Denbigh Town manager calls for huge turnout at historic Welsh Cup clash with Llanelli
REPORT: Ollie Beech
Denbigh Town manager Dewi Llion has called on the local community to get behind his team ahead of their historic JD Welsh Cup tie with Llanelli on Saturday.
The club has reached the quarter-final of the national knockout for the first time in their 148-year history with the 7-1 win over Llanuwchllyn in the previous round setting up a mouthwatering game against the 2011 winners of the competition.
“It’s one of the biggest games in the club’s history,” admitted the Town boss.
“There’s a huge buzz around the place be it in the changing room or in the stands, the number of people in and around Denbigh asking about it has been brilliant.
“Every one of our lads is desperate to play so I’ll have some tough choices to make, but we’ll prepare correctly in order for this not to be the last step in a fantastic run.”
Denbigh’s average attendance at Central Park puts them in the top bracket of Welsh football this season having grown rapidly in the past three years, and another bumper crowd is expected with up to 100 Llanelli supporters making the five-hour-plus journey from South Wales.
“This is unchartered territory for us in these parts,” added Dewi Llion.
“We’ve waited almost 150 years to get here and we need everyone in and around Denbigh to back us in what will be one of our most difficult games of the season.
“The fans have been incredible over the last few years at home and on the road, so to see another big crowd backing us as they’ve done so often will be the added boost we need to help put the Town on a national stage.”
Denbigh are no strangers to big cup runs in recent years with the side winning the Lock Stock Ardal Northern League Cup in 2023, whilst losing out in the national FAW Amateur Trophy that same
year.
Their biggest day came in the Welsh League Cup in 2016, losing to The New Saints 2-0 in the final having claimed the scalps of top-flight sides on the way.
Llanelli, meanwhile, won the Welsh Cup in 2011 and have reached two other finals in their history.
Currently sat top of the JD Cymru South – the southern equivalent of Denbigh’s Cymru North, the second tier – the visitors from Carmarthenshire will be hoping to return to the Cymru Premier after a six-year absence.
The tie will be played at Central Park on Saturday, February 15th and kicks off at 2pm.
DENBIGH TOWN FACTFILE
- Denbigh Town Football Club formed in 1876 and plays in the JD Cymru North – Wales’ second division.
- The club won promotion back to the Cymru North in 2022/23 beating Bangor 1876 and Rhyl 1879 to the league title. They finished 6th in their first season back at T2 in 23/24.
- Dewi Llion has managed Denbigh since 2018, and recently reached his 200th game in charge
- In the summer of 2024, the club signed Keelan Williams, brother of Wales international Neco Williams. Other players of note include former professionals Bobby Beaumont (Sunderland), Nathan Brown (Chester), Iwan Roberts (Liverpool) and Owen Davies (TNS).
- Central Park will host the 2026 UEFA U19 European Championships
- The club announced and are building a brand new seven-figure community facility at the ground set to be opened in the summer.
- In December 2023 the club recorded their highest-ever attendance in a 2-1 win over Vale of Clwyd rivals Ruthin Town, with a gate of 1,145.
- Denbigh’s previous best in the Welsh Cup came in 1973 when reaching the Fifth Round