The JD Welsh Cup hype has been building at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen in Caernarfon this week, where Holyhead Hotspur striker Cory Williams teaches.
The Ardal North West side host top-flight Caernarfon Town in the second round on Friday night (KO 7:45pm), with Williams expecting some of his pupils to be part of the travelling Cofi Army for the highly-anticipated tie.
“I’ve been getting a bit of stick off the kids this week and I’m sure I’ll get some more on Friday night!” Williams tells FAW.Cymru.
Williams himself is also a Cofi at heart, born in Caernarfon and product of the club’s academy before he went on to have two separate spells in the first team at The Oval.
The striker departed in November 2020, going on to join Conwy Borough before a move to Holyhead Hotspur nearly two years ago.
“Everyone was buzzing when we found out the draw,” Williams says. “We’ve got a few Cofi boys in the team at Holyhead, so we are all really excited and looking forward to the occasion. It’s games like this that you play football for.
“Most of the boys who I played with at Caernarfon have left, but I’ve known Fish [Richard Davies] for a long time, he’s a great guy. I’m good mates with Osian Evans so we’ve had some banter this week. Obviously Darren Thomas, the Cofi Messi, is brilliant and I’m looking forward to playing against him.”
Williams scored four in Holyhead’s 10-0 win over Valley Seniors in this season’s JD Welsh Cup first qualifying round, did not feature in the 4-2 victory against Bethesda Athletic in the second qualifying round, but found the net again as his side triumphed 4-0 against Llandudno Amateurs in Round One.
The Anglesey outfit have not lost a game in 90 minutes in over two months, while Caernarfon come into the tie following back-to-back defeats in the JD Cymru Premier to Newtown and Aberystwyth Town.
“It’s mad what a week does in football,” Williams laughs. “Caernarfon beat TNS last week and we were all a bit nervous, but I think we’re just excited now. We’ve got nothing to lose. We’re going to go for it and we’re quietly confident that we can get a result.”
A significant crowd is expected at The New Stadium, with Williams hoping the home support can play their part as Holyhead target a place in Round Three for the first time in 10 years.
“It’s good to be at home,” the striker says. “I played against Holyhead when I was at Caernarfon and it wasn’t a nice play to go, the wind always seems to be against you!
“I know they’re bringing a couple of buses from Caernarfon and there will be plenty of Holyhead fans too so that will make it a great tie. The support will be massive for us. We want everyone behind us and hopefully we can cause a little upset.”