Men’s football: North Wales clubs show plenty of ambition in latest round of FAW licence applications

Eighteen teams operating in Tier 3 of the men’s football pyramid covering North Wales have applied for a Tier 2 licence.

Successful clubs would become eligible to play in the Cymru North in 2025-26, provided they finish high enough in their current leagues to merit promotion.

Tier 2 licence northern applicants are:
Ardal North West (11): Connah’s Quay Town, CPD Pwllheli, CPD Y Rhyl 1879, Holyhead Hotspur, Llangefni Town, Llanrwst United, Nantlle Vale, NFA, Porthmadog, St Asaph City and Trearddur Bay
Ardal North East (7): Brickfield Rangers, Builth Wells, Dolgellau AA, Kerry, Llanfair United. Llanuwchllyn, Penycae

HOW IT WORKS

The FAW Club Licensing applicants for the 2025/26 season of Tier 1 and 2 in Women’s football and Tier 2 and 3 in Men’s football were today 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an applicant club on the basis of the documents provided by the submission deadline or, whether the Licence should be withdrawn.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Bodies decide on appeals submitted in writing and make a final decision on whether the Licence should be granted or withdrawn.

TIER 2 MEN’S LICENCE APPLICATIONS (northern – 34)

Cymru North (16 – all current Cymru North clubs)

1. Airbus UK Broughton
2. Bangor 1876
3. Buckley Town
4. Caersws
5. Colwyn Bay
6. Denbigh Town
7. Flint Mountain
8. Gresford Athletic
9. Guilsfield
10. Holywell Town
11. Llandudno
12. Llay Welfare
13. Mold Alexandra
14. Penrhyncoch
15. Prestatyn Town
16. Ruthin Town

Ardal North East (7)

1. Brickfield Rangers
2. Builth Wells
3. Dolgellau AA
4. Kerry
5. Llanfair United
6. Llanuwchllyn
7. Penycae

Ardal North West (11)

1. Connah’s Quay Town
2. CPD Pwllheli
3. CPD Y Rhyl 1879
4. Holyhead Hotspur
5. Llangefni Town
6. Llanrwst United
7. Nantlle Vale
8. NFA
9. Porthmadog
10. St Asaph City
11. Trearddur Bay

TIER 3 MEN’S LICENCE APPLICATIONS (northern – 52)

Ardal North East (16)

1. Bow Street
2. Brickfield Rangers
3. Builth Wells
4. Cefn Albion
5. Chirk AAA
6. CPD Rhos Aelwyd
7. Dolgellau AA
8. Kerry
9. Llandrindod Wells
10. Llanfair United
11. Llangollen Town
12. Llanidloes Town
13. Llansantffraid Village
14. Llanuwchllyn
15. Penycae
16. Radnor Valley

Ardal North West (16)

1. Connah’s Quay Town
2. Conwy Borough
3. Corwen
4. CPD Llannefydd
5. CPD Pwllheli
6. CPD Y Felinheli
7. CPD Y Rhyl 1879
8. Holyhead Hotspur
9. Llangefni Town
10. Llanrwst United
11. Menai Bridge Tigers
12. Nantlle Vale
13. NFA
14. Porthmadog
15. St Asaph City
16. Trearddur Bay

Tier 4 North Wales Coast East and West (13)

1. Bethesda Athletic
2. Bontnewydd
3. Bow
4. Cemaes Bay
5. CPD Nefyn United
6. CPD Penrhyndeudraeth
7. CPD Y Glannau
8. Glantraeth
9. Gwalchmai
10. Kinmel Bay
11. Llanfairfechan Town
12. Mochdre Sports
13. Pennmaenmawr Phoenix

Tier 4 North East Wales (7)

1. Coedpoeth United
2. Greenfield
3. Hawarden Rangers
4. Lex XI
5. Mynydd Isa
6. Rhostyllen
7. Saltney Town