FAW YOUTH CUP FINAL: Can Caernarfon Town lift the prestigious trophy for the first time?
FAW YOUTH CUP FINAL 2025-26
Caernarfon Town Development v The New Saints Development
Sunday, April 5, 2.30 pm (Go Goodwins Stadium, Llandudno)
A week before Caernarfon Town’s senior side embark on their first ever Welsh Cup Final, the club’s youth side have a huge date of their own this Sunday.
Last season’s FAW Youth Cup beaten finalists Caernarfon Town will aim to go one better tomorrow when they take on The New Saints in the 2025-26 showpiece.
The Cofis and Saints will contest the 35th final of the national competition on Sunday, April 5, at the Go Goodwins Stadium in Llandudno (KO 14:30).
The teams are no strangers to each other having met in the FAW National Academi Development League at the end of last month with Saints claiming a 3-0 win. Caernarfon Town reached the Youth Cup Final last season but suffered a 2-1 defeat to Haverfordwest County, while The New Saints lifted the trophy in 2022 and again in 2023.
Manager Darren Mawson’s Caernarfon side have enjoyed home advantage in three rounds of the FAW Youth Cup this season, while Charlie Griffith has headlined their route to the final. Griffith has scored eight goals in the competition so far, adding his name to the scoresheet in every round.
The campaign began with a comfortable 4-1 win over Panteg in November as Griffith, Jack Jones, Gwion Parry and substitute Hari Roberts made light work of their opponents. A resounding 7-1 win over Newport Corinthians followed a month with Griffith scoring twice along with goals from Osian Ellis, Osian Thomas, Iwan Jones, Guto Parry and Jack Wiliams.
A 5-1 win over Undy AFC in February saw Griffith score a hat-trick with Caron Williams and Owen Roberts also on target for the young Cofis. Barry Town United, losing finalists in 2024, would stand between Caernarfon Town and a successive final appearance as the two teams met at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium on St. David’s Day.
Griffith once again proved to be star player in the capital as he scored twice in quick succession to give his side a two-goal lead at half-time.
Joseff Bourner did reduce the deficit for Barry with less than 10 minutes remaining, but the Canaries sealed a 3-1 victory in added time as Griffith turned provider for Osian Ellis to score.
This will be the 35th FAW Youth Cup Final since the competition began in 1990. Cardiff City won that inaugural final with a 5-0 win over Swansea City at Penydarren Park, Merthyr. However, Swansea City have appeared in a record 19 finals, winning the trophy 13 times including an unprecedented 10 in a row between 2010 and 2019.
The New Saints are appearing in the FAW Youth Cup final for the sixth time. The club won the trophy in consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023, but before that double success they were runners-up in 2012, 2014 and 2019, losing to Swansea City each time. Caernarfon Town are making their second appearance at the final.
There will be no advance ticket sales for the final, with entry to the Go Goodwins Stadium on the day costing £2 for adults. Concessions are free.
Caernarfon Town Development squad
- Hari Thomas (GK)
- Monti Ellis
- Caron Williams (C)
- Osian Ellis
- Charlie Griffith
- Joseff Humphreys
- Guto Parry
- Owen Roberts
- Harri Wyn
- Osian Thomas
- Gwion Parry
- Jack Williams (GK)
- Deian Andrews
- Harry Chapman
- Jack jones
- Caleb Evans
- Michael Horn
- Iwan Jones
- Caio Jones
HOW THE FINAL WAS REACHED
Nov 9: Panteg Youth (h – Round 2) 4-1 (Gwion Parry pen, Jack Jones, Charlie Griffith, Hari Roberts)
Dec 7: Newport Corinthians (h – Round 3) 7-1 (Charlie Griffith 2, Iwan Jones, Osian Thomas, Osian Ellis, Guto Parry, Jack Williams)
Feb 1: Undy Youth (h – Quarter final) 5-1 (Caron Williams, Charlie Griffith 3, Owen Roberts)
Mar 1: Barry Town Development (Cardiff International Sports Stadium) 3-1 (Charlie Griffith 2, Osian Ellis)
FAW YOUTH CUP LIST OF WINNERS
1990 Cardiff City 5–0 Swansea City
1991 Wrexham 1–0 Swansea City
1992 Wrexham 2–1 Cardiff City
1993 Hereford United 4–2 Wrexham
1994 Wrexham 4–1 Swansea City
1995 Cardiff City 1–0 Wrexham
1996 Wrexham 3–2 Swansea City AET
1997 Pontardawe Athletic 1–0 Wrexham
1998 Cardiff City 5–0 Llanelli
1999 Swansea City 3–0 Caernarfon Youth Club
2000 Cardiff City 2–0 Llanelli
2001 Cardiff City 3–1 Taff’s Well AET
2002 Cardiff City 3–2 Llanelli
2003 Swansea City 4–1 Llanelli
2004 Cardiff City 4–1 Swansea City
2005 Newport County 2–2 Cardiff City Newport win 3–2 on pens
2006 Cardiff City 5–2 Aberystwyth Town
2007 Merthyr Tydfil 2–1 Cardiff College Celts
2008 Swansea City 1–0 Cardiff City
2009 Llanelli 2–1 Swansea City
2010 Swansea City 2–1 Wrexham
2011 Swansea City 5–0 West End
2012 Swansea City 2–1 The New Saints
2013 Swansea City 7–4 West End
2014 Swansea City 6–1 The New Saints
2015 Swansea City 3–1 Cardiff City
2016 Swansea City 5–0 Connah’s Quay Nomads
2017 Swansea City 2–0 Cambrian & Clydach AET
2018 Swansea City 2–1 Cardiff City Swansea win 3–2 on pens
2019 Swansea City 2–1 The New Saints
2022 The New Saints 1–0 Flint Town United
2023 The New Saints 5–2 Penybont
2024 Briton Ferry Llansawel 6–2 Barry Town United
2025 Haverfordwest County 2–1 Caernarfon Town
WINNERS TABLE
Swansea City 13
Cardiff City 8
Wrexham 4
The New Saints 2
Llanelli, Briton Ferry Llansawel, Haverfordwest County, Hereford United, Newport County, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontardawe Athletic 1 each