CONNAH'S QUAY NOMADS v BANGOR CITY. NEWTOWN FC v ABERYSTWYTH TOWN KO CORBETT SPORTS STADIUM, RHYL KO MAES TEGID, BALA

Transcription

1 CONNAH'S QUAY NOMADS v BANGOR CITY NEWTOWN FC v ABERYSTWYTH TOWN KO CORBETT SPORTS STADIUM, RHYL JD WELSH CUP SEMI FINALS ROWND GYNDERFYNOL JD CWPAN CYMRU KO MAES TEGID, BALA JD WELSH CUP SEMI FINALS ROWND GYNDERFYNOL JD CWPAN CYMRU

2 FOLLOW JD FOOTBALL FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT DAVID GRIFFITHS PRESIDENT, FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF WALES LLYWYDD, CYMDEITHAS BÊL DROED CYMRU WELCOME I wish you all a warm welcome to the JD Welsh Cup Semi-Finals as Newtown take on Aberystwyth Town and Connah s Quay Nomads meet Bangor City. I d like to take this opportunity to thank Bala Town and Rhyl for hosting the semi-finals, which I m sure are set to be enthralling encounters as the four teams battle for the two final spots in the competition. CROESO Hoffwn ddymuno croeso cynnes iawn i Rowndiau Cynderfynol Cwpan JD Cymru wrth i r Drenewydd wynebu Aberystwyth a Nomadiaid Cei Connah i wynebu Bangor. Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i r Bala ac i Rhyl am gynnal y rowndiau cynderfynol. Dwi n siwr bydd dwy frwydr ddifyr iawn o n blaen wrth i r pedwar tîm ymladd am ddau le olaf y /JDFootballOfficial /JDFootball JDFootballSnaps /JDFootball JDFootball As always, I m also incredibly grateful to JD Sports for their continued support of the domestic game here in Wales and their sponsorship of the Welsh Cup. This season s JD Welsh Cup competition has been one of the best in recent times, with the incredible run of South Wales Alliance League outfit Penydarren BGC being the stand-out memory that is sure to inspire other clubs at the lower levels of the pyramid to enter next season. I d like to wish all four clubs involved in this weekend s JD Welsh Cup Semi-Finals the very best of luck. All the best. Fel arfer, rydw i n hynod ddiolchgar i JD Sports am eu cefnogaeth barhaus i r gêm ddomestig yma yng Nghymru a u nawdd o Gwpan Cymru. Mae cystadleuaeth Cwpan JD Cymru r tymor hwn wedi bod yn un o r goreuon ers sawl blwyddyn, gyda rhediad anhygoel Penydarren BGC o Gynghrair Alliance De Cymru yn atgof fydd yn aros yn y cof ac yn siwr o ysbrydoli clybiau o lefelau is y pyramid i ymgeisio r tymor nesaf. Hoffwn ddymuno r gorau i r pedwar clwb sy n cymryd rhan yn Rowndiau Cynderfynol Cwpan JD Cymru r penwythnos hwn. Pob hwyl. EXCLUSIVE RETAIL PARTNER JDFOOTBALL.CO.UK 3

3 SHOULD BE APPLAUDED FOR RECOGNISING THE NEED FOR PROGRESSION WRITES ANDREW HOWARD, FAW HEAD OF COMPETITIONS As we approach the business end of the season, it s satisfying to see the progress that the FAW has again made over the last 12 months. There is no doubt that the key moments in 2016 and 2017 were the European Championships and hosting the UEFA Champions League Final respectively. But in my view, it s the domestic game that takes centre stage in the 2018 school report, following the FAW Council s vision of the new Pyramid structure, which kicks in, in little more than 14 months time. The Pyramid restructure will be implemented in two phases; The start of the 2019/20 season will see the new Tier 2 Championship structure, which will see the FAW be directly responsible for the ownership, management, finance and administration of the Championship North and Championship South Leagues, which will replace the Huws Gray Alliance and the Welsh Football League Division 1. The following season, 2020/21 marks the implementation of the new, mandatory Tier 3 Ground Criteria and the top 64 clubs who meet the criteria, will play in the four regional leagues at Tier 3 of the FAW pyramid. Clubs playing at Tier 4 and below will be managed by Leagues affiliated to the Area Associations from that season onwards. This will mean that the FAW League structure will contain 108 clubs, playing at 3 Tiers of the Pyramid. Compared to our neighbours; Republic of Ireland (22), Northern Ireland (36) and Scotland (42); this is still a very large number, but the FAW sub-committee who have worked tirelessly for over four years on this project have devised the structure, which aims to provide a framework of competitive men s football appropriate to their playing standards, ground facilities and economic means and permits the seasonal movements of clubs between the leagues in an orderly manner the very essence of the FAW Pyramid Regulations. The FAW staff have worked very diligently following the FAW Council approved of the pyramid re-structure in its October meeting and since Council adopted the new FAW Pyramid Regulations at its December Council meeting. The Competitions Department staff have been working closely with our lawyers on the Rules and Regulations, the FAW Commercial team has been working hard on a new brand for the Tier 2 Leagues and the Media team are designing the new media channels that will engage supporters of the new League from This restructure marks the most significant development to the pyramid since the implementation of the Tier 1 Club Licence (formerly the FAW Domestic Licence) and the restructure of the National League to 12 clubs. The JD Welsh Premier League should not be judged on stadium attendances alone and although we would have hoped for larger increases since the change, the commercial and broadcast success of the League is evident. The FAW signed its first monetary television rights deal for the Welsh Premier League following the restructure and sponsorship of the League and for clubs has increased annually since. The viewing figures for both television and social media are also on an increasing plateau and the FAW is hoping to renegotiate its television rights deal for a further four years soon. Performances in Europe have improved, and the technical experts will confirm that the standard of the players and managers improves year on year too. It is of course my hope, that the pyramid restructure will see similar success stories for Leagues and Clubs participating in Tiers 2 and 3 in the future. The FAW Council should be applauded for recognising the need for progression and to raise standards within our domestic game. This is in line with the key FAW strategic objective of stronger and more sustainable clubs and I am sure that this significant and excellent piece of work will be the catalyst for just that

4 CYNGOR CBDC YN HAEDDU CLOD AM GYDNABOD YR ANGEN AM SYMUD YMLAEN ANDREW HOWARD, PENNAETH CYSTADLAETHAU CBDC Wrth i r tymor hwn brysur ddirwyn i ben, mae n braf gweld y gwelliannau mae CBDC wedi i wneud dros y 12 mis diwethaf. Heb os roedd digwyddiadau arwyddocaol yn 2016 a 2017 megis Pencampwriaeth yr Ewros a chynnal Rownd Derfynol Cynghrair Pencampwyr UEFA. Ond yn fy marn i, y gêm ddomestig sy n hoelio r sylw yn 2018, yn dilyn gweledigaeth Cyngor CBDC o strwythur y Pyramid newydd fydd yn dod i rym mewn ychydig dros 14 mis. Bydd ailstrwythuro r Pyramid yn cael ei weithredu mewn dau gymal; Bydd strwythur newydd Haen 2 y Bencampwriaeth yn dod i rym ddechrau tymor 2019/20, fydd yn golygu mai CBDC fydd yn gyfrifol am berchnogaeth, rheolaeth, ariannu a gweinyddu Cynghreiriau Pencampwriaeth y Gogledd a Phencampwriaeth y De. Dyma r ddwy gynghrair fydd yn cymryd lle r Huws Gray Alliance a Haen 1 Cynghrair Cymru. Yn ystod y flwyddyn wedyn, tymor 2020/21, bydd y Safonau Caeau Haen 3 yn dod i rym gyda r 64 clwb sy n cyrraedd y meini prawf yn chwarae yn y 4 cynghreiriau rhanbarthol yn Haen 3 o Byramid CBDC. Bydd clybiau sy n chwarae n Haen 4 ac is yn cael eu rheoli gan y Cynghreiriau sydd yn gysylltiedig â r Cymdeithasau Rhanbarthol o r tymor hwnnw ymlaen. Mae hyn yn golygu y bydd strwythur Cynghrair CBDC yn cynnwys 108 o glybiau, yn chwarae mewn 3 Haen o r Pyramid. O i gymharu â n cymdogion; Gweriniaeth Iwerddon (22), Gogledd Iwerddon (36) a r Alban (42); mae r nifer hyn yn parhau n uchel. Dros y bedair blynedd diwethaf mae is-bwyllgor CBDC wedi gweithio n ddiflino ar y prosiect i ddyfeisio r strwythur yma, strwythur fydd yn rhoi fframwaith i bêldroed cystadleuol dynion sydd yn addas i w safonau chwarae, adnoddau r caeau a r gallu economaidd i alluogi symudiadau tymhorol rhwng y cynghreiriau Rheoliadau Pyramid CBDC yn ei hanfod. Mae staff CBDC wedi gweithio n ddiwyd ers i Gyngor CBDC gymeradwyo ailstrwythuro r pyramid yn eu cyfarfod ym mis Hydref. Ers hynny mae r cyngor wedi cadarnhau Rheoliadau Pyramid 2020/21 yn eu cyfarfod ym mis Rhagfyr. Mae r Adran Cystadlaethau wedi bod yn gweithio n agos gydag ein cyfreithwyr ar y Rheolau a r Rheoliadau tra bod tîm Masnachol CBDC wedi bod yn gweithio n galed ar frand newydd ar gyfer y Cynghreiriau Haen 2 ac adran y Cyfryngau n brysur ddylunio ein sianeli cyfryngau newydd i ymgysylltu â chefnogwyr o r Gynghrair newydd yn Mae r ailstrwythuro n nodi r datblygiad mwyaf arwyddocaol i r pyramid ers gweithredu r Drwydded Clwb Haen 1 (cyn hynny r Drwydded Ddomestig CBDC) ac ailstrwythuro r Cynghrair Cenedlaethol i ddeuddeg o glybiau. Ni ddylai Uwch Gynghrair JD Cymru gael ei farnu ar niferoedd y dorf yn unig er ein bod wedi gobeithio am fwy o gynnydd ers y newid mae r llwyddiant masnachol a darlledu n amlwg. Arwyddodd CBDC cytundeb ar gyfer hawliau teledu ariannol ar gyfer Uwch Gynghrair Cymru yn dilyn yr ailstrwythuro ac mae nawdd ar gyfer y Gynghrair wedi cynyddu n flynyddol ers hynny. Mae r ffigyrau gwylio ar gyfer teledu a chyfryngau cymdeithasol bellach yn cynyddu hefyd ac mae CBDC yn gobeithio ail-drafod yr hawliau teledu am bedair blynedd arall. Mae perfformiadau n Ewrop wedi gwella a bydd arbenigwyr technegol yn cadarnhau fod safon y chwaraewyr a r rheolwyr yn gwella n flynyddol hefyd. Fy ngobaith i, wrth gwrs, yw y bydd ailstrwythuro r pyramid yn gweld cystal llwyddiant ar gyfer y Cynghreiriau a r Clybiau yn Haen 2 a 3 yn y dyfodol. Mae Cyngor CBDC yn haeddu clod am gydnabod yr angen i ddatblygu ac i godi r safonau o fewn ein gêm ddomestig. Mae hyn yn unol â phrif nod strategol CBDC o glybiau cryfach a chynaliadwy a dwi n siwr bydd y darn o waith arbennig yma n gatalydd ar gyfer hynny

5 "...SO WE JUST HAD TO GO OUT THERE AND PROVE WHY WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS AND WHY WE'VE GOT SO MUCH FAITH IN THE SQUAD AND TEAM." NOMADS MICHAEL WILDE CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC STRIKERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE JD WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE, BUT ONE OF HIS MOST MEMORABLE HEADLINE MOMENTS CAME BACK IN 2014 WHEN HE SCORED THE DECIDING GOAL FOR THE NEW SAINTS AGAINST ABERYSTWYTH TOWN IN THE WELSH CUP FINAL AT THE RACECOURSE. Wilde was a key member of The New Saints until he made the switch to Connah's Quay Nomads in the summer of 2016, and while he enjoyed domestic success over two spells with the Welsh Premier League champions, few celebrations have matched the late winning goal that completed an unlikely turnaround. Two goals from Chris Venables within the opening 12 minutes of the final stunned the Saints in what would prove to be a fascinating contest. Holding on to their two-goal advantage with less than 20 minutes remaining, substitute striker Greg Draper reduced the deficit on 73 minutes from the penalty spot. With the momentum in their favour, Draper scored the equaliser a few minutes later, and as the game headed into the final stages, extratime seemed inevitable. Aberystwyth Town's only success in the competition had come way back in 1900, and as manager Ian Hughes prepared for the additional 30 minutes, the game swung in favour of the Saints as Wilde volleyed the winning goal past goalkeeper Mike Lewis. "We put ourselves in a tough position half time, said Saints manager Craig Harrison after the match. We didn't play well, Aberystwyth were the better team and started well so we just had to go out there and prove why we are the champions and why we've got so much faith in the squad and team. We had a great reaction and as bad as we were in the first half we were good in the second. Wilde is currently the top goalscorer for the Nomads this season, and it was his tenth goal of the campaign against Bala Town recently that handed The New Saints the Welsh Premier League title. Ironically still helping his former club achieve domestic success, Wilde's focus will now be very much on making more Welsh Cup history with the Nomads this season, a club that have never lifted the trophy

6 "...FELLY ROEDDWN NI RAID DIHUNO A DANGOS PAM TAW NI YW PENCAMPWYR YR UWCH CYNGHRAIR." CEI CONNAH MAE MICHAEL WILDE WEDI GOSOD EI MARC FEL UN O YMOSODWYR GORAU I FYNYCHU R UWCH CYNGHRAIR JD CYMRU, OND FE DDAETH UN O I GOLIAU PWYSICAF NOL YN 2014 YN Y CAE RAS WRTH IDDO SGORIO R GÔL FUDDUGOL I R SEINTIAU NEWYDD YN ERBYN ABERYSTWYTH YN YSTOD ROWND DERFYNOL CWPAN CYMRU'R FLWYDDYN HYNNY. Roedd Wilde yn rhan allweddol o dîm y Seintiau Newydd cyn iddo symud draw i Gei Connah yn Er iddo fwynhau cyfnod llwyddiannus yn y cynghrair gyda r Seintiau, roedd ei dathliadau wrth iddo sgorio'r gôl fuddugol wedi dod ar ôl gêm hynod gyffrous. Dechreuodd y Saint o dan bwysau wrth i Chris Venables sgorio dwy gôl yn y 12 munud agoriadol. Gyda 20 munud ar ôl sgoriodd yr eilydd Greg Draper o r smotyn i ddechrau troi r momentwm tuag at Y Seintiau Newydd. Ychydig o funudau wedyn, sgoriodd Draper unwaith eto a gyda r gêm yn cyrraedd y munudau olaf, roedd hi n edrych fel bydd angen amser ychwanegol. Dim ond unwaith mae Aberystwyth wedi codi r cwpan- nol yn 1900 ac wrth i w rheolwr Ian Hughes dechrau paratoi am 30 munud ychwanegol, torrodd Michael Wilde calonnau r tîm o Orllewin Cymru trwy yrru foli heibio r gôl-geidwad Mike Lewis. Roedd hi n hanner gyntaf anodd. Yn ôl rheolwr Y Seintiau Newydd Craig Harrison ar ôl y gêm. Roeddwn ni heb chwarae n rhy dda, roedd Aberystwyth yn well tîm i ddechrau felly roeddwn ni raid dihuno a dangos pam taw ni yw pencampwyr yr uwch cynghrair. Roedd yr ymateb o r chwaraewyr yn wych yn yr ail hanner. Wilde yw prif sgoriwr Cei Connah tymor hyn a i ddegfed gôl tymor hyn, yn erbyn Y Bala, oedd wedi sicrhau taw r Seintiau Newydd bydd pencampwyr y cynghrair unwaith eto, bach yn eironig. Serch hynny, fe fydd Wilde yn canolbwyntio ar ennill Cwpan Cymru gyda Chei Connah tymor hyn a sicrhau bod y clwb yn ennill y gystadleuaeth am y tro gyntaf yn ei hanes

7 BANGOR CITY THE WELSH CUP TREBLE IT WAS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF NEV POWELL THAT BANGOR CITY PRODUCED ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE WELSH CUP RUNS IN RECENT HISTORY. Winning the trophy in 2008, 2009 and 2010, Bangor City did not lose a Welsh Cup match between their opening 3rd round match of the 2007/08 campaign, until the 2011 final when they were denied a fourth consecutive trophy by Llanelli. It was a cup run that defined an era of success at the club, and one that culminated with the Welsh Premier League title in 2010/11. The run started back in November 2007, but the side needed extra-time to see off the challenge of Caersws in the 3rd round, and subsequently against Aberystwyth Town in the next round. Victories over lower league Guilsfield and Newport YMCA booked Bangor City's place in the Welsh Cup final that would take place at Newtown's Latham Park against Llanelli. Christian Seargeant scored a late equaliser to take the game to extra-time, where goals from Marc Limbert and Karl Noon ensured the club would lift the trophy for the first time since Garden Village, rivals Rhyl and Airbus UK Broughton were eliminated from the competition by Bangor City as Powell and his side looked to retain their trophy the following year. A 2-1 win over Bridgend Town in the semifinal confirmed that they would head to Parc-y-Scarlets to defend the cup against Aberystwyth Town. Goals from Les Davies and Seargeant either side of half-time proved to be the difference between the two teams, and complete back-to-back Welsh Cup success for the Citizens. Victories over Flint Town United, Aberaman Athletic, Llanelli and Prestatyn Town the following season ensured that the side would return to Llanelli for the 2010 final, where Mark Jones' Port Talbot Town would compete in the final of the competition for the first time. Early goals from Lee Hunt and Jamie Reed handed Bangor City a great start, but Port Talbot Town came back through Drew Fahiya and Liam McCreesh as the game headed into the final moments. In injury-time, Dave Morley scored as Bangor City edged the match 3-2, and with it completed a famous Welsh Cup treble. WINNING THE TROPHY IN 2008, 2009 AND 2010, BANGOR CITY DID NOT LOSE A WELSH CUP MATCH... UNTIL THE 2011 FINAL WHEN THEY WERE DENIED A FOURTH CONSECTUTIVE TROPHY BY LLANELLI

8 CPD DINAS BANGOR TAIR MLYNEDD O FUDDUGOLIAETH O DAN REOLAETH NEV POWELL FE WNAETH CPD DINAS BANGOR CREU HANES YNG NGHWPAN CYMRU. Wrth ennill y tlws yn 2008, 2009 a 2010, roedd Bangor heb golli un gêm yn y gystadleuaeth am dros dair blynedd nes y rownd derfynol yn 2011 pan gollon nhw yn erbyn Llanelli. Roedd hi n rhediad a oedd yn rhan o amser llwyddiannus yn y clwb, wrth i Fangor hefyd ennill y cynghrair yn 2010/2011. Dechreuodd ei llwyddiant yn y cwpan ym mis Tachwedd 2007, ond roedd rhaid i r gêm trydedd rownd yn erbyn Caersws mynd i amser ychwanegol, yn ogystal â r gêm yn y rownd nesaf yn erbyn Aberystwyth. Ar ôl curo Guilsfield a Newport YMCA, roedden nhw am gwrdd Llanelli yn y rownd derfynol ym Mharc Latham, Drenewydd. Sgoriodd Christian Seargeant yn y munudau terfynol i ddanfon y gêm mewn i amser ychwanegol, lle wnaeth Bangor sicrhau buddugoliaeth yn y rownd derfynol am y tro gyntaf ers 2000 wrth i Marc Limbert a Karl Noon sgorio. WRTH ENNILL Y TLWS YN 2008, 2009 A 2010, ROEDD BANGOR HEB GOLLI UN GÊM YN Y GYSTADLEUAETH AM DROS DAIR BLYNEDD NES Y ROWND DERFYNOL YN 2011 PAN GOLLON NHW YN ERBYN LLANELLI. Er mwyn cyrraedd y rownd derfynol yn 2009, roedd rhaid i Fangor wynebu Garden Village, Rhyl ac Airbus cyn curo Penybont 2-1 yn y rownd gynderfynol. Gyda r rownd derfynol ym Mharc y Scarlets yn erbyn Aberystwyth, roedd goliau Les Davies a Christian Seargeant wedi sicrhau fe fydd y cwpan yn aros yng ngogledd Cymru. Yn 2010 roedd rhaid i Fangor wynebu Port Talbot yn y rownd derfynol, ar ôl curo Fflint, Aberaman, Llanelli a Prestatyn. Gyda r rownd derfynol yn Llanelli unwaith eto, dechreuodd Bangor yn gryf wrth i Lee Hunt a Jamie Reed sgorio, ond roedd ymateb yn syth o Port Talbot wrth i Drew Fahiya a Liam McCreesh rhoi tîm Mark Jones nol ynddi. Yn yr amser ychwanegol, Dave Morley oedd yr arwr i Fangor gyda r gôl fuddugol a oedd wedi sicrhau llwyddiant yn y gystadleuaeth am dair blynedd yn olynol

9 CONNAH S QUAY NOMADS BANGOR CITY NEWTOWN ABERYSTWYTH TOWN 1. JOHN DANBY (GK) 2. MIKE PEARSON 3. KAI EDWARDS 4. JONNY SPITTLE 5. GEORGE HORAN 6. DANNY HARRISON 7. RYAN WIGNALL 8. CALLUM MORRIS 9. MICHAEL WILDE 10. ANDY OWENS 11. NATHAN WOOLFE 12. DECLAN POOLE 15. SEAN SMITH 16. JAY OWEN 18. JOE HEATH 19. JAKE PHILLIPS 20. RHYS WILLIAMS (GK) 21. ROB HUGHES 22. MICHAEL BAKARE 28. JON RUSHTON (GK) 30. SAM HALEY 34. JOE SULLIVAN 66. CONOR HARWOOD 76. SAM REYNOLDS 1. CONNOR ROBERTS (GK) 2. GETHIN THOMAS 3. TOM KENNEDY 4. LUKE WALL 5. ANTHONY MILEY 7. GARY TAYLOR-FLETCHER 8. ALEX DARLINGTON 9. YVES ZAMA 10. DEAN RITTENBERG 12. GEORGE HARRY 13. MATTHEW HALL (GK) 14. CAI OWEN 15. DANNY HOLMES 16. DANNY GOSSET 17. JOEL BEMBO-LETA 18. SAM JONES 19. LAURENCE WILSON 23. BRAYDEN SHAW 24. STEVEN HEWITT 28. GUTO WILLIAMS 30. PAUL CONNOLLY 1. DAVID JONES (GK) 2. JOE KENTON 3. RYAN SEARS 5. KIERAN MILLS-EVANS 6. JAY DENNY 7. NEIL MITCHELL 8. NICK RUSHTON 9. LUKE BOUNDFORD 10. JAMIE REED 12. JOLYON HARRIES 13. JACK PERRY (GK) 15. JAMIE PRICE 17. CALLUM ROBERTS 18. RYAN KERSHAW 19. T. CRAIG WILLIAMS 20. TOM GOODWIN 22. CRAIG WILLIAMS 23. ALEX FLETCHER 25. WILL EVANS 26. ETHAN JONES 1. CHRIS MULLOCK (GK) 2. DECLAN WALKER 3. SAM KERSH 4. CRAIG ROGERS 5. RYAN WOLLACOTT 6. TOM OWENS 7. GEOFF KELLAWAY 8. MALCOLM MELVIN 9. CRAIG HOBSON 10. JOHN OWEN 11. LUKE BORRELLI 14. RYAN WADE 15. KURT SHERLOCK 17. MATTHEW JONES 18. ASHLEY YOUNG 19. DAMIAN ALLEN 20. JACK RIMMER 21. ADAM WALTERS (GK) 22. HARRI HORWOOD 27. JOE PHILLIPS MANAGER: ANDY MORRISON MANAGER: KEVIN NICHOLSON MANAGER: CHRIS HUGHES MANAGER: SEAMUS HEATH 7 APRIL 2018 KO CORBETT SPORTS STADIUM, RHYL REFEREE: DEAN JOHN ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: DANIEL BECKETT ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: PHIL THOMAS 4TH OFFICIAL: MARK PETCH 8 APRIL 2018 KO MAES TEGID, BALA REFEREE: LEE EVANS ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: JOHN BRYANT ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: MARTIN ROBERTS 4TH OFFICIAL: KEVIN PARRY

10 NEWTOWN IT WAS BACK IN 1879 THAT NEWTOWN WHITE STARS LIFTED THE WELSH CUP WITH A 1-0 VICTORY OVER HOLDERS WREXHAM THROUGH A GOAL FROM E REES. Around 2,500 people were in attendance at the Cricket Field in Oswestry to witness what was only the second final of the competition, and it proved to be a purple period for the club as they appeared in a further five finals before the turn of the century. Although their early years proved fruitful, there would a 118-year gap between the club reaching their sixth final in 1897, and their seventh in Following their first Welsh cup triumph in 1879, the club reached the final of the domestic showpiece again in 1881, but suffered a 2-0 reverse against the dominant Druids team of that era at the Racecourse in Wrexham. An opportunity to avenge the defeat presented itself in 1886, but the Druids remained superior, and this time claimed a 4-0 victory. Despite reaching the final for a fourth time in 1888, a 5-0 win for Chirk AAA meant that Newtown would suffer Welsh Cup disappointment yet again. However, Newtown would get their hands on the trophy again in 1895 as a brace from W Pryce-Jones helped the side to a 3-2 win over Wrexham in front of an estimated crowd of 5,000 people at Welshpool. But Wrexham would get revenge in 1897, as A Williams and E Robinson scored the goals that would bring a fourth Welsh Cup final defeat for Newtown within the first two decades of the competition. Generations of players took to the field at Latham Park over the course of the next century, but it was not until current manager Chris Hughes took the reigns that the club would again feature in the Welsh Cup final. Coming up against the daunting challenge of taking on holders The New Saints, Newtown did at least have home advantage for the final, but two goals from Matty Williams for the league champions meant that the current crop of Newtown players would face the same disappointment as those back in 1897 did

11 Y DRENEWYDD CODODD SÊR GWYN Y DRENEWYDD GWPAN CYMRU YN ÔL YN 1879 GYDA BUDDUGOLIAETH O 1-0 DROS WRECSAM, DEILIAID Y GWPAN DIOLCH I GÔL GAN E REES. buddugoliaeth o 5-0 i Chirk AAA yn golygu siom Cwpan Cymru unwaith yn rhagor. Serch hynny, byddai r Drenewydd yn cael eu dwylo ar y tlws unwaith eto n 1895 gyda dwy gôl gan W Pryce-Jones yn helpu r garfan i fuddugoliaeth o 3-2 yn erbyn Wrecsam o flaen torf o tua 5,000 o bobl yn y Trallwng. Ond byddai Wrecsam yn dial yn 1897 wrth i goliau A Williams a E Robinson olygu fod y Drenewydd wedi u trechu pedair gwaith yn rownd derfynol y gwpan yn nwy ddegawd cyntaf y gystadleuaeth. Dros y ganrif nesaf fe droediodd cenedlaethau o chwaraewyr ar gae Parc Latham ond dim ond nes i r rheolwr Chris Hughes gymryd yr awenau fyddai r clwb yn cyrraedd rownd derfynol Cwpan Cymru eto. Roedd ganddyn nhw dipyn o her dod yn benben â r deiliaid Y Seintiau Newydd ond o leiaf roedd gan y Drenewydd fantais o chwarae gartref yn y rownd derfynol. Roedd dwy gôl gan Matty Williams ar gyfer y deiliaid y gynghrair yn golygu fod rhaid i garfan bresennol y Drenewydd wynebu r un siom â charfan Roedd tua 2,500 o bobl yn gwylio yng Nghae Criced Croesoswallt yn dyst i ail rownd derfynol y gystadleuaeth. Profodd i fod yn gyfnod euraidd i r clwb wrth iddyn nhw gyrraedd pum rownd derfynol arall cyn troad y ganrif. Er i r blynyddoedd cynnar brofi n ffrwythlon, byddai bwlch o 118 mlynedd rhwng chweched rownd derfynol y clwb yn 1897, a u seithfed yn Yn dilyn eu llwyddiant cyntaf yng Nghwpan Cymru n 1879, llwyddodd y clwb i gyrraedd y rownd derfynol eto n 1881 ond colli o 2-0 bu eu hanes yn erbyn tîm euraidd y Derwyddon Cefn o r cyfnod hwnnw yn y Cae Ras yn Wrecsam. Daeth cyfle i wneud iawn am y golled honno yn 1886 ond parhaodd y Derwyddon ar y brig i sicrhau buddugoliaeth o 4-0. Er iddynt gyrraedd y rownd derfynol am y bedwaredd tro yn 1888, roedd

12 ABERYSTWYTH TOWN "PEOPLE SAY IT'S NOT THE SAME WHEN YOU WIN IT TWO OR THREE TIMES, BUT IT IS. IT'S JUST AS NICE WHEN YOU WIN IT THREE OR FOUR TIMES..." THE 2002 WELSH CUP FINAL WAS THE ONLY FINAL THAT HAS EVER BEEN PLAYED AT ABERYSTWYTH TOWN'S PARK AVENUE, AND AS A RESULT IT FORMS PART OF BARRY TOWN'S FAMOUS HISTORY IN THE COMPETITION. Over 2,000 fans were in attendance as a 4-1 win over Bangor City ensured a second consecutive Welsh Cup success for the dominant domestic force at the time. Goals from Jon French, current Newport County manager Mike Flynn, and a brace from striker Jamie Moralee made it another year to remember for the club as they completed the second of three consecutive league and cup doubles. Gary Lloyd was a key member of that Barry Town side and treasures his Welsh Cup memories. I love the Welsh Cup, explained the former defender. Growing up as a kid, watching my father (Gilbert Lloyd) playing, it was one trophy that he didn't win. He had 33 amateur caps for Wales, which is a record. After winning the Welsh Cup for the first time I went over and gave him my medal, but he wouldn't take it, he said 'No, that's yours. You've earned it, you keep it'. People say it's not the same when you win it two or three times, but it is. It's just as nice when you win it three or four times, I just wish I could have won it more. But while Park Avenue has witnessed Welsh Cup success, Aberystwyth Town have not lifted the trophy since their one and only triumph in Played at the Cunnings in Newtown, 3,000 people came out to watch Aberystwyth Town defeat Druids 3-0 through goals from Green, James and Storey. Welsh Cup final defeats to Bangor City and The New Saints in 2009 and 2014 would follow respectively over a century later, and the aim for the Green and Blacks will now be to bring the famous trophy back to Park Avenue

13 CPD TREF ABERYSTWYTH ROWND DERFYNOL 2002 OEDD YR UNIG DRO I R ROWND DERFYNOL GAEL EI GYNNAL YNG NGHOEDLAN Y PARC, CARTREF CPD ABERYSTWYTH AC O GANLYNIAD MAE N CHWARAE RHAN YN HANES ENWOG CPD TREF Y BARRI YN Y GYSTADLEUAETH. Roedd dros 2,000 o gefnogwyr yno n gwylio r fuddugoliaeth o 4-1 dros Fangor, ail fuddugoliaeth yn olynol i r Barri a r grym domestig ar y pryd. Roedd goliau gan Jon French, rheolwr presennol Casnewydd Mike Flynn a dwy gôl gan yr ymosodwr Jamie Moralee yn ei gwneud hi n flwyddyn arall i w chofio i r clwb wrth iddyn nhw gwblhau r ail allan o dri dwbl cynghrair a chwpan yn olynol. Roedd Gary Lloyd yn aelod allweddol o garfan y Barri bryd hynny ac mae n trysori ei atgofion o Gwpan Cymru. Rwy n caru Cwpan Cymru, eglurodd y cyn-amddiffynnwr. Pan oeddwn i n tyfu fyny yn gwylio fy nhad (Gilbert Lloyd) yn chwarae, dyna oedd yr unig dlws iddo beidio ennill. Roedd ganddo 33 gap amatur i Gymru, sy n record. Ar ôl ennill Cwpan Cymru am y tro cyntaf nes i fynd draw at fy nhad a rhoi fy medal i iddo ond roedd o n gwrthod ei dderbyn. Na, dy fedal di ydi hwnna. Ti n ei haeddu o, cadwa di o. Mae pobl yn dweud nad ydi o run peth pan ti n ennill y gwpan ddwywaith neu dair ond mae o. Mae r teimlad cystal pan ti n ei ennill o dair neu bedair gwaith a fyswn i wedi hoffi ei ennill fwy. Ond tra bod Coedlan y Parc wedi bod yn dyst i lwyddiant Cwpan Cymru, tydi CPD Aberystwyth heb godi r tlws ers eu buddugoliaeth yn Ar gae r Cunnings yn y Drenewydd, daeth 3,000 o bobl i wylio Aberystwyth yn trechu r Derwyddon o 3-0 gyda goliau gan Green, James a Storey. Dros ganrif yn ddiweddarach cafwyd eu trechu gan Fangor a r Seintiau Newydd yn 2009 a 2014 felly r bwriad nawr fydd dychwelyd y tlws enwog yn ôl i Goedlan y Parc. "MAE POBL YN DWEUD NAD YDI O RUN PETH PAN TI N ENNILL Y GWPAN DDWYWAITH NEU DAIR OND MAE O..."

14 CONNAH'S QUAY NOMADS v BANGOR CITY NEWTOWN FC v ABERYSTWYTH TOWN DEAN JOHN REFEREE DANIEL BECKETT ASSISTANT REFEREE 1 LEE EVANS REFEREE JOHN BRYANT ASSISTANT REFEREE 1 PHIL THOMAS ASSISTANT REFEREE 2 MARK PETCH 4TH OFFICIAL MARTIN ROBERTS ASSISTANT REFEREE 2 KEVIN PARRY 4TH OFFICIAL

15 WHEN TOSHACK EDGED PAST CHARLES REFLECTING ON MEMORABLE WELSH CUP MOMENTS IN HISTORY, WE ROLL THE CLOCK BACK 50 YEARS TO THE 1967/68 SEASON, AND A WELSH CUP FINAL THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER TWO FAMOUS WELSH FOOTBALL NAMES AT VERY DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AND ILLUSTRIOUS CAREERS. Two of the most famous names to have played their part in Welsh Cup history are John Toshack and John Charles, and these two towering figures in Welsh football history went head-to-head in the 81st final of the competition back in Contested between Cardiff City and Hereford United over two legs in May, the club from the capital eased to a 6-1 aggregate victory to retain the trophy in front of just over 6,000 fans at Ninian Park. Ten days earlier, a teenage John Toshack had taken to the field at Edgar Street to take on a Hereford United side that included 36-year old player-manager John Charles. A Welsh football hero, Charles had represented his country with distinction until bringing his international career to an end in 1965, 28 and had been appointed player-manager the year before having initially joined the Southern League club to end his playing career in the lower divisions of the English football pyramid. Legend is an overused term in the modern game, but studying the career of John Charles will assist any student of the game to understand when it should be applied correctly. Regarded as world class as both a central defender and a striker, Il Gigante Buono (the Gentle Giant) is considered by many to be Britain's finest footballing export even to this day. Swansea-born Charles was a revered figure at Leeds United and the Italian giants, and would become a hero for the national team too. A talismanic influence, Charles was Wales' star man at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but injury denied him a place in the quarter-final when eventual winners Brazil eliminated Wales through a goal from an emerging teenager called Pele. But Charles was more than a world class footballer, he was considered a gentleman by those that were fortunate enough to know him, and it is fitting that even the stars of the modern game today are compared against the standards that he set back in a very different era. Of course, Charles was past his best when he turned out for Hereford United in the 1968 Welsh Cup final, but is aura remained, and there is no doubt that competing against such a Welsh football legend would have been a huge moment for the teenage John Toshack. Wearing the colours of his hometown club Cardiff City, Toshack would score 74 goals before moving to Liverpool in At Anfield he would enjoy domestic and European success, but it was with Swansea City that he forge his successful managerial future. Famously taking the club through the divisions to the top-flight, Toshack's became a wanted man, and he headed to Portugal in 1984 to take charge of Sporting Lisbon. Although it didn't prove to be a successful appointment for either party, it would spark a managerial career that would take Toshack across Europe and beyond over the course of the next 30-plus years. His most prominent appointments would be in Spain where he managed Real Madrid twice and Real Sociedad three times, bringing the La Liga title to the Santiago Bernabeu in Despite playing both legs, Toshack failed to find the net for Cardiff City in the 1968 Welsh Cup final as his side added to their 2-0 goal advantage gained at Edgar Street to win 4-1 at Ninian Park in the return match. However, there would be a moment for Hereford United to celebrate, as Charles himself scored the consolation goal on his return to Ninian Park after representing Cardiff City for three years before making the switch to non-league football. 29

16 JD THE ROAD TO THE SEMI-FINALS WELSH CUP FINAL 1967/68 1ST LEG: 6 May 1968 at Edgar St, Hereford Hereford United 0-2 Cardiff City (Jones, King) Hereford United: Cardiff City: Referee: Attendance: 5422 Isaac, Page, Timms, Jones, Lambden, J Charles, McIntosh, Summerhayes, Hunter, Derrick, Frazer Davies, Carver, Ferguson, Dean, Murray, Harris, Jones, M Clarke, B Clark, Toshack, Lea I P Jones (Trelewis) 2ND LEG: 16 May 1968 at Ninian Park, Cardiff Cardiff City (Bean, Clarke, o.g., Lea) 4-1 Hereford United (Charles) Cardiff City: Hereford United: Referee: Attendance: 6036 Davies, Carver, Ferguson, Clarke, Murray, Harris, Jones, Dean, King, Toshack, Lea Isaac, Page, Timms, Jones, Lambden, J Charles, McIntosh, Summerhayes, Hunter, Derrick, Frazer I P Jones (Trelewis) Match stats courtesy of the Welsh Football Data Archive THE TWELVE JD WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS ENTERED THE COMPETITION AT THE 3RD ROUND STAGE, AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE SHOCK AS ABERYSTWYTH TOWN ELIMINATED HOLDERS BALA TOWN WITH A RESOUNDING 4-0 VICTORY THROUGH GOALS FROM DECLAN WALKER, JOHN OWEN, JOE PHILLIPS AND LUKE BORRELLI. Meanwhile, Bangor City surprisingly conceded three goals at home to Welsh League outfit Cwmamman United, but progressed with a 4-3 win. Connah's Quay Nomads and Newtown eased past lower league opponents with respective 3-0 and 2-0 victories over Cwmbran Celtic and Guilsfield. Newtown needed penalties in the 4th round to edge past Cymru Alliance side Flint Town United, and while Bangor City conceded twice at Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochnant, a brace from Joel Bembo-Leta helped the Citizens to a 3-2 win. Aberystwyth Town progressed to the quarter-final as a solitary goal from Malcolm Melvin proved to be the difference against Cardiff Met. Elsewhere, despite conceding against Porthmadog inside the opening 10 minutes, Connah's Quay Nomads responded with goals from Michael Bakare, Michael Wilde and George Horan to book their place in the last eight. Penydarren BGC made national headlines through their JD Welsh Cup run this season, but the story came to an end as Bangor City claimed a 7-0 victory despite a spirited performance from the team from the fifth tier. Meanwhile, goals from Michael Bakare and Callum Morris enabled Connah's Quay to come from behind against JD Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints to record a memorable 2-1 win. Aberystwyth Town and Newtown meet in the semi-final following respective away quarter-final victories over Carmarthen Town and Llandudno

17 32