The dream didn’t quite happen for Cardiff-side STM Sports at the start of the month, when for the fourth time in five years a second-tier side finished runners-up in the Cymru Premier League Cup.
Known as the Nathaniel MG Cup, the structure saw major modifications in 2014-15 to allow more sides from the Welsh Premier feeder leagues to compete against their more illustrious rivals following the revamping of the Welsh Premier into a 12-team league in 2010-11.
Since then STM Sports, Cambrian & Clydach Vale, Barry Town United and Denbigh Town have all been runners-up.
In this year’s final STM more than held their own against Europa League-campaigners Connah’s Quay Nomads until Michael Wilde’s header broke the deadlock on 29 minutes.
Wilde put the Nomads two up before the interval, with Jamie Insall making it 3-0 in the opening minute of the second half as Connah’s Quay won the competition for the first time since 1996.
Victory for Andy Morrison’s side secures them a spot in next season’s Scottish Challenge Cup, which is contested by teams from the SPFL, under-21 Scottish Premiership clubs, a smattering of Highland and Lowland League teams, plus two guest sides from the English National League, NIFL, League of Ireland Premier Division and Cymru Leagues.
STM Sports had beaten two Cymru Premier sides during their run to the final in their first season in the competition, knocking out Newtown on penalties in the quarter-final and shocking Aberystwyth Town 2-1 in the semi-finals.
With the introduction of the Cymru Leagues at the start of the 2019-20 season, when the Football Association of Wales took over control of the second tier of Welsh football following a review of the league pyramid, the cup format was expanded significantly to allow all 44 teams from the top two tiers to take part, as well as two wild-card entries.
For Barry Town United in 2016-17 the cup run, which ended with a 4-0 defeat to TNS in the final, proved a catalyst for their return to the top flight the following season and Europa League action at the start of this campaign.
Cardiff Met University, runners-up to TNS in 2017-18, went on to win the cup the following year and also represented Wales in this year’s Europa League. Both Cardiff Met and Barry lost in the preliminary round, with Connah’s Quay going out 4-0 on aggregate to Partizan Belgrade in the second qualifying round.
While the Cymru Leagues are far from being the finished product yet, the FAW has to be applauded for its efforts to lift the profile of our national league since 2010-11.
The switch to a 12-team Welsh Premier, the expansion of the League Cup and participation in the Scottish Challenge Cup are all moves in the right direction and the introduction of the Cymru Leagues this year is further testimony to the improvements being made.
These steps have already persuaded Colwyn Bay to put an end to 35 tumultuous years in the English pyramid and return to the Welsh way with entry into this year’s Cymru North.
The route into Europe was a major factor for the Seagulls’ decision to bid farewell to the Northern League in England, with the club introducing a five-year plan aimed at getting promotion to the Cymru Premier and to challenge for the European places.
This year’s Scottish Challenge Cup saw three Welsh teams in the draw, with TNS and Connah’s Quay joined by Wrexham, representing the English National League.
While no Welsh team has yet won the Scottish Challenge Cup in the four years they have taken part, Connah’s Quay did reach the final last season and TNS were semi-finalists in the first and second seasons of Welsh participation.
This year TNS lost 3-1 on penalties to Stenhousemuir in the third round, Connah’s Quay were beaten 2-0 by Partick Thistle in the fourth round and Wrexham reached the quarter-finals, bowing out 2-0 to the Rangers U21 side.
The Dragons, struggling near the foot of the National League, currently sit five tiers below European qualification in the English system and the question is being raised once again about the merits of them joining the Cymru Leagues, with former Wales international Malcolm Allen one of those encouraging the switch.
The former Watford striker, a Wrexham fan and commentator for Cymru Premier matches on Sgorio, has admitted he would like to see the Dragons move into the Welsh system.
“Because Wrexham have come close to getting back into the English pyramid a few times, there’s no getting away from the fact that they haven’t,” Allen told the LeaderLive. “How much more can everyone take after a season that is still being threatened with the drop?
“I do see Dean Keates pulling them out of the mire this time round, but the future I would like to see for Wrexham would be for them to join the Welsh pyramid.”
The 52-year-old believes the opportunity to play in Europe is one the Dragons should seize with both hands.
“They could win the league, and they could become the first team from the Cymru Premier to reach the group stages of the Europa League,” said Allen. “I don’t think it’s going to happen, but I can dream, just like most Wrexham fans do when they think they can get back into the Football League!”
