Two days, one week apart, no-one associated with Caernarfon Town will ever forget

They were seven days anyone associated with Caernarfon Town Football Club will remember forever.

Two magnificent performances, two national cups won, history made at the double.

• April 5, 2026: FAW Youth Cup Final – Caernarfon Town Development 3 The New Saints 2
  

• April 12, 2026: JD Welsh Cup Final – Caernarfon Town 3 Flint Town United 0
  

Just reading it back sends shivers down the spine. To have actually witnessed the two occasions was even more inspiring.

There could be no greater proof that Caernarfon Town are getting it right than lifting the two biggest cups available to the youth and senior sides in the same season.

With The Oval undergoing major renovations in preparation for hosting matches in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship this summer, the club is absolutely buzzing.

YOUTH GLORY

Before this season, Wrexham were the only North Wales club to win the FAW Youth Cup, all their four successes coming back in the 1990s. Since then, nothing.

That all changed on April 5, when Darren Mawson’s young Cofis beat two-time trophy winners The New Saints 3-2 at Llandudno to etch a new name on the cup.

Despite trailing twice, goals from Osian Ellis, tournament top-scorer Charlie Griffith and Owen Roberts won the day for the Canaries – a massive achievement.

These Caernarfon lads are not one-season wonders – they also reached the final 12 months previously only to lose narrowly to Haverfordwest County.

Great youth and junior set-ups do not happen overnight. It takes years of hard work and dedication. Caernarfon Town’s academy has done a marvellous job.

How many of those cup winners are the first teamers of tomorrow? Some have already made the jump.

WELSH CUP MAGIC

Despite a distinguished history which includes 21 seasons in the top-flight League of Wales/Welsh/Cymru Premier, Caernarfon had never reached a Welsh Cup final until 2026.

Under their current and previous names, the club had made the semi-final of Wales’ premier knockout six times, but never progressed to the showpiece.

So even before Sunday’s final against Flint Town United, the Canaries had made club history.

Having achieved something they had craved for so long, Caernarfon were going to make the most of it.

Three goals in the opening 17 minutes, Sion Bradley, Matty Jones and Adrian Cieslewicz on target, proved more than enough to clinch the trophy.

The Cofis had other close calls, while Flint also made some chances in the first half, which if taken might have made a difference, but Richard Davies’ men were worthy winners.

The all-North Wales final completed a refreshingly different Welsh Cup competition this season, with the four semi-finalists hailing from the north, two of them – Rhyl 1879 and Bangor City 1876 – representing Tiers 2 and 3.

For only the second time in 11 finals, The New Saints were not present and with all due respect they were not missed by many.

Seeing the Cymru Premier dominated by one full-time club season-after-season is one thing, but it’s nice to witness some different names vying for Welsh Cup glory.

Despite the final being staged in South Wales, the 2,224 attendance was a good one – such was the noise the Caernarfon supporters emitted, it could have been The Oval.

Caernarfon Town will look back on 2025-26 with massive pride, but they will be determined to ensure it’s not a one-off. Starting with the Europa Conference League next season, the Cofis will remain hungry for more success.