Connah’s Quay and Llandudno apply for Tier 1 licenses, Flint & Llangefni set sights higher
Both Connah’s Quay Nomads and Llandudno have applied for licences to become eligible for Tier 1 women’s football in Wales next season.
The pair are currently vying for the Tier 2 Adran North title, with the prize on offer for the winners a play-off against the Adran South champions to earn promotion to the Adran Premier, where the only current North Wales members are Wrexham.
Llandudno participated in the top-tier of Welsh women’s football for eight seasons before temporarily disbanding in 2019-20.
When the pyramid was restructured in 2021-22, Tudno were the first winners of the new Tier 2 Adran North League, but they did not apply for promotion.
All eight of the current Adran North clubs have applied to retain a Tier 2 licence next season, with current Tier 3 teams Flint Town United and Llangefni Town aiming to join them.
Flint currently lead the North Wales League East Division, while Llangefni are top of the West Division.
Both have applied for Tier 2 status for the first time.
TIER 1 WOMEN’S LICENCE APPLICATIONS (11)
ADRAN PREMIER (8)
- Aberystwyth Town
- Barry Town United
- Cardiff City
- Cardiff Met
- Pontypridd United
- Swansea City
- The New Saints FC
- Wrexham AFC
ADRAN NORTH (2) - Connah’s Quay Nomads
- Llandudno
ADRAN SOUTH (1) - Briton Ferry Llansawel
TIER 2 WOMEN’S LICENCE APPLICATIONS (21 – 10 North)
ADRAN NORTH (8)
- Airbus UK Broughton
- CPD Y Rhyl 1879
- CPDM Bangor
- CPDM Y Felinheli
- Connah’s Quay Nomads
- Llandudno
- Llanfair United
- NFA
NORTH WALES WOMEN’S LEAGUE
WEST (1)
Llangefni Town
EAST (1)
Flint Town United
HOW IT ALL WORKS
The FAW Club Licensing applicants for the 2024/25 season of Tier 1 and 2 in women’s football and Tier 2 and 3 in men’s football have now been confirmed.
A Licence is granted on an annual basis and automatically expires at the end of the season for which it has been awarded.
Therefore, in order for clubs to maintain their status at their level of the Pyramid, they must annually apply for and meet the licensing criteria.
It’s important that clubs at all levels are assessed annually in order to ensure that the high standards clubs have already met remain in place and that all ground share agreements remain valid.
Club Licensing is used as a tool for continuous improvement so any changes to the criteria are carefully considered and are made with the intention of increasing standards.
Six Panels, made up of independent experts, meet to assess each club’s application.
The six Panels cover the Women’s Tier 1 (First Instance Body & Appeals Body), Tier 2 Men’s & Women’s (First Instance & Appeals Body) and Men’s Tier 3 (First Instance & Appeals Body). The Panels meet during March, April and May.
Panel members cover a range of skills & expertise and include; senior lawyers & other legal experts, chartered accountants, UEFA stadium inspectors & consultants and former international footballers.
The First Instance Bodies and the Appeals Bodies must be independent of each other.
The First Instance Bodies decide on whether a Licence should be granted to an applicant club on the basis of the documents provided by the submission deadline or, whether the Licence should be withdrawn.
The Appeals Bodies decide on appeals submitted in writing and make a final decision on whether the Licence should be granted or withdrawn.