Ahead of this weekend’s Bute Energy Welsh Cup final, the competition’s new trophy has been taken around the country – visiting this year’s finalists Wrexham and Cardiff City, as well as host city Newport.
The bespoke new trophy, which was commissioned in 2022 as a mark of celebration for the 30th anniversary of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup, was produced in conjunction with Inkerman and Workers Gallery.
The Football Association of Wales commissioned Inkerman to produce the new trophy, working closely with artist Dr Gayle Rogers of the Workers Gallery, Ynshir, Wales who designed the image engraved on the side of the trophy. Dr Rogers’ image was inspired by the emergence of women’s football in Wales, whilst the top of the trophy is adorned with a gold-plated Welsh dragon.
Bute Energy Welsh Cup final
The first stop on the trophy’s tour was to Rodney Parade in Newport, the venue for this year’s Bute Energy Welsh Cup final.
Over 250 girls from local schools were in attendance as they took part in a football festival on the Rodney Parade pitch and they were joined by Cardiff City stars Megan Bowen and Eliza Collie.
The trophy then headed up north to Wrexham, first visiting St Giles Church in Wales Primary School where pupils had the opportunity to have their photograph with the silverware and meet Wrexham manager Steve Dale and club mascot Wrex the Dragon.
Later in the day, the trophy made its way to Colliers Park for a Huddle session delivered by Wrexham AFC Community Trust. Players at the session were visited by Wrexham defender Katie Sharp and goalkeeper coach David Williams, who surprised them with tickets to the final.
Finally, the trophy headed to Cardiff where pupils from Adamsdown Primary School received a coaching session from the Cardiff City Foundation and Bluebirds forward Rhianne Oakley. They then went on a tour of the Cardiff City Stadium, where Oakley surprised them with tickets to the final.
FAW Women’s Competitions Executive, Siân Cousins, said: “It has been brilliant to take our new Bute Energy Welsh Cup trophy around the country as we build up to what we hope will be the most prestigious final in the competition’s history.
“It is so important that clubs are engaged in their local community and it has been clear from the trophy tour how much incredible work Wrexham and Cardiff City do in this sector.
“We hope to see many of those who had the trophy visit their clubs and schools at the final at Rodney Parade on Sunday.”
