List of Cymru Premier clubs

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Barry Town United (then known simply as Barry Town) won the league title seven times in nine seasons Barry of 1999 with League of Wales Cup, FAW Premier Cup and Welsh Premier trophy.jpg
Barry Town United (then known simply as Barry Town) won the league title seven times in nine seasons

The Cymru Premier is an association football league based in Wales. Formed in 1992 as the League of Wales, it was the first national football league in the country. [1] The competition changed its name to the Welsh Premier League in 2002 and then to the Cymru Premier in 2019. In its inaugural season 20 teams played in the league, but it has been restructured since and has 12 member clubs in the 2024–25 season. Although it is the highest level of the Welsh football league system, the Welsh Premier League does not include the country's four largest professional clubs, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County; for historical reasons these clubs all play within the English league system. [2] As of 2024, The New Saints, who have played in Oswestry in England since 2005, [3] are the only full-time professional team in the league. [4] Many of the clubs that have played in the league were founded in the 19th century and spent a century or more playing in regional leagues before the creation of the League of Wales in 1992.

Contents

Since its formation, 42 clubs have taken part in the league. The only clubs to have played in the league in every season since it was formed are Aberystwyth Town and Newtown. Conversely two other founder members, Abergavenny Thursdays and Llanidloes Town, were relegated at the end of the league's inaugural season and have never returned. Two other clubs, Llangefni Town and Cardiff Grange Harlequins, have spent only a single season in the league. The most recent team to make its debut in the league was Colwyn Bay, who gained promotion to the league for the first time in 2023. A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Cymru Premier and the two regional leagues at the second level of the Welsh league system, the Cymru North in the northern half of the country and the Cymru South in the southern half. [5]

Clubs

The table shows the first and most recent season in which each club competed in the league up to and including the 2023–24 season. Some clubs' membership was intermittent between their first and last season. The name shown for each club is the most recent, and the table is initially sorted in alphabetical order of these names. Any other names under which the club played in the league are shown in footnotes. A dagger symbol (†) indicates that the club was a founder member of the league.

List of Cymru Premier clubs
ClubFoundedFirst seasonMost recent seasonTotal seasonsBest finishTimes champions2023–24 statusRef(s).
Abergavenny Thursdays †19271992–931992–93120th–Defunct; folded in 2013 [6] [7]
Aberystwyth Town †18841992–932023–24324th–Playing in Cymru Premier [8]
Afan Lido †19671992–932013–14142nd–Playing in Cymru South [9]
Airbus UK Broughton [nb1] 19462004–052022–23152nd–Playing in Cymru North [10] [11]
Bala Town 18802009–102023–24152nd–Playing in Cymru Premier [12]
Bangor City †18761992–932017–18261st3Inactive [13]
Barry Town United 19121994–952023–24151st7Playing in Cymru Premier [14] [15] [16]
Briton Ferry Athletic †19251992–931996–97417th–Merged with Llansawel in 2009 to form Briton Ferry Llansawel [17]
Caernarfon Town 19371995–962023–24195th–Playing in Cymru Premier [18]
Caersws †18871992–932009–10184th–Playing in Cymru North [19]
Cardiff Grange Harlequins 19352005–062005–06118th–Defunct; folded in 2015 [20]
Cardiff Metropolitan University † [nb10] 20001992–932023–24172nd–Playing in Cymru Premier [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
Carmarthen Town 19501996–972019–20243rd–Playing in Cymru South [26]
Cefn Druids [nb3] 18721999–20002021–22185th–Inactive [27] [28] [29] [30]
Cemaes Bay [nb2] 19761995–961997–98312th–Playing in North Wales Coast West Football League [31] [32]
Colwyn Bay 18812023–242023–241––Playing in Cymru Premier [33]
Connah's Quay Nomads † [nb4] 19461992–932023–24301st1Playing in Cymru Premier [34] [35]
Conwy Borough †19771992–931999–200083rd–Playing in Ardal NW [36]
Cwmbran Town †19511992–932006–07151st1Playing in Gwent County League Premier Division [37]
Ebbw Vale †18881992–931997–9863rd–Defunct; folded in 1998 [38]
Flint Town United †18861992–932022–2384th–Playing in Cymru North [39]
Haverfordwest County †18991992–932023–24202nd–Playing in Cymru Premier [40]
Holywell Town †18801992–931998–9965th–Playing in Cymru North [41]
Llandudno [nb5] 19882015–162018–1943rd–Playing in Cymru North [42]
Llanelli Town †18961992–932018–19181st1Playing in Cymru South [43] [44] [45]
Llangefni Town 18972007–082007–08118th–Playing in Ardal NW [46]
Llanidloes Town †18751992–931992–93119th–Playing in Cymru North [47]
Maesteg Park Athletic †19451992–931994–95315th–Defunct; folded in 2010 [48]
Mold Alexandra †19291992–931994–95313th–Playing in Cymru North [49]
Neath [nb6] 20052007–082011–1253rd–Defunct; folded in 2012 [50] [51] [52]
The New Saints [nb9] 19591993–942023–24311st13Playing in Cymru Premier [53] [54] [55]
Newtown †18751992–932023–24322nd–Playing in Cymru Premier [56]
Oswestry Town 20032000–012002–03315th–Merged with The New Saints in 2003 [57]
Penybont 20132019–202023–2443rd–Playing in Cymru Premier [58]
Pontypridd United 19922022–232023–2428th–Playing in Cymru Premier [59]
Port Talbot Town [nb7] 19012000–012015–16163rd–Playing in Ardal SW [60] [61]
Porthmadog †18841992–932009–10139th–Playing in Cymru North [62]
Prestatyn Town 19102008–092014–1575th–Playing in Cymru North [63]
Rhayader Town 20071997–982001–02512th–Playing in Central Wales Football League Southern Division [64]
Rhyl 18781994–952016–17201st2Defunct; folded in 2020 [65]
Welshpool Town [nb8] 18771996–972009–10104th–Playing in Ardal NE [66] [67]
Ton Pentre 18961993–941996–9743rd–Playing in South Wales Alliance League Premier Division [68]

Notes

  1. nb1 Known as Airbus UK until 2007 [10] [11]
  2. nb2 Known as Cemaes Ynys Mon from 1997 until 1998 [31] [32]
  3. nb3 Known as Flexsys Cefn Druids until 2003, NEWI Cefn Druids from 2003 until 2009, and Elements Cefn Druids from 2009 until 2010 [27] [28] [29]
  4. nb4 Known as Gap Connah's Quay from 2008 to 2017 [34] [35]
  5. nb5 Known as MBi Llandudno from 2015 to 2016 [42]
  6. nb6 Known as Neath Athletic until 2008 [50] [51] [52]
  7. nb7 Known as Port Talbot Athletic until 2001 [60] [61]
  8. nb8 Known as Technogroup Welshpool between 2009 and 2011 [66] [67]
  9. nb9 Known as Llansantffraid until 1997 and Total Network Solutions from 1997 until 2006. Merged with fellow Welsh Premier League club Oswestry Town in 2003, continuing under the Total Network Solutions name. [53] [54] [55]
  10. nb10 Inter Cardiff played in the Welsh Premier League until 2000, but was known as Inter Cable Tel from 1996 until 1999. In 2000 the club merged with UWIC of the Welsh Football League to form UWIC Inter Cardiff and continued to play in the Welsh Premier League. The club adopted its current name in 2012. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

Related Research Articles

The Cymru Premier, known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons, is the national football league of Wales. It has both professional and semi-professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. It was founded in 1992, as the first league representing all of Wales. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales (LoW), but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal to the Welsh Premier League. The league was rebranded as the Cymru Premier for the 2019–20 season. Though formed relatively recently, the league contains some of the oldest clubs in world football. Eleven current or former members of the league were founded in the 1870s or 1880s, with many more formed before the end of the 19th century. The vast majority of its clubs are still owned and run by the local community or by people from the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cefn Druids A.F.C.</span> Association football club in Wales

Cefn Druids Association Football Club is an association football team based in the village of Cefn Mawr, Wrexham. The club reformed in the 2024–25 season to play in the North East Wales Championship. Before, the club played in the Cymru North after being relegated from the Cymru Premier in 2021–22 but withdrew ahead of the 2023–24 season due to the management and playing staff leaving over unpaid wages and a transfer ban by Fifa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The New Saints F.C.</span> Association football club

The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club, commonly known as The New Saints or TNS FC, are a Welsh professional football club that play in the Cymru Premier, but are based completely within England, in Oswestry, Shropshire. They are the most successful club in the Welsh league structure, with 16 league titles to their name. Since the 2001–02 season, they have finished as champions or runners-up in every season, apart from 2008–09, where they finished third in the league. They became the first side playing in the Welsh league system to qualify for the group or league stage of any European competition after reaching the league phase of the UEFA Conference League for the first time in the 2024–25 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmarthen Town A.F.C.</span> Association football club in Wales

Carmarthen Town Association Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Carmarthen.The team play their home games at Richmond Park. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are gold and black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haverfordwest County A.F.C.</span> Association football club in Wales

Haverfordwest County Association Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football team based in Haverfordwest, Wales. They currently play in the Cymru Premier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtown A.F.C.</span> Association football club in Wales

Newtown Association Football Club is a Welsh football club based in Newtown, Powys, which plays in the Cymru Premier. Newtown are one of only two clubs that can claim unbroken membership of the league since its formation in 1992, with the other club being Aberystwyth Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff Metropolitan University F.C.</span> Association football club in Wales

Cardiff Metropolitan University Football Club, commonly known as Cardiff Met F.C., are a Welsh football club, of the Athletic Union of Cardiff Metropolitan University, based in Cyncoed, Cardiff that plays in the Cymru Premier. The club badge features the bowman with the words "I lwyddo, rhaid chwarae" which is translated as "To succeed, [one] must play".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gresford Athletic F.C.</span> Association football club in Wales

Gresford Athletic Football Club is a football team based in Gresford, near Wrexham, Wales. They are members of the Cymru North and play at The Rock in Rhosymedre, as from March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Park Hall (Oswestry)</span> Football stadium in Shropshire, England

Park Hall Stadium is a football stadium to the north-east of Oswestry, Shropshire, England. It was opened by Shropshire County Council in 1993, originally as the home of Oswestry Town. In 2003, Oswestry Town merged with Total Network Solutions F.C. (TNS) to form current Cymru Premier team The New Saints. The newly merged club moved to Park Hall from Total Network Solutions' Recreation Ground.

The Rock is a football stadium in Rhosymedre, Wales. It is currently the home stadium for Cymru North teams Cefn Druids and Gresford Athletic FC, as well as Wrexham AFC Women.

Alan Morgan is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales under-21 international. He moved into club management after his playing career, with Welsh Premier League side Aberystwyth Town.

The 2010 Welsh Cup Final was the final of the 124th season of the main domestic football cup competition in Wales, the Welsh Cup. The final was played at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on 1 May 2010 and marked the second time the final has been staged at the stadium. The match was contested by Port Talbot Town, who beat Bala Town 1–0 in their semi-final, and Bangor City who beat Prestatyn Town 2–0 in their semi-final.

The 2014–15 Welsh Premier League was the 23rd season of the Welsh Premier League, the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 22 August 2014. The New Saints claimed their ninth Welsh top flight championship on 14 March 2015 after a 3–0 win against nearest rivals in the table Bala Town.

The 2016–17 Welsh Premier League was the 25th season of the Welsh Premier League, the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. The New Saints are the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 22 June 2016. The season began on 12 August 2016 and ended on 22 April 2017; the Europa League play-offs will follow afterwards.

The 2017–18 Welsh Premier League was the 26th season of the Welsh Premier League, the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. The New Saints are the defending champions. The season fixtures were announced on 23 June 2017. The season began on 11 August 2017 and concluded in April 2018; the Europa League play-offs followed afterwards. Teams played each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league split into two groups at the end of January 2018 – the top six and the bottom six.

The 2018–19 Welsh Premier League was the 27th and final season of the Welsh Premier League, the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. The New Saints are the defending champions. The season fixtures were announced on 27 June 2018. The season began on 10 August 2018. Teams play each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league split into two groups at the end of January 2019 – the top six and the bottom six.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cefn Albion F.C.</span> Association football club in Wales

Cefn Albion Football Club is a Welsh football club representing the village of Cefn Mawr in Wrexham County Borough. The club was founded in 2014 and plays in the Ardal NE League.

The 2021–22 Cymru Premier was the 30th season of the Cymru Premier, the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. Connah's Quay Nomads were the defending champions. Teams played each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league split into two groups after phase 1 matches were completed. Due to Wales losing a European place, the format of the play-offs changed, with the prize now being a place in the Scottish Challenge Cup.

The 2022–23 Cymru Premier was the 31st season of the Cymru Premier, the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Welsh Cup</span> Football tournament season

The 2022–23 FAW Welsh Cup was the 135th season of the annual knockout tournament for competitive football teams in Wales. The winners qualified for the 2023–24 Europa Conference League first qualifying round.

References

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  8. ↑ "Aberystwyth Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Afan Lido". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Airbus UK". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Airbus U K Broughton". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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  14. ↑ "Barry Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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  17. ↑ "Britton Ferry Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  18. ↑ "Caernarfon Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  19. ↑ "Caernarfon Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  20. ↑ "Cardiff Grange Harlequins". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  21. 1 2 "Inter Cardiff". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  22. 1 2 "Inter Cable Tel". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  23. 1 2 "UWIC Inter Cardiff". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  24. 1 2 "UWIC". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  25. 1 2 "Cardiff Met University". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  26. ↑ "Carmarthen Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  27. 1 2 "Flexsys Cefn Druids". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  28. 1 2 "N E W I Cefn Druids". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  29. 1 2 "Elements Cefn Druids". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  30. ↑ "Cefn Druids". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  31. 1 2 "Cemaes Bay". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  32. 1 2 "Cemaes Ynys Mon". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  33. ↑ "Colwyn Bay". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  34. 1 2 "Gap Connah's Quay". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  35. 1 2 "Connah's Quay Nomads". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  36. ↑ "Conwy United". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  37. ↑ "Cwmbran Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  38. ↑ "Ebbw Vale". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  39. ↑ "Flint Town United". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  40. ↑ "Haverfordwest County". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  41. ↑ "Holywell Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  42. 1 2 "Llandudno". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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  46. ↑ "Llangefni Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  47. ↑ "Llanidloes Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  48. ↑ "Maesteg Park Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  49. ↑ "Mold Alexandra". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  50. 1 2 "Neath Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  51. 1 2 "Neath". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  52. 1 2 "Neath FC wound up at High Court". BBC News. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  53. 1 2 "Llansantffraid". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  54. 1 2 "Total Network Solutions". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  55. 1 2 "The New Saints". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  56. ↑ "Newtown". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  57. ↑ "Oswestry Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  58. ↑ "Penybont". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  59. ↑ "Pontypridd United". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  60. 1 2 "Port Talbot Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  61. 1 2 "Port Talbot Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  62. ↑ "Porthmadog". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  63. ↑ "Prestatyn Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  64. ↑ "Rhayader Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  65. ↑ "Rhyl". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  66. 1 2 "Welshpool". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  67. 1 2 "Technogroup Welshpool". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  68. ↑ "Ton Pentre". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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