Football

Come on FAW – change the bloody Welsh Cup Final venue now!

FOUR North Wales teams are into the 2025-26 Welsh Cup semi-finals.

Never happened before in our lifetimes, might never happen again.

The 2026 final will definitely involve two North Wales teams.

So where is the final this year?

Rodney Parade in Newport…….again.

Or ‘Dave’ Parade as I recently christened it in tribute to Trigger off Only Fools and Horses.

Tonight I have a message for the FAW……

CHANGE THE BLOODY VENUE NOW – JUST DO IT!

Four well-supported sides – CPD Dinas Bangor City 1876, Caernarfon Town, Flint Town United and CPD Y Rhyl 1879 – will make up the semis; whoever reaches the final will have two cracking fan bases

That final needs to be in North Wales….. Bangor City Stadium, Hops and Barley Community Stadium, STōK Cae Ras, depending on the teams who get through.

Anywhere, but make it in the North!

Yes, we all know the response that might be coming from Hensol….

Rodney Parade was decided upon at the start of the season so we cannot change the plan at this late stage

Why not? The FAW would definitely make a late change if it suited them.

However, a journey north might prove a little too much for the blazer squad out on their annual freeloading jolly.

The FAW prefers South Wales. The HQ used to be in the North, where it all started, but now the balance has tipped firmly in favour of the South.

Perhaps in the case of some major events, a South Wales venue is the correct or sensible choice. But not this one!

Giving us a North Wales based final would make life so much easier and cheaper for supporters of the two finalists.

Perhaps I under-estimate the FAW. Maybe they are already planning to switch the showpiece to North Wales, but to be honest I don’t have the greatest confidence in that happening.

Instead of doing the ‘right’ thing, they will likely use the facilities of a club so loyal to the FAW that they choose to play their football in England. In fact, the revenue will probably go to the rugby club, so a different sport gets to gain.

It’s ludicrous.

North Wales fans should flood the FAW with demands to play the final in Gogledd Cymru – get us what we deserve.

One person argued on-line earlier that South Wales would be a ‘good day out’ for North Wales teams and if two northern teams reached the FA Cup Final, they wouldn’t consider moving it from Wembley.

What a ridiculous comment. The FA Cup and the Welsh Cup are somewhat different. Millions of pounds different.

For one thing, Wembley has always been the traditional venue for the FA Cup Final, whereas Wales has rarely if ever had a constant base for our premier national knockout showpiece game.

And multi-million pound northern clubs wouldn’t feel any financial impact of travelling to London for a final, unlike North Wales clubs, for whom a journey to Newport could dig a major hole in their finances.

If you don’t think about our clubs FAW, think about our supporters. In the north, we have the best supported clubs outside of Cardiff City, Swansea City and Newport.

Domestically, our clubs blow away the attendances south or mid attract. We make you look good FAW – give us something back.