Rhys Griffiths draws on former Cardiff City managers’ support ahead of Welsh Cup final
Penybont manager Rhys Griffiths during the warm up. Penybont v The New Saints in the JD Cymru Premier at Bryntirion Park on the 11th September 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Rhys Griffiths has called on the advice of a former Cardiff City manager ahead of Penybont’s Welsh Cup final against The New Saints on Sunday.
Griffiths, who won both the Cymru Premier and the Cup with Llanelli Town, takes charge of what is arguably the biggest game in the club’s history.
And to help prepare him for what could potentially be his crowning moment in football management is a manager who knows all too well about managing in a Cup final and at the final venue, the Cardiff City Stadium.
Malky Mackay, guided the Bluebirds to the Premier League in 2013, ending a 51-year exile from the top flight.
He was also in the dugout at the Wembley Stadium as his side suffered the cruel heartache of penalties, losing to Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool which boasted the likes of Luis Suárez, Steven Gerrard, and Craig Bellamy.
And having guided Ross County to an unlikely top-six finish in the Scottish Premiership, Mackay took time out of his own quest for European football, to speak to Griffiths.
“It is my way I think to do it my own way,” responded Griffiths when asked if he sought the help of any of his former manager’s help ahead of the final.
“I had a chat with Malky Mackay, who isn’t a Welsh Cup winning manager, but he was successful.
“He took Cardiff City to the Carling Cup final against Liverpool.
“I spoke to him earlier in the week, picked his brains in what he thought and I had a really relaxed chat with him and what a guy he is.
“I do things my own way but at the same time I’m not immune to asking for help either.”
The Cardiff City Stadium was the chosen venue for the final, which is the polar opposite of The Rock, which held the last final in 2019.
It has become since the qualifying campaign for EURO 2016, the home of the Welsh national team, and will be sold out for June’s World Cup play-off final against either Scotland or Ukraine.
Whilst in previous years, Welsh clubs have been rewarded for their efforts by their grounds holding prestigious finals, the 42-year-old is of the belief that the finals should be continued to be played there or in similar venues.
And that was only boosted when he made a recce visit to the capital, where he was blown away by the 33,000-seater stadium.
“I would love to have it at Penybont’s ground so I’m going to contradict myself now, started Griffiths.
“It’s the showcase event and I think we need to aim for the top.
“I have always felt that way, I’ve felt like we need to get it in a showcase ground and try and fill it as best as we can.
“And do everything we can, not just as clubs and the onus is on us, but the FAW to try and fill the ground as much as we can.
“When it was announced it was at the Cardiff City Stadium I was pleased on a number of levels. In one of them, I didn’t consider how I would feel playing there.
“I’ve played at big grounds before and it’s nothing to me really, it would be great for the younger players.
“But when I walked in there the other day it hit me, it’s a wonderful place and it’s going to be a great occasion for everyone including me on the day.”
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell and Jon Candy)
