Football

Which men’s teams have secured an FAW Tier 2 licence – and who failed at the first attempt?

CPD Dinas Bangor City 1876 celebrate winning the Ardal North West title. Bangor have secured the Tier 2 licence required to compete in the Cymru North next season

The FAW Men’s Tier 2 First Instance Body met yesterday to assess the Tier 2 Licensing Applications for the 2026/27 season.

The Panel assessed 65 applicants for the men’s T2 Certification. Fifty-seven of the applications for a Tier 2 licence have been successful, including 31 of the current JD Cymru North and JD Cymru South clubs and 26 clubs in Tier 3.

Clubs are assessed on the following criteria:

Sporting: Youth & Coaching
Social and Environmental Sustainability
Infrastructure
Legal
Personnel & Administration
Financial

The FAW men’s Tier 2 Licence is required for clubs to participate in the JD Cymru North and Cymru South for the 2026/27 season.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, the independent First Instance Body has decided on the following:

Awarded Tier 2 Men’s Licence for 2026/27 season (57 clubs)

Existing Tier 2 North clubs:

Airbus UK Broughton
Brickfield Rangers
Buckley Town
Caersws
CPD Y Rhyl 1879
Denbigh Town
Flint Mountain
Gresford Athletic
Guilsfield
Holyhead Hotspur
Holywell Town
Llandudno
Mold Alexandra
Newtown
Penrhyncoch
Ruthin Town

Existing Tier 3 North clubs:

CPD Dinas Bangor City 1876
Dolgellau AA
Knighton Town
Llangefni Town
Llanuwchllyn
Llay Miners Welfare
NFA
Porthmadog
Prestatyn Town

Having finished second in Ardal North West, Porthmadog are in the play-off to land a Cymru North place for 2026-27. In the final, they will face either Knighton Town or Dolgellau AA, who are both vying for second spot in Ardal North East and both have earned the Tier 2 licence. The team currently second in ANE, Bow Street, did not apply for a T2 licence.

Refused FAW Men’s Tier 2 Licence for 2026/27 season (4 clubs)

Blaenavon Blues – Refused on Personnel & Administration
CPD Llannefydd – Refused on Infrastructure and Personnel & Administration
CPD Pwllheli – Refused on Personnel & Administration
Pontypridd United – Refused on Personnel & Administration

Withdrawn FAW Men’s Tier 2 Licence Applications for 2026/2027 season (4 clubs)

Cefn Albion
Llandrindod Wells
Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant
Penycae

Those clubs who have been refused a Licence by the First Instance Body, have ten days in which to submit an appeal with the appeals body meeting on the 19 May 2026