List of Welsh Cup finals


The Football Association of Wales Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Welsh Cup, is a knockout cup competition in Welsh football, organised by the Football Association of Wales. It is the third-oldest association football competition in the world, behind only its English and Scottish equivalents, having began in 1877. The tournament is open to any men's football team in Wales; however, the club's ground must meet certain requirements laid out by the FAW prior to entering. Welsh clubs playing within the English football league system have been excluded from entering the tournament since 1995 following the creation of the League of Wales, when UEFA decreed that the winner of the competition could not compete in the European Cup Winners' Cup unless the sides were barred from entering. This prohibition currents affects five clubs: Cardiff City, Merthyr Town, Newport County, Swansea City and Wrexham. During its history, the competition has allowed some English clubs close to Wales to enter the tournament and has been won on 21 occasions by teams based outside Wales' borders.
As of 2016, the record for the most wins is held by Wrexham, who have won the competition on 23 occasions, their last victory coming in 1995. Apart from Wrexham, only Cardiff City and Swansea City have won the competition on 10 or more occasions, having won 22 and 10 respectively. Shrewsbury Town hold the record for the most times an English team has won the Cup, having claimed victory on six occasions. The last English winner of the Welsh Cup was Hereford United in 1990.

History

The Welsh Cup was founded by the Football Association of Wales in 1877, staging the first competition for the 1877–88 season. The first final was played on 30 March 1878 and was won by Wrexham who defeated Druids 1–0, Jas Davies scoring the first Welsh Cup final goal for the Dragons. Despite their defeat, amateur side Druids, who had become the first Welsh side to enter the English FA Cup the year before only to withdraw without playing a match, dominated the early stagings of the competition, featuring in eight of the first ten finals, winning five. However, the dawn of fully professional football clubs eventually proved too strong for the side who reached their last final in 1901.
Although the competition was introduced for Welsh clubs, English clubs close to the border were also allowed to enter and Shropshire based Oswestry Town and Cheshire based Northwich Victoria both participated in the inaugural season in 1877–88, the final for the 1878–79 tournament the following year also being held in Oswestry. In its early stages, the competition was dominated by teams from the northern area of Wales with Wrexham, Druids, Chirk and Newtown White Stars claiming multiple titles each by the turn of the century as well as other northern based sides Bangor and Aberystywth Town also claiming victories. It was not until 1903 that a Welsh side from the south of the country reached the final, by which time the competition had even been won on four occasions by English sides, when Aberaman Athletic reached the final but suffered an 8–0 defeat to Wrexham, a result that still stands as the biggest victory in a Welsh Cup final. It would take a further 9 years for a southern side to win the cup, Cardiff City claiming the title after defeating Pontypridd 3–0 in a replay in 1912. The tie was also the first time that the final had been played in the south of Wales.
During the 1960s, the competition gained new interest when the winner was handed a place in the qualifying rounds of the European Cup Winners' Cup. This gave amateur Welsh league sides and the Welsh sides playing in the lower levels of the Football League the chance to compete in European competitions and the tournament was subsequently dominated by the fully professional Football League sides Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham who were keen on reaching the Cup Winners' Cup for lucrative ties against European sides. English sides who won the tournament were barred from claiming the European place due to their location so the spot would be handed to the highest placed finishing Welsh sides in their stead. In 1995, the six Welsh clubs playing within the English football league system, Cardiff City, Colwyn Bay, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport County, Swansea City and Wrexham were barred from entering the competition by the FAW after pressure from governing body UEFA,. after rejecting a transfer into the newly formed League of Wales.
In 2012, the six clubs were invited back into the competition, although only Merthyr, Newport and Wrexham accepted the invitation, and competed in the 2011–12 season. In order to attract the other three teams into the competition, the FAW hoped to allow the sides to be eligible for European competition again but UEFA rules only allow teams to qualify for European tournaments via the competitions of one national association, requiring the sides to not enter the FA Cup or EFL Cup. However, the appeal was rejected by UEFA and the following season the six clubs were not invited to enter the Welsh Cup.

Finals

Until 1961, a draw in the final would lead to a replay in order to decide a winner. Between the 1961–62 and 1984–85 seasons, the final was played as a two-legged match, originally on a points basis rather than aggregate score, going to a third play-off match if required. In the 1985–86 season, it reverted to a single game, with the result to be decided by a reply in the event of a draw. In the 1987-88 season, the final reverted to a single game, with the result to be decided on the day by extra time and a penalty shoot-out as necessary. The competition was not held between 1915–1919 and 1940–1945 due to the first and second world wars when competitive football was suspended.
All teams are Welsh, except where marked .

Results

SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upVenueAttendance
1877–78Wrexham1–0DruidsActon Park Wrexham1,500
1878–79Newtown White Stars1–0Wrexhamthe Cricket Field, Oswestry2,500
1879–80Druids2–1RuthinRacecourse Ground, Wrexham4,000
1880–81Druids2–0Newtown White StarsRacecourse Ground, Wrexham4,000
1881–82Druids5–0 Northwich VictoriaRacecourse Ground, Wrexham2,000
1882–83Wrexham1–0DruidsRacecourse Ground, Wrexham2,000
1883–84 Oswestry White Star0–0DruidsRacecourse Ground, Wrexham2,000
Oswestry White Star1–0DruidsRacecourse Ground, Wrexham3,000
1884–85Druids1–1 Oswestry White StarRacecourse Ground, Wrexham2,000
Druids3–1 Oswestry White StarRacecourse Ground, Wrexham2,000
1885–86Druids4–0NewtownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham3,000
1886–87Chirk AAA2–1 DavenhamAlexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe1,500
1887–88Chirk AAA5–0NewtownOwen's Field, Chester Road, Wrexham3,000
1888–89Bangor2–1 Northwich VictoriaRacecourse Ground, Wrexham4,000
1889–90Chirk AAA1–0WrexhamRacecourse Ground, Wrexham3,500
1890–91 Shrewsbury Town5–2Wrexhamthe Cricket Field, Oswestry3,000
1891–92Chirk AAA2–1Westminster RoversWrexham Racecourse, Wrexham4,000
1892–93Wrexham2–1Chirk AAAthe Cricket Field, Oswestry5,000
1893–94Chirk AAA2–0Westminster RoversWynnstay Park, Ruabon3,000
1894–95Newtown3–2WrexhamRecreation Field, Welshpool5,000
1895–96Bangor3–1WrexhamCouncil Field, Llandudno7,000
1896–97Wrexham2–0Newtownthe Cricket Field, Oswestry6,000
1897–98Druids1–1Wrexhamthe Cricket Field, Oswestry4,500
Druids2–1Wrexhamthe Cricket Field, Oswestry1,500
1898–99Druids2–2WrexhamHand Field, Chirk4,000
Druids1–0WrexhamHand Field, Chirk3,500
1899–1900Aberystwyth3–0Druidsthe Cunnings, Newtown3,000
1900–01 Oswestry United1–0DruidsRacecourse Ground, Wrexham7,000
1901–02 Wellington Town1–0WrexhamRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,000
1902–03Wrexham8–0Aberaman AthleticRacecourse Ground, Wrexham5,500
1903–04Druids3–2Aberdare AthleticRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,500
1904–05Wrexham3–0Aberdare AthleticRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,191
1905–06 Wellington Town3–2 WhitchurchRacecourse Ground, Wrexham4,000
1906–07 Oswestry United2–0 WhitchurchRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,000
1907–08 Chester3–1Connah's Quay & ShottonRacecourse Ground, Wrexham8,000
1908–09Wrexham1–0 ChesterRacecourse Ground, Wrexham9,000
1909–10Wrexham2–1 ChesterRacecourse Ground, Wrexham10,000
1910–11Wrexham6–0Connah's Quay & ShottonRacecourse Ground, Wrexham3,000
1911–12Cardiff City0–0PontypriddNinian Park, Cardiff14,000
Cardiff City3–0PontypriddYnys Field, Aberdare7,000
1912–13Swansea Town0–0PontypriddNinian Park, Cardiff9,000
Swansea Town1–0PontypriddMid-Rhondda Ground, Tonypandy8,319
1913–14Llanelli0–0WrexhamVetch Field, Swansea15,000
Wrexham3–0Llanellithe Cricket Field, Oswestry3,639
1914–15Wrexham1–1Swansea TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,000
Wrexham1–0Swansea TownNinian Park, Cardiff4,000
1919–20Cardiff City2–1WrexhamRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,618
1920–21Pontypridd1–1WrexhamNinian Park, Cardiff7,000
Wrexham3–1PontypriddGay Meadow, Shrewsbury8,000
1921–22Cardiff City2–0Ton PentreTaff Vale Park, Pontypridd8,000
1922–23Cardiff City3–2Aberdare AthleticVetch Field, Swansea8,000
1923–24Merthyr Town2–2WrexhamTaff Vale Park, Pontypridd4,500
Wrexham1–0Merthyr TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham8,000
1924–25Wrexham3–1FflintRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,565
1925–26Ebbw Vale3–2Swansea TownWelfare Ground, Ebbw Vale2,500
1926–27Cardiff City2–0Rhyl AthleticRacecourse Ground, Wrexham9,690
1927–28Cardiff City2–0Bangor AthleticFarrar Road, Bangor12,000
1928–29Connah's Quay & Shotton3–0Cardiff CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham9,623
1929–30Cardiff City0–0Rhyl AthleticGay Meadow, Shrewsbury5,892
Cardiff City4–2RhylRacecourse Ground, Wrexham7,000
1930–31Wrexham7–0 Shrewsbury TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham8,868
1931–32Wrexham1–1Swansea TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham8,300
Swansea Town2–0WrexhamVetch Field, Swansea5,000
1932–33 Chester2–0WrexhamSealand Road, Chester15,000
1933–34 Bristol City1–1 Tranmere RoversRacecourse Ground, Wrexham4,922
Bristol City3–0 Tranmere RoversSealand Road, Chester4,000
1934–35 Tranmere Rovers1–0 ChesterSealand Road, Chester10,000
1935–36 Crewe Alexandra2–0 ChesterRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,807
1936–37 Crewe Alexandra1–1Rhyl AthleticSealand Road, ChesterUnknown
Crewe Alexandra3–1RhylSealand Road, ChesterUnknown
1937–38 Shrewsbury Town2–2Swansea TownGay Meadow, Shrewsbury14,500
Shrewsbury Town2–1Swansea TownGay Meadow, Shrewsbury8,000
1938–39 South Liverpool2–1Cardiff CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham5,000
1939–40 Wellington Town4–0Swansea TownGay Meadow, Shrewsbury6,000
1946–47 Chester0–0Merthyr TydfilNinian Park, Cardiff27,000
Chester5–1Merthyr TydfilRacecourse Ground, Wrexham11,190
1947–48Lovell's Athletic3–0 Shrewsbury TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham10,000
1948–49Merthyr Tydfil2–0Swansea TownNinian Park, Cardiff35,000
1949–50Swansea Town4–1WrexhamNinian Park, Cardiff12,000
1950–51Merthyr Tydfil1–1Cardiff CityVetch Field, Swansea12,000
Merthyr Tydfil3–2Cardiff CityVetch Field, Swansea18,000
1951–52Rhyl4–3Merthyr TydfilNinian Park, Cardiff10,000
1952–53Rhyl2–1 Chester CityFarrar Road, Bangor8,500
1953–54Fflint Town United2–0 ChesterRacecourse Ground, Wrexham15,584
1954–55 Chester1–1Barry TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,766
Barry Town4–3 ChesterNinian Park, Cardiff8,450
1955–56Cardiff City3–2Swansea TownNinian Park, Cardiff37,500
1956–57Wrexham2–1Swansea TownNinian Park, Cardiff10,000
1957–58 Chester1–1WrexhamSealand Road, Chester7,742
Wrexham2–1 ChesterRacecourse Ground, Wrexham7,542
1958–59Cardiff City2–0Lovell's AthleticSomerton Park, NewportUnknown
1959–60Cardiff City1–1WrexhamNinian Park, Cardiff
Wrexham1–0CardiffRacecourse Ground, Wrexham11,172
1960–61Swansea Town3–1Bangor CityNinian Park, Cardiff5,938
Home TeamScoreAway TeamVenueAttendance
1961–62Wrexham3–0Bangor CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham7,638
Bangor City2–0WrexhamFarrar Road, Bangor7,500
Bangor City3–1WrexhamBelle Vue, Rhyl12,000
1962–63Borough United2–1Newport CountyNant-y-Coed, Llandudno Junction3,500
Newport County0–0Borough UnitedSomerton Park, Newport5,000
1963–64Bangor City2–0Cardiff CityFarrar Road, Bangor8,500
Cardiff City3–1Bangor CityNinian Park, Cardiff9,050
Cardiff City2–0Bangor CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham10,014
1964–65Cardiff City5–1WrexhamNinian Park, Cardiff7,412
Wrexham1–0Cardiff CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham8,000
Cardiff City3–0WrexhamGay Meadow, Shrewsbury7,480
1965–66Swansea Town3–0 ChesterVetch Field, Swansea9,614
Chester1–0Swansea TownSealand Road, Chester6,346
Chester1–2Swansea TownSealand Road, Chester6,276
1966–67Wrexham2–2Cardiff CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham11,473
Cardiff City2–1WrexhamNinian Park, Cardiff8,299
1967–68 Hereford United0–2Cardiff CityEdgar Street, Hereford5,422
Cardiff City4–1 Hereford UnitedNinian Park, Cardiff6,036
1968–69Swansea City1–3Cardiff CityVetch Field, Swansea10,207
Cardiff City2–0Swansea CityNinian Park, Cardiff12,617
1969–70 Chester0–1Cardiff CitySealand Road, Chester3,087
Cardiff City4–0 ChesterNinian Park, Cardiff5,567
1970–71Wrexham0–1Cardiff CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham14,101
Cardiff City3–1WrexhamNinian Park, Cardiff7,000
1971–72Wrexham2–1Cardiff CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,984
Cardiff City1–1WrexhamNinian Park, Cardiff6,508
1972–73Bangor City1–0Cardiff CityFarrar Road, Bangor5,005
Cardiff City5–0Bangor CityNinian Park, Cardiff4,679
1973–74 Stourbridge0–1Cardiff CityWar Memorial Athletic Ground, Amblecote5,726
Cardiff City1–0 StourbridgeNinian Park, Cardiff4,000
1974–75Wrexham2–1Cardiff CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,862
Cardiff City1–3WrexhamNinian Park, Cardiff3,280
1975–76 Hereford United3–3Cardiff CityEdgar Street, Hereford3,709
Cardiff City3–2 Hereford UnitedNinian Park, Cardiff2,648
1976–77Cardiff City2–1 Shrewsbury TownNinian Park, Cardiff3,178
Shrewsbury Town3–0Cardiff CityGay Meadow, Shrewsbury2,907
1977–78Bangor City1–2WrexhamFarrar Road, Bangor10,000
Wrexham1–0Bangor CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham13,959
1978–79Wrexham1–1 Shrewsbury TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham6,174
Shrewsbury Town1–0WrexhamGay Meadow, Shrewsbury8,889
1979–80Newport County2–1 Shrewsbury TownSomerton Park, Newport9,950
Shrewsbury Town0–3Newport CountyGay Meadow, Shrewsbury8,993
1980–81Swansea City1–0 Hereford UnitedVetch Field, Swansea13,182
Hereford United1–1Swansea CityEdgar Street, Hereford7,038
1981–82Cardiff City0–0Swansea CityNinian Park, Cardiff11,960
Swansea City2–1Cardiff CityVetch Field, Swansea15,828
1982–83Wrexham1–2Swansea CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham2,295
Swansea City2–0WrexhamVetch Field, Swansea5,630
1983–84 Shrewsbury Town2–1WrexhamGay Meadow, Shrewsbury2,607
Wrexham0–0 Shrewsbury TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham3,148
1984–85 Shrewsbury Town3–1Bangor CityGay Meadow, Shrewsbury1,507
Bangor City0–2 Shrewsbury TownFarrar Road, Bangor1,800
WinnerScoreRunner-upVenueAttendance
1985–86Wrexham1–1 Kidderminster HarriersRacecourse Ground, Wrexham5,035
Kidderminster Harriers1–2WrexhamAggborough, Kidderminster4,304
1986–87Merthyr Tydfil2–2Newport CountyNinian Park, Cardiff7,000
Merthyr Tydfil1–0Newport CountyNinian Park, Cardiff6,010
1987–88Cardiff City2–0WrexhamVetch Field, Swansea5,465
1988–89Swansea City5–0 Kidderminster HarriersVetch Field, Swansea5,100
1989–90 Hereford United2–1WrexhamNational Stadium, Cardiff4,182
1990–91Swansea City2–0WrexhamNational Stadium, Cardiff5,000
1991–92Cardiff City1–0 Hednesford TownNational Stadium, Cardiff10,300
1992–93Cardiff City5–0RhylNational Stadium, Cardiff16,443
1993–94Barry Town2–1Cardiff CityNational Stadium, Cardiff14,500
1994–95Wrexham2–1Cardiff CityNational Stadium, Cardiff11,200
1995–96Llansantffraid3–3Barry TownNational Stadium, Cardiff2,666
1996–97Barry Town2–1Cwmbran TownNinian Park, Cardiff1,560
1997–98Bangor City1–1Connah's Quay NomadsRacecourse Ground, Wrexham2,023
1998–99Inter Cable-Tel1–1Carmarthen TownPenydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil1,100
1999–2000Bangor City1–0Cwmbran TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham1,125
2000–01Barry Town2–0Total Network SolutionsRacecourse Ground, Wrexham1,022
2001–02Barry Town4–1Bangor CityPark Avenue, Aberystwyth2,256
2002–03Barry Town2–2Cwmbarn TownStebonheath Park, Llanelli852
2003–04Rhyl1–0Total Network SolutionsLatham Park, Newtown1,534
2004–05Total Network Solutions1–0Carmarthen TownStebonheath Park, Llanelli1,126
2005–06Rhyl2–0Bangor CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham1,743
2006–07Carmarthen Town3–2Afan LidoStebonheath Park, Llanelli946
2007–08Bangor City4–2LlanelliLatham Park, Newtown1,510
2008–09Bangor City2–0Aberystwyth TownParc y Scarlets, Llanelli1,044
2009–10Bangor City3–2Port Talbot TownParc y Scarlets, Llanelli1,303
2010–11Llanelli4–1Bangor CityParc y Scarlets, Llanelli1,719
2011–12The New Saints2–0Cefn DruidsNantporth Stadium, Bangor731
2012–13Prestatyn Town3–1 Bangor CityRacecourse Ground, Wrexham1,732
2013–14The New Saints3–2Aberystwyth TownRacecourse Ground, Wrexham1,273
2014–15The New Saints2–0NewtownLatham Park, Newtown1,579
2015–16The New Saints2–0Airbus UK BroughtonRacecourse Ground, Wrexham1,402
2016–17Bala Town2–1The New SaintsBangor University Stadium, Bangor1,110
2017–18Connah's Quay Nomads4–1Aberystwyth TownLatham Park, Newtown1,455
2018–19The New Saints3–0Connah's Quay NomadsThe Rock, Wrexham1,256

Notes: