Some football kits are simply shirts. Others become part of a club’s mythology.
For Bangor City, one of the most iconic designs in the club’s long history is the striking blue shirt with the red and white vertical stripes, worn around the 1979–80 season at Farrar Road.
It was bold, distinctive, and instantly recognisable – a kit that many supporters still associate with the character and atmosphere of the old ground.
But what makes this particular shirt even more special is that one of football’s greatest ever players wore it.
When Sir Stanley Matthews Played at Farrar Road
On Wednesday 26 September 1979, Bangor City hosted a special match at Farrar Road against a Sir Stanley Matthews XI.
Matthews – widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever to play the game – was 65 years old at the time, yet still travelled the country playing exhibition matches to support clubs and charities.
For that evening in Bangor, Matthews and his team lined up against Bangor City in front of local supporters at Farrar Road.
And in one of those magical quirks of football history, the legendary England winger appeared wearing Bangor City colours.
For Bangor fans, it created a unique moment: a Ballon d’Or winner, England legend, and Blackpool icon walking out at Farrar Road in the club’s distinctive striped kit.
It’s the kind of story that makes local football history so special.
A Kit That Defined an Era
The late 1970s were a memorable time for Bangor City. Farrar Road was still very much the beating heart of football in the city, and the club’s kits had a style that reflected the era perfectly.
The 1979 design featured:
Deep Bangor blue base
Distinctive red and white vertical stripes
Classic long sleeves
Traditional collar styling
It was a shirt that looked equally at home under the floodlights of Farrar Road or in the pages of a matchday programme.
For many supporters, it remains one of the most stylish kits the club ever wore.
Now Recreated as a Tabletop Team
That classic design has now been recreated in miniature as a hand-painted tabletop football team, capturing the look of the iconic kit in Subbuteo-style form.
Each team is carefully painted to reflect the famous Bangor colours and stripe pattern from the Farrar Road era.
For supporters and collectors, it’s a small but brilliant way to keep a piece of Bangor football history alive.
Perfect for:
⚽ Bangor City fans
⚽ Subbuteo and tabletop football collectors
⚽ Gifts for nostalgic supporters
⚽ Anyone who remembers the magic of Farrar Road
👉 You can see the team here:
https://cymruoriginals.co.uk/products/bangor-city-1979-hand-painted-table-football-team
A Small Piece of Bangor Football History
Bangor City has produced many memorable moments over the decades, but the night Sir Stanley Matthews played at Farrar Road in Bangor colours is one of those wonderful stories that deserves to be remembered.
And now, that famous kit lives on – not just in photographs and programmes, but on a tabletop pitch as well.
For those who remember Farrar Road, it’s a reminder of a time when football legends could still turn up and pull on your club’s shirt. 💙⚽
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