Llansantffraid's Welsh Cup triumph remembered on anniversary

With TNS having dominated Welsh football for well over a decade, European football comes around every year.

But 25 years ago it wasn’t even an ambition for the small village of Llansanttfraid until Graham Breeze assembled a top quality side that went on to famously win the Welsh Cup and qualify for Europe.

It meant the eyes of the footballing world were on the eyes of the sleepy Mid Wales village, and it is a memory that still gives Breeze immense pride.

The Sport Report caught up with Breeze ahead of the 25th anniversary of their famous and dramatic Welsh Cup win over Barry Town to talk about his career in the dugout and the memories he still cherishes.

“The standout moment of my career is without doubt that Welsh Cup win and leading Llansantffraid into Europe, to represent Wales was such a fantastic honour,” said Breeze, who now gets his football fix in the stands at Molineux as a Wolves season ticket holder.

The victorious 1996 Welsh Cup winning Llansantffraid squad

“We were the centre of attention from press all over the world, it was absolutely incredible and relentless.

“We had camera crews from everywhere coming to the ground, we had a documentary made for S4C and the likes of the Daily Mirror and the BBC spending days with us.

“It was an amazing time really to get all this attention for Wales, and for a village club it was a great achievement that will probably never been repeated since.”

Celebrations after Chris Whelan's goal for Llansantffraid in the 1996 Welsh Cup Final.

The 1996 Welsh Cup was the first not to have English sides competing, after the FAW banned a handful of sides from entering.

That gave smaller clubs a chance to progress through their competition and the Saints took advantage, reaching the final to take on the mighty Barry Town, who, at the time, were the only full time side in the division.

Llansantffraid goalkeeper Andy Mulliner makes a crucial save in the 1996 Welsh Cup Final.

“They were 30 points ahead of us in the league but strangely we had beaten them that season and we were confident going into the game,” explained Breeze.

Breeze looks back on the day with the same enthusiasm he showed on the sideline that day as watched a pulsating game unfold and witness his side throw away three leads, and a 2-0 lead in a penalty shootout.

But they came back to win on spot kicks thanks to a sensational final save from goalkeeper Andy Mulliner.

Llansantffraid celebrations after winning the 1996 Welsh Cup Final against Barry Town United.

Recalling the famous events in Cardiff, Breeze explained: “It was just such a great experience.

“We went down the day before the game, which was on a Sunday, and we trained in the grounds of Cardiff Castle and actually worked on a free kick that produced one of the goals for Chris Whelan.

“The game was just incredible, just great entertainment.

“We led three times then led 2-0 on penalties.

Llansantffraid's 1996 Welsh Cup heroes goalkeeper Andy Mulliner and manager Graham Breeze

“Andy Mulliner had a nightmare of a game, let one in, then scored an own goal, and then pulled off an absolutely amazing save to win it.

“The celebrations were superb that night, and it brings back so many great memories.

“It was actually a history making win too, because we were the first club to have won both the Welsh Cup and Intermediate Cup, and I was the only manager to have won both so it was quite unique.”

The small village club had already qualified for European Cup Winners Cup due to the fact Barry were already in Europe.

They drew Polish Cup winners Ruch Chorzow and if people thought the Welsh Cup win was spectacular the first leg at Wrexham threw up another shock.

“With the Welsh Cup we were determined to get there on our own merit and the lads just produced the performance of their lives,” added Breeze.

“Then the European first leg was some night and we managed to draw 1-1 when no one thought it was possible, I still pinch myself that we did that.

“Then over there they were different class.”

Breeze’s last message before his charges left the dressing room that night in Poland was to keep it tight for the first 20 minutes.

But as he explains, it didn’t quite go to plan.

“Before I had even sat down they had scored, 15 seconds in it was,” added Breeze.

“We had a routine, the kick off would go back to Simon Abercrombie who had a sweet left foot, and he would swing it out to John Whelan who would have already charged into the opposition half.

“But for some reason he turned back to pass it to keeper Mike Brown, he panicked, and kicked it against one of their players and then it was in the net, so it wasn’t the best of starts.

“In the end it was 4-0 but it such a great experience.”

Shortly after the Welsh Cup and European adventure the current TNS chairman, Mike Harris, became involved with the club as a sponsor, before changing the name of the club to Total Network Solutions.

When the club decided to go full time Breeze’s time in the dugout came to an end.

Over the years he has a host of fond memories from cup success to league titles, but his final bow in the job was one that he remembers for the wrong reasons.

“We lost 10-0 to Barry, that’s one I won’t forget,” added Breeze.

Breeze and his former players will look back on their Welsh Cup heroics, knowing they made history and produced a performance and a victory that’ll never be forgotten in Welsh football.

He added: “It was such a proud moment, the standout moment in my career really. To represent Wales is something I’ll never forget.”

To see more visit The Sport Report.