Flint Town United one step from JD Welsh Cup history repeating

Flint Town United will look to make more JD Welsh Cup history on Saturday when they take on Bangor City 1876 for a place in the final of a competition they won for the only time back in 1954 (KO 12:45pm).

A sell-out crowd will be at the Go Goodwins Stadium, Llandudno together with the live Sgorio cameras for what will be Flint’s biggest match in over 70 years. Back then the club defeated Cardiff City 2-1 in the semi-final before beating Chester City by the same scoreline in front of over 15,000 fans at Wrexham to lift the trophy.

“The lads are in a good place, and we’ve just got to make sure now that everybody’s ready to go on Saturday,” explained manager Lee Fowler to FAW.cymru this week. “Our main priority is maintaining our league status, and while our results didn’t back up our performances early on, we’ve now lost only two games since November. The lads have worked really hard and they’re getting the rewards now.”

The Silkmen have seen off the challenge of Bow Street, Airbus UK Broughton, Penybont and Trearddur Bay to reach the semi-finals of the JD Welsh Cup, with the penalty shoot-out victory over Penybont proving to be a decisive moment for Fowler in this cup run.

“Penybont naturally became favourites to win the Welsh Cup once The New Saints and Connah’s Quay dropped out,” said Fowler. “So, we knew we had the most difficult draw in that round, and that if we could get through that game, we had a chance. But I think every club at that point thought the same, and it’s good to see different clubs challenging because that’s what the cup is all about.

“We treat every game the same way, and if we don’t turn up, we can get beat because of the way we play. We give everyone the same amount of respect and we don’t underestimate anyone. We’re up against Bangor which we know will be a tough game. We’re favourites because we’re the Cymru Premier team, but they have players who are more than capable of playing at a higher level.”

Bangor City 1876 are currently top of the Lock Stock Ardal North West but under manager Michael Johnston and an ambitious board the club are looking to bring former glory back to the city.

“I think what they’re doing is really good for Welsh football,” Fowler added. “They’re not going to stop, and they have the capability to push the club back to the Cymru Premier and compete.”

Fowler arrived at the club in June 2022, and despite being relegated from the JD Cymru Premier in his first season, the club’s continued faith in him was rewarded as they made an immediate return to the top-flight. A former Cymru U21 international, Fowler believes the synergy between himself and the board provides the perfect platform to deliver future success.

“The chairman (Darryl Williams) is really good and lets me deal with the football stuff,” he explained. “It’s been brilliant. Obviously, my first season was difficult as I had to rebuild the team, but they’ve given me the time to be myself and now they’re seeing the rewards. I’m pretty old school and the chairman’s a bit bonkers, but in a good way, and it all just works.

“We’re one of the youngest teams in the Cymru Premier and our style of play is really good. The players are hungry and we regularly have scouts at our games, so we’re clearly doing something really well at this football club. We have the ambition to be in the top six and we’re disappointed that we’re not, that’s our mentality as there’s no fear within us.”

The spotlight will be on Flint Town United this weekend as they look to move within one match of lifting the famous trophy yet again, but Fowler is not letting the potential reward distract from the immediate challenge ahead.

“My main focus is just on winning the game,” he added. “I’ve never been ego-driven. The success that comes is more important for the people above me and the players.

“The fans will travel down in numbers and Bangor will take a big crowd as well. There’s going to be a really good atmosphere and it will be really good for Welsh football. The volunteers and those behind the scenes deserve this and I know the chairman’s absolutely buzzing for it

“Of course, it’s great to be in the semi-final for the first time in 72 years, and to get to the final would be even better for them. We’ve got to do our part and work as hard as we can against a really good team, and hopefully we will get a little bit of luck on the day, because that comes into it too.”

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