Women’s Football: Changes to be implemented to Women’s pyramid structure

The Football Association of Wales have announced plans to change the pyramid structure of Women’s football.

It follows in the footsteps of the men’s game which has had its own changes such as a rebrand and a realigning of teams. 

A new look tier two will be introduced to the pyramid structure where there will be regionalised northern and southern leagues, similar to the JD Cymru North and South.

The leagues will be administered by independent committees but receive support from the FAW.

Explaining the reasoning behind the changes, Lowri Roberts, the head of Women’s football in Wales said: “By introducing set criteria and providing additional support to Tier 2 leagues and clubs, it will provide a stronger platform for clubs to prepare to step into the Tier 1 and therefore create a more sustainable domestic pyramid and a more competitive national league.”

“During the consultation period, it became very clear that there was a need to introduce a transitional step between U16s girls’ football and senior women’s football as the current structure was not supporting player retention.”

This year the FAW introduced the Tier One and UEFA licence which helps the infrastructure of clubs and now there will be further criteria to meet to compete in the Welsh Premier Women’s League.

A new requirement will be that each top flight and any prospective sides will require an U19s team.

This will buy into the U19s Development League which will also be regionalised.

The changes will be made to the structure in time for the 2021/2022 season.

(Featured Image: Tom Pritchard)