Caernarfon Town boss Richard Davies says that the club’s historic JD Welsh Cup win encapsulated the spirit of the whole town.
The Cofis triumphed 3-0 over Flint Town United at Rodney Parade on Sunday, scoring all three goals inside the opening 17 minutes to tear apart the Silkmen and lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
“I’m just so proud,” an emotional Davies said after the game. “I think we were representing the community today. We showed passion, courage, pride and that’s everything that Caernarfon is in a nutshell.
“To see Darren [Thomas] bach lift that trophy means everything to me. To give these fans what they deserve, it’s hard to put into words. I’m sure in a couple of days when it sinks in, I’ll have a better idea of how it feels!”
Caernarfon Town 3-0 Flint Town United
Cofi legend and club captain Darren Thomas was brought on as a substitute to a rousing reception for the final stages of the game, before lifting the trophy alongside Danny Gosset.
The 39-year-old has made over 400 appearances for Caernarfon across three separate spells at the club, but major silverware had alluded him until Sunday.
“I can’t describe it,” Thomas said. “It’s unbelievable for the club, to win it for the first time ever and qualify for Europe is some achievement. I’m numb at the minute. This is the best cup to have in Wales. It’s the Welsh Cup. Everyone wants to win it, so to finally get our hands on it is amazing. I feel very proud.”
Sion Bradley is another player with a long affiliation to the club, having first signed for Caernarfon in 2018. The forward completed a switch to The New Saints in 2024, but returned to the Cofis on loan this season and scored the opening goal in Sunday’s victory.
“I signed here when the club first got up to the Cymru Premier, eight years ago,” Bradley said. “It means the world to me and it’s just a phenomenal club, everything about it is just great.”
Gosset captained Caernarfon on the day and also struggled to describe the feeling of getting his hands on the trophy.
“I’m genuinely lost for words. It means so much to everyone that’s supported us over the years – the fans, the staff, everyone around the club, our families and friends. These are the days you play football for, it’s such an amazing feeling. I’m proud of the whole team and everyone involved.”
Lifting the trophy will likely have felt even more special for Gosset, whose journey in football is an inspirational example of resilience and fighting spirit.
The midfielder was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, while playing for Bala Town in 2019. After six months of chemotherapy, he was given the all-clear and returned to action before signing for Caernarfon in 2021.
“At one time I couldn’t see a way out and didn’t know whether I’d get back on the football pitch again,” he said. “So to be playing at the highest level in Wales again, it means the world to me. To win the Welsh Cup, make some history with Caernarfon and get into Europe again is just a fantastic feeling.”
Over 1,000 Caernarfon fans made the trip to Rodney Parade and were in fine voice throughout the afternoon as they witnessed their club make history.
“They’re unbelievable,” Davies said of the Cofi Army. “There’s no club like it. People try and replicate it, you can’t. We were on the way in and they’re on each side of the street, in the pubs, the flares were going off. It just gives you goosepimples and if that doesn’t get you going then I don’t know what does.
“There’s been some hard times at Caernarfon, it’s not all been rosy. They’ve been through the mill, so to now have the good times and see them enjoying themselves in their numbers means everything.”
“They never let us down and the numbers that they come in is fantastic,” Gosset added. “The singing through the whole game really drove us on and it means so much to us. We’ll look forward to another European trip with them next season!”
