PREVIEW: the 2024-25 domestic football season kicks off this Friday with the Nathaniel MG Cup!

The 2024/25 Welsh domestic season kicks off this weekend with the first round of the Nathaniel MG Cup.

The first ball to be struck will be at The Ring, where Llay Miners Welfare host Denbigh Town at 7pm on Friday night.

Llay are newly-promoted in the JD Cymru North after winning the Ardal North play-off in May and will be hoping to replicate Denbigh’s exploits last season as Dewi Llion’s side finished sixth in their first campaign back in the second tier.

Several players are in line to make a competitive debut for Town, including summer signing Harrison Bellis, who scored a phenomenal 144 goals in 71 appearances for previous club CPD Y Glannau.

Newport County are another wildcard side returning to the Nathaniel MG Cup following their previous entry in 2021/22 and they travel to Llandudno on Saturday evening (KO 5pm) after being placed in the Northern section of the draw.

Sunday afternoon’s first round ties include Airbus UK Broughton hosting Mold Alexandra in a Flintshire derby at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium (KO 2:30pm).

The two sides finished third and fourth respectively in the JD Cymru North last season.

It will be a first competitive fixture for The Alex under the guidance of new manager Barry Owen, while there will be a reunion for striker Danny Warren who left Mold to join Airbus this summer.

FIXTURES

Nathaniel MG Cup round one – Northern Section

Friday 19 July

Llay Miners Welfare v Denbigh Town (19:00)
Flint Mountain v Gresford Athletic (19:30)
Ruthin Town v Bangor 1876 (19:45)

Saturday 20 July

Buckley Town v Prestatyn Town (14:30)
Caersws v Holywell Town (14:30)
Penrhyncoch v Guilsfield (14:30)
Llandudno v Newport County (17:00)

Sunday 21 July

Airbus UK Broughton v Mold Alexandra (14:30)