Fans of Barry Town United FC say their cup final tomorrow will bring pride to the entire town.
They’ll face reigning champions The New Saints for the League Cup trophy.
It’s Barry’s first final appearance in 14 years, and a win would see them qualify for European competition.
And supporters say it’s ‘a return to the good old days’ for a club that won the cup four years running in the 90s.
Rhys Deans created the Barry Town United Supporters Facebook page, and says the team deserve all the credit they get.
“It just goes to show that you do not need money, you do not need big talent, you do not need fancy people going in and saying ‘yeah, let’s go and win it, give me the cash and I’ll deliver.’
“These players, they’re hardly getting paid at all. They haven’t got flash cars or a ‘look at me’ attitude, but they’re perfectly capable of competing against and beating a Welsh Premier League side.”
Barry Town United programme cover for Saturday’s game with TNS. Credit: Jason Pawlin.
Barry Town United are in the Welsh League Division One, the second tier of Welsh football.
They beat Welsh Premier League opposition on their way to the final, in the form of Carmarthen Town and Cardiff Met University.
Their opponents in the final will be TNS, the Welsh Premier League champions who broke a world record this year for winning games consecutively.
Unlike TNS, a fully professional club, the majority of Barry Town’s players have other jobs outside football.
Jason Pawlin designs the club’s official programmes, and is a lifelong fan. He says it’s a return to form for a club with Barry’s history.
“Saturday’s cup game is huge. It shows the club is on the right path – a national cup final involving the best teams in the country. It’s a terrific achievement.”
“I think we’ll put on a good show on Saturday. We’ll enjoy it for what it is: a chance of winning a pot, and 15 minutes of fame.”
