This may only be the third season of the Genero Adran Leagues, but this weekend, Cardiff City have a chance to take the next step towards becoming history makers.
No one in this era has won the treble, and the last team to do so were the Cardiff Met team of 2019. It is notoriously a very difficult challenge to complete.
However, this Bluebirds team have a chance to etch their names into the history books by winning all three major trophies. Having lifted the Genero Adran Premier last week and with the Bute Energy Welsh Cup final to come next month, this weekend sees them play in the Genero Adran Trophy final against Swansea City. Defender Hannah Power says the whole squad is excited at the prospect of becoming history makers.
2024 Genero Adran Trophy final tickets
“Everyone’s very focused and motivated for the final this Sunday. Having the opportunity to win another trophy to add to our collection for this season is amazing and we’re all really looking forward to the challenge of trying to achieve it.
“Every single player and member of staff has put so much hard work and dedication into everything we have come up against this season, so we’re hoping that it’s going to pay off and help us with our ambition of winning the treble.”
Over the past two seasons, you would have been hard pressed to wipe the smiles off every City player’s faces. However, this competition seems to have haunted the capital-based club.
Back-to-back defeats to Cardiff Met over the past two seasons have really tested the psychological resolve of the two-time Genero Adran Premier winners, but Power believes the team are now ready to finally take that step on Sunday.
“It was really tough missing out on the trophy last year and the year before but its only helped us grow and as a team we have learnt a lot from it. We know what it’s like to be so close to winning this trophy so last year’s loss will definitely be one of our motivations this Sunday.”
And things don’t get any bigger on Sunday. Not only is it a cup final, but it’s a final against Swansea City.
Very rarely have we seen a South Wales Derby in a major final. The last time it happened was in 2021, and the time before that 2018. The thought of beating your major rivals to a trophy is enough to make the heart beat that little bit faster.
Games between the two this season have been very close, with Cardiff winning three and Swansea winning two of their five meetings. Power knows how difficult the Swansea challenge will be but believes the extra motivation of meeting them in the final is enough to inspire her team further.
“Swansea have a wealth of experience and are a strong team. The rivalry intensifies every season between us which makes each game very competitive all around the pitch. We play with pride for our badge and so do they. The South Wales Derby is one of the biggest games of the season and it becomes an even more intense game when there is a trophy at stake.”
Whoever comes out as victors on Sunday will know full well come full time that they have been involved in one almighty battle.
Power, who has been involved in every game for City this season, hopes it will be them who hold the Adran Trophy aloft on Sunday afternoon, knowing they will be one step closer to a little bit of history.
“It would mean everything to win the Adran Trophy and make history. It’s a cup we’ve never had the pleasure of lifting so we cannot wait to go out onto that pitch Sunday and fight for the trophy.”
