All hail the young Caernarfon heroes who have reached a national final

Caernarfon Town Development will aim to become just the second North Wales team to win the FAW Youth Cup when they meet Haverfordwest County in the final next month.

The Canaries battled through to the showpiece game with a 3-1 win over Newport County in Saturday’s first semi at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth.

Haverfordwest secured their spot in the final in much more dramatic circumstances, beating Newtown 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.

Wrexham are the only North Wales team to win the national youth cup, lifting the trophy four times in the 1990s.

Other North Wales sides to reach the final are Connah’s Quay Nomads, Flint Town United and Caernarfon Youth Club, who lost 3-0 to Swansea City in 1999.

On Saturday, Town took on a Newport County side who had knocked out holders Briton Ferry Llansawel in the previous round.

Caernarfon’s Hari Lambe continued his impressive record of netting in every round of this season’s competition by opening the scoring in the 22nd minute, but Cameron Egan equalised for Newport in first half stoppage time.

Harri Wyn restored the Cofis’ advantage five minutes into the second half, before Owen Roberts sealed victory after 84.

Team v Newport County

Hari Thomas
Caron Williams
Tomos Crew
Ioan Williams (c)
William Xie
Osian Ellis
Hari Lambe
Guto Parry
Owen Roberts
Harri Wyn
Gwion Parry
Subs used
Owain Williams
Osian Thomas
Jack Jones
Alex Cunningham

Caernarfon’s path to the final

Nov 10, 2024: Cardiff Metropolitan University Development 2-0 (Hari Lambe, Osian Evans)

Dec 15, 2024: Penybont Under-10s 2-1 (Owain Williams, Hari Lambe)

Feb 2, 2025: Connah’s Quay Nomads Under-18s 3-3 (Hari Lambe 2, Owen Roberts) – won 6-5 on penalties)

Mar 2, 2025: Newport County Youth 3-1.(Hari lambe, Harri Wyn, Owen Roberts)

Coached by Darren Mawson and Ifan Thomas, Caernarfon compete in the FAW National Academi North Development League.

• The 34th FAW Youth Cup Final will be played on Sunday 6 April, with the venue and kick-off time to be confirmed in due course.
  

• The FAW Welsh Youth Cup is a competition which has been contested by teams affiliated to the Football Association of Wales at Under-18 level since 1990.

FAW YOUTH CUP – LIST OF FINALS

1990 Cardiff City 5–0 Swansea City
1991 Wrexham 1–0 Swansea City
1992 Wrexham 2–1 Cardiff City
1993 Hereford United 4–2 Wrexham
1994 Wrexham 4–1 Swansea City
1995 Cardiff City 1–0 Wrexham
1996 Wrexham 3–2 Swansea City AET
1997 Pontardawe Athletic 1–0 Wrexham
1998 Cardiff City 5–0 Llanelli
1999 Swansea City 3–0 Caernarfon Youth Club
2000 Cardiff City 2–0 Llanelli
2001 Cardiff City 3–1 Taff’s Well AET
2002 Cardiff City 3–2 Llanelli
2003 Swansea City 4–1 Llanelli
2004 Cardiff City 4–1 Swansea City
2005 Newport County 2–2 Cardiff City Newport win 3–2 on pens
2006 Cardiff City 5–2 Aberystwyth Town
2007 Merthyr Tydfil 2–1 Cardiff College Celts
2008 Swansea City 1–0 Cardiff City
2009 Llanelli 2–1 Swansea City
2010 Swansea City 2–1 Wrexham
2011 Swansea City 5–0 West End
2012 Swansea City 2–1 The New Saints
2013 Swansea City 7–4 West End
2014 Swansea City 6–1 The New Saints
2015 Swansea City 3–1 Cardiff City
2016 Swansea City 5–0 Connah’s Quay Nomads
2017 Swansea City 2–0 Cambrian & Clydach AET
2018 Swansea City 1–1 Cardiff City Swansea win 3–2 on penS
2019 Swansea City 2–1 The New Saints
2022 The New Saints 1-0 Flint Town United
2023 The New Saints 5-2 Penybont
2024 Barry Town United 2-6 Briton Ferry Llansawel

MOST WINS

13 – Swansea City
8 – Cardiff City
4 – Wrexham
2 – The New Saints
1 – Llanelli, Hereford United, Pontardawe Athletic, Newport County, Merthyr Tydfil, Briton Ferry Llansawel