12 tier 2 clubs apply for Cymru Premier next season – but will their current campaign even start?

Twelve Tier 2 clubs have applied for Cymru Premier status next season – even though they have had no confirmation yet that the current 2020-21 campaign will start.

From the Cymru North, five have put their names forward for an FAW Tier One certificate required to compete in the top flight in 2021-22.
They are:  Airbus UK, Bangor City, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, and Prestatyn Town.

The seven Cymru South applicants are: Ammanford, Briton Ferry Llansawel, Carmarthen Town, Cambrian & Clydach Vale, Llanelli Town, Swansea University and Taffs Well.

To secure a Cymru Premier licence, clubs must possess the Tier One certificate which is based on criteria such as Infrastructure, Legal, Personnel & Administration, Financial and Sporting (Youth and Coaching).

The 12 applicants will only benefit from the certificate if the 2020/21 season actually begins. The Cymru North and South campaigns have already been reduced to 15 matches, but cannot kick off until ‘Elite Status’ is restored to the leagues. Clubs are anxiously awaiting a decision on this.

Following the Welsh Government’s last review, JD Cymru North and South were not permitted to play under the current alert level. The FAW is currently awaiting the decision of the National Sports Group as to whether the ‘Elite Status’ designation is reinstated for the league.

The FAW say they expect to receive clarification on this soon.

News is still awaited on a definite start date, although March 27 is the target. The season is scheduled to finish by the end of May.

Cymru North champions Prestatyn Town, whose failure to earn the licence last season cost them promotion to the Cymru Premier, have tried again to gain top flight status.

Following their relegation last season, Airbus UK are aiming to bounce straight back

Bangor City and Llandudno are targeting a top league return, while Colwyn Bay have never played in the Cymru Premier, having only re-entered Welsh football last season after 36 years in the English pyramid.

The 2020-21 season has already been cancelled for men’s football tiers 3, 4 and 5, as well as women’s football tier 2.

UEFA LICENCE APPLICANTS (10)

• Aberystwyth Town
• Bala Town
• Barry Town United
• Caernarfon Town
• Cardiff Met University
• Connah’s Quay Nomads
• Flint Town United
• Newtown
• Penybont
• The New Saints

TIER 1 LICENCE APPLICANTS (24)

• Aberystwyth Town
• Bala Town
• Barry Town United
• Caernarfon Town
• Cardiff Met University
• Cefn Druids
• Connah’s Quay Nomads
• Flint Town United
• Haverfordwest County
• Newtown
• Penybont
• The New Saints
• Airbus UK Broughton (JD Cymru North)
• Bangor City (JD Cymru North)
• Colwyn Bay (JD Cymru North)
• Llandudno (JD Cymru North)
• Prestatyn Town (JD Cymru North)
• Ammanford (JD Cymru South)
• Briton Ferry (JD Cymru South)
• Carmarthen Town (JD Cymru South)
• Cambrian & Clydach Vale BGC (JD Cymru South)
• Llanelli Town (JD Cymru South)
• Swansea University (JD Cymru South)
• Taffs Well (JD Cymru South)

TIER 2 LICENCE APPLICANTS (57)

• Afan Lido
• Ammanford AFC
• Briton Ferry Llansawel
• Cambrian & Clydach
• Carmarthen Town
• Cwmbran Celtic
• Goytre United
• Llanelli Town
• Llantwit Major
• Pontypridd Town
• Port Talbot Town
• Risca United
• Swansea University
• Taffs Well
• Trefelin BGC
• Undy Athletic
• Airbus UK Broughton
• Bangor City
• Buckley Town
• Colwyn Bay
• Conwy Borough
• Gresford Athletic
• Guilsfield
• Holyhead Hotspur
• Holywell Town
• Llandudno
• Llangefni Town
• Llanidloes Town
• Llanrhaeadr-Ym-Mochnant
• Penrhyncoch
• Prestatyn Town
• Ruthin Town
• Denbigh Town (NWCFA)
• Llandudno Albion (NWCFA)
• Porthmadog (NWCFA)
• Brickfield Rangers (NEWFA)
• Cefn Albion (NEWFA)
• Chirk AAA (NEWFA)
• Corwen (NEWFA)
• Mold Alexandra (NEWFA)
• Rhos Aelwyd (NEWFA)
• Berriew (CWFA)
• Caersws (CWFA)
• Llanfair United (CWFA)
• Cwmamman United (WWFA)
• Garden Village (WWFA)
• Pontardawe Town (WWFA)
• Ynysygerwn (WWFA)
• Aberbargoed Buds (GCFA)
• Caerau Ely (SWFA)
• Pontyclun (SWFA)
• Abergavenny Town (GCFA)
• Caldicot Town (GCFA)
• Chepstow Town (GCFA)
• Croesyceiliog (GCFA)
• Newport City (GCFA)
• Trethomas Bluebirds (GCFA)

TIER 3 LICENCE APPLICANTS (86)

North West
• Blaenau Amateurs
• Brickfield Rangers
• Brymbo
• Denbigh Town
• Dyffryn Nantlle Vale
• Llandudno Albion
• Llanrwst United
• Llanuwchllyn
• Llay Welfare
• Mold Alexandra
• Porthmadog
• Rhostyllen
• Rhydymwyn
• Saltney Town
• St Asaph City
• Y Felinheli

North East
• Berriew
• Bow Street
• Caersws
• Carno
• Cefn Albion
• Chirk AAA
• Corwen
• Four Crosses
• Kerry
• Llanfair United
• Machynllech
• Montgomery Town
• Penparcau
• Penycae
• Rhos Aelwyd
• Welshpool Town

South East
• Aberbargoed Buds
• Abergavenny Town
• Abertillery Bluebirds
• Abertillery Excelsiors
• Caldicot Town
• Chepstow Town
• Croesyceiliog
• Goytre
• Llandrindod Wells
• Monmouth Town
• Newport City
• Panteg
• Rhayader Town
• Tredegar Town
• Treowen Stars
• Trethomas Bluebirds

South West
• AFC Llwydcoed
• AFC Porth
• Caerau Ely
• Cardiff Draconians
• Cwmamman United
• Dinas Powys
• Garden Village
• Penrhiwceiber Rangers
• Penydarren BGC
• Pontardawe Town
• Pontyclun
• Ton Pentre
• Treharris Athletic Western
• West End
• Ynyshir Albions
• Ynysygerwn

TIER 4 CLUBS THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR NATIONAL LEAGUE TIER 3 (National League tiers are 1, 2 & 3)

• Bangor 1876 (NWCFA)
• Glantraeth (NWCFA)
• Penrhyndeudraeth (NWCFA)
• Pwllheli (NWCFA)
• Rhyl 1879 (NWCFA)
• Halkyn & Flint Mountain (NEWFA)
• Hawarden Rangers (NEWFA)
• Brecon Corries (CWFA)
• Builth Wells (CWFA)
• Dolgellau AAA (CWFA)
• Mumbles Rangers (WWFA)
• Aberdare Town (SWFA)
• Baglan Dragons (SWFA)
• Bridgend Street (SWFA)
• Canton Liberal (SWFA)
• Cardiff Corinthians (SWFA)
• Pencoed (SWFA)
• Porthcawl Town (SWFA)
• Blaenavon Blues (GCFA)
• Caerleon (GCFA)
• RTB Ebbw Vale (GCFA)
• Ynysddu Welfare (GCFA)

Tiers 4 and 5 are administered by area associations – in the North they are the North East Wales FA and North Wales Coast FA