Welsh Cup draws need to be more transparent, says Coast FA councillor

Too many derbies and not enough variety – that is one North Wales football figure’s verdict on the latest Welsh Cup draw.

North Wales Coast FA councillor Chris O’Neal has received several complaints and was dissatisfied himself to see so many teams in close proximity to one another paired together in Monday’s first qualifying round draw conducted by the FAW in South Wales.

Mr O’Neal has written to Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney asking for more transparency as to how early stage draws are made.

“I’m looking for answers to questions that people are openly asking in relation to the FAW Welsh Cup,” said the former Bethesda Athletic manager.

“One assumes with a cup competition that the usual practice would be to place team names in a bag and draw them out, however once again this season there appears to be to many close proximity fixtures and one would raise questions on the method used to put these fixtures together.

“That said, please can you tell me :

The method used to put the qualifying fixtures together ?
Who was responsible for putting these fixtures together ?
If there was a draw done, were there any independent verifiers ?
Why can’t these draws be done in camera and be made public ?“

Mr O’Neal added: “I make no hesitation in saying some more transparency will certainly do the FAW a world of good.”

This week’s Welsh Cup draw raised a few complaints from some North Wales clubs on social media.

One said: “We pay to enter the Welsh Cup and most of us would like a bit of variety from the teams we play in the league. 

“However, this draw has put teams very short distances apart against each other. We understand the draw is regionalised at different stages, but we don’t need it localised like this at such an early stage. It takes some of the edge away.”

The FAW has been contacted for comment.

Welsh Cup first qualifying round Northern Draw

Amlwch Town v CPD Aberffraw
Bangor 1876 v CPD Llanberis
Barmouth and Dyffryn Utd v Blaenau Ffestiniog Amateurs
Bodedern Athletic  v CPD Gaerwen
Bontnewydd v CPD Mountain Rangers
Bow United v Betws-Y-Coed
Brickfield Rangers v Mynydd Isa Spartans
Caerwys v Hawarden Rangers
Castell Alun Colts v Corwen
CPD Cefni v Menai Bridge Tigers
CPD Cerrigydrudion v CPD Llansannan
Coedpoeth United v Ruabon Rovers
Connah’s Quay Town v Flint Mountain
Glantraeth v Bethesda Athletic
CPD Gronant v Greenfield
Kinmel Bay v Rhuddlan Town
Llandudno Albion v St Asaph City
Llandudno Junction  v Meliden
Llandyrnog United v Llandudno Amateurs
Llanfairfechan Town v Llanfairpwll
CPD Llannefydd v Llysfaen
Llanuwchllyn v NFA
Llay Welfare v Lex XI
Mochdre Sports v CPD Bro Cernyw
CPD Mynydd Llandegai v Gwalchmai
CPD Nefyn United v CPD Pwllheli
Penmaenmawr Phoenix v Llanrug United
CPD Penrhyndeudraeth v Caergybi
CPD Pentraeth v Talysarn Celts
Penycae v Saltney Town
Prestatyn Sports v Rhyl All Stars
Rhostyllen v New Brighton Villa
Rhydymwyn v Rhos Aelwyd
Rhyl Dragons v CPD Caer Clwyd
CPD Sychdyn v FC Queen’s Park
CPD Y Fali v CPD Llannerchymedd
CPD Y Felinheli v Llanystumdwy
CPD Y Glannau v FC United of Wrexham
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 v Abergele
Trearddur Bay v Nantlle Vale

Ties to be played over the weekend of Saturday 30 July 2022.