Cymru Leagues: A geographical look at the teams competing in the 2024/25 season
The Cymru Premier trophy is the top prize in the Cymru Leagues. (Pic By John Smith/FAW)
All 44 clubs have been confirmed for the 2024/25 Cymru Leagues.
The Ardal Leagues play-offs took place over May 24 and May 25 and both Newport City and Llay Welfare/Llanuwchllyn will take their place in the second tier.
Again, TNS is at the top of the three, and they have won the last three titles. They finished a whole 36 points above Connah’s Quay, but the Nomads will be inspired by their Welsh Cup win to try and bridge that gap.
One of the teams dropping out of the Cymru Premier was Pontypridd United. The Dragons had a troubled campaign and at one stage had a 135-point deduction hanging over their head. They had nine points deducted in total, finishing bottom and had they avoided off-the-field issues, they would have finished 10th.
Colwyn Bay after one season in the Welsh top flight after making that decision a few years ago to move back to the Welsh system, were relegated. A win on the final day over Barry wasn’t enough as Aberystwyth beat Pontypridd, and the Seagulls must now regroup under new boss Mike Wilde.
Briton Ferry Llansawel and Flint Town United will replace Colwyn Bay and Pontypridd. The Reds won the Cymru South title, whilst Flint like how they did in 2019/20, go up having finished second, this time to Holywell Town.
Going down from the Cymru North was Llanidloes Town, Chirk AAA and Porthmadog. The Daffs finished with just nine points, recording just two wins. Chirk weren’t too far off with only 13 points from a possible 90. Porthmadog meanwhile went down with just a point separating them and Prestatyn Town.
Flint Mountain and Penrhyncoch were two of the three sides replacing the three relegated after winning their respective titles. Flint Mountain, who had only formed in 2009, finished two points ahead of Llay Welfare and have an Ardal North League Cup final to look forward to also.
In the North East, Penrhyncoch finished two points ahead of Bow Street. Bow Street finished second but because they hadn’t applied for a Tier 2 Licence, the play-off spot went to Llanuwchllyn.
Llay Welfare ended up getting promoted as they won 6-5 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes. David MacIntyre scored the winning penalty for the Wrexham side after Kyle Jones missed his spot kick.
Down in the Cymru South South, Abergavenny Town and Aber Bluebirds went down along with Pontardawe Town. The Pennies finished with a lowly eight points and a whole 24 off safety. Pontardawe were relegated on goal difference with Taffs Well better than them by 13.
In the South East, Trethomas Bluebirds romped home to the league title. Mark Dunford’s men who in recent years had won the FAW Amateur Trophy and the Ardal South League Cup saw them win the title by seven points, losing just two games.
The South West was a slight bit more competitive however and it wasn’t until the final game that Penrhiwceiber Rangers won the title. They needed to draw against Seven Sisters Onllwyn after Cribwr had finished their season but they won 3-0.
The play-off final saw Newport City and Cefn Cribwr meet in the play-off final at Penybont’s SDM Glass Stadium, and it would be the Gwent side who would go up. They won 2-1 thanks to goals from Kofi Rowe Cole and Cole Jarvis in the first half.
And the make-up of the Cymru Leagues is complete. A slight change to the Cymru Premier sees second now involved in the play-offs should they not win the Welsh Cup.
Here are the 44 teams and their geographical position on a map of Wales. It includes the respective leagues and then all of them in one map.
