Which clubs from the Cymru North have applied for a Tier 1 licence?
Thirty-four clubs have applied for the FAW Men’s Tier 1 Licence for the 2026/27 season.
All 12 JD Cymru Premier clubs have applied, along with 12 clubs from JD Cymru North and 10 from JD Cymru South.
The Club Licensing system aims to assist the continual improvement and development of football clubs at the top level within Wales.
The Cymru Premier has confirmed there will be a restructure to the league for the 2026/27 season which will see an increase from 12 teams to 16.
With two clubs expected to be relegated from the CPL, this will leave the door open for six Tier 2 sides to be promoted.
Clubs must attain a men’s Tier 1 Club Licence to gain entry into the newly restructured league.
All Tier 2 clubs that have applied for the Tier 1 Licence will be eligible to access and submit applications for the FAW’s Future Growth Fund.
This significant fund is being provided by the FAW to clubs to significantly develop their stadium infrastructure to deliver more Tier 1 compliant grounds ahead of the 2026/27 Cymru Premier restructure.
Licence Applicants (North Wales clubs in bold)
JD Cymru Premier (Tier 1)
Bala Town
Barry Town United
Briton Ferry Llansawel
Caernarfon Town
Cardiff Met University
Colwyn Bay
Connah’s Quay Nomads
Flint Town United
Haverfordwest County
Llanelli Town
Penybont
The New Saints
JD Cymru North (Tier 2)
Airbus UK Broughton
Brickfield Rangers
Buckley Town
Denbigh Town
Gresford Athletic
Guilsfield
Holywell Town
Llandudno
Newtown
Penrhyncoch
Ruthin Town
CPD Y Rhyl 1879
JD Cymru South (Tier 2)
Aberystwyth Town
Afan Lido
Ammanford
Caerau Ely
Cambrian United
Carmarthen Town
Llantwit Major
Newport City
Pontypridd United
Trefelin
What happens next?
Clubs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 had until 30 September to submit their applications for a Tier 1 Licence for the 2026/27 season. The confirmed applicants are detailed above.
During October, November and December, site visits to their stadia will be arranged and club audits will be completed, including the assessment of their licensing documentation.
By 1 March 2026, any ground sharing agreements must be submitted in accordance with the FAW Pyramid Regulations.
All club licensing documentation must be finalised and submitted to the FAW by 31 March 2026.
The full Tier 1 Club Licensing Core Process can be viewed within the Tier 1 Men’s Club Licensing Regulations.
Decisions
Clubs are assessed on the following criteria:
- Sporting
- Social and Environmental Sustainability
- Infrastructure
- Personnel & Administrative
- Legal
- Financial
An independent First Instance Body (FIB), consisting of experts with relevant experience, will sit on 8 April 2026 to assess the applicants against the criteria detailed above. The decisions of the FIB will be communicated to the applicants on the same day.
For those clubs who have failed to attain the Tier 1 Licence, the FIB will provide written reasons for their failure and the club(s) will be invited to submit an appeal by 14 April 2026.
An independent Appeals Body, also consisting of experts, will sit to consider the appeals on 16 April 2026. Decisions will be communicated to the appellants on the same day. The decision of the Appeals Body is final.