Clubs state their interest in promotion to Cymru Premier
Llantwit Major v Pencoed Athletic in the JD Welsh Cup at Windmill Lane on the 4th September 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Fourteen second-tier teams have stated their interest in playing in the Cymru Premier next season by applying for Tier One Licence.
Over the next three months, site visits to each of the clubs’ stadia will be arranged and club audits will be completed. A Tier One Licence is required for all clubs wishing to play in the JD Cymru Premier.
The clubs are assessed on various criteria including Sporting, Youth and coaching, Infrastructure, legal, Personal & administration, and Financial and codes of practice.
Part of the sporting criteria is that all clubs have a minimum of two youths at 15 to 21 and 10 to 14. As stated in the FAW tier 1 licensing regulations
“The first and main advantage of the sporting criteria is to “produce” football talents for the club’s first squad every year.”
Clubs must also play at stadia that has a minimum capacity of 1500 spectators with 500 covered seats for Cymru Premier and League Cup matches.
Leaders of the Cymru North, Guilsfield, and Llantwit Major, the table-toppers of the Cymru South, have both applied for the first time.
At the start of the decade, Major were in the South Wales Amateur League, level five of the Welsh pyramid system. Karl Lewis however has overseen a remarkable rise through the system, winning both Division Two and Three of the Welsh League.
Another new applicant is Pontypridd Town, who are aiming to bring top-flight football to the Rhondda Cynon Taf for tor the first time. They already have top-level representation with their Women’s team playing in the newly formed Adran Premier.
Both the 2019/20 winners of the North and South, Prestatyn Town, and Swansea University have opted not to apply this time.
Airbus UK, Bangor City, and Llandudno are all hopeful of a return with the former relegated after a curtailed end to the season.
Out of the applicants in the South only Carmarthen Town and Llanelli Town have played in the Cymru Premier.
JD Cymru North (Six):
- Airbus UK Broughton
- Bangor City
- Buckley Town
- Colwyn Bay
- Guilsfield
- Llandudno
JD Cymru South (Eight):
- Ammanford
- Briton Ferry Llansawel
- Cambrian & Clydach Vale
- Carmarthen Town
- Llanelli Town
- Llantwit Major
- Pontypridd Town
- Taffs Well
