The Cymru League Cup, currently known as the Nathaniel MG Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a cup competition in Welsh football organised by the Football Association of Wales.
The competition was established in 1992 and is considered to be the second-most important domestic cup competition for Welsh football clubs, after the older and more prestigious Welsh Cup. Unlike the Welsh Cup, where 135 teams entered in 2008–09, the competition is only open to the members of the Cymru Premier, the Cymru North, Cymru South and a very select few other clubs. It should not be confused with the Welsh Football League Cup, which was for the clubs in the Welsh Football League, which despite its name only covered the south and centre of Wales up until it was disbanded at the end of the 2018-19 season. For the 2023-24 season Cardiff City and Swansea City U21 sides are 'wildcard' entries into the competition.
It will not be played in the 2026–27 season, due to the expansion of the Cymru Premier leading to an increased number of fixtures for each team.
Format Since the inaugural season in 1992–93 the format of the competition has changed many times. The 2006–07 season saw the introduction of a new format for the competition. Beginning in August, the eighteen Welsh Premier League teams were split into six regionalised groups of three teams. The six group winners and two runners-up entered a quarter-final knock-out phase, followed by a two legged semi-final match before ending with the final in April.
A new format, introduced in 2014–15, saw a radical shake up for the competition. The 12 Cymru Premier teams were joined by six teams each from the two feeder leagues, and also four wildcard entrants. 24 teams entered Round 1, with the previous season's four semi-finalists receiving a bye through to Round 2. The draw for each round was regionalised as per competition rules, with teams being divided between northern and southern sections. The format changed slightly for the 2018–19 season, with each round up to the semi-finals being regionalised, and the semis an open draw. The semi-finals took place over a weekend for the first time.
From 2019-20 the format was expanded significantly with all 44 teams from the top two tiers of the Welsh football league system taking part as well as two wildcard entries. Twenty-eight clubs entered in Round 1, which was made up of any club without floodlights, the two wildcard entries, and the remaining teams ranked lowest in their respective Tier 2 league from the previous season. Round 1 was regionalised, as were all rounds up to the semi-final stage. The fourteen winners joined the eighteen remaining sides in Round 2, which was seeded so that Premier League sides are not drawn against one another. The winner of the tournament gained entry to the Scottish Challenge Cup.
History The first Welsh League Cup was won by Afan Lido in 1992–93, who beat Caersws FC 4–3 on penalties, after drawing in the final 1–1. The New Saints hold the record for the most League Cup titles; they have won the competition six times. Bangor City hold the distinction of making the most number of appearances in the final and losing on every occasion (6).
The New Saints dominated the competition between 2015 and 2018, winning all four finals during that period. Saints have won nine of the ten finals they have appeared in. They have however not made the final since beating Cardiff Met in 2018.
The 2018–19 final between Cardiff Met and Cambrian & Clydach Vale holds the record attendance in the competition, with 1,503 fans witnessing Met's first major trophy win.
Sponsorship Since 2003, the League Cup has been named after its sponsor, giving it the following name: Loosemores League Cup (2003 to 2012), sponsored by Loosemores Solicitors (Cardiff) The Word Cup (2012 to 2016), sponsored by theWord, a Cardiff-based telecommunications provider. Nathaniel MG Cup (2016 to present), sponsored by Nathaniel MG Cars, a car sales company based in Bridgend and Cardiff. EFL clubs In 2024, a proposal was put forward to allow the (at that time) four Welsh clubs playing in the English Football League – Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County – entry into the Welsh League Cup, with a view to them being permitted to represent Wales in European football. Until 1995, Welsh clubs playing in the English football league system took part in the Welsh Cup, which granted the winner a place in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. However, they were excluded from 1996, with UEFA stating in 2012 that any such club playing outside the Welsh football league system would no longer be permitted to represent Wales in European football, with the only routes to qualification via English competitions. It was through this route that Swansea City played in the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League, having won the previous season's Football League Cup. The proposal submitted by the four clubs would see the Welsh League Cup be granted a place in the UEFA Conference League, with the four EFL clubs entering their first teams in the competition. While this would not impact their places in the English leagues, it would mean that they were no longer able to qualify for Europe via any English competition.
On 24 January 2025, the English FA rejected the proposal saying "undertook a thorough consultation with stakeholders" and rejected the proposals following "concerns raised by stakeholders regarding competition integrity, fixture congestion and player welfare, and the impact on the standing of existing competitions".
Prize money The total prize fund for the competition is £15,000. The league awards £1,000 to each losing semi-finalist, £3,000 to the runner-up and £10,000 to the competition winners.
Past winners Correct as of 28 February 2026.
SeasonWinnerScoreRunner-upVenue1992–93Afan Lido1 – 1CaerswsPark Avenue, AberystwythAfan Lido won 4–3 on penalties 1993–94Afan Lido1 – 0Bangor CityPark Avenue, Aberystwyth1994–95Llansantffraid FC2 – 1Ton Pentre F.C.Latham Park, Newtown1995–96Connah's Quay Nomads1 – 0Ebbw ValeRecreation Ground, Caersws1996–97Barry Town2 – 2Bangor CityPark Avenue, AberystwythBarry Town won 4–2 on penalties 1997–98Barry Town1 – 1Bangor CityFarrar Road, BangorBarry Town won 5–4 on penalties 1998–99Barry Town3 – 0Caernarfon TownPark Avenue, Aberystwyth1999–2000Barry Town6 – 0Bangor CityPark Avenue, Aberystwyth2000–01Caersws2 – 0Barry TownPark Avenue, Aberystwyth2001–02Caersws2 – 1Cwmbran TownPark Avenue, Aberystwyth2002–03Rhyl2 – 2Bangor CityBelle Vue, RhylRhyl won 4–3 on penalties 2003–04Rhyl4 – 0Carmarthen TownLatham Park, Newtown2004–05Carmarthen Town2 – 0 (a.e.t.)RhylLatham Park, Newtown2005–06The New Saints4 – 0Port Talbot TownPark Avenue, Aberystwyth2006–07Caersws1 – 1RhylPark Avenue, AberystwythCaersws won 3–1 on penalties 2007–08Llanelli2 – 0RhylLatham Park, Newtown2008–09The New Saints2 – 0Bangor CityLatham Park, Newtown2009–10The New Saints3 – 1RhylThe Airfield, Broughton2010–11The New Saints4 – 3 (a.e.t.)LlanelliPark Avenue, Aberystwyth2011–12Afan Lido1 – 1NewtownPark Avenue, AberystwythAfan Lido won 3–2 on penalties 2012–13Carmarthen Town3 – 3The New SaintsLatham Park, NewtownCarmarthen Town won 3–1 on penalties 2013–14Carmarthen Town0 – 0Bala TownPark Avenue, AberystwythCarmarthen Town won 3–1 on penalties 2014–15The New Saints3 – 0Bala TownLatham Park, Newtown2015–16The New Saints2 – 0Denbigh TownMaesdu Park, Llandudno2016–17The New Saints4 – 0Barry Town UnitedCyncoed Stadium, Cardiff2017–18The New Saints1 – 0Cardiff MUPark Avenue, Aberystwyth2018–19Cardiff MU2 – 0Cambrian & Clydach ValeJenner Park, Barry2019–20Connah's Quay Nomads3 – 0STM SportsLatham Park, Newtown2020–21 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2021–22Connah's Quay Nomads0 – 0Cardiff MUSDM Glass Stadium, BridgendConnah's Quay Nomads won 10–9 on penalties 2022–23Bala Town0 – 0Connah's Quay NomadsThe Rock, WrexhamBala Town won 4–3 on penalties 2023–24The New Saints5 – 1Swansea City U21sJenner Park, Barry2024–25The New Saints1 – 0Aberystwyth TownLatham Park, Newtown2025–26Barry Town United2 – 0The New SaintsDragonBet Stadium, Bridgend
Results by team ClubWinnersRunners-upTotal AppearanceLast FinalThe New Saints112132026Barry Town United5272026Caersws3142007Carmarthen Town3142014Connah's Quay Nomads3142023Afan Lido3–32012Rhyl2462010Cardiff MU1232022Bala Town1232023Llanelli1122011Bangor City–662009Caernarfon Town–111999Cambrian & Clydach Vale–112019Cwmbran Town–112002Denbigh Town–112016Ebbw Vale–111996Newtown–112012Port Talbot Town–112006STM Sports–112020Swansea City U21s–112024Ton Pentre–111995 Aberystwyth–112025
Notes: Barry Town United's total includes wins as Barry Town The New Saints' total includes wins under previous names: Total Network Solutions and Llansantffraid.
See also Football in Wales Welsh football league system Welsh Cup FAW Premier Cup List of football clubs in Wales List of stadiums in Wales by capacity
References
External links
Welsh-Premier.com Loosemores League Cup