Wales. Hidden championship, of course. One may be surprised to see 17 teams playing First Division football there, names almost unpronounceable, unless you know Welsh.
Barry Town dominated the championship, winning it with 5-point margin. Fine, but since Welsh football remained outside European sight, it had to be only local pride. For Barry Town, though, the season was memorable – they represented Wales in the Cup Winners Cup and their short appearance touched the hearts of the club’s supporters.
As for what did matter, it was the Cup final. Bangor City met English Shrewsbury Town. Shrewsbury was lowly, indeed, but Bangor City was nowhere to be seen – not in the English professional leagues; not in the Welsh league. They played somewhere in the vast semi-professional and non-professional English leagues, thus, automatically weaker than lowly, but professional opponent. Shrewsbury had no trouble beating Bangor and collecting the Welsh Cup for a second consecutive year – 3-1 and 2-0.
All things relative, Shrewsbury Town had all reasons to be proud and happy – one more trophy for a club without any chance to win something in England. Yet, it was the end of the road too – they could not represent Wales in Europe.
Bangor City lost the Cup, but no matter – they were Welsh club and winning or losing the Cup, they were going to get a taste of European football in the Cup Winners Cup. So, it was fine reward for losers.