Can North Wales break a long-standing jinx in Sunday’s Women’s Welsh Cup Final?

There has not been a North Wales winner of the FAW Women’s Welsh Cup in 23 years.

Can all that change this Sunday, when pride of the north Wrexham AFC Women take on Adran Premier League champions Cardiff City in the 2025 final at Rodney Parade, Newport?

Just two North Wales teams have lifted the Welsh Cup in the competition’s 33-year history – Bangor City three times and Pilkington (Rhyl), first-ever winners in 1992-93 and again in 1993-94.

Not since 2001-02 have we experienced northern glory in Wales’ premier national knockout, when Bangor City beat Newport County 4-2 in the final.

In a thrilling game at the Recreation Ground, Caersws, Katie Williams, Ceryl Jones, Ailsa Orlik and Cheryl Foster scored the Citizens’ goals.

Victory did not come without its pains, City losing keeper Nicky Davies through injury and Katie Williams heroically deputising for more than half the game.

Bangor have appeared in eight Welsh Cup finals in all, losing five of them.

Since that memorable day in 2001-02, six North Wales teams have reached the final without success – Bangor, Pwllheli, Caernarfon Town (twice), NEWI Wrexham, Llandudno and, last season, Wrexham AFC Women.

Can Sunday finally be our day?

Perhaps we have our best chance yet. After failing to beat Cardiff City in eight attempts since joining the Adran Premier in 2023-24, Wrexham managed it twice in a brilliant second half to the 2024-25 season – home and away.

Fingers will be crossed in every part of North Wales that Steve Dale’s side can make more history and crush a 23-year jinx.

FAW Women’s Welsh Cup list of finals

1992-93: Pilkington (Rhyl) 1-0 Inter Cardiff
1993-94: Pilkington (Rhyl) 2-2 (4-2 pen) Inter Cardiff
1994-95: Inter Cardiff 1-1 (4-3 pen) Bangor City
1995-96: Newport Strikers 1-0 Bangor City
1996-97: Bangor City 3-0 Newcastle Emlyn
1997-98: Barry Town 3-0 Bangor City
1998-99: Barry Town 3-0 Newport Strikers
1999-2000: Barry Town 2-2 (3-0 pen) Bangor City
2000-01: Bangor City 3-0 Newport Strikers
2001-02: Bangor City 4-2 Newport County
2002-03: Cardiff City 1-0 Bangor City
2003-04: Cardiff City 4-0 Newtown
2004-05: Cardiff City 4-1 Cardiff City Bluebirds
2005-06: Cardiff City 11-0 Pwllheli
2006-07: Cardiff City 6-1 Caernarfon Town
2007-08: Cardiff City 9-0 NEWI Wrexham
2008-09: Cardiff City 3-0 Caerphilly Castle
2009-10: Cardiff City 6-0 UWIC
2010-11: Swansea City 3-0 Caernarfon Town
2011-12: Cardiff City 1-1 (4-2 pen) UWIC
2012-13: Cardiff City 3-1 Cardiff Met
2013-14: Cardiff Met 4-0 Swansea City
2014-15: Swansea City 4-2 Cardiff City
2015-16: Cardiff City 5-2 Llandudno
2016-17: Cardiff Met 2-2 (5-4 pen) Swansea City
2017-18: Swansea City 2-1 Cardiff City
2018-19: Cardiff Met 2-0 Abergavenny
2019-20: Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020-21: Cancelled due to COVID-10 pandemic
2021-22: Cardiff City 2-0 Cardiff Met
2022-23: Cardiff City 4-0 Briton Ferry Llansawel
2023-24: Cardiff City 2-0 Wrexham