Holywell Town apply for top-tier licence – as do Bangor 1876 and Ruthin Town
Holywell Town are among 23 clubs which have applied for the FAW Men’s Tier 1 Licence for the 2024/25 season.
All 12 JD Cymru Premier clubs have submitted an application, along with five clubs from JD Cymru North and six from JD Cymru South.
Last season, Holywell were long-time contenders for the Tier 2 Cymru North title along with eventual champions Colwyn Bay.
Had they finished top, the Wellmen could not have gone up to the Cymru Premier as they had not applied for promotion.
This time they have attempted to earn the Tier 1 Licence status required to reach the top flight.
Bangor 1876 and Ruthin Town have also applied from the Cymru North, along with previous Cymru Premier participants Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town United,
The Club Licensing system aims to assist the continual improvement and development of football clubs at the top level within Wales.
APPLICANTS
JD Cymru Premier (Tier 1)
Aberystwyth Town
Bala Town
Barry Town United
Caernarfon Town
Cardiff Met University
Colwyn Bay
Connah’s Quay Nomads
Haverfordwest County
Penybont
Pontypridd United
Newtown
The New Saints
JD Cymru North (Tier 2)
Airbus UK Broughton
CPD Bangor 1876
Flint Town United
Holywell Town
Ruthin Town
JD Cymru South (Tier 2)
Ammanford
Afan Lido
Briton Ferry Llansawel
Carmarthen Town
Goytre United
Llanelli Town
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Clubs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 had until 30 September to submit their applications for a Tier 1 Licence for the 2024/25 season. The confirmed applicants are detailed above.
During November and December, site visits to their stadia will be arranged and club audits will be completed, including the assessment of their licensing documentation.
By 1 March 2024, any ground sharing agreements must be submitted in accordance with the FAW Pyramid Regulations.
All club licensing documentation must be finalised and submitted to the FAW by 31 March 2024.
The full Tier 1 Club Licensing Core Process can be viewed within the Tier 1 Men’s Club Licensing Regulations.
DECISIONS
Clubs are assessed on the following criteria:
Sporting
Football Social Responsibility
Infrastructure
Legal
Personnel & Administrative
Financial
An independent First Instance Body (FIB), consisting of experts with relevant experience, will sit on 4 April 2024 to assess the applicants against the criteria detailed above. The decisions of the FIB will be communicated to the applicants on the same day.
For those clubs who have failed to attain the Tier 1 Licence, the FIB will provide written reasons for their failure and the club(s) will be invited to submit an appeal by 14 April 2024.
An independent Appeals Body, also consisting of experts, will sit to consider the appeals on 18 April 2024. Decisions will be communicated to the appellants on the same day. The decision of the Appeals Body is final.