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List of Cymru Premier clubs

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A group of young men in blue and yellow sports kit displaying several trophies
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 since been significantly restructured and had 12 member clubs in the 2018–19 season. Although it is the highest level of the Welsh football league system, the Welsh Premier League has never included the country's major professional clubs, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County. For historical reasons these clubs all play within the English league system.[2] Instead the Welsh Premier League consists primarily of clubs from large towns (like Barry and Bridgend) and some smaller towns (like Bala), and the majority of the players are semi-professional. As of 2013, The New Saints, who have played in Oswestry in England since 2005,[3] were the only full-time professional team in the league.[4]

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

[edit]

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
Club First season Most recent season Total seasons Best finish Times champions 2023–24 status Ref(s).
Abergavenny Thursdays † 1992–93 1992–93 1 20th – Defunct; folded in 2013 [6][7]
Aberystwyth Town † 1992–93 2023–24 32 4th – Playing in Cymru Premier [8]
Afan Lido † 1992–93 2013–14 14 2nd – Playing in Cymru South [9]
Airbus UK Broughton[nb1] 2004–05 2022–23 15 2nd – Playing in Cymru North [10][11]
Bala Town 2009–10 2023–24 15 2nd – Playing in Cymru Premier [12]
Bangor City † 1992–93 2017–18 26 1st 3 Inactive [13]
Barry Town United 1994–95 2023–24 15 1st 7 Playing in Cymru Premier [14][15][16]
Briton Ferry Athletic † 1992–93 1996–97 4 17th – Merged with Llansawel in 2009 to form Briton Ferry Llansawel [17]
Caernarfon Town 1995–96 2023–24 19 5th – Playing in Cymru Premier [18]
Caersws † 1992–93 2009–10 18 4th – Playing in Cymru North [19]
Cardiff Grange Harlequins 2005–06 2005–06 1 18th – Defunct; folded in 2015 [20]
Cardiff Metropolitan University †[nb10] 1992–93 2023–24 17 2nd – Playing in Cymru Premier [21][22][23][24][25]
Carmarthen Town 1996–97 2019–20 24 3rd – Playing in Cymru South [26]
Cefn Druids[nb3] 1999–2000 2021–22 18 5th – Inactive [27][28][29][30]
Cemaes Bay[nb2] 1995–96 1997–98 3 12th – Playing in North Wales Coast West Football League [31][32]
Colwyn Bay 2023–24 2023–24 1 – – Playing in Cymru Premier [33]
Connah's Quay Nomads †[nb4] 1992–93 2023–24 30 1st 1 Playing in Cymru Premier [34][35]
Conwy Borough † 1992–93 1999–2000 8 3rd – Playing in Ardal NW [36]
Cwmbran Town † 1992–93 2006–07 15 1st 1 Playing in Gwent County League Premier Division [37]
Ebbw Vale † 1992–93 1997–98 6 3rd – Defunct; folded in 1998 [38]
Flint Town United † 1992–93 2022–23 8 4th – Playing in Cymru North [39]
Haverfordwest County † 1992–93 2023–24 20 2nd – Playing in Cymru Premier [40]
Holywell Town † 1992–93 1998–99 6 5th – Playing in Cymru North [41]
Llandudno [nb5] 2015–16 2018–19 4 3rd – Playing in Cymru North [42]
Llanelli Town † 1992–93 2018–19 18 1st 1 Playing in Cymru South [43][44][45]
Llangefni Town 2007–08 2007–08 1 18th – Playing in Ardal NW [46]
Llanidloes Town † 1992–93 1992–93 1 19th – Playing in Cymru North [47]
Maesteg Park Athletic † 1992–93 1994–95 3 15th – Defunct; folded in 2010 [48]
Mold Alexandra † 1992–93 1994–95 3 13th – Playing in Cymru North [49]
Neath[nb6] 2007–08 2011–12 5 3rd – Defunct; folded in 2012 [50][51][52]
The New Saints[nb9] 1993–94 2023–24 31 1st 13 Playing in Cymru Premier [53][54][55]
Newtown † 1992–93 2023–24 32 2nd – Playing in Cymru Premier [56]
Oswestry Town 2000–01 2002–03 3 15th – Merged with The New Saints in 2003 [57]
Penybont 2019–20 2023–24 4 3rd – Playing in Cymru Premier [58]
Pontypridd United 2022–23 2023–24 2 8th – Playing in Cymru Premier [59]
Port Talbot Town[nb7] 2000–01 2015–16 16 3rd – Playing in Ardal SW [60][61]
Porthmadog † 1992–93 2009–10 13 9th – Playing in Cymru North [62]
Prestatyn Town 2008–09 2014–15 7 5th – Playing in Cymru North [63]
Rhayader Town 1997–98 2001–02 5 12th – Playing in Central Wales Football League Southern Division [64]
Rhyl 1994–95 2016–17 20 1st 2 Defunct; folded in 2020 [65]
Welshpool Town[nb8] 1996–97 2009–10 10 4th – Playing in Ardal NE [66][67]
Ton Pentre 1993–94 1996–97 4 3rd – Playing in South Wales Alliance League Premier Division [68]

Notes

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  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]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Goldblatt, David (2009). The Football Book. Dorling Kindersley. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-4053-3738-0.
  2. ^ "Uefa give Swansea and Cardiff European assurance". BBC Sport. 21 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  3. ^ "TNS on the move to Oswestry". Wales Online. 1 November 2005. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  4. ^ Williams, Marc Lloyd (3 May 2013). "Europa League play-off keeps interest alive after TNS title stroll". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. ^ "The Pyramid". Welsh Premier League. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  6. ^ Penman, Andrew (20 August 2013). "Abergavenny Thursdays withdraw from Gwent County League". South Wales Argus. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Abergavenny Thursdays". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  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. ^ a b "Airbus UK". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Airbus U K Broughton". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Bala Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Bangor City". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Barry Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  15. ^ "FAW votes to admit Barry Town United to Welsh League". BBC Sport. 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Barry Town United". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  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. ^ a b "Inter Cardiff". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  22. ^ a b "Inter Cable Tel". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  23. ^ a b "UWIC Inter Cardiff". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  24. ^ a b "UWIC". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  25. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Flexsys Cefn Druids". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  28. ^ a b "N E W I Cefn Druids". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  29. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Cemaes Bay". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  32. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Gap Connah's Quay". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  35. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Llandudno". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  43. ^ "Llanelli". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  44. ^ "Llanelli AFC wound up at High Court over tax debts". BBC News. 22 April 2013. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  45. ^ "Llanelli Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  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. ^ a b "Neath Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  51. ^ a b "Neath". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  52. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Llansantffraid". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  54. ^ a b "Total Network Solutions". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  55. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Port Talbot Town". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  61. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Welshpool". The Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  67. ^ a b "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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