Super six make history – North Wales achieves an all-time Welsh Cup best
SIX North Wales clubs have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup for the first time in the competition’s 148-year history.
Grassroots North Wales can confirm that according to information in the Welsh Football Data Archive and further checking of every last eight draw since 2017-18 (which WFDA does not include), there has never been a case of six northern teams making this stage before.
On an historic Saturday, December 13, 2025, Cymru Premier sides Caernarfon Town, Colwyn Bay and Flint Town United, CPD Y Rhyl 1879 of Tier 2 Cymru North and third-tier clubs CPD Dinas Bangor City 1876 and Trearddur Bay, all made it through to the quarters of Wales’ premier knockout competition.
Five of our teams eliminated South Wales opposition, while Rhyl 1879 got past Tier 3 hosts Porthmadog.
Since the Welsh Cup began in 1877-78, FIVE North Wales teams have made the last eight on NINE occasions, but until 2025-26, there has never been SIX.
After the ‘big four’ Football League clubs Cardiff City, Newport County, Swansea City and Wrexham were excluded from the Welsh Cup from 1995-96 onwards as they competed in the English system, one might have thought the door had opened wider for northern clubs in the Welsh pyramid to progress in our top knockout.
However, since then, the highest number of North Wales clubs to reach the quarter-finals is five. This happened in…..
2016-17
Guilsfield 0-3 Bala Town
Llanfair United 0-7 Caernarfon Town
Prestatyn Town 3p4 Gap Connah’s Quay
The New Saints 2-1 Bangor City
2019-20
Caernarfon Town 4-0 Cefn Druids
Connah’s Quay Nomads 1-2 Cardiff Met
The New Saints 6-1 Newtown
Flint Town United 0-1 Prestatyn Town
2023-24
Briton Ferry Llansawel 1–5 The New Saints
Bala Town 3–0 Flint Mountain
Buckley Town 1–4 Connah’s Quay Nomads
Cardiff Metropolitan University 3–2 Colwyn Bay
Before 1995-96, it was not only the ‘big four’ playing in the Football League that prevented North Wales clubs advancing further, but also the England-based teams who entered the Welsh Cup regularly such as Chester, Hereford United, Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers.
Despite the odds often being against them, however, five North Wales teams also made it to the quarter-finals in: 1888-89, 1899-1900, 1900-01, 1903-04, 1910-11 and 1929-30.
But this season, for the very first time, we have SIX North Wales clubs in the final eight of the Welsh Cup. Something we can feel very proud of.
- If you disagree with any information in this article please let us know if you’re aware of anything different. We strive for accuracy but are always happy to correct any wrongs
