“Prestatyn Town Women” have withdrawn from the Bute Energy Welsh Cup – because they don’t exist!
NEWPORT, WALES - 27 APRIL 2025: A view of the trophy during the 2024/25 Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final fixture between Wrexham AFC Women & Cardiff City Women FC at Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales. (Pic By Ashley Crowden/FAW)
Heard the one about the Women’s Welsh Cup phantom entry?
Well this is a true story.
There was much surprise when a team named Prestatyn Town appeared in the qualifying round draw for the Bute Energy Welsh Cup last week. Why the shock? Because there was no evidence that such a team existed!
Town, one of 11 teams in the draw only six of which would get a tie and the other five would receive byes, landed a home clash with Rhyl-based NFA.
The draw was made on the FAW’s Welsh Cup Draw show on Red Wall + last week and has since appeared on the association’s website.
Grassroots North Wales has been trying to find out more about the mysterious newcomer ever since. We eventually heard over the weekend that Prestatyn Town Women in fact did not exist and they were entered by mistake by the club.
The FAW confirmed this today.
As a result, NFA now get a bye into the second qualifying round.
A statement from the FAW confirmed: “The FAW can confirm that Prestatyn Town’s entry into the Bute Energy Welsh Cup was an application error by the club and they have now withdrawn from the competition.
“Their Qualifying Round One opponents NFA have been granted a bye into Qualifying Round Two.”
So, if in 50 years time you are sitting in a pub quiz and are asked the question: ‘which team once entered a Welsh Cup but then withdrew because they didn’t exist’ – you’ll know the answer!