Caernarfon Town head into the FAW Youth Cup final on Sunday with the club’s ‘Un Clwb’ philosophy at the forefront of their minds.
The young Cofis will face Haverfordwest County at Park Avenue in Aberystwyth (KO 13:00), where they’ll be supported by two traveling coaches, eager to claim the trophy for the first time.
“It’s a proud town,” says academy coach Darren Mawson. “The locals have arranged two buses to travel and support the team. It’s incredible, and regardless of the result, they’ll be behind the boys. The town is so supportive of this group of players.”
FAW Youth Cup Final
Mawson, who has held various roles at the club, from first-team duties down, believes Sunday’s final is the culmination of years of hard work, and that the Cofis are now seeing the results of their commitment to the proud ‘Un Clwb’ ethos and identity.
“So much effort goes into the academy, and this is a testament to all the work the volunteers put in. It’s magnificent,” he said.
“The volunteers and the people behind the scenes work tirelessly to make things happen and ensure the weekend goes smoothly. But you can see the foundation being built in the younger age groups, which gives us the platform to succeed. This weekend shows that we’re on the right track.
“Our ‘Un Clwb’ philosophy opens doors and creates opportunities for young players, and if they’re willing to take them, they can.
“Last year, we had six players make their first-team debuts, and one even signed a contract with the senior squad. This season, we’re up to eight debuts already, and throughout pre-season, the lads have been involved in preparation.
“Even when we were getting ready for our European campaign, the development players were consistently integrated with the first-team. It’s a collective effort. We use the ‘Un Clwb’ hashtag, and you can really see it in action. There are probably six or seven boys training with the first-team regularly, and the link between the first-team and the academy is strong. It’s a great opportunity for local players.”
Caernarfon enter Sunday’s showpiece occasion after a determined semi-final victory over Newport County, who had knocked out holders Briton Ferry Llansawel in the previous round.
“Newport were exceptional, by far the toughest team we’ve faced, but the boys showed incredible resilience and played their roles perfectly,” Mawson explained.
“A large part of the current team are ‘first years,’ and within that group, we have two or three players who are even younger. For the semi-final against Newport County, we had seven Under-16s playing due to various reasons, so for those players, that achievement is significant.”
“We’ll go into the final as underdogs again, but that doesn’t bother us. They’re a determined group, so eager for the challenge, and everyone involved with Caernarfon Town is excited. With the progress these boys are making, more professional teams are starting to take notice of the Cymru Premier.
“It provides more opportunities for younger players who’ve come through solid development pathways to play at a high level. Many academies now have excellent structures, and that’s helping to raise the standard of play.”
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