Cymru North to run with 17 teams as Trefelin BGC given reprieve
Zac Brown of Trefelin takes a free kick. Briton Ferry Llansawel v Trefelin in the JD Cymru South at Old Road on the 6th January 2023.
The Football Association of Wales has decided to run with a 17-team JD Cymru North next season.
Welsh football bosses had been dealt the difficult task of assigning their 32-member clubs to a league because of the relegation of two northern teams from the Cymru Premier.
Airbus and Flint Town United’s relegation meant no team would be joining the Cymru South leaving them with one less team than their northern counterparts. It was proposed that Llanidloes Town would fill that gap, but the Powys-based club were firmly against being moved to the South.
In their most recent club statement they said: “Big day tomorrow as we await the decision on where we will be placed next season, we certainly do not want to go south,” which was in addition to their post last month.
Quoting Y Clwb Pêl-droed’s article, which showed the prospective geographical make-up of the leagues, Llanidloes said: The unofficial make up of the leagues leaves us looking south.
“Nothing has been decided, we have been asked for our opinions which have been sent to the FAW in advance of the league structure meeting next Monday. We are a Cymru North team and wish to remain a Cymru North team.”
As a result of a 17-team Cymru North, Trefelin BGC will be given a reprieve, having finished 14th last season. The North will now have four relegation spots.
It is the second time that the Northern second tier has ran with 17 teams following Colwyn Bay’s decision to join the Welsh pyramid in the 2019/20 season. Four teams were meant to be relegated then but Rhyl’s demise meant that teams were given a reprieve.
Cymru North 23/24
Airbus UK
Bangor 1876
Buckley
Caersws
Cefn Druids
Chirk AAA
Denbigh Town
Flint Town United
Gresford Athletic
Guilsfield
Holywell Town
Llandudno
Llanidloes Town
Mold Alexandra
Porthmadog
Prestatyn Town
Ruthin Town
Cymru South 23/24
Abergavenny Town
Abertillery Bluebirds
Afan Lido
Ammanford
Baglan Dragons
Briton Ferry Llansawel
Caerau Ely
Cambrian & Clydach Vale
Carmarthen Town
Cwmbran Celtic
Goytre United
Llanelli Town
Llantwit Major
Pontardawe Town
Taffs Well
Trefelin BGC
Guys, I can see Trefelin in Cymru S has been reprieved from relegation, for what reason and who has lost out on promotion
No one lost out on promotion as such. Llanidloes didn’t wanna move South, so they made it 17 teams, but then Cefn Druids withdrew, making it a 16-team league. You could argue Risca missed out on promotion, as they lost the Ardal play-offs.