FAW will decide on women’s tier 2 promotion issue

The FAW will settle a women’s football dispute over promotion to the tier 2 Adran North League in 2025-26.

Llangefni Town and Berriew were due to meet last month in a play-off to decide who goes up to the second-tier this season.

Berriew pulled out of the match and time ran out on the 2024-25 season before an alternative date could be agreed.

As a result, the North East Wales Women’s Football League nominated Llangefni for promotion to the Adran North.

Berriew protested and has now lodged an appeal against the NEWWFL’s decision to the Football Association of Wales.

The FAW has confirmed the appeal notice has been received but as yet has not set a date for the hearing.

Berriew were crowned champions of the East Division last season, while Pwllheli won the West title.

The pair met in a play-off to determine the overall North East Wales League champions which was won 5-2 by Pwllheli, who had not applied for promotion to Adran North.

The previous season, Pwllheli beat Flint Town United 3-2 in the battle between West and East title winners to decide the overall North Wales champions.

As Pwllheli had not applied for promotion. Flint went up to tier 2 in their place.

Last season, it was agreed by clubs at the start that as well as an overall North East Wales champions play-off, a separate promotion play-off game would take place if required.

This was brought in to give the more ambitious West teams a fairer crack at promotion given the very strong Pwllheli side were favourites to finish top of their league, but were not applying to go up.

It was agreed that the second-placed West team would enter the promotion play-off provided they had a tier 2 licence. This team was Llangefni, who had gained the licence.

Berriew also secured a Tier 2 licence on appeal.

Had Berriew won the overall North Wales title by beating Pwllheli, they would have gained promotion automatically.

However, as they lost, they were given a second chance via a promotion play-off, which they rejected. The club was approached by Grassroots North Wales for a statement to explain why they pulled out of the promotion play-off game, but never responded.

The matter now rests in the hands of the FAW.