 | |
| Full name | STM Sports Association Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 [1] |
| Dissolved | 2020 |
| Ground | Cardiff University Playing Fields, Cardiff |
| 2019–20 | Cymru South, 6th of 16 (demoted) |
| Website | Club website |
STM Sports Association Football Club was a Welsh football club. They were based in St Mellons, Cardiff and played at Cardiff University Sports fields.
The club was formed mostly from players of Cardiff Cosmos Portos, coupled with players from Sunday League side Willows FC. [2] They played originally in the Cardiff Combination League, before moving to the South Wales Amateur League for the 2010–11 season where they were crowned Division Two champions at their first attempt. The following season in Division One saw the club finish seventh position, whilst the following year saw them finish in fifth position and also saw them win the South Wales FA Senior Cup.
The 2013–14 season saw them finish in fourth place, with promotion to the Welsh Football League obtained at the end of 2014–15 season, finishing as Champions. The club had to lodge an appeal with the Football Association of Wales to secure promotion and then defeated Pontlottyn 4–1 at Cardiff City Stadium in the SWFA promotion play-off. [3] The match also featured the unusual situation of one of the club's players being arrested during the match by police officers for an outstanding charge of assault and failing to answer to court. [4]
In the first season in Division Three, the club finished in fourth place before improving on that for the 2016–17 season, finishing second to Llantwit Major and gaining promotion to Division Two. [5] In their first season in Division Two the club finished in fourth place, before being crowned champions in the 2018–19 season. [6] The season included a record 20–0 Welsh League Cup away win over Caerau which saw five STM Sports players score hat-tricks. [7]
The team also reached the semi-final of the FAW Trophy before losing in extra time to Cefn Albion in a match that was marred by claims of racism against two STM Sports players by supporters of Cefn Albion. [8] Both clubs were later charged by FA Wales in relation to potential offences in relation to the match. [9]
As Division Two champions, the club was eligible for promotion to the newly established Cymru South. The club was informed by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) in May 2019 that they had not been awarded tier 2 certification to be eligible to play at that level, and were given the right of appeal. [10] The club won their appeal later in May. [11] In the first season in tier 2, the club's season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic which led to the suspension of all football in Wales and curtailment of the season. The club finished in sixth position after a decision was made to determine final places on a points per game (PPG) basis by the FAW.
At the end of the season, the club was informed by the Football Association of Wales that they had not been successful in gaining a tier 2 domestic licence for the forthcoming season. Despite appealing this decision, the club lost their appeal, and were therefore told they must compete in the newly established tier 3 structure for 2020–21. [12] The club were placed in the new Ardal Leagues South West when it was announced in July 2020. [13]
On 27 July 2020 it was announced that the club would not play in the 2020–21 season, and would dissolve. [14]
 |
|
| Season | Pyramid Tier | League | Welsh Cup [20] | FAW Trophy [20] | Other | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | P | W | D | L | Pts | Pos | |||||
| 2007-08 | 9 | Cardiff Combination League Division Two [21] | 20 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 55 | 2 | |||
| 2008-09 | 8 | Cardiff Combination League Division One [22] | 20 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 52 | 2 | |||
| 2009-10 | 7 | Cardiff Combination League Premier Division [23] | 20 | 1 | |||||||
| 2010-11 | 6 | South Wales Amateur League, Division Two | 28 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 70 | 1 | R1 | ||
| 2011-12 | 5 | South Wales Amateur League, Division One | 28 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 40 | 7 | 1Q | ||
| 2012-13 | 5 | South Wales Amateur League, Division One | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 48 | 5 | 1Q | South Wales FA Senior Cup Winners | |
| 2013-14 | 5 | South Wales Amateur League, Division One | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 57 | 4 | |||
| 2014-15 | 5 | South Wales Amateur League, Division One | 24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 56 | 1 | R1 | ||
| 2015-16 | 4 | Welsh Football League Division Three | 34 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 67 | 4 | |||
| 2016-17 | 4 | Welsh Football League Division Three | 20 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 64 | 2 | 2Q | ||
| 2017-18 | 3 | Welsh Football League Division Two | 30 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 60 | 4 | R2 | R2 | |
| 2018-19 | 3 | Welsh Football League Division Two | 29 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 67 | 1 | R1 | SF | |
| 2019-20 | 2 | Cymru South | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 39 | 6 | R3 | Nathaniel MG Cup Runner Up [24] | |
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. 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.
Port Talbot Town Football Club is a Welsh football club from Port Talbot. It was founded in 1901 as Port Talbot Athletic, one of the first clubs in the country. The club plays in the South Wales Premier League, and is based at Victoria Road.
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".
Penrhyndeudraeth Football Club is a football team, playing in the North Wales Coast West Football League Premier Division. The club was re-formed in 1981 and plays their home fixtures at Maes Y Parc, Penrhyndeudraeth.
Cefn Albion Football Club is a Welsh football club representing the village of Cefn Mawr in Wrexham County Borough. The club was founded in 2013 and plays in the Ardal Leagues North East, in the third tier of the Welsh football league system.
Swansea University Football Club is a Welsh football club, who play in the Ardal Leagues South West, which is the third tier of the Welsh football pyramid. They play at Sketty Lane, Swansea.
The Ardal Leagues are a football league in Wales. The word "ardal" translates as "district" in English, with Wales split into four regions at this level. They have clubs with amateur/semi-professional status and sit at the third level of the Welsh football league system. The first year of their operation would have been 2020–21 but the 2020–21 Ardal North East season, 2020–21 Ardal North West season, 2020–21 Ardal South East season and 2020–21 Ardal South West season were all cancelled. The inaugural season was moved to 2021–22. The creation of the leagues mark the first time the Football Association of Wales owns and is administering tier 3 of the Welsh league system. These changes follow from a review of the Welsh football pyramid. To be eligible clubs need to meet the criteria for FAW tier 3 certification.
Ynyshir Albions F.C. are a Welsh football team based in the village Ynyshir in the Rhondda Valley. The club plays in the Ardal Leagues South West, which is the third tier of the Welsh football pyramid.
Trethomas Bluebirds A.F.C. are a Welsh football team based in the village Trethomas in the Caerphilly County Borough. The club plays in the Cymru South, the second tier of the Welsh football pyramid.
The West Wales Premier League is a football league in Wales, at tier 4 of the Welsh Football Pyramid in South West Wales under the control of the West Wales Football Association. The league consists of teams having their grounds and headquarters West of a line drawn from Briton Ferry, Neath, northwards to Glynneath, and then again northwards to the boundary line of the South Wales Football Association. It offers promotion opportunities to the Ardal Leagues, at tier 3 of the Football Association of Wales pyramid.
The 2020–21 Cymru Premier was the 29th 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.
Penlan Association Football Club is an amateur Welsh football team based in Penlan, Swansea, Wales. They play in the West Wales Premier League which is in the fourth tier of the Welsh football league system.
Cardiff Draconians Football Club is a Welsh football team based in Gabalfa, Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Ardal Leagues South West which is in the third tier of the Welsh football league system.
The 2020–21 Ardal SW season was to be the first season of the new third-tier northern region football in Welsh football pyramid, part of the Ardal Leagues. Teams were to play each other twice on a home and away basis.
Llanrumney United Football Club is a Welsh football team based in Llanrumney, Cardiff, Wales. They play in the South Wales Premier League Championship Division, which is in the fifth tier of the Welsh football league system.
The 2021–22 FAW Welsh Cup was the 134rd season of the annual knockout tournament for competitive football teams in Wales. The New Saints were the competition's winners, the eighth time they had triumphed.
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.
Rhyl 1879 is a Welsh football club based in Rhyl in Denbighshire, Wales. The team currently play in the Ardal NW, which is at the third tier of the Welsh football league system. They are a phoenix club, established following Rhyl FC's formal dissolution in April 2020.
The 2021–22 Ardal SE season was the first season of the new third-tier southern region football in Welsh football pyramid, part of the Ardal Leagues, after the cancellation of the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales.
The 2022–23 Cymru Premier was the 31st season of the Cymru Premier, the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992.