Swansea U21s have another Nathaniel MG Cup chance

With no south Wales derby to look forward to after Cardiff City's relegation to League One, Swansea fans can instead look forward to a potential encounter between the clubs' under-21s sides.Swansea and Bluebirds' junior teams have won wildcard entries to Welsh domestic football's 2025-26 Nathaniel MG Cup for a third successive season.The Cymru Premier's dominant force, The New Saints, are reigning holders of the Welsh League Cup.Swansea's youngsters went out in the first round last July, losing 5-3 in a penalty shootout at Baglan Dragons.The draw for the 2025-26 first round takes places on Wednesday, 25 June and Swansea will be hoping to go significantly further this time around.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

BreakingNews.ie

an hour ago

• BreakingNews.ie

Rodri impressing fellow Man City midfielder Nico Gonzalez as he ramps up fitness

Nico Gonzalez believes Rodri is getting back to his best level after continuing his comeback at the Club World Cup. Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Rodri missed most of Manchester City's 2024-25 campaign after suffering a serious knee injury last September. Advertisement He returned to action by playing seven minutes in City's penultimate Premier League fixture against Bournemouth last month and came on for the last half-hour of Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola brought on Rodri against Wydad Casablanca. Photo: Derik Hamilton/AP. Gonzalez, who plays in a similar position, was signed by City in January partly to provide cover for Rodri. The 23-year-old believes he can learn a lot from his fellow Spaniard, who he feels is 'even better' than he thought. Gonzalez said: 'He has been (back training) a couple of months. He is an amazing player and really good in everything that can be good in a midfielder. Advertisement 'I am trying to learn the most I can and I think I am starting to watch him at his best level. I am seeing things that I haven't seen in a lot of midfielders. Nico Gonzalez, pictured, is trying to learn from Rodri. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA. 'I try to see all the passes the players don't see and take as much from him as I can. He helps me a lot. He is Spanish so we are starting to have a good relationship.' Gonzalez's signing came alongside those of Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov in the mid-season transfer window as City began to respond to their underwhelming season. The squad overhaul has continued with the arrivals of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Marcus Bettinelli this month. Advertisement Omar Marmoush is among the recent signings at City. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA. Yet while City have clearly decided fresh faces are required after a failure to mount a strong title challenge and a premature Champions League exit, Gonzalez does not feel there was ever anything wrong with the spirit. He said: 'The mentality of all these players was always good. I don't think the mentality is what didn't make us win a trophy. I think the attitude and mentality was really good. 'Sometimes you have a better season, sometimes worse. I hope this season is the best possible.' City play their second match at the Club World Cup, and could secure a place in the last 16, when they face Al Ain of Abu Dhabi in Atlanta on Sunday night (2am Monday BST). Advertisement

Daily Mail​

an hour ago

• Daily Mail​

Former Championship manager lands shock new job at Bristol Airport just FOUR months after being sacked - leaving fans in disbelief

Former Swansea boss Luke Williams has stunned fans by starting a new job at Bristol Airport just four months after leaving the Championship club. The 44-year-old also previously managed Notts County and Swindon and is currently on gardening leave after being sacked by the Welsh side. Williams, who lasted just 13 months at Swansea, helps transport disabled and limited-mobility passengers around the airport and has been employed there for two weeks, according to The Athletic. Although there appears to be no financial need for his new job, he reportedly wants to do something meaningful with his time off. A picture of Williams wearing a high-vis while working emerged online, shocking fans and causing some to question whether it was a hoax. 'I can't tell if this is true or just a wind up,' one wrote. He also previously managed Notts County and Swindon and is currently on gardening leave 'I walked past him earlier and thought, "nah surely not"', another added. The ex-Brighton Under-21 coach played for Bristol Rovers and Norwich's youth teams but a knee injury ended his playing career and he focused on coaching from age 19. Before he began management, he loaded lorries for British Home Stores on an industrial estate and drove minibuses from airports and nightclubs, even transporting construction workers to the Olympic Park in Stratford. Asked last year about the importance of work ethic, he told The Guardian: in my opinion motivation in life is everything. 'The realisation in my late-teens that life is going to be a monumental struggle for me, that life was about to become very tough and the world would become very hostile for somebody with no qualifications, no contacts, working class … that desire to feed myself and look after myself kicked in. 'I realised that I was capable of tolerating almost anything, providing that I would be able to have a roof over my head and something to eat. 'That is how the motivation began. I don't think I've really moved away from that. I still feel as insecure in that way as I ever did.' He added: 'Sometimes I would work 20 hours off the bat, get three or four hours' kip, back to work.' Fans took to social media to express their disbelief that Williams was working at the aiport If the airport gig doesn't go to plan, Williams could take up a role as an electrician, having enrolled on a course after he left Swansea for the first time in 2023 as Russell Martin's assistant. The Englishman left Swansea in February after a run of seven losses in nine league matches. They sat in 17th in the Championship when he departed and eventually ended the season in 11th.

Times

an hour ago

• Times

Why Manchester United are now doing their shopping closer to home

P erhaps this sauntered into your social media feed this week: Matheus Cunha, playing five-a-side on a basketball court in his hometown of João Pessoa. Showcasing skills that come straight from the gods. In a clip that went viral, Cunha beats two players and puts his foot on the ball to draw another two in, then scoops the ball through a gap and hurdles their legs to escape. The instant he lands, there's a little back heel to set up a team-mate to score. A filthy, delicious assist. Manchester United fans, understandably, revelled in the footage, but in many ways it was irrelevant, shedding little insight into why their club signed Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5million. Film they should really feast on involves Cunha scuffing home a winner against Bournemouth away in February, or passing in a straightforward finish versus Leicester City in April. He was recruited not for skills he might show in a Brazilian setting but output proven in a Premier League one.