Welsh Premier League Cup 2018/19 wildcard clubs announced

The Welsh Premier League has confirmed its wildcard entries into the Welsh Premier League Cup for the coming season. 

Rhyl FC, Flint Town United, Welshpool and Ton Pentre have been selected to join the competition, which allows four second tier clubs to enter on a wildcard basis.

They join all 12 JD Welsh Premier League clubs, and six teams each from the Huws Gray Alliance and Welsh Football League Division One.

And this year the competition is going national one round early, with the semi finals an open draw and played on a weekend.

Rhyl FC will be looking to do well in the competition as the club ushers in a new era under recently appointed coach Eddie Maurice-Jones.

Rhyl are one of the eight teams to have won the cup, having lifted the trophy twice in a row in 2003 and 2004.

Their North Wales neighbours Flint Town and Mid-Wales outfit Welshpool have never reached the last four of the competition, but will be looking to make a good impression with cup-upsets against Welsh Premier sides a possibility.

Ton Pentre were runners up in the 1994/5 final against Llantsantffraid, ancestor club of today’s current champions The New Saints.

TNS have dominated the competition as nine-time winners, but making it number 10 might be more difficult this year as they face a potential trip down south at the semi final stage.

Connah’s Quay could use the competition to turn up the heat on TNS, as they have lost to the Saints in the past two semi finals.

24 teams will enter the competition in round one, with last season’s semi finalists joining in round two.

Featured Image: Matthew Lofthouse PJ