THE final of last season’s North Wales Coast Football Association (NWCFA) Intermediate Challenge Cup, between CPD Y Rhyl 1879 and CPD Bangor 1876 FC, has been cancelled for a second time.

The final of the competition, which has been carried over from 2021-22, was due to take place on Wednesday, August 31 at Rhyl’s Belle Vue ground, kicking off at 6.30pm.

But it has now been called off following the news that Bangor 1876 has withdrawn from the competition due to a number of players and staff being unavailable on that date.

A statement from Bangor 1876 chairman Glynne Roberts said: “1876 had hoped to conclude the Intermediate Cup competition.

“However, given the roll-over into the new season, it has been difficult to find a suitable date.

“The date that had been offered was one on which a significant proportion of our team, including management, were unavailable.

“We therefore feel that it is best that we withdraw from the competition, and focus on the 2022-23 season and the demands that will bring.”

Adam Roche, managing director at Rhyl, added: "We were disappointed to hear from our friends at Bangor 1876 that they were unable to fulfil the NWCFA Intermediate Cup final on August 31.

"However, we fully understand and appreciate their reasoning. 

"We feel that this makes the competition null and void as we don’t think it is appropriate that we should be declared winners when we haven’t played anyone in the final.

"However, it is not our decision and we will await the outcome from the NWCFA and respond thereafter. 

"Our only regret is that we would have loved to have played Bangor 1876 in the final as it would’ve been a brilliant spectacle for everyone following North Wales football.

"We also struggle with why hasn’t this issue been resolved sooner so that this fantastic competition could’ve been completed last season.

"So, we now hope that lessons have been learned to avoid any such issues in the seasons ahead, avoiding the impacts on future teams."

The tournament had been cancelled by the NWCFA on May 16 after it was felt a backlog of matches in the competition rendered it impossible to finish it by the end of last season.

This followed the abandonment of a first round match on January 15 between Meliden FC and CPD Llanberis Football Club, after a Llanberis player was allegedly the target of a racist comment.

NWCFA had awarded the tie to Meliden, a ruling which Llanberis appealed to the Football Association of Wales (FAW), before later dropping the appeal.

The NWCFA then resumed the competition, with a re-arranged date for the final, initially scheduled for May 21, set for May 31.

This was then put back again, though, with safety concerns cited as the reason for another postponement.

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The date of August 31 would have come after both Bangor and Rhyl are due to have played five league games each of their new seasons.

Last year, their first since re-forming, Rhyl also won the North Wales Coast East Football League Premier Division, going the entire season unbeaten, and the Cookson Cup.

Their promotion to the third tier also means the club will not be eligible to enter the Intermediate Challenge Cup this season, either.

Rhyl started their 2022-23 league campaign with a 4-2 home win against Rhostyllen, while Bangor 1876 thrashed Rhydymwyn 8-1 at home at the start of theirs (both on Saturday, August 6).

Attempts have been made to contact the NWCFA for further comments.