Opinion: A look out at the footballing structure of Mid Wales and how it could be improved.
With only a handful of games taking place this weekend. I took a look at what could be done to improve the structure of football in Mid Wales.
With the Mid Wales Spar 1 League having 15 teams competing and the Mid Wales Spar 2 having 13 teams, I took a look at what could change to make these Leagues more entertaining and competitive.
With the Mid Wales Spar 1 being a tier 3 League, it makes it a struggle not only for clubs to attract players, but also makes it a struggle for match officials. If it was to become a tier 2 League it would help these clubs in a financial way also. With 1 team getting promoted in to the Huws Gray Alliance it makes it a struggle for some of the teams to get transportation to games. Whereas if it was tier 2 it would help clubs massively.
This could mean that the top two teams from both the Spar 1 and the Huws Gray Alliance could have a play off game, to see who would get promoted in to the Welsh Premiership.
Although the costs of the games are a problem, there are also positives about the Mid Wales Spar 1 being a tier 3 League.
The obvious about it being tier 3 is finances. The distances that clubs have to travel are far less, but it also encourages younger players in the area to join senior teams. If it got changed, it could mean youngsters turning away from football due to higher competition for places. But it could encourage the current tier 5 League, Mid Wales League South, to not only have reserves teams competing in it but also new clubs if they could get funding.
The Mid Wales Spar 2 League, currently tier 4, is competitive in its own right. With teams battling for promotion and to stay away from relegation, it would make it even more entertaining if it was to become a tier 3 due to teams really wanting to get in to a league where they could face a really tough challenge.
In my opinion, I think it should change. Obviously it would be needed to look in depth and could cost a lot to the Welsh FA to make it happen, but it would promote Mid Wales Football massively.
At the moment, I think it’s looked at in a negative attitude. Not many people turn up to games unless it’s against huge opponents, which makes it hard for clubs to be able to pay for match officials. As most of you reading this can see, I’ve mentioned money a lot in this report. But it is what it comes down to, until the Welsh FA see a number of clubs fold due to this, nothing will change which is a disappointment.
I ran a poll on this issue and out of 157 votes 56% of people disagreed with me and said that the structure of Mid Wales Football should stay the way it is.
Eric Hall
What needs to change first and foremost is clubs like Caernarfon, Prestatyn, Holywell, Llanelli, Barry and half a dozen other ambitious clubs pushing the FAW to create a Second Division. Two divisions with a League Cup being played mid-week with 6 regional groups of 4 clubs to produce 6 winners and 2 best second-places.
Once all of that is up and running, attention can turn to creating a third tier of regional leagues, with the winners playing off against the bottom club in WPL Division 2 as currently happens in Scotland.
But with the FAW having to become involved, you can count the passing of several centuries before this will ever be brought to the agenda, unless the clubs fight for it.