Whilst AFC Wimbledon battle through the English non-league pyramid with thousands cheering them on, and a break-away club of disenchanted Manchester United supporters forming in Lancashire, football in the South Walian town of Barry is set for its own revolution.

Wimbledon fans rebelled with huge public support with their club being moved to Milton Keynes in a US-style marketing scheme. Manchester United supporters are in the process of creating a new club, 'FC United of Manchester' in opposition to new chairman Malcolm Glazer's plans to plunge the Premiership big-boys into mammoth debt. It is a mixture of location and leadership that have prompted Barry Town fans to banish the Dragons and form their own football identity - 'Barry Football Club'.

Reports stated a dispute between club chairman Stuart Lovering and the Vale of Glamorgan Council over rent payments meant Barry Town, perhaps the best supported club in Welsh football's recent times, were forced to play Welsh League home fixtures in Treforest. Many displeased fans made the frustrating trip to watch their side struggle in Wales' second tier, surely dreaming of better times in the Champions League, at the peak of the Welsh Premier, and in domestic cup finals.

The move was the final straw for many Barry fans who have had a traumatic few seasons. The "Real Madrid" of Wales, 7 times Champions of the Welsh Premier, successful in Europe and regular cup winners, were relegated after a financial disaster meant the club was stripped of its assets and, despite an end-of-season rally, were relegated in 2004.

Whispers suggested Wales' newest football club could form under the banner of 'Barry Linnets'. However, a meeting behind leaders and potential supporters decided that 'Barry Football Club' was simplistic and symbolic of community football to be played in the town of Barry. 'The Linnets', the traditional nickname of BTFC, will be the club's nickname.

Having left sour memories of John Fashanu, Stuart Lovering, strange new badges and football in Treforest behind them, Barry FC supporters are claiming that the entire history of Barry Town FC belongs to the new 'community' club. An application to the Vale of Glamorgan District League for the forthcoming 2005/2006 season has been confirmed, and the steering committee behind the new club are urging Barry Council to grant permission for the new club to play at Jenner Park.

Are we set for the Barry revolution?
Good luck to all involved.

The following quotes from from an inside at Barry Football Club:

“Those present felt that this was the most appropriate name for the new club. It was the original name of the club that we have all supported for so many years as well as outlining our aim to truly represent our town. We are laying claim to the rightful ownership of football in Barry. Supporters at the heart of this project have been Barry Town fans for twenty, forty even sixty years but feel that they have been let down by the failures of the current regime.

“The club will be a Supporters Trust, that is, a non-profit making organisation dedicated to the promotion of football here in Barry. We aim to be a real grassroots community football club and want to involve everyone at all levels of football in Barry and the Vale. Our aims for this season are to return to our spiritual home of Jenner Park and to start the long process of building a new club for Barry.”
 

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