Five Cymru North clubs apply for Tier 1 licence for next season

Bangor City 1876 are one of five Cymru North clubs to apply for a Tier 1 licence

Five Cymru North clubs have applied for a Tier 1 Licence for the 2027-28 season.

They are: Bala Town, Bangor City 1876, Brickfield Rangers, Newtown and CPD Y Rhyl 1879.

28 clubs in total have applied for the qualification, necessary to compete in the top flight of Welsh football.

All 16 Novira Cymru Premier clubs have applied, along with 5 clubs from Novira Cyrmu North and 7 from Novira Cymru South.

The Club Licensing system aims to assist the continual improvement and development of football clubs at the top level within Wales.

Licence Applicants

Novira Cymru Premier (Tier 1)

Airbus UK Broughton
Ammanford
Barry Town United
Briton Ferry Llansawel
Caernarfon Town
Cambrian United
Cardiff Met
Colwyn Bay
Connah’s Quay Nomads
Flint Town United
Haverfordwest County
Holywell Town
Llandudno
Penybont
The New Saints
Trefelin BGC

Novira Cymru North (Tier 2)

Bala Town
Brickfield Rangers
Clwb Pel-droed Dinas Bangor City 1876
CPD Y Rhyl 1879
Newtown

Novira Cymru South (Tier 2)

Aberystwyth Town
Caerau Ely
Carmarthen Town
Llanelli Town
Newport City
Pontypridd United
Pure Swansea

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 2027/28 season.

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 2027, 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 2027. 

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 9 April 2027 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 19 April 2027. 

An independent Appeals Body, also consisting of experts, will sit to consider the appeals on 21 April 2027. Decisions will be communicated to the appellants on the same day. The decision of the Appeals Body is final.