Archive Classics: Bethesda Athletic complete back-to-back Cookson Cup successes
2008-09 COOKSON CUP FINAL
Bethesda Athletic 2 (King OG 3, C Thomas 18)
Glan Conwy 0
APRIL 2009 – AT MAESDU PARK, LLANDUDNO
Welsh Alliance League champions for a second successive season, Chris O’Neal’s Bethesda side also retained the Cookson Cup at Llandudno.
In a wind-dominated final at Maesdu Park, the holders retained their grip on the trophy with two goals in the first 18 minutes.
Playing with the gust at the backs in the first half, Pesda made an early breakthrough when after just three minutes, Paul Rowlands’ inswinging corner from the right was volleyed into his own net by unfortunate Glan defender Rob King.
Bethesda doubled their lead in the 18th minute when Nigel Barry floated a free-kick from midfield into the box and defender Carl Thomas powered a header past keeper Andy Rooney.
After that Glan settled and played some nice football but the conditions quelled their attacks.
With the elements in their favour in the second period, Glan were expected to pile on the pressure and this they did at times although often the wind was more their enemy than their friend.
Mally Tidswell’s long range effort was well held by Athletic keeper David Clarke, then Paul Moroney’s side did get the ball in the net but the officials ruled offside.
Aled Stapleton connected fiercely with a Sam Sinkinson cross, but Bethesda keeper Dave Clarke brilliantly pushed the ball past the post.
From the resulting corner Gavin Roberts climbed highest but headed over the bar and after that Glan huffed and puffed but could not get past Clarke or that watertight defence.
To be fair to both sides, this final was largely made a farce by the strong wind and rain, neither team being able to play their normal game.
COOKSON CUP LIST OF WINNERS
1936/37 Blaenau Ffestiniog
1937/38 Porthmadog
1938/39 Blaenau Ffestiniog
1939/40 Llandudno
1940/48 No competition
1948/49 Holyhead Town
1949/50 Holyhead Town
1950/51 Pwllheli
1951/52 Pwllheli
1952/53 Flint Town United
1953/54 Pwllheli
1954/55 No competition
1955/56 Borough United
1956/57 Caernarfon Town
1957/58 Borough United
1958/59 Blaenau Ffestiniog
1959/60 Nantlle Vale
1960/61 Blaenau Ffestiniog
1961/62 Bangor City Res
1962/63 Borough United
1963/64 Holyhead Town
1964/65 Llandudno
1965/66 Borough United
1966/67 Holyhead Town
1967/68 Holyhead Town
1968/69 Bangor City Res
1969/70 Blaenau Ffestiniog
1970/71 Bethesda Athletic
1971/72 Blaenau Ffestiniog
1972/73 Blaenau Ffestiniog
1973/74 Colwyn Bay
1974/75 Wrexham Res
1975/76 Porthmadog
1976/77 Wrexham Res
1977/78 Caernarfon Town
1978/79 Pwllheli & District
1979/80 Colwyn Bay
1980/81 Colwyn Bay
1981/82 Colwyn Bay
1982/83 Courtaulds Greenfield
1983/84 Colwyn Bay
1984/85 Bangor City Res
1985/86 Bethesda Athletic
1986/87 Bangor City Res
1987/88 Connah’s Quay Nomads
1988/89 Flint Town United
1989/90 Porthmadog
1990/91 Caernarfon Town
1991/92 Cemaes Bay
1992/93 Cemaes Bay
1993/94 Llangefni Town
1994/95 Llanfairpwll
1995/96 Denbigh Town
1996/97 Halkyn United
1997/98 Loco Llanberis
1998/99 Loco Llanberis
1999/2000 Llanfairpwll
2000/01 Llanfairpwll
2001/02 Bangor City Res
2002/03 Rhyl Reserves
2003/04 Rhydymwyn
2004/05 Bethesda Athletic
2005/06 Denbigh Town
2006/07 Denbigh Town
2007/08 Bethesda Athletic
2008/09 Bethesda Athletic
2009/10 Conwy United
2010/11 Denbigh Town
2011/12 Holyhead Hotspur
2012/13 Caernarfon Town
2013/14 Holywell Town
2014/15 Llanrug United
2015/16 Glantraeth
2016/17 Glantraeth
2017/18 Conwy Borough
2018/19 Llangefni Town
2019/20 Competition not completed
2020/21 Season void
2021/22 CPD Y Rhyl 1879
2022/23 St Asaph City
2023/24 Kinmel Bay
2024/25 Penmaenmawr Phoenix
2025-26 Mochdre Sports
COOKSON CUP – NUMBER OF WINS
7 – Blaenau Ffestiniog
5 – Holyhead Town; Bangor City Res; Bethesda Athletic; Colwyn Bay
4 – Borough United; Caernarfon Town; Pwllheli; Denbigh Town
3 – Porthmadog, Llanfairpwll
2 – Flint Town United; Wrexham Res; Cemaes Bay; Llangefni Town; Loco Llanberis; Glantraeth; Llandudno
1 – Mochdre Sports, Nantlle Vale, Courtaulds Greenfield, Connah’s Quay Nomads, Halkyn United, Rhyl Reserves, Rhydymwyn, Conwy United, Holyhead Hotspur, Holywell Town, Llanrug United, Conwy Borough, CPD Y Rhyl 1879, St Asaph City, Kinmel Bay, Penmaenmawr Phoenix