Welsh Cup

Welsh Cup
Founded 1877
Region Wales (excluding those playing under the English football league system since 1996)
England (only for those near Welsh border, until 1995)
Number of teams 135
Current champions Llanelli
(1st time)
Most successful club Wrexham
(23 times)
2011–12 Welsh Cup

The Welsh Cup (Welsh: Cwpan Cymru) is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.

The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run (except during the two World Wars) every year since its inception in 1877-78.[1]

In the early years of organised football in Wales, football was very much the sport of North Wales rather than the rugby union playing south - the FAW was founded in Ruabon, near Wrexham in 1876, and Wrexham remained the site of the FAW's head office until 1986; it was not until 1912 that a southern team, Cardiff City, won the Welsh Cup for the first time.

The winning team qualifies to play in the following season's UEFA Europa League (previously teams qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup, which was discontinued in 1999).

Contents

Participants

Until 1995, clubs playing in those parts of England close to the Welsh border could also play in the Welsh Cup, but could not progress to the European Cup Winners' Cup by winning the cup.

From 1996 to 2011, only clubs playing in the Welsh football league system were allowed to enter the Welsh Cup. This rule excluded the six Welsh clubs who played in the English football league system: Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County, Wrexham, Colwyn Bay and Merthyr Town. On 20 April 2011, the Football Association of Wales invited these six clubs to rejoin the Welsh Cup for the 2011-12 season but only Newport County, Wrexham and Merthyr Town accepted.[2]

History

Between 1961-62 and 1984-85 seasons the final was played as a two-leg match, originally on a points basis rather than aggregate score. In the 1985-86 season it reverted to a single game, to be decided by extra time and penalties as necessary.[1]

The last English winner of the Welsh Cup was Hereford United in 1990.

Welsh Cup Final results

For a list of Welsh Cup finals including venue and attendance information see List of Welsh Cup finals.

Performance by club

Club Wins Runners-up Total final
appearances		 Last final
1 Wrexham[w 1] 23 22 45 1995
2 Cardiff City[w 1] 22 10 32 1995
3 Swansea City[w 1][3] 10 8 18 1991
5 Bangor City 8 9 17 2011
4 Druids 8 5 13 1904
6 Shrewsbury Town 6 3 9 1985
7 Barry Town 6 1 7 2003
8 Chirk A.A.A. 5 1 6 1894
9 Rhyl 4 4 8 2006
10 Chester City[4] 3 10 13 1970
11 Merthyr Tydfil[w 1] 3 2 5 1987
12 Wellington Town[4] 3 3 1940
13 The New Saints[5] 2 3 5 2005
14 Crewe Alexandra 2 2 1937
14 Oswestry United[4] 2 2 1901
16 Newtown 2 3 5 1897
17 Hereford United 1 3 4 1990
18 Llanelli 1 2 3 2011
18 Newport County[w 1] 1 2 3 1987
19 Carmarthen Town 1 2 3 2007
19 Connah's Quay & Shotton[4] 1 2 3 1929
21 Tranmere Rovers 1 1 2 1935
21 Lovell's Athletic[4] 1 1 2 1959
21 Oswestry White Stars[4] 1 1 2 1885
24 Aberystwyth Town 1 1 2 2009
24 Borough United[4] 1 1 1963
24 Bristol City 1 1 1934
24 Ebbw Vale[4] 1 1 1926
24 Flint Town United 1 1 1954
24 Inter Cardiff 1 1 1999
24 South Liverpool 1 1 1939
31 Aberdare Athletic[w 1] 4 4 1923
32 Cwmbran Town 3 3 2002
32 Pontypridd 3 3 1921
34 Kidderminster Harriers 2 2 1989
34 Northwich Victoria 2 2 1910
34 Westminster Rovers[4] 2 2 1892
34 Whitchurch [4] 2 2 1906
39 Afan Lido 1 1 2007
39 Aberaman 1 1 1903
39 Connah's Quay Nomads 1 1 1998
39 Davenham[4] 1 1 1887
39 Flint Town[4] 1 1 1925
39 Hednesford Town 1 1 1992
39 Merthyr Town[w 1] 1 1 1924
39 Ruthin 1 1 1880
39 Stourbridge 1 1 1974
39 Ton Pentre 1 1 1922
40 Port Talbot Town 1 1 2010

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Indicates a Welsh club that plays or has played in the English system.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Welsh Cup Notes". Welsh Football Data Archive. http://www.wfda.co.uk/welsh_cup_notes.php. Retrieved 25 March 2011. 
  2. ^ Welsh cup exile over
  3. ^ Have played in the final as Swansea Town and Swansea City.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Italics indicates the club no longer exists.
  5. ^ Have played in the final as Llansantffraid and Total Network Solutions.

External links

Welsh Cup
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