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.