A few weeks ago, the clocks went forward an hour. Many fans would doubtlessly have loved to move the clocks forward to a time when football can be played again. However, as Dafydd Hughes reports, we may be a mere three months away from the start of the 2021-22 season and some cup excitement.

After more than a year since we last played competitively, it was great to hear from the FAW that it was making arrangements to start the 2021-22 competitive season with two of its Cup competitions, both of which saw us face higher tier opposition last season, but also some memorable performances.

This is what the FAW had to say:

The FAW National Cup Board has approved the FAW Cup Conference Dates for the 2021/22 season...

Following the cancellation of the majority of competitions in the 2020/21 season, FAW Cup Competitions will commence earlier than normal. This decision has been taken following the guidance issued in the Welsh Government Coronavirus Control Plan, which advises that, ‘spring and summer give us hope of more freedom, as rates of infection fall and more people are vaccinated.’ The Control Plan also details that ‘scientific modelling from a range of sources points to the very high likelihood of a third wave of infections later this year.’

Therefore, the FAW is looking to maximise the playing opportunities where possible in the 2021/22 season whilst taking into account the threat of further interruptions to competitions.

As previously communicated, all entries for cancelled FAW Cup Competitions will be rolled-over to the equivalent competition for 2021/22 season. Therefore, entry fees for these teams will be waived for next year’s competition.

We are entered in both the main Welsh Cup competition and the Amateur Trophy (open to Tier 3 and below) and the dates are as follows:

JD Welsh Cup
Qualifying Round 1: Saturday 10 July 2021
Qualifying Round 2 : Saturday 24 July 2021
Round One: Saturday 14 August 2021
Round Two: Saturday 4 September 2021
Round Three: Saturday 25 September 2021
Round Four (last 16): Saturday 16 October 2021
Round Five: Saturday 19 February 2022
Semi Final: Saturday 26 March 2022
Final: Bank Holiday Weekend 30, 1 or 2, Apr / May 2022

FAW Amateur Trophy
Round One: Saturday 17 July 2021
Round Two: Saturday 7 August 2021
Round Three: Saturday 21 August 2021
Round Four: Saturday 11 September 2021
Round Five: Saturday 2 October 2021
Round Six: Saturday 26 February 2022
Semi Final: Saturday 19 March 2022
Final: Saturday 23 April 2022

Over 200 clubs have entered the Welsh Cup with 214 contesting the Amateur Trophy. No doubt it’ll take some sorting out and we are yet to be informed whether we will have any exemption from the earlier rounds of either competition.

It is probably too much to hope that spectators will be allowed to attend these matches but we will keep you fully informed about any positive news. The Penycae match lives in the memory, how great it would be to experience such a buzz and make progress in these prestigious competitions in the summer and early Autumn.