Caernarfon and Colwyn Bay chase Welsh Cup history

Caernarfon Town and Colwyn Bay meet in the Welsh Cup quarter-finals on Saturday with both clubs aiming to move a step closer to making history.

Despite being among the best supported sides in the Welsh pyramid, neither team have ever won the 149-year-old competition.

And with holders The New Saints already eliminated, the top two ranked sides left in the competition also have one eye on a lucrative European spot.

With Colwyn Bay having spent decades in the English football pyramid, Uefa's decision in 1995 to bar the 'exiles' from participating meant the Seagulls did not play in the Welsh Cup for a quarter of a century.

But seven years ago the club rejoined the Welsh pyramid, with the 2019-20 season marking a return to the Cymru North.

Following promotion they suffered relegation but, having then bounced back at the first time of asking, the Bay are back in the Cymru Premier's top six.

The club are averaging just under 1,000 fans for home matches this season - substantially higher than crowds during their time in the English non-league - which underlines the club's growing momentum on and off the pitch.

That support was evident last weekend, as Colwyn Bay attracted more than 1,600 fans - one of the biggest crowds ever recorded in the league - for a 2-2 draw against Connah's Quay Nomads.

"Looking back, [moving to the Welsh pyramid] was definitely for the best," said club volunteer Anna Openshaw.

"We've got so many supporters attending every match here nowadays.

"It's made such a difference to Colwyn Bay. The success that we're having now just pushes everyone on."

Saturday's tie will be played at Llandudno, Caernarfon's temporary home.

But with only 200 tickets having been made available for Colwyn Bay supporters, the club have set up a fan zone with screens at the Bay's Llanelian Road home.

"Two very strong north Wales teams going head to head, it could have been the final really," added Openshaw.

"The only downside is that only 200 of our supporters can attend.

"But hundreds of tickets have already been sold for the fan zone and they will be trying to make a lot of noise."

But Caernarfon, another of the Welsh pyramid's best-supported sides, are also sensing a huge opportunity.

Manager Richard Owain Davies, acknowledging their position as one of the remaining favourites, remains keen to take things one step at a time.

"Credit to Colwyn Bay, they've brought the numbers this year and I think it helps when you have success," Davies said.

"These are the games that we want and the derbies that we want. Getting more crowds into Welsh football... the more exciting it is for everybody involved.

"The financial gain that you can reap out of it as well is massive. It would be a fantastic achievement just to win the Welsh Cup, but we all know it is a golden ticket into Europe as well."

Six-time winners Barry Town are one of only two other Cymru Premier sides left in the competition.

Their opponents will be second-tier phoenix club Rhyl 1879, while third-tier Bangor 1876 host Cymru South side Caerau Ely.

The remaining tie will see Cymru Premier side Flint Town United host another third-tier club, Trearddur Bay.