Earlier this week, Barry Town United lost one of its finest locally produced inside forwards, with the untimely passing of Ken Gully, at the age of 82. 

Born at 86 Morel Street in December 1943, Ken played for Holton Road and Gladstone Road schools as well as the representative Barry Schools team. Aged just 15 he played in the Barry & District League’s Junior Division for the successful Barry Dock Wanderers, winners of the South Wales & Mon FA Youth Cup in May 1960. True to form, Ken scored a fine hat-trick in the 6-0 win against ICI Dowlais. 

Two months later, despite strong interest from Swindon Town, Ken joined his hometown club and enjoyed a prodigious career in an often struggling team. 

He made his first team debut on 31 August 1960 versus Hereford at Jenner Park against Hereford United, Town winning 3-1 in front of 1800 supporters. 

His first goal  came in the return leg in mid-September at Edgar Street and it was the first of many. 

Ken’s record was simply excellent as he proved to be a menace to opposition despite his slight size. He played 

204 Southern League matches scoring 95 goals (9 pens), 43 cup games scoring 30 goals (2 pens) plus a minimum of 40 Welsh League games which brought him 44 goals. 287 games, 165 goals was a magnificent return for the Linnets. 

Playing as a part-time professional, Ken worked at Bailey’s Dry Dock of which Town Chairman, John Bailey, was a director. 

At the end of the 1960-61 season, he joined a cosmopolitan Barry Town squad which toured Malta on behalf of Baileys (Malta) which had not long taken over the Naval Dockyards at Malta’s Grand Harbour. He scored in the final game of an unbeaten tour against Valletta, the match ending in a 3-3 draw. 

His statistics included six first team hat-tricks, the first of which came against Lovells Athletic in a 5^th round Welsh Cup tie during the 1961-62 season. That campaign also saw Town, then managed by the famous Welsh international Alf Sherwood, saw Ken play against QPR in the FA Cup, Town losing in a replay. 

Later in 1962 Ken married Maureen, the couple staying together until his passing. 

In addition to his six first team hat-tricks he also scored four Welsh League hat-tricks in an 14 day period between 17^th and 30^th April 1965. 

The following season, 1965/66, he formed a formidable partnership with Scot Gordon Fraser, previously of Elgin City and Cardiff City. The pair netted 60 goals, Ken scoring 35, his best return in Barry’s colours of racing green. 

He top scored for the Linnets in seasons 1961/62, 1963/64. 1964/65 and 1965/66. In what proved to be his final season at Barry, he scored all four of Barry’s goals in the 4-2 win against Bexley United on Good Friday, 8 April 1966. 

His final Barry goal came in the 2-1 win against Crawley Town on 10 May 1967. 

At season’s end, with clubs throughout the country eager to sign one of Barry’s finest ever talents, Ken was awarded a richly deserved testimonial for his efforts, a game which drew the great and good of Welsh Football at the time to Jenner Park. Over 2,000 fans turned up for the game against an International XI  which included Barrians Dai Ward jr and Derek Tapscott, the Charles brothers ( John and Mel) and former Wales forward Colin Webster, all to  wave goodbye to their favourite son as Ken soon after joined Kettering Town in July 1966. The offer of a better paid job and extra pay for playing football proving too good to turn down for Ken and his young family. 

At Kettering his record was magnificent 153 goals in 294 matches. 

Just before he returned to Barry for good, he played one last game for the Linnets versus Tynte Rovers in the Welsh League at Jenner Park, Town winning 1-0 on 23 August 1975 – permission from Kettering granted for him to play one last time on his old home ground. 

 
An absolute gentleman , Ken was a fine cricketer and golfer as well as a keen darts player, playing from the old social club.  

The club sends its deepest condolences to his family. 

The world’s lost a good one, one of the best. 

Ken Gully, RIP 

Thirty years ago, Jenner Park witnessed one of the most memorable European nights in Barry Town United history.

On 20 August 1996, Barry welcomed Hungarian side Budapest Vasutas to South Wales for the second leg of their UEFA Cup qualifying round tie.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in Hungary, the Town faced an enormous challenge if they were to keep their European adventure alive.

What followed was a night that would go down in Barry Town folklore.

An Uphill Battle

Barry returned to Jenner Park knowing they needed something special.

A capacity crowd of around 2,500 supporters packed into the ground, hoping to witness a famous European comeback.

Player-coach Garry Barnett helped drive the Town forward from the opening stages as Barry searched for the goals they desperately needed.

The breakthrough finally arrived on the stroke of half-time.

Former Cardiff City striker Chris Pike stepped up from the penalty spot after Tony Bird had been brought down inside the area and made no mistake, giving Barry a 1-0 lead on the night and bringing the tie firmly back to life.

If the first goal gave the Town hope, the start of the second half sent Jenner Park into dreamland.

Just a minute after the restart, Pike turned provider. He raced down the right before delivering the ball into the path of Dave O’Gorman, who fired home at the far post.

2-0 Barry.

Suddenly, the Town were in front in the tie on away goals.

The visitors responded, however, and Gabor Egressy scored in the 63rd minute to change the complexion of the contest once again.

Budapest Vasutas now led 4-3 on aggregate, leaving Barry needing another goal to stay alive.

But the Town weren’t finished.

Evans Sends Jenner Park Wild

With 78 minutes on the clock, goalkeeper Pat Mountain, deputising for the suspended Mark Ovendale, launched the ball forward.

Pike flicked it on and substitute Craig Evans raced through before firing into the net.

3-1 Barry. 4-4 on aggregate.

Jenner Park erupted.

After 180 minutes, the two sides could not be separated and the tie headed into extra time.

Barry survived a late push from the Hungarian league runners-up and, after neither side could find the decisive goal, the tie would be settled from the penalty spot.

History From 12 Yards

After producing a remarkable comeback just to keep themselves in the competition, Barry still had one final hurdle to overcome.

The Town held their nerve.

Barry converted four penalties, while Jorge Bognar and Zoltan Bukszegi failed to convert for the visitors.

The comeback was complete.

Barry Town had knocked Budapest Vasutas out of the UEFA Cup.

A team from the League of Wales had overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit against the Hungarian runners-up and produced one of the greatest European results in the club’s history.

The following day’s Irish Times described Barry as being the “toast of Wales”, while its headline declared the victory “Barry Town enjoys its finest hour.”

30 Years On

Three decades later, the story of that night remains part of the fabric of Jenner Park.

From Pike’s first-half penalty to O’Gorman’s strike, Evans’ dramatic equaliser and the tension of the penalty shootout, it was a European night that had everything.

For the 2,500 supporters packed inside Jenner Park, it was a night to remember.

For Barry Town, it was a night that helped establish the club’s reputation on the European stage during one of the greatest periods in its history.

20 August 1996.

Barry Town 3-1 Budapest Vasutas (4-4 on aggregate).

Barry Town win on penalties.

Thirty years on, one of Jenner Park’s greatest European nights will never be forgotten.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀

Twenty-five years ago today, Barry Town produced one of the most famous results in Welsh football history, defeating Portuguese side FC Porto 3-1 at Jenner Park in the UEFA Champions League.

While the aggregate score would ultimately send Porto through to the next round, the result on the night remains one of the greatest achievements in the club’s history. A quarter of a century later, supporters still look back with immense pride on an unforgettable European evening.

Just a week earlier, the Barry faithful had travelled to Portugal for the first leg of the Second Qualifying Round. Against one of Europe’s strongest sides, The Town suffered an 8-0 defeat at the Estádio das Antas, with future Barcelona and Portugal star Deco scoring a hat-trick alongside Brazilian striker Pena.

With the tie effectively over before the return leg, Barry entered the match with nothing to lose. Their objective was simple: deliver a performance that would make the supporters proud.

Manager Peter Nicholas made one change from the first leg, with Richard Kennedy replacing Jamie Jenkins. Porto, meanwhile, rotated heavily, with captain Jorge Costa the only player to retain his place from the side that started in Portugal.

The visitors created the first opportunity after ten minutes, but Tim Clarke was equal to Candido Costa’s effort to keep the scores level. Porto eventually took the lead midway through the half when striker Raphael turned Kenny Brown before firing beyond Clarke from 15 yards.

Barry refused to let their heads drop. Mike Flynn and Jon French both threatened an equaliser, while Quintana came close to doubling Porto’s advantage at the other end after his effort was deflected wide.

Flynn thought he had brought The Town level, only to see his celebrations cut short by the offside flag.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 37th minute. Luke Staton’s corner was flicked on by Flynn, allowing Lee Phillips to bundle the ball home and send Jenner Park into celebration.

Just two minutes later came the moment that stunned everyone inside the ground. Flynn rose highest to head into the corner of the net, giving Barry Town an incredible 2-1 lead over the Portuguese giants.

Clarke then produced a series of outstanding saves to deny Alessandro and Raphael, ensuring Barry went into the interval with a memorable lead.

Barry made their first change shortly after the restart as Jamie Jenkins replaced Mike Flynn, while Porto introduced future international Hélder Postiga.

Jon French saw strong penalty appeals waved away by referee Dani Koren early in the second half before Clarke was again called into action, producing another excellent save to deny Dmitri Alenichev’s attempted chip.

Mattie Davies replaced Luke Staton for Barry, while Paulinho came on for Quintana for the visitors. Moments later, Clarke was once again at his brilliant best, keeping out a powerful effort from future Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho.

With the clock ticking down, Neil Sharp replaced Lee Phillips as Barry looked to protect their famous lead.

Then, in the final minute, came the perfect ending.

Mattie Davies was brought down inside the penalty area by Pedro Espinha, giving Barry the opportunity to put the result beyond doubt. Gary Lloyd stepped up and emphatically fired the penalty into the back of the net, sealing a remarkable 3-1 victory.

Although FC Porto progressed 9-3 on aggregate, the scoreline on the night told its own story. Barry Town had beaten one of Europe’s footballing heavyweights, creating a result that has stood the test of time.

Twenty-five years later, the victory remains one of the greatest nights in the history of Barry Town United Football Club.

Barry Town: Clarke (GK), Evans, Lloyd, Kennedy, York, Phillips, Brown, French, Moralee, Flynn, Staton.

Subs: Jenkins, Sharp, Morgan, Davies, Forde.

FC Porto: Espinha (GK), Jorge Costa, Carvallo, Costa., Junior, Olivera, Ibarra, Dias, Quintana, Candido Costa, Raphael. 

Subs: Ovchinnikov, Secretário, Alenitchev, Santos, Postigo, Sousa, Paulinho.