RHYL FC - A WELSH CUP HISTORY

Although they have generally always competed under the name Rhyl FC, teams called Rhyl United, Rhyl Town and Rhyl Athletic appeared in the competition's early years and are considered part of the history of the club we all know today.
Success was thin on the ground in the 19th century, although Rhyl did make the semi-finals in 1883/84 only to be eliminated by the then mighty Druids.
Those early seasons also saw the club expelled from the tournament a number of times for fielding ineligible players - something Joe Furnival would never allow to happen today!
The turn of the century brought another semi-final appearance in 1900/01, but Rhyl lost to Oswestry after a replay, and they made another last four exit in 1904/05.
The 1920s marked the start of a golden spell in the competition for the Lilies. In 1922/23 they came through three replays to reach the last four only to go down to Aberdare - again after a replay.
Rhyl were beaten semi-finalists again in 1925/26 but the following season reached their first final, losing 2-0 to a Cardiff City side which also won the FA Cup, becoming the only Welsh club ever to (and ever likely to) do so when they defeated mighty Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley.
Cardiff certainly had the indian sign on Rhyl as over the next three seasons they beat them in two semi-finals and one final of the Welsh Cup.
Rhyl made it to the semis three more times in the 1930s (losing to Wrexham, Chester and Swansea) and were beaten finalists for a second occasion in 1937, Crewe Alexandra their conquerors by 3-1 after a replay.
In 1947/48 the Lilywhites achieved what remains their biggest Welsh Cup win, an 11-0 drubbing of Caernarvon Town.
The 1950s were halcyon days for Rhyl as they lifted the cup twice in successive seasons.
On April 24, 1952, in front of 10,000 spectators at Cardiff's Ninian Park, the Lilies defeated Merthyr Tydfil 4-3 in a thrilling final with two goals apiece from the legendary Don Spendlove and Stafford. The Rhyl team that day was: Scales, Ferguson, Cardno, McKillop, Rogers, McFarlane, Marsden, Welsh, D Spendlove, Thomson and Stafford.
The following season Rhyl did it again, knocking out Swansea Town and Cardiff City en route to the final at Farrar Road, Bangor, where they beat Chester 2-1, the great Spendlove again on the mark twice. The Rhyl side was: Griffiths, Ferguson, Fazackerley, McLean, McKillop, Donaldson, Hanlon, Welsh, Spendlove, Thomson and Stafford.
After those lofty peaks many lean years in the competition followed as Rhyl began to fall victim to various bogey sides, including Pwllheli and District who must have been a crack team in the 1950s and 60s, and even into the 70s.
Finally, another good run came together in 1971/72, with Rhyl making it all the way to the semis only to crash once again to their nemesis Cardiff City.
More years of cup disappointment followed, with the Lilywhites regularly coming up short when matched with Football League opposition, especially the likes of Shrewsbury Town and Wrexham.
There were also shameful exits at the hands of lower league outfits like BSC Shotton, Brymbo Steelworks and Mostyn, defeats some diehard fans still shudder about today.
But in 1992/93, while a humble Cymru Alliance outfit, Rhyl regained former Welsh Cup glories when against all odds they ended up in the final again, beating Connah's Quay Nomads over two legs in the semis before succumbing to Football League giants Cardiff City 5-0 in the final in front of 16,443 at the National Stadium.
The Rhyl team that day was: G Lichfield, A Lee, R Jones, S Espley, P Lacey, S Jones, S Cross (D Norman), L Congerton, I McMullen, S Taylor (P Marriott), A Jones.
The explusion of the "big three" Football League clubs from the competition since 1995/96 onwards has inevitably made the Welsh Cup easier to win.
Rhyl did not experience any further joy until 2003/04 when, under John Hulse in a glorious quadruple-winning season, they defeated TNS 1-0 in the final at Newtown courtesy of Chris Taylor's own goal.
Two years later the Lilies landed the trophy for the fourth time when, again with Hulse at the helm, they overcame Bangor City 2-0 in front of 1,743 (but it sounded like a lot more) at the Racecourse, Wrexham. Andy Moran (penalty) and Gareth Wilson secured the trophy.

RHYL FC'S COMPLETE WELSH CUP RECORD 1878/79 - PRESENT DAY
(wins include walkovers but not byes and results incorporate Rhyl Town, Rhyl United and Rhyl Athletic. Games after which the club was expelled from the competition count as losses)
PLAYED: 320
WON: 166
DRAWN: 48
LOST: 106

RHYL FC COMPLETE WELSH CUP RECORD
1878/79
R1 - Friars School Bangor 1 Rhyl 0.
1879/80
R1 - 23rd RWF (won on walkover); R2 - Rhyl 1 Aberystwyth 1 (replay 0-0; 2nd replay 0-3).
1881/82
R1 - Wrexham Athletic 4 Rhyl 1.
1882/83
R1 - Rhyl v Corwen (won w/o); R2 - Rhyl 3 Hartford 2; R3 - bye; R4 (quarter-final) - Wrexham 5 Rhyl 2.
1883/84
R1 - Northwich Victoria v Rhyl (won w/o); R2 - Hartford 2 Rhyl 3, R3; Rhyl 3 Davenham 1; R4 - bye; Semi-final - Druids 4 Rhyl 1.
1884/85
R1 - Rhyl 1 Bangor 1 (replay: Rhyl 0 Bangor 0; 2nd replay - Rhyl 1 Bangor 2).
1885/86
R1 - Rhyl 1 Bangor 4.
1886/87
R1 - Llandudno Gloddaeth 8 Rhyl 0.
1889/90
R1 - Rhyl 4 Bangor 6.
1890/91
R1 - Caernarvon 3 Rhyl 4; R2 - St Asaph v Rhyl (won w/o); R3 - Rhyl 2 Mold 2 (replay - Rhyl 2 Mold 3 aet).
1896/97
R1 - Rhyl Athletic 3 Caernarvon Ironopolis 2; Rhyl Athletic 2 Holywell 2 (Rhyl withdrew).
1897/98
R1 - Rhyl Town - bye; R2 - Rhyl Town 4 Bangor 1; R3 - Caernarvon Ironopolis 1 Rhyl Town 3; Quarter-finals- Wrexham 2 Rhyl Town 1.
1898/99
R1 - Rhyl United 3 Llandudno Swifts 2; R2 - Rhyl United 2 Flint 0; R3 - Bangor 1 Rhyl United 1 (Rhyl disqualified - ineligible player).
1899/1900
R1 - Rhyl United - bye; R2 - Rhyl United - bye; R3 - Rhyl United 2 Aberdare 1; Oswestry United 1 Rhyl United 1 (Rhyl dismissed - ineligible player).
1900/01
R3 - Rhyl United 3 Rogerstone 1; R4 - Llandrindod Wells 2 Rhyl 3; Semi-finals - Oswestry United 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Oswestry 1 Rhyl 0).
1901/02
R3 - Rhyl 7 Llandrindod Wells 0 (abandoned 58 mins - result stood); Quarter-finals - Rhyl 2 Wellington Town 3.
1902/03
R2 - Rhyl Athletic 0 Rhyl United 14; R3 - Caernarvon Ironopolis 2 Rhyl United 3; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 1 Druids 4.
1903/04
R3 - Bangor 6 Rhyl 1.
1904/05
R3 - Rhyl 3 Colwyn Bay 1; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 1 Bangor 0; Semi-finals - Rhyl 1 Aberdare 3.
1905/06
R4 - Rhyl v Chester (won w/o); Quarter-finals - Wellington Town 3 Rhyl 2.
1906/07
R2 - bye; R3 - Rhyl 2 Tranmere Rovers 0; Quarter-finals - Whitchurch 2 Rhyl 0.
1907/08
R1 - Nantwich 2 Rhyl 0.
1908/09
R1 - Rhyl v Denbigh Town (won w/o); R2 - Rhyl 2 Bangor 1; R3 - Rhyl 1 Connah's Quay & Shotton 2.
1909/10
R1 - Rhyl 3 Conway 0; R2 - Rhyl 2 Caernarvon United 1; R3 - Rhyl 2 Chester 6.
1910/11
R1 - Rhyl 0 Llandudno Amateurs 1.
1911/12
R1 - Chester 9 Rhyl 0.
1912/13
Preliminary round - Rhyl 1 Connah's Quay & Shotton 1 (replay - Rhyl lost 2-0).
1913/14
R1 - Connah's Quay 4 Rhyl 2.
1919/20
Preliminary round - Rhyl 5 Denbigh 1; R1 - Conwy 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Rhyl 7 Conwy 0); R2 - Bangor Railway Institute 3 Rhyl 0.
1920/21
Second preliminary round - Pentre 1 Rhyl 4; R1 - Rhyl 6 Holywell 4; R2 - Rhyl 2 Holyhead Railway Institute 0; R3 - Rhyl 1 Wrexham 6.
1921/22
Second prelim round - Rhyl 4 Holyhead 1; Third prelim round - Bangor 3 Rhyl 1.
1922/23
Third round - Rhyl 1 Holyhead 1 (replay - Holyhead 0 Rhyl 1); R4 - Rhyl 3 Oak Alyn R 1; R5 - Rhos 1 Rhyl 2; R6 - Colwyn Bay 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Rhyl 1 Colwyn Bay 0); Quarter-finals - Merthyr Tydfil 0 Rhyl 0 (replay - Rhyl 1 Merthyr 0); Semi-finals - Aberdare 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Aberdare 1 Rhyl 0).
1923/24
R4 - Rhyl 1 Bangor 2.
1924/25
R3 - Rhyl 4 Denbigh Town 1; R4 - Rhyl 0 Shrewsbury 2.
1925/26
R3 - Rhyl 3 Oswestry Town 3 (replay - Rhyl won 3-2); R4 - Rhyl 5 Denbigh 2; R5 - Rhyl 4 Bangor 1; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 1 Rhos 0; Semi-finals - Rhyl 1 Swansea Town 3.
1926/27
R5 - Mold Town 1 Rhyl 3; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 1 Caernarvon Ath 1 (replay - Rhyl won 3-2); Semi-finals - Rhyl 5 Holywell 1; Final - Cardiff City 2 Rhyl 0.
1927/28
R5 - Rhyl 1 Caernarvon Athletic 0; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 3 Newport County 1; Semi-finals - Cardiff City 2 Rhyl 2 (replay - Cardiff 2 Rhyl 0).
1928/29
R5 - Wrexham 2 Rhyl 4; Quarter-finals - Bangor City 0 Rhyl 0 (replay - Rhyl won 4-1); Semi-finals - Rhyl 1 Cardiff City 2.
1929/30
R5 - Flint Town 0 Rhyl 3; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 4 Caernarvon Athletic 0; Semi-finals - Rhyl 3 Colwyn Bay 1; Final - Rhyl 0 Cardiff City 0 (replay - Cardiff 4 Rhyl 2).
1930/31
R5 - Rhyl 2 Colwyn Bay 2 (replay - Colwyn Bay 1 Rhyl 0).
1931/32
R4 - Llanerch Celts 2 Rhyl 11; R5 - Rhyl 5 Llanidloes Town 0; Quarter-finals - Lovell's Athletic 2 Rhyl 2 (replay - Rhyl won 3-0); Semi-finals - Wrexham 3 Rhyl 3 (replay - Wrexham 3 Rhyl 1).
1932/33
R7 - Rhyl 1 Southport 2.
1933/34
R3 - Rhyl 6 Llanerch Celts 3; R4 - Rhyl 5 Flint 0; R5 - Rhyl 4 Colwyn Bay 0; R6 - Rhyl 1 Port Vale 1 (replay - Port Vale 2 Rhyl 0).
1934/35
R4 - Rhyl 1 Mold Alexandra 1 (replay - Rhyl won 2-1); R5 - Flint 0 Rhyl 0 (replay - Flint 2 Rhyl 0).
1935/36
R3 - Rhyl 5 Colwyn Bay 1; R4 - Rhyl 5 Macclesfield 1; R6 - Wrexham 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Rhyl won 2-1); Quarter-finals - Rhyl 2 Cardiff City 1; Semi-finals - Rhyl 0 Chester 3.
1936/37
R6 - Wrexham 1 Rhyl 2; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 3 New Brighton 0; Semi-finals - Rhyl 3 Newport County 2; Final - Crewe Alexandra 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Crewe 3 Rhyl 1).
1937/38
R6 - Llanidloes Town 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Rhyl won 1-0); Quarter-finals - Rhyl 3 Southport 2; Semi-finals - Swansea Town 7 Rhyl 2.
1938/39
R5 - Rhyl 3 Shotton Athletic 0; R6 - Chester 4 Rhyl 0.
1939/40
R4 - Rhyl 1 New Brighton 4.
1946-47
R5 - South Liverpool 2 Rhyl 0.
1947/48
R5 - Rhyl 11 Caernarvon Town 0 (record Welsh Cup win); R6 - Rhyl 2 Wrexham 4 (aet).
1948/49
R4 - Rhyl 6 Chirk AAA 1; R5 - Bangor City 0 Rhyl 2; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 1 Wrexham 0; Semi-finals - Swansea Town 3 Rhyl 0.
1949/50
R5 - Rhyl 0 Wrexham 2.
1950/51
R4 - South Liverpool 0 Rhyl 3; R5 - Chester 2 Rhyl 1.
1951/52
R4 - Rhyl 2 Pwllheli & District 2 (replay 3-3 aet; second replay - Rhyl won 2-0); R5 - Caernarvon Town 0 Rhyl 4; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 3 Newport County 2; Semi-finals - Barry Town 1 Rhyl 1 (Rhyl won replay 1-0); Final - Rhyl 4 Merthyr Tydfil 3.
1952/53
R5 - Rhyl 4 Colwyn Bay 0; Quarter-finals - Swansea Town 2 Rhyl 3; Semi-finals - Rhyl 1 Cardiff City 0; Final - Rhyl 2 Chester 1.
1953/54
R5 - Pwllheli & District 0 Rhyl 1; R6 - Flint Town United 2 Rhyl 0.
1954/55
R4 - Rhyl 2 Chirk AAA 1; R5 - Pwllheli & District 5 Rhyl 0.
1955/56
R4 - Rhyl 5 Bangor City 2; R5 - Rhyl 0 Chester 2.
1956/57
R4 - Bangor City 0 Rhyl 3 (protest - Rhyl dismissed).
1957/58
R4 - Rhyl 3 Holyhead Town 2; R5 - Rhyl 2 Bangor City 0; Quarter-finals - Caernarvon Town 4 Rhyl 2.
1958/59
R4 - Rhyl 2 Chirk AAA 2 (replay - Rhyl won 7-2 aet); R5 - Chester 1 Rhyl 4; Quarter-finals - Cardiff City 3 Rhyl 1.
1959/60
R4 - Rhyl 0 Colwyn Bay 1.
1960/61
R4 - Rhyl 0 Pwllheli & District 1.
1961/62
R4 - Portmadoc 1 Rhyl 0.
1962/63
R4 - Rhyl 1 Borough United 4.
1963/64
R4 - Denbigh Town 3 Rhyl 9; R5 - Rhyl 2 Holyhead Town 1; Quarter-finals - Bangor City 8 Rhyl 1.
1964/65
R4 - Pwllheli & District 5 Rhyl 0.
1965/66
R4 - Rhyl 3 Colwyn Bay 2; R5 - Portmadoc 2 Rhyl 0.
1966/67
R4 - Rhyl 4 Holyhead Town 1; R5 - Wrexham 5 Rhyl 0.
1967/68
R4 - Rhyl 5 Nantlle Vale 1; R5 - Pwllheli & District 0 Rhyl 3; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 2 Hereford United 2 (replay Hereford 4 Rhyl 1).
1968/69
R4 - Brymbo Steelworks 2 Rhyl 2 (replay - Rhyl won 2-1); R5 - Rhyl 0 Chester 3.
1969/70
R4 - Pwllheli & District 2 Rhyl 0.
1970/71
R4 - Rhyl 0 Gresford Athletic 0 (first replay - 2-2; second replay - Rhyl 3 Gresford 0); R5 - Chester 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Rhyl 0 Chester 2).
1971/72
R4 - Llay Welfare 0 Rhyl 7; R5 - Blaenau Ffestiniog 0 Rhyl 1; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 2 Chester 1; Semi-finals - Rhyl 1 Cardiff City 2.
1972/73
R4 - Rhyl 2 Bangor City 2 (replay - Bangor 2 Rhyl 0).
1973/74
R1 - Pwllheli & District 2 Rhyl 1.
1974/75
R1 - Blaenau Ffestiniog 1 Rhyl 6; R2 - Nantlle Vale 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Rhyl 3 Nantlle Vale 1); R3 - Rhyl 8 Newtown 1; R4 - Rhyl 0 Wrexham 2.
1975/76
R2 - Chirk AAA 2 Rhyl 6; R3 - Bethesda Athletic 2 Rhyl 2 (replay - Rhyl 5 Bethesda Athletic 1); R4 - Rhyl 0 Porthmadog 2.
1976/77
R2 - Rhos United 0 Rhyl 2; R3 - Rhyl 0 Bangor City 1.
1977/78
R2 - Rhyl 0 Conwy United 0 (Rhyl lost 7-6 on pens).
1978/79
R2 - Gresford Athletic 1 Rhyl 2; R3 - Denbigh Town 0 Rhyl 2; R4 - Shrewsbury Town 6 Rhyl 0.
1979/80
R2 - Rhyl 2 Colwyn Bay 3.
1980/81
R2 - Rhyl 0 Brymbo Steelworks 1.
1981/82
R2 - Rhyl 0 Colwyn Bay 1.
1982/83
R2 - Bala Town 1 Rhyl 6; R3 - Rhyl 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 (replay - Shrewsbury 3 Rhyl 0).
1983/84
R2 - Rhyl 2 Knighton Town 0; R3 - Llanidloes Town 0 Rhyl 0 (replay - Rhyl won 3-0); R4 - Wrexham 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Rhyl 1 Wrexham 3).
1984/85
R2 - Kidderminster Harriers 0 Rhyl 1; R3 - Llanidloes Town 0 Rhyl 2; R4 - Rhyl 2 Caernarfon Town 1; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 1 Shrewsbury Town 7.
1985/86
R2 - Grapes Moss 0 Rhyl 5; R3 - Rhyl 1 BSC Shotton 2.
1986/87
R2 - Newtown 1 Rhyl 3; R3 - Rhyl 1 Holywell Town 0; R4 - Rhyl 2 Haverfordwest County 2 (replay - Rhyl won 1-0); Quarter-finals - Bangor City 2 Rhyl 1.
1987/88
R2 - Rhyl 4 Holywell Town 0; R3 - Brymbo Steelworks 2 Rhyl 1.
1988/89
R2 - Flint Town United 2 Rhyl 2 (replay - Rhyl won 2-1); R3 - Rhyl 2 Caersws 2 (replay - Caersws 1 Rhyl 0).
1989/90
R2 - Pilkingtons St Asaph 1 Rhyl 3; R3 - Chirk AAA 1 Rhyl 6; R4 - Rhyl 3 Llanelli 0; Quarter-finals - Wrexham 1 Rhyl 1 (replay - Wrexham 2 Rhyl 0).
1990/91
R1 - Rhyl 9 Holywell Town 0; R2 - Rhyl 2 Mostyn 0; R3 - Colwyn Bay 3 Rhyl 1.
1991/92
R1 - Llanrwst United 1 Rhyl 2; R2 - Mostyn 2 Rhyl 1.
1992/93
R1 - Rhyl 3 Pilkingtons 0; R2 - Rhyl 6 Y Felinheli 0; R3 - Rhyl 3 Gresford Athletic 1; R4 - Haverfordwest County 0 Rhyl 2; Quarter-finals - Llansantffraid 0 Rhyl 4; Semi-finals - Rhyl 2 Connah's Quay Nomads 0, Connah's Quay Nomads 1 Rhyl 0 (Rhyl won 2-1 on aggregate); Final - Cardiff City 5 Rhyl 0.
1993/94
R3 - Cefn Druids 0 Rhyl 5; Rhyl 1 Swansea City 1 (replay - Swansea 3 Rhyl 0).
1994/95
R2 - Rhyl 3 Llanfairpwll 0; R3 - Rhyl 3 Cemaes Bay 0; R4 - Swansea City 5 Rhyl 1.
1995/96
R2 - Penparcau 0 Rhyl 2; R3 - Rhyl 1 Inter Cardiff 0 (Rhyl disqualified for fielding ineligible player).
1996/97
R2 - Rhyl 0 Connah's Quay Nomads 1.
1997/98
R2 - Newtown 2 Rhyl 0.
1998/99
R2 - Rhyl 5 Denbigh Town 4; R3 - Rhyl 2 Flint Town United 2 (replay 1-1 aet - Flint won 5-4 on pens).
1999/2000
R2 - Oswestry Town 0 Rhyl 1; R3 - Rhyl 1 Guilsfield 0; R4 - Llanelli 3 Rhyl 0.
2000/01
R2 - Rhyl 2 Flexsys Cefn Druids 1 (aet); R3 - Newtown 2 Rhyl 1.
2001/02
R2 - Rhyl 1 Bangor City 2.
2002/03
R2 - Rhyl 5 Holyhead Hotspur 0; R3 - Rhyl 2 Penrhyncoch 1; R4 - UWIC Inter Cardiff 0 Rhyl 1; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 1 Connah's Quay Nomads 0; Semi-finals - Barry Town 1 Rhyl 0.
2003/04
R2 - Rhyl 2 Airbus UK 0; R3 - Llanfairpwll 1 Rhyl 4; R4 - AFC Llwydcoed 0 Rhyl 2; Quarter-finals - Afan Lido 1 Rhyl 2; Semi-finals - Cwmbran Town 2 Rhyl 4; Final - Rhyl 1 TNS 0.
2004/05
R2 - Llandudno 1 Rhyl 3; R3 - Rhyl 9 Holyhead Hotspur 0; R4 - Rhyl 4 Llangefni Town 0; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 4 Bala Town 0; Semi-finals - Rhyl 1 TNS 3.
2005/06
R2 - Rhyl 4 Sealand Rovers 0; R3 - Glantraeth 2 Rhyl 5; R4 - NEWI Cefn Druids 3 Rhyl 5; Quarter-finals - Rhyl 5 Goytre United 2; Semi-finals - Rhyl 2 Port Talbot Town 2 (Rhyl won 5-4 on pens); Final - Rhyl 2 Bangor City 0.
2006/07
R2 - Llanfairpwll 0 Rhyl 6; R3 - Ton Pentre 1 Rhyl 0.
2007/08
R2 - Rhyl 10 Montgomery Town 0; R3 - Rhyl 1 Port Talbot Town 0; R4 - Haverfordwest 1 Rhyl 2; QF - Rhyl v GAP Queens Park.

** Thanks to the Welsh Football Data Archive for its assistance with this feature. Inevitably, with features this lengthy and time consuming, errors can occur. If anyone spots any I would be delighted if you would point them out. Thank you.