Major cup competition set for return to North Wales football in 2026-27

After a 12-year absence from the North Wales football calendar, an historic cup competition is set to return in 2026-27 – with an invite list limited to Tier 1, 2 and 3 clubs.

The North Wales Coast FA has included on its list of competitions for next season the NWCFA Senior Challenge Cup.

This one-time major cup on the schedule has been suspended since 2014, due largely to an ever-decreasing number of entries in previous seasons.

However, the NWCFA has expressed its intention to bring it back, with Tiers 1, 2 and 3 eligible to take part.

This plan was first mooted at the end of 2019-20, but the intevention of Covid blocked it starting up again the following season.

When football fully returned in 2021-22, the North Wales pyramid changed structure and the status quo of no NWCFA Challenge Cup competition has remained since.

The NWCFA Intermediate Cup is now back regulary catering for Tier 4 sides, while the NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup is limited to Tier 5.

Rhyl have won the NWCFA Challenge Cup the most times – 16 – with Bangor City second on 13 and Colwyn Bay third with 10.

The last winners of the NWCFA Challenge Cup were Caernarfon Town in 2013-14, the Cofis beating Bangor City on penalties in the final.

NORTH WALES COAST FA CHALLENGE CUP LIST OF WINNERS

2014 – 2025 Competition suspended
2013-14 Caernarfon Town
2012-13 Prestatyn Town
2011-12 Bangor City
2010-11 Colwyn Bay
2009-10 Porthmadog
2008-09 Llandudno
2007-08 Llandudno
2006-07 Flint Town United
2005-06 Rhyl
2004-05 Bangor City
2003-04 Rhyl
2002-03 Porthmadog
2001-02 Caernarfon Town
2000-01 Caernarfon Town
1999-00 Colwyn Bay
1998-99 Bangor City
1997-98 Colwyn Bay
1996-97 Porthmadog
1995-96 Colwyn Bay
1994-95 Llandudno
1993-94 Connah’s Quay Nomads
1992-93 Bangor City
1991-92 Colwyn Bay
1990-91 Flint Town
1989-90 Mold Alex
1988-89 Mostyn
1987-88 Felinheli
1986-87 Holywell Town
1985-86 Mold Alexandra
1984-85 Ffynnongroew
1983-84 Colwyn Bay
1982-83 Colwyn Bay
1981-82 Colwyn Bay
1980-81 Caernarfon Town
1979-80 Caernarfon Town
1978-79 Pwllheli
1977-78 Porthmadog
1976-77 Porthmadog
1975-76 Bethesda Athletic
1974-75 Porthmadog
1973-74 Porthmadog
1972-73 Denbigh Town
1971-72 Blaenau Ffestiniog
1970-71 Barmouth & Dyffryn
1969-70 Rhyl
1968-69 Barmouth & Dyffryn
1967-68 Bangor City
1966-67 Holyhead Town
1965-66 Caernarfon Town
1964-65 Bangor City
1963-64 Borough United
1962-63 Borough United
1961-62 Pwllheli & District
1960-61 Colwyn Bay & Bethesda
1959-60 Pwllheli & District
1959-60 Pwllheli & District
1958-59 Blaenau Ffestiniog
1957-58 Bangor City
1956-57 Caernarfon Town
1955-56 Holyhead Town
1954-55 Rhyl
1953-54 Rhyl
1952-53 Rhyl
1951-52 Bangor
1950-51 Rhyl
1949-50 Rhyl
1948-49 Rhyl
1947-48 Rhyl
1946-47 Bangor City
1945-46 Caernarfon Town
1940-45 Competition Suspended
1939-40 Caernarfon Town
1938-39 Rhyl
1937-38 Bangor City
1936-37 Bangor City
1935-36 Bangor City
1934-35 Rhyl
1933-34 Rhyl
1932-33 Rhyl
1931-32 Bethesda Victoria
1930-31 Colwyn Bay
1929-30 Rhyl
1928-29 Connah’s Quay
1927-28 Rhyl
1926-27 Bangor
1925-26 Llandudno
1924-25 Mold
1923-24 Mold.

Cup wins

16 – Rhyl
13 – Bangor City
10 – Colwyn Bay
9 – Caernarfon Town
7 – Porthmadog
4 – Llandudno, Mold Alex, Pwllheli
2 – Flint Town United, Connah’s Quay Nomads, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Barmouth and Dyffryn, Holyhead Town, Borough United, Bethesda Athletic, Bethesda
1 – Prestatyn Town, Mostyn, Felinheli, Holywell Town, Ffynnongroew, Denbigh Town, Bethesda Victoria