UPDATE: Major changes set to be introduced for North Wales women’s football next season

The make-up of North Wales women’s football is set to undergo major changes from next season.

The North Wales Coast Football Association will soon reveal its plans to form a new women’s league for the 2025-26 season, while the North East Wales FA has interesting fresh proposals of its own.

Currently, tier 3 women’s football in the region is run by the North East Wales FA.

The North East Wales Women’s Football League is made up of two divisions – East and West – both comprising seven clubs representing various areas of North Wales including Ynys Môn. Llŷn Peninsula, Caernarfon, Denbighshire, Eifionydd, Flintshire, Conwy County Borough and Wrexham, plus two teams from Powys.

The current East-West set up of the North East Wales Women’s League is in its second season.

Due to small fixture lists, the present league has run fairly smoothly, with the Betty Pickering Cup and Shield also competed for to create more matches.

Last season the winners of the East and West met in a play-off final with the prize a place in the Tier 2 Genero Adran North League. Although Pwllheli won the final, they did not apply for promotion, so runners-up Flint Town United went up instead.

NORTH WALES COAST FA

A proposal was recently taken to the NWCFA Full Council to form a NWCFA Women’s Football League in time for the 2025-26 season, to administer football for clubs at Tier 3 level and below.

The proposal was supported by the NWCFA Full Council and will be submitted to the FAW for approval.

Due to this, the NWCFA is inviting all clubs across North Wales to a meeting in Llanfairfechan on Monday 14th April.

The association will introduce its plans for the league, and offer an opportunity for clubs to ask any questions.

All clubs are invited, whether they expect to be competing at Tier 3 level next season or if there is potential for the club to do so in the future.

Such a potential scenario is nothing new where the NWCFA are concerned.

The Coast have been mooting the idea of forming their own league for some time, but nothing has come of it. However, this time the plan could be a genuine go-er.

NORTH EAST WALES FA

However, the North East Wales FA have no intention of standing still as regards women’s football

NEWFA general secretary Dave Fawkes said the North East Wales Women’s League will continue to run next season – minus any clubs which join the Coast league.

New teams are lined up to join the revamped North East Wales League, with plans also afoot for a women’s recreation league and under-19 and U17 leagues.

“Only teams on the North Wales Coast will join the coast league,” said Mr Fawkes.

“East and West was the start of this process implemented by myself.

“We have 5 new teams (for the North East Wales) and in addition will form a new recreation league within our boundary.

“NEWFA will have a new U17’s league next season and U19’s in 2026-27 to create a full player pathway from junior to senior.

“The U17’s and U19’s leagues will be for clubs within our own area. Clubs outside of the area may able to join subject to approval form their respective area association.”

He added: “We wil have a tier 3 league plus a newly-formed recreation League next season.

“Changes to Vets football will also follow to fall in line with changes to women’s football.

“All this is a follow on from the success of introducing equal ability leagues with our junior sections this season.”