NEWFA Challenge Cup: Airbus lift trophy for the first time in their history
NEWFA CHALLENGE CUP FINAL 2024-25
Airbus UK Broughton 4 (Peers 22, Stevenson 32, Baker 39, Jones-Wellstead 75)
Holywell Town 0
You’re once, twice, three times a winner.
Maybe it’s not the right setting to revive a Commodores classic, but the sentiment is the same.
Airbus UK Broughton rounded off a memorable season on Saturday by completing a cup treble.
Mark Allen’s side lifted the North East Wales FA Challenge Cup for the first time, on the back of winning both the northern and national Welsh Blood Service League Cup Finals last month.
Add to that finishing runners-up in the JD Cymru North, losing just twice in 30 games and scoring 102 goals, and the Wingmakers can look back on 2024-25 with immense pride.
Airbus were expected to endure a tough test in Saturday’s Challenge Cup showpiece held at their own Hollingsworth Group Stadium, with opponents Holywell having finished third in the Cymru North this season.
However, the cup treble-chasers ran out resounding winners on the day.
The deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute when a fine pass from Ryan Edwards released skipper George Peers to put away his 30th goal in all competitions this season with a sharp left-foot strike.
Holywell almost levelled on 28 minutes when a Jake Roberts effort came back off the post.
The lead was doubled on 32 minutes when an exquisite delivery into the box from Kieran Evans was headed home by Josh Stevenson at the back stick.
Airbus were in total control after 39 minutes when Edwards played a pass to Sam Baker who curled a beauty into the top corner from the left of the box.
Ten minutes into the second half, Holywell danger man Jamie Breese got in behind the Wingmakers defence for the first time, but his shot was saved by Keighan Jones.
Oli Lanceley struck the post for the Broughton side before the fourth goal arrived for the Cymru North runners-up.
Peers pulled the ball back for Ieuan Jones-Wellstead to make it 4-0.
A disappointing afternoon for Holywell was made complete when Brady McGilloway was sent off for a second yellow card deep into stoppage time.
NEWFA CHALLENGE CUP LIST OF WINNERS
1969-70 Brymbo SW
1970-71 Brymbo SW
1971-72 Bala Town
1972-73 Gresford Athletic
1973-74 Llangollen
1974-75 Buckley Rovers
1975-76 Rhosddu
1976-77 Llay Welfare
1977-78 Cefn Albion
1978-79 Sunblest United
1979-80 Buckley Town
1980-81 Buckley Town
1981-82 Brymbo SW
1982-83 Brymbo SW
1983-84 Llay R.B.L.
1984-85 Brymbo SW
1985-86 Mold Alex
1986-87 Mold Alex
1987-88 Mold Alex
1988-89 Lex Xl
1989-90 Llay RBL
1990-91 Lex Xl
1991-92 Gresford Athletic
1992-93 Cefn Druids
1993-94 Wrexham AFC
1994-95 Wrexham AFC
1995-96 Brymbo
1996-97 Rhostyllen Villa
1997-98 Wrexham AFC
1998-99 Flexsys Cefn Druids
1999-2000 Oswestry Town
2000-01 Buckley Town
2001-02 Buckley Town
2002-03 Buckley Town
2003-04 Bala Town
2004-05 Buckley Town
2005-06 Buckley Town
2006-07 Bala Town
2007-08 Bala Town
2008-09 Lex Xl
2009-10 Buckley Town
2010-11 Rhos Aelwyd
2011-12 Cefn Druids
2012-13 Buckley Town
2013-14 Cefn Druids
2014-15 Mold Alexandra
2015-16 Cefn Druids
2016-17 Gresford Athletic
2017-18 Ruthin Town
2018-19 Cefn Druids
2019-20 Competition incomplete (Covid-19)
2020-21 Competition cancelled (Covid-19)
2021-22 Ruthin Town
2022-23 Holywell Town
2023-24 Flint Mountain
2024-25 Airbus UK Broughton
TOTAL WINS
9 – Buckley Town
6 – Brymbo, Cefn Druids
4 – Bala Town, Mold Alexandra
3 – Wrexham, Lex XI, Gresford Athletic
2 – Ruthin Town, Llay RBL
1 – Rhos Aelwyd, Llangollen, Llay Welfare, Buckley Rovers, Rhosddu, Cefn Albion, Sunblest United, Rhostyllen Villa, Oswestry Town, Holywell Town, Flint Mountain, Airbus UK Broughton