Llangefni Town denied chance of promotion after Berriew win appeal – the reaction….

Llangefni Town have been denied a chance of promotion to tier 2 of the Welsh women’s football pyramid by an FAW ruling.

Instead, Berriew from Powys will join the Genero Adran North League for the 2025-26 season, with Cefni remaining in tier 3.

The North East Wales League decided to nominate Llangefni for promotion after Berriew refused to participate in a play-off for elevation against the Anglesey side.

The decision to hold a promotion play-off, a new initiative, was agreed in a meeting of clubs at the start of the season, with Berriew themselves present.

Berriew won the East Division title last season, then lost 5-2 in the final to decide on the overall North East Wales League champions to West Division title-winners Pwllheli.

Pwllheli did not apply to go up, so as decided upon at the start of the campaign, a play-off for promotion would take place between the second-place team in the West – Llangefni Town – and the overall East v West play-off runners-up – in this case Berriew.

This game could only take place if both teams had a Tier 2 licence – which Llangefni and Berriew do.

However, a few days before the match, Berriew decided playing this winner-takes-all match was not for them and challenged the promotion play-off idea on the claim the North East Wales League were not following FAW regulations.

STATEMENTS/REACTION

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF WALES

“The appeal by Berriew Ladies FC against the decision of the North East Wales Women’s Football League, to find a proven charge against the club under League Rule 17, for failing to fulfil a fixture, namely the tier 2 promotion play-off final scheduled for 25 May 2025, was upheld by an FAW Disciplinary Panel.
“They also decided that Berriew Ladies FC having finished second place in the NEWWFL 2024/25 season and in accordance with the FAW Women’s Pyramid Regulations, having obtained a Tier 2 licence, be promoted to Tier 2 of the Adran Leagues.”

NORTH EAST WALES FA

“NEWFA are disappointed a decision taken within a league AGM supported by all Clubs including Berriew has not been upheld by FAW.
“Changes made to promotion were put in place to allow the League to operate in regions to assist grow the women’s game and provide equal chance to all Clubs. Previous season had seen a club winning the West League block promotion (they didn’t wish to be promoted) for the team finishing second
“Next season there will be 3 Leagues and only one promotion place available across the 3 northern leagues. A decision similar to the one put in place by the League supported by NEWFA will need to be put in place as the current regulations on promotion do not cover how promotion is played out.
“We are disappointed Llangefni have been deprived of the opportunity to be promoted as they should have been, on the pitch.
“Although we are disappointed we have to accept the decision and move forward focusing on the growth of the women’s game.”

LLANGEFNI TOWN LADIES MANAGER DAN GREGG

“Yesterday afternoon the General Secretary of the NEWFA informed us that the FAW have ruled to automatically promote Berriew Ladies into Tier 2 despite Berriew failing To adhere to a rule voted on during a recorded AGM.
Here’s the backstory for our supporters, as we believe it;s important to understand recent events.
Back in season 23/24, our league was split into two divisions: an East League and a West League. Our West League featured seven established teams with no new additions. The East League, however, featured several brand-new teams, including teams such as Bellevue.
Flint won the East and then faced Pwllheli from the West to decide an overall champion. Pwllheli won but did not apply for a Tier 2 licence. Flint, on the other hand, did apply and it was deemed that they finished second overall, earning them the promotion spot. At the time we thought that this promotion structure needed changing,,,,,,
A. Because of the differences in development of the teams on each side.
B. Because a team could potentially block the path in the West.
C. Because Flint got promoted without actually playing their rival for promotion during a season.
All this was then discussed before the 24/25 season during an AGM and a majority of teams voted to implement a rule change. Berriew was present during this AGM.
The new rule that was agreed was: If the team that wins the overall league does not apply for a Tier 2 licence, then the second-place team that has applied will participate in a promotion play off.
Pwllheli beat Berriew 5-2 (in the match to decide the overall champion), again showing the strength of the West. As per the rule voted on at the AGM (with Berriew present), Llangefni should then have played a promotion playoff game against Berriew.
However, this match never happened. Berriew refused to play, claiming they had discovered the rule hadn’t been officially written into the rulebook.
Llangefni Town Ladies never expected automatic promotion. All we wanted was a fair chance and a promotion play-off game against a rival, something that never materialised over the entire season.
Our biggest disappointment in all this is how Berriew has acted. We believe that regardless of a technicality in the rule book, Berriew was present in the meeting, heard what the majority of clubs voted for and should have acted with respect and honour instead of trying to find a loophole.
We’d like to thank nearly every club from both sides of the league that came out and supported us, many of whom have messaged us in the last few hours expressing their disgust.
As for the FAW, they haven’t had the decency or respect to even contact Llangefni Town Ladies. But then again, perhaps we’re just not part of their agenda.
Onto next season.”

BERRIEW FC

Berriew Ladies FC welcomes the decision of the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Appeals Panel to uphold our appeal regarding promotion to Tier 2.
We are immensely proud of our players, who have shown not only footballing excellence throughout the season, but great resilience and unity during this appeal process. Today’s decision honours their efforts and affirms their right to a fair and transparent pathway in Welsh football.
We extend our sincere thanks to the North East Wales Women’s Football League (NEWWFL) for their work throughout the season, and for providing a competitive and challenging platform for all clubs. We also wish to acknowledge Llangefni Ladies, who will no doubt be disappointed by this outcome. They are a strong and committed side. We wish them all the very best for the future.
Our appreciation also goes to the FAW for listening to our concerns and ensuring that our appeal was treated with professionalism and care. We are grateful that the structures in place allowed our players’ voices to be heard.
We believe this decision sends an important message: that individuals and teams in Welsh football should have the confidence to raise their voices when they believe rules and procedures have not been followed. Challenging decisions can be difficult and fraught with uncertainties — especially for women in sport — but it is through that courage and commitment to fairness that we move the game forward.
We now look forward to competing in Tier 2 and continuing to grow, not just as a team, but as part of a wider movement for equity and excellence in Welsh football.

GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES

And Berriew plays the humble crumb.
Quite an easy thing to do when you’ve had your own way.
Thanking the FAW, the North East Wales League, wishing Llangefni all the best…..
One wonders would the reaction have been as gracious had things gone the other way.
This should never have become an FAW matter.
The matter of promotion to Genero Adran North in 2025-26 should have been settled on the field, not a “courtroom.”
That’s how it worked in the battle of champions between Adran North and Adran South – Connah’s Quay Nomads v Pontypool United – to be promoted to the Adran Premier.
Pontypool won, they went up.
Not that I’m agreeing with that policy. Both champions should have gone up.
Same with the Berriew-Llangefni situation. With both having the Tier 2 licence, both should have been promoted if a promotion play-off was not officially in the rule book, despite being agreed upon by clubs at the start of the season.
So what if it meant the Genero Adran North operated with an uneven number of teams in 2025-26? It wouldn’t be the first time, a precedent has already been set.
How will this affect Llangefni Town now? Hopefully Dan Gregg can keep his squad together, bring in some additions, and be equally strong, if not stronger, next season.
I am confident he will.
The present Llangefni set-up has been in existence for just four seasons and has come a long way.
They deserve to be in Tier 2, they are strong enough. They only just missed out on the West Division title to a very powerful Pwllheli.
If they didn’t merit going up based on what they had already achieved, then they at least deserved the right to play for promotion. That’s all they wanted, a chance.
Maybe Berriew didn’t fancy their chances of beating a team which pushed Pwllheli so close all season, but the Powys side had lost 5-2 against in the East-West champions game after running out of steam.
So they took their battle to the FAW and won.
Teams have been promoted in recent seasons from a much less impressive position than Llangefni’s was.
What about NFA in 2022-23? Finished FOURTH in the North Wales League yet were granted promotion to Tier 2 as they had the licence.
The system is flawed and needs looking at.
Of course I wanted Llangefni to go up, I’m an advocate for North Wales football and an Anglesey person born and bred.
If that makes me biased, so be it.
I could have accepted Llangefni not going up if they didn’t deserve to, but they did deserve to, or at least been given a fair chance to.
That’s what sticks in the throat.