Fourteen North Wales women’s football teams apply for tier 2 level next season

Fourteen North Wales clubs have applied for the eight spaces available in the new Tier 2 North women’s league next season.

With a major domestic restructure of the women’s game in Wales currently underway for the 2021/22 season, a total of 37 clubs have applied for the 24 berths available across the new Tier 1 and 2 leagues.

In May 2020, the FAW announced ambitious plans to reform the National League (Tier 1) and new regionalised northern and southern leagues at Tier 2.

A key function of the re-structure has been introducing an open application process to determine the clubs who will be granted a place in the new pyramid that will best support the FAW’s aims for the development of the domestic game.

Fifteen clubs have applied for the eight Tier 1 spaces – none from North Wales.

The current Cymru Premier League has no northern sides following the resignation of Llandudno and Rhyl last season.

For 2020/21, a further 22 clubs have submitted applications for the 16 available spaces in Tier 2, with eight places in each of the northern and southern leagues.

North Wales Tier 2 applicants are

Airbus UK Broughton
Amlwch Town
Bangor 1876
Bethel
Colwyn Bay
Connah’s Quay Nomads
Denbigh Town
Llandudno
Llanfair United
Llanystumdwy
North Football Association
Northop Hall
Pwllheli
Wrexham

Colwyn Bay are a completely new team currently not engaged with the North Wales League.

Present North Wales League teams not to apply for Tier 2 North are: Caernarfon Town, Corwen, CPD Y Rhyl 1879, Holywell Town, Penrhyn Bay and Welshpool Town.

A Tier 3 will also operate next season for clubs wishing to operate on a local level only, which may be the case for the 6 above.

The current 2020-21 women’s football season is yet to start at any standard below tier 1.

The 37 clubs to apply for Tier 1 and 2 will now enter the Phase 1 Licensing Process and must submit the relevant paperwork to the FAW by 26 March, which will then be reviewed by an independent First Instance Body in early April.

Those clubs who meet the license criteria will then be invited to Phase 2 to present their club development plans to a panel consisting of FAW, FAW Trust and independent experts for an assessment across the following key areas:

Awareness & Visibility: Clubs to play key role in raising the profile, increasing visibility, driving awareness and challenging perceptions around the Women’s game in Wales.
Women in Football: Clubs to support women and girls to fulfil their potential on and off the field.
Pathways: Clubs to provide a clear player pathway to the senior team.
Sustainability & Growth: Clubs to have a clear development and growth plan.
Player Development: Clubs to provide access to a high quality training programme and performance support to enable female players across all areas of Wales to reach their potential.

Successful clubs will be provided with a development grant from the FAW. Tier 1 clubs will receive £6K per year for four years. Tier 2 clubs will receive a one-off grant of £3K for the 2021/22 season.

Following the conclusion of the process, the successful clubs will be announced at the end of May.

Tier 1 (15 applicants)

Abergavenny
Aberystwyth Town
Barry Town United
Briton Ferry Llansawel
Caldicot Town
Cardiff Bluebelles
Cardiff City
Cardiff Met
Cascade YC
Cyncoed
Merthyr Town
Port Talbot
Swansea City
Swansea University
The New Saints

Tier 2 South (8 applicants)

Aberdare Town
Aberaman
Baglan BG Junior
Coed Duon Welfare
Cwmbran Celtic
Dafen Welfare
FC Talycopa
Pontardawe Town

Tier 1 North (8 applicants) listed higher up in this article.