Welsh League Cup

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Cymru Premier League Cup
Founded1992
RegionWales
Number of teams46
Current championsConnah's Quay Nomads
(2nd title)
Most successful club(s)The New Saints
(9 titles)
2021–22 Welsh League Cup

The Cymru Premier League Cup, currently known as the Nathaniel MG Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a cup competition in Welsh football organised by the Cymru Premier. The competition was established in 1992 and is considered to be the second-most important domestic cup competition for Welsh football clubs, after the older and more prestigious Welsh Cup. Unlike the Welsh Cup, where 135 teams entered in 2008–09, the competition is only open to the members of the Cymru Premier, the Cymru North, Cymru South and a very select few other clubs. It should not be confused with the Welsh Football League Cup, which was for the clubs in the Welsh Football League, which despite its name only covered the south and centre of Wales up until it was disbanded at the end of the 2018-19 season.

Format[]

Since the inaugural season in the format of the competition has changed many times. The 2006/07 season saw the introduction of a new format for the competition.[1] Beginning in August, the eighteen premier league teams are split into six regionalised groups of three teams. The six group winners and two runners-up enter a quarter-final knock-out phase, followed by a two legged semi-final match before ending with the final in April.

The current format, introduced in 2014/15, saw a radical shake up for the competition. The 12 Cymru Premier teams are joined by six teams each from the two feeder leagues, and also four wildcard entrants. 24 teams enter Round 1, with the previous season's four semi-finalists receiving a bye through to Round 2. The draw for each round is regionalized as per competition rules, with teams being divided between northern and southern sections. The format changed slightly for the 2018/19 season, with each round up to the semi-finals being regionalized, and the semis an open draw. The semi-finals will also take place over a weekend for the first time.

From 2019-20 the format was expanded significantly with all 44 teams from the top two tiers of the Welsh football league system taking part as well as two wildcard entries. Twenty-eight clubs will enter in Round 1, which will be made up of any club without floodlights; the two wildcard entries; and the remaining teams ranked lowest in their respective Tier 2 league from the previous season. Round 1 will be regionalised, as will all rounds up to the Semi-Final stage. The fourteen winners will join the eighteen remaining sides in Round 2. This will be seeded so that Premier League sides are not drawn against one another. The winner of the tournament gained entry to the Scottish Challenge Cup.[2]

History[]

The first Welsh League Cup was won by Afan Lido in , who beat Caersws FC 4–3 on penalties, after drawing in the final 1–1.[3] The New Saints hold the record for the most League Cup titles; they have won the competition six times. Bangor City hold the distinction of making the most number of appearances in the final and losing on every occasion (6).

The cup is currently held by Cardiff Met, who defeated Cambrian & Clydach Vale 2–0.

Sponsorship[]

Since 2003, the League Cup has been named after its sponsor, giving it the following name:

  • Loosemores League Cup (2003 to 2012), sponsored by Loosemores Solicitors (Cardiff)[1]
  • The Word Cup (2012 to 2016), sponsored by theWord, a Cardiff-based telecommunications provider.
  • Nathaniel MG Cup (2016 to present), sponsored by Nathaniel MG Cars, a car sales company based in Bridgend and Cardiff.

Prize money[]

The total prize fund for the competition is £15,000. The league awards £1,000 to each losing semi-finalist, £3,000 to the runner-up and £10,000 to the competition winners.[1]

Past winners[]

Correct as of 2 February 2020.[4][5]
Season Winner Score Runner-up Venue
Afan Lido 1 – 1 Caersws Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Afan Lido won 4–3 on penalties  
Afan Lido 1 – 0 Bangor City Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Llansantffraid FC 2 – 1 Ton Pentre F.C. Latham Park, Newtown
Connah's Quay Nomads 1 – 0 Ebbw Vale Recreation Ground, Caersws
Barry Town 2 – 2 Bangor City Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Barry Town won 4–2 on penalties  
Barry Town 1 – 1 Bangor City Farrar Road, Bangor
Barry Town won 5–4 on penalties  
Barry Town 3 – 0 Caernarfon Town Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Barry Town 6 – 0 Bangor City Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Caersws 2 – 0 Barry Town Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Caersws 2 – 1 Cwmbran Town Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Rhyl 2 – 2 Bangor City Belle Vue, Rhyl
Rhyl won 4–3 on penalties  
Rhyl 4 – 0 Carmarthen Town Latham Park, Newtown
2004–05 Carmarthen Town 2 – 0 (a.e.t.) Rhyl Latham Park, Newtown
2005–06 Total Network Solutions 4 – 0 Port Talbot Town Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
2006–07 Caersws 1 – 1 Rhyl Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Caersws won 3–1 on penalties  
2007–08 Llanelli 2 – 0 Rhyl Latham Park, Newtown
2008–09 The New Saints 2 – 0 Bangor City Latham Park, Newtown
2009–10 The New Saints 3 – 1 Rhyl The Airfield, Broughton
2010–11 The New Saints 4 – 3 (a.e.t.) Llanelli Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
2011–12 Afan Lido 1 – 1 Newtown Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Afan Lido won 3–2 on penalties  
2012–13 Carmarthen Town 3 – 3 The New Saints Latham Park, Newtown
Carmarthen Town won 3–1 on penalties  
2013–14 Carmarthen Town 0 – 0 Bala Town Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
Carmarthen Town won 3–1 on penalties  
2014–15 The New Saints 3 – 0 Bala Town Latham Park, Newtown
2015–16 The New Saints 2 – 0 Denbigh Town Maesdu Park, Llandudno
2016–17 The New Saints 4 – 0 Barry Town United Cyncoed Stadium, Cardiff
2017–18 The New Saints 1 – 0 Cardiff MU Park Avenue, Aberystwyth
2018–19 Cardiff MU 2 – 0 Cambrian & Clydach Vale Jenner Park, Barry
2019–20 Connah's Quay Nomads 3 – 0 STM Sports Latham Park, Newtown
2020–21 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

Results by team[]

Correct as of 2 February 2020.[4]
Club Winners Runners-up Total Appearance Last Final
The New Saints 9 1 10 2018
Barry Town 4 2 6 2017
Caersws 3 1 4 2007
Carmarthen Town 3 1 4 2014
Afan Lido 3 3 2012
Rhyl 2 4 6 2010
Connah's Quay Nomads 2 2 2020
Llanelli 1 1 2 2011
Cardiff MU 1 1 2 2019
Bangor City 6 6 2009
Bala Town 2 2 2015
Caernarfon Town 1 1 1999
Cwmbran Town 1 1 2002
Denbigh Town 1 1 2016
Ebbw Vale 1 1 1996
Port Talbot Town 1 1 2006
Newtown 1 1 2012
Ton Pentre 1 1 1995
Cambrian & Clydach Vale 1 1 2019
STM Sports 1 1 2020

Notes:

  • The New Saints total includes wins under previous names: Total Network Solutions and Llansantffraid.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "The Loosemores League Cup". welshpremier.com. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Nathaniel MG Cup winners to qualify for IRN-BRU Cup from 2019/20 season". www.wpl.cymru. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Welsh League Cup Final – Match Report 1992/93". welsh-premier.com. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  4. ^ a b "List of Welsh League Cup Finals". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  5. ^ "Welsh League Cup – All Time Results". welsh-premier.com. Retrieved 7 May 2011.

External links[]

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