In this interview, Dafydd Hughes caught up with Dave Roberts, one of the 1876 Board members, known affectionately, both near and far, as “Cabs”. With a football pedigree, it is perhaps surprising that Dave once faced an England captain and coach on the rugby field. From an outstanding all-round sportsman to an institution on the Bangor supporter scene, he provides an interesting insight into what makes him tick!

During your schooldays you were an outstanding athlete and also played rugby to a high standard as a member of Bangor’s first team. Tell us a little about your sporting achievements.

My sporting days started whilst in Glanadda Primary where I was selected to play for Bangor Juniors football team. The following year I was Captain of the team. In those days we used to play in a National Schools competition and had trips to Swansea and the Rhondda valley to play there.

Moving from Glanadda to Friars, and much to the chagrin of my father and grandfather, I discovered rugby and went from playing football to rugby. Initially playing for the under-15s, we were unbeaten in the matches that we played, apart from losing to HMS Conway for whom Clive Woodward was playing at the time. I went on to play rugby for the county side and North Wales at this level and later at Senior level as well. From school I went on to play 1st Team Rugby for Bangor and again played for the county in representative matches. I also enjoyed playing cricket at school and won a bat for scoring the most runs in a season, going on to play for Bangor Cricket Club on occasions.

I loved athletics in school and joined Bangor Athletic Club that was formed by Ted Stubbs, a teacher at the Catholic School, and with his help, and Terry Lewis in Friars, I became Welsh Schools Champion at 80 metres Hurdles at the age of 13. As I got older I Became Welsh Schools Champion, and Welsh Champion, at 100 metres Hurdles, going on to compete in the British Championships in Wolverhampton, finishing 4th in the final of the 100 metres Hurdles. I also won a Rose Bowl in the North Wales Athletics championship for the best performance by an athlete on the day of the championship.

I seem to remember that your grandfather was involved with Bangor Reserves in the 1960s, did he influence you at all?

My grandfather and father influenced me to play football during my days in Primary School as my father had played for Bangor City in the Lancashire Combination after coming back from the war in the late 1940s in and also seeing my grandfather running onto the field with the magic sponge until the ripe old age of 74. As I said earlier, they were not very happy when I opted to play rugby in Friars as they had my football career mapped out for me.

You’ve travelled extensively in Europe on footballing trips (and for other purposes!) What are your fondest memories?

I have so many memories of travelling in Europe following Bangor and Wales, from travelling by train to Madrid, and drinking it dry on the way back to the UK to attending the BBQ arranged for us in Helsinki where the host I'm sure didn't expect 28 people to turn up on his doorstep - also there was the competitive nature of everybody over a game of Molki! The storm before the match in Moldova to it never going dark in Iceland - so many happy memories with wonderful people in so many places. If you take in my escapades as a Holiday Rep there is the possibility of a book somewhere out there.

You’re well connected with the club’s fan base, what can the board do to improve the experience of following 1876 for the fans and to respond to the challenges which face us after the lock-down ends?

At the moment with the regular posts going out on social media we are keeping our fanbase informed of where we are as a club at present and maintaining the interest. Moving forward, if and when the current season restarts, or new season begins, the appetite for the game amongst the fans will be incredible. All the people I speak to can't wait to get going again. As yet we don't know what restrictions may be placed on the club and whether we will have to social distance whilst watching matches. I would like to make the day at the football more for the fans more than just 90 minutes of football, but an experience that starts way before the whistle is blown for the kick-off I thought the group that was playing under the stands prior to the game starting at FCUM was a great move and something we could replicate, giving local bands the opportunity to showcase their skills. During Summer and spring we could have BBQs going on, and a fans 5-a-side competition prior to a game starting. Let's see what everybody would want and try them out.

What’s special about Bangor and 1876? What did you miss when you lived in London?

Bangor has always been a big part of my life having been born and grown up in the City. Initially I followed Bangor City from a very early age. Living in London, I missed the camaraderie of everybody back home and really enjoyed travelling home and away to watch as much football as possible. Phil Rigby and myself even formed the West London branch of the Supporters Association, the closest game for us was Port Talbot away. The last couple of years in London were very hard as I became very disillusioned with the way Bangor City was being run and spent less and less time coming home. This affected me more than I thought, missing seeing family and friends on such a regular basis. I was planning on going into semi retirement and returning back to Bangor to live but I wasn't looking forward to coming back and the chance of no football club in Bangor as we knew it. When I heard of the possibility of the fans forming an alternative to the club that we had loved and had followed - in my case for 60 years - to keep football in the community and utilising local players, I jumped at the chance to get on board. To be involved in bringing football back to the community has been a challenge for all involved. The rewards that we are now experiencing as a result of the new club are amazing. It is like returning to the glory days with all the fans buzzing on match day and 1876 being the word in the City and beyond. A Tier 5 club generating crowds of over 400 to games home and away shows the interest in football in the City. Hopefully the Welsh FA will allow us to play in a higher tier in the new season, we are certainly worthy of it.

Read other recent Fan Focus Friday interviews:
Kev Taylor: "1876 for me is all about bringing football back to how it was in the City and embracing the community whilst doing so"
Jonathan Ervine: "The fact that so many people - fans, players and officials - have really bought into what this fan-owned and community focused club is about is absolutely fantastic"
Rich Speight: "I’d describe Bangor 1876 as the best thing to happen to football in North West Wales in a long time, a fan-owned club that is part sporting endeavour and part social enterprise."