By Tomos Hughes
Aberystwyth Town director of football Neville Powell believes victory over his former club Connah’s Quay in the JD Welsh Cup final could inspire the club to a new era of success.
This year’s final takes place at Newtown AFC’s Latham Park, and will be shown live on Sgorio on Sunday, 6 May. Among those in attendance at the match will be Wales manager Ryan Giggs and his assistant, Albert Stuivenberg. The day is sure to be a momentous occasion for both sides, with the Park Avenue outfit last lifting the trophy in 1900 and Nomads yet to win the competition in their 72-year history.
Having secured Aberystwyth’s JD Welsh Premier League status after a tricky season, Powell hopes the cup final will give the club a boost.
Powell, who won the cup three times during a nine-year managerial stint at Bangor City, said, “When I took over 10 months ago, we only had four or five players signed so it’s taken a bit of time, but as the season’s moved on, we’ve got stronger and we’ve improved. Securing our league safety was probably more important to us than winning the Welsh Cup, because the club has to be in the league next season. But now we’ve got the final to look forward to. It’ll be a great day out for everyone at Aberystwyth and we’ll enjoy the day, but we’ll enjoy it more if we can lift that cup and take the club to European football.
“I went to Aberystwyth for a reason. They’ve good people running the club; I’d like to be part of it for the next five years and bring them the success they deserve. If we win this Welsh Cup, it’s just the start.”
The final will be Powell’s seventh from the dugout, almost 20 years to the day after his first, as manager of Connah’s Quay. The Nomads were 1-0 up and minutes away from lifting the trophy at Wrexham Racecourse that day, before an injury-time equaliser from the opposition – Bangor City – took the game into extra time, and subsequently a penalty shootout, which City eventually won 4-2.
Powell said, “We were massive underdogs in that game. It was a fantastic occasion, my first final as a manager and we thought we had it in the bag. I think they’d put the black and white ribbons of Connah’s Quay on the cup, but they had to take them off. It took weeks to get over it and it was hard to take. Connah’s Quay took a big crowd with them that day and it was a fantastic occasion for the club.
“I know a lot of people in Connah’s Quay, and they haven’t been in a Welsh Cup final since then, and hopefully there will be people there who were at the final 20 years ago. We know we’re going to be in for a tough game against Connah’s Quay, we’ll be huge underdogs on the day, but we’re more than happy with that. When we won that semi-final in Newtown, it was fantastic and it was great to see so many people happy. The players believe they can go on and win it.”
Watch the full interview between Powell and former Wales international midfielder, Owain Tudur Jones, on Mwy o Sgorio, on demand at s4c.cymru.
Sgorio: Cwpan Cymru JD: Aberystwyth v Cei Connah
Sunday 6 May 2.15, S4C
English commentary and subtitles available
Available to watch on-demand at s4c.cymru, iPlayer and other platforms
A Rondo Media production for S4C
