Mochdre Sports captain Finlay Jones says his side are determined to make history memorable for the whole club as they prepare to face Connah’s Quay Nomads in the third round of the Welsh Cup.
The North Wales outfit have reached the last 32 of the competition for the first time in their history, earning themselves a meeting with one of the biggest names in Welsh football.
For Jones, the occasion carries an extra significance. The 23-year-old has spent his entire senior career at Mochdre, having previously developed in Llandudno’s academy, and will now lead his friends and team-mates out against Cymru Premier opposition.
It is a landmark moment for a club that means much more to him than simply the team he plays for.
Mochdre captain describes ‘massively special’ Welsh Cup achievement
Jones admitted the achievement of reaching the third round is something everyone connected with Mochdre can be proud of.
“Yeah, I think it’s massively special,” he said.
“It’s an occasion to look forward to for the whole club. It’s an achievement in itself getting to the third round for the first time in our history.
“But to play against a team and a club of Connah’s Quay’s stature, it’s really exciting.”
The club are hoping to make the occasion one to remember for their wider community, with junior players potentially given the opportunity to walk out alongside the senior team as mascots.
Jones believes the tie can provide inspiration for the next generation coming through at Mochdre.
He added: “We’re hoping to get some of our juniors down and some of those juniors might be walking out with us as mascots as well.
“So we’re trying to make it memorable for the whole club and make it an evening that everyone can remember in the future and be proud of.”
‘I shouted onto the pitch’ – how Mochdre discovered their Welsh Cup opponents
The draw itself provided a memorable moment for Jones and his team-mates.
He was watching from the sidelines at a local six-a-side game while injured, with some of his Mochdre players taking part, when the final names were being drawn.
Connah’s Quay had not yet been selected, and Jones was hoping his side would be handed a home tie against the Cymru Premier outfit.
Instead, Mochdre were drawn away to the Nomads.
“I was actually at a local six-a-side game and a couple of the boys were playing,” he explained.
“I was on the sideline injured and we were obviously last out of the pot. I knew Connah’s Quay hadn’t been drawn.
“I shouted onto the pitch to one of the lads, ‘It’s Connah’s Quay away!’ and he was like, ‘You’re joking?'”
There was some disappointment that Mochdre had missed out on a home tie, with Jones acknowledging that playing in front of their own supporters could have made the challenge more difficult for their opponents.
However, excitement quickly took over as the squad began to appreciate the opportunity in front of them.
Mochdre ready for huge test against Connah’s Quay
The challenge is a significant one, with Connah’s Quay competing three divisions above Mochdre and having lifted the Welsh Cup as recently as 2024.
Jones knows the scale of the task but insists his side are relishing the opportunity to test themselves against players they would usually watch from afar.
He said: “It doesn’t really get much harder of a draw. I just think it’s going to be a really challenging game, but it’s one that everyone’s excited for.
“We love following Welsh football and it’s going to be really good to walk out alongside a team that sometimes we’re watching on a Friday night.”
Mochdre have already beaten two teams from higher divisions during their cup campaign, giving them confidence that they can make life uncomfortable for another higher-ranked opponent.
Jones believes their best chance will be to frustrate the Nomads, remain organised and keep the contest alive for as long as possible.
“We’ve got a team who thrive in an underdog situation,” he said.
“When the pressure’s off, because there is no pressure on us and no one expects us to win, we can make it hard for teams and that’s what we’re going to try and do.”
He also revealed that the players would welcome the chance to face Connah’s Quay at full strength, wanting to measure themselves against the best possible opposition.
One-club man Jones proud to captain friends and team-mates
While the Welsh Cup tie represents a major moment in Mochdre’s history, it is particularly meaningful for Jones because of his long-standing connection with the club.
His father has been involved with Mochdre for more than 35 years, first as a player and later as a volunteer, and is now the club’s treasurer. His mother also helps with food after matches.
Jones has been part of the club since joining at the age of 16 and says the relationships he has built have been central to his decision to stay.
He did spend time in Llandudno’s academy, where he worked with coaches including Clive Rushton, Mark Orme and Sean Eardley, but Mochdre was always the place he saw as his footballing home.
“My dad’s been involved for over 35 years, as a player and then as a volunteer and as the treasurer now,” he said.
“My mum also does the food after the games. I’ve been going down to the club since I was a young lad, so I always thought that I might play for Mochdre.
“Since I joined when I was 16, I’ve never regretted it. It’s been brilliant for me. The friends you make along the way, that’s what’s been so good for me and that’s what’s probably kept me at the club.”
Jones became captain after former skipper Kai Davies moved on to test himself in a higher league. He says leadership has always come naturally, having been a vocal presence in the dressing room from a young age.
He is proud to now lead a group of close friends into the biggest game in the club’s history.
‘Stranger things have happened’ as Mochdre dream of Welsh Cup upset
Mochdre are under no illusions about the size of the challenge, but Jones insists his team will travel believing they can cause an upset.
He acknowledged that defeating Connah’s Quay would be one of the biggest shocks in Welsh football for a long time, but believes a disciplined performance and a little luck could give them a chance.
“We’re aware of the scale of the challenge, but we’re going there believing that we can get a result,” he said.
“We believe we can drag them to pens or whatever it is. We’re going to do as much as we can to keep them out for as long as we can, frustrate them and maybe if we get a big slice of luck, you never know what can happen.”
The captain also paid tribute to the supporters and volunteers who make Mochdre such a close-knit club, pointing out that many of those cheering from the sidelines are the same people who help run the club behind the scenes.
For Jones, giving those people something to remember is just as important as the result.
And with the club’s juniors potentially watching on, he hopes the occasion demonstrates what can be achieved by progressing through the ranks at Mochdre.
“If you reach Mochdre’s first team, you can brush shoulders with the likes of Connah’s Quay,” he said.
“That is an option available to you if you reach the first team at this football club, and that is hopefully something that they’re all going to take away from that game.”
