and work commitments. BBC Sport reported that Griffiths was appointed to succeed Johnston.

The managerial vacancy followed a period in which Declan McManus took temporary charge for two matches. That caretaker period concluded with Bangor’s 6-2 home defeat to Buckley Town, a result that occurred shortly before the appointment of Griffiths was announced.

Griffiths brings both local history and senior Welsh football experience. He played for the former Bangor City between 2001 and 2004, scored in a Welsh Cup final and later assisted Peter Davenport at Farrar Road.

His managerial career includes two spells at Cefn Druids, where he guided the club to a Welsh Cup final, promotion from the Cymru Alliance, European qualification and the NEWFA Challenge Cup. NWSport reports that he also led Druids to the Welsh Premier League play-off final victory in 2017-18 and was named Welsh Premier League Manager of the Season in 2018.

His subsequent move to Caernarfon Town produced two play-off final appearances, although his time there ended in March 2023 after a difficult second half of the season.

Bangor’s sporting position remains competitive. Clwb Peldroed reports that the club is fifth in Cymru North, five points behind the leaders and four points behind the play-off place, but has played more matches than the teams directly above them.

Prediction: How Could This Affect Bangor City 1876 Supporters?

For Bangor City 1876 supporters, the appointment is likely to bring renewed attention to the club’s promotion prospects. Griffiths’ experience in Welsh football and his previous connection with Bangor City may reassure fans seeking a credible replacement after Johnston’s departure.

The immediate effect is likely to be judged by results. Bangor’s next four fixtures — away to Porthmadog, away to Newtown, a Welsh Cup tie and a home match against Ruthin Town — offer Griffiths a clear early test of whether the squad can recover from the Buckley defeat.

If Griffiths can quickly improve defensive organisation and consistency, Bangor could remain in the race for a play-off position despite the points gap. His previous success in guiding Cefn Druids to promotion and European qualification suggests he has experience of building competitive sides in Welsh football.

However, supporters should also expect an adjustment period. Griffiths has been away from management since March 2023, and Bangor’s recent defensive record, particularly the six goals conceded against Buckley Town, indicates that results will need to improve quickly.

For the wider Cymru North, the appointment adds experience to a promotion race in which Bangor remain close enough to challenge. For supporters, the coming month is likely to determine whether Griffiths’ return to management becomes a turning point in Bangor City 1876’s season.