Safe to say it’s been a hectic few days for Ynysddu Welfare FC, and through absolutely no fault of their own.
Indeed, the Welsh amateur side found themselves included in the draw for the first round of the FAW Welsh Youth Cup on Tuesday despite not actually having a youth team.
Breaking news. Our youth team have been drawn away to Briton Ferry in the welsh youth cup!!! We don’t have a youth team but we are in the cup 😂😂 god knows how that’s happened
— Ynysddu Welfare FC (@ynyswelfare) 18 September 2018
Suddenly informed they had a youth cup fixture against Briton Ferry Llansawel to fulfil, Ynysddu put out a desperate plea on social media in the hunt for “unattached 16-18 year-olds” who fancied a game.
This is ridiculous but let’s have a go. Our non existent youth team have been entered in the FAW youth cup so we are gonna try and get one together and have a go. We will give it a week to try. Any unattached 16 – 18 year olds ( can turn 19 after sept 1st) get in touch!! https://t.co/GPT4zBIpRt
— Ynysddu Welfare FC (@ynyswelfare) 19 September 2018
Amazingly enough, Ynsuddu’s plight was picked up by several media outlets, including BBC Wales, with the increased publicity helping them on their way to padding out an impromptu youth team as well as landing them an official affiliation with their local Gwent Football Association.
Tuesday – We have no youth side but get drawn in the FAW youth cup
Weds am – We decide to try and put a side together
Weds pm – Twitter blows up and the Gwent fa affiliate us
Thursday – we have a squad and have done interviews for bbc radio wales and wales online.Madness
— Ynysddu Welfare FC (@ynyswelfare) 20 September 2018
Briton Ferry were moved to congratulate the impressive effort made by their opponents in assembling a scratch squad in a matter of days…
So after drawing a team who didn’t have a team in the Welsh Cup it now looks like we have a cup tie! Well done @ynyswelfare for your efforts hopefully a big crowd and a great game on October 7th👏🏻⚽🔴🏆
— BFLAFCYOUTH (@bflafcyouth) 20 September 2018
So, against all odds, it’s game on – with the two sides set to meet in the FAW Welsh Youth Cup first round in a few weeks’ time (Sunday 7th October).
Fine work chaps. Fine work.