Welsh football league system
Encyclopedia
The Welsh football league system (or pyramid
) is a series of football leagues with regular promotion and relegation between them.
, which is the only national league in Wales. Below it is the second tier of leagues, covering north and south Wales. The south is covered by the Welsh Football League
while the north and centre is covered by the Cymru Alliance
. The champions of each of these leagues can be promoted to the Welsh Premier League, subject to acceptable ground facilities, and if the champions cannot meet the criteria the runner-up team may be considered.
(covering Brecknockshire, Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire and Ceredigion) the Welsh Alliance League
(covering all of the north except Wrexham) and the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area)
(covering the small region around Wrexham). Again, the champions or runners-up of these leagues can be promoted into the Cymru Alliance, given suitable grounds.
Below these third tier leagues are even more localised leagues: in Central Wales there are four leagues feeding into the Mid Wales League
(covering Ceredigion, Montgomeryshire, Mid Wales South, and Aberystwyth areas respectively), while below the Welsh Alliance there are the Gwynedd League
and the Clwyd League
and these even have feeder leagues of their own such as the Anglesey League
. The Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) has three lower divisions of its own but no feeder leagues below it.
, whose champions (or runners-up) are eligible, if they satisfy Welsh Football League criteria. (Below the three divisions of the Gwent County, there are the Newport and District
, East Gwent, Central Gwent and North Gwent leagues)
The South Wales FA area is more complicated however, as this region has two senior leagues of identical status covering the same area, each with two divisions - the South Wales Senior League
and the South Wales Amateur League
- often the champions of these leagues have to play off for the single promotion place to the Welsh Football League. Below these two leagues are local leagues in the towns and cities of South Wales, the champions of which can confusingly be promoted into either of the higher leagues.
The West Wales FA area is the only one not to have set up a senior league in its area - this means that there are four local leagues (Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath & District) with all their champions potentially having to play-off for the one available promotion place. However as few west Wales clubs can face the prospect of the travelling implications of moving up to the Welsh Football League
, this four-way play-off idea is theory rather than practice. The latest clubs to gain promotion from this region were Llansawel
in 2006 (from the Neath & District League), West End
in 2005 (from the Swansea Senior League), Ystradgynlais
in 2004 (from the Neath & District League), Cwmamman United
in 2002 (from the Neath & District League) and Garden Village
in 1999 (from the Carmarthenshire League).
clubs met on April 13, 2008 and agreed to a restructuring proposal put forward by League of Wales secretary John Deakin, which would reduce the top tier to 12 teams and will introduce a second division of 12 teams from 2010-11.
League system
A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends...
) is a series of football leagues with regular promotion and relegation between them.
Structure of Welsh football
At the top is the Welsh Premier LeagueLeague of Wales
The Welsh Premier League is the national football league for Wales. It has both Professional and Semi-Professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales, but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal...
, which is the only national league in Wales. Below it is the second tier of leagues, covering north and south Wales. The south is covered by the Welsh Football League
Welsh Football League
The Welsh Football League is a club football league in Wales. Division One of the Welsh Football League is at Level 2 of the Welsh football league system, immediately below the national Welsh Premier League.The Welsh Football League's history stretches back to 1904 when the competition was first...
while the north and centre is covered by the Cymru Alliance
Cymru Alliance
The Huws Gray Alliance is a football league and forms the second level of the Welsh football league system in north and central Wales....
. The champions of each of these leagues can be promoted to the Welsh Premier League, subject to acceptable ground facilities, and if the champions cannot meet the criteria the runner-up team may be considered.
Second and lower tier leagues (North Wales)
In the north the Cymru Alliance has only one division, and has a feeder league structure of its own with three regional leagues feeding it—the Mid Wales LeagueMid Wales League
The Mid Wales Football League, currently styled as the SPAR Mid Wales Football League under a sponsorship deal, is a football league in Wales, consisting of 31 teams, 15 in Division One and 16 in Division Two. Division One sits at the third tier of the Welsh football league system, and promotes...
(covering Brecknockshire, Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire and Ceredigion) the Welsh Alliance League
Welsh Alliance League
The Welsh Alliance Football League is a football league formed in 1984...
(covering all of the north except Wrexham) and the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area)
Welsh National League (Wrexham Area)
The Welsh National League is a football league in Wales and forms level 3 of the Welsh football league system in Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Gwynedd...
(covering the small region around Wrexham). Again, the champions or runners-up of these leagues can be promoted into the Cymru Alliance, given suitable grounds.
Below these third tier leagues are even more localised leagues: in Central Wales there are four leagues feeding into the Mid Wales League
Mid Wales League
The Mid Wales Football League, currently styled as the SPAR Mid Wales Football League under a sponsorship deal, is a football league in Wales, consisting of 31 teams, 15 in Division One and 16 in Division Two. Division One sits at the third tier of the Welsh football league system, and promotes...
(covering Ceredigion, Montgomeryshire, Mid Wales South, and Aberystwyth areas respectively), while below the Welsh Alliance there are the Gwynedd League
Gwynedd League
The Gwynedd Football League is a football league at the fifth level of the Welsh football league system in north-west Wales.There are currently 4 active cups played within the league...
and the Clwyd League
Clwyd League
The Clwyd Football League is a football league equivalent to the fifth level of the Welsh football league system in North Wales....
and these even have feeder leagues of their own such as the Anglesey League
Anglesey League
The Anglesey Football League is a football league on Anglesey, Wales, and is equivalent to the fifth level of the Welsh football league system in North Wales...
. The Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) has three lower divisions of its own but no feeder leagues below it.
Second and lower tier leagues (South Wales)
In the south, the Welsh Football League has three divisions all covering the whole of the South Wales geographical area, and it is not until the fifth tier of the pyramid that local leagues appear. Promotion to, and relegation from the Welsh League is structured, as in the north, on three regional football associations (Gwent FA, South Wales FA, and West Wales FA). Each can send one promoted team into the Welsh Football League. This is straightforward enough in the Gwent FA area, where there is one senior league, the Gwent County LeagueGwent County League
The Gwent County League is a football league in South Wales, consisting of 3 divisions, named Divisions One, Two and Three...
, whose champions (or runners-up) are eligible, if they satisfy Welsh Football League criteria. (Below the three divisions of the Gwent County, there are the Newport and District
Newport and District Football League
The Newport and District Football League is a football league covering the city of Newport and surrounding areas in South Wales...
, East Gwent, Central Gwent and North Gwent leagues)
The South Wales FA area is more complicated however, as this region has two senior leagues of identical status covering the same area, each with two divisions - the South Wales Senior League
South Wales Senior League
The South Wales Senior League is a football league in South Wales. The league consists of two divisions, named Divisions One and Two. Division One is a feeder to the Welsh Football League Division Three, and therefore sits at levels 5 of the Welsh football pyramid.For sponsorship reasons, the...
and the South Wales Amateur League
South Wales Amateur League
The South Wales Amateur League is a football league in South Wales. The league consists of two divisions, named Divisions One and Two. Division One is a feeder to the Welsh Football League Division Three, and therefore sits at levels 5 of the Welsh football pyramid.For sponsorship reasons, the...
- often the champions of these leagues have to play off for the single promotion place to the Welsh Football League. Below these two leagues are local leagues in the towns and cities of South Wales, the champions of which can confusingly be promoted into either of the higher leagues.
The West Wales FA area is the only one not to have set up a senior league in its area - this means that there are four local leagues (Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath & District) with all their champions potentially having to play-off for the one available promotion place. However as few west Wales clubs can face the prospect of the travelling implications of moving up to the Welsh Football League
Welsh Football League
The Welsh Football League is a club football league in Wales. Division One of the Welsh Football League is at Level 2 of the Welsh football league system, immediately below the national Welsh Premier League.The Welsh Football League's history stretches back to 1904 when the competition was first...
, this four-way play-off idea is theory rather than practice. The latest clubs to gain promotion from this region were Llansawel
Llansawel F.C.
Llansawel F.C. was a Welsh football club that merged with Briton Ferry Athletic to form Briton Ferry Llansawel A.F.C.-Introduction:...
in 2006 (from the Neath & District League), West End
West End F.C.
West End Football Club is a football team, based in the Mayhill area of Swansea, Wales, and which plays in the Welsh Football League Division One...
in 2005 (from the Swansea Senior League), Ystradgynlais
Ystradgynlais F.C.
Ystradgynlais FC are a Welsh football club based in the Swansea area and are a member of West Wales Football Association.-History:After a mixed time playing in the Welsh League between 2004 and 2009, they now currently play in the Neath Premier League...
in 2004 (from the Neath & District League), Cwmamman United
Cwmamman United A.F.C.
-Introduction:Cwmamman United are a Welsh football team based in the villages of Glanaman and Garnant which is in Carmarthenshire. Cwmamman United currently have 3 senior teams and seven junior teams. The first team play in the MacWhirter Welsh League Division 3...
in 2002 (from the Neath & District League) and Garden Village
Garden Village F.C.
Garden Village Association Football Club is a football club, based in Swansea, south west Wales and currently playing in the Welsh Football League Division Two...
in 1999 (from the Carmarthenshire League).
Current system
For each division, its official name, sponsorship name (which often differs radically from its official name) and number of clubs is given:| Level | League(s)/Division(s) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 |
Welsh Premier League 12 clubs |
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2 |
Cymru Alliance Cymru Alliance The Huws Gray Alliance is a football league and forms the second level of the Welsh football league system in north and central Wales.... 16 clubs |
Welsh Football League Welsh Football League The Welsh Football League is a club football league in Wales. Division One of the Welsh Football League is at Level 2 of the Welsh football league system, immediately below the national Welsh Premier League.The Welsh Football League's history stretches back to 1904 when the competition was first... Division One 16 clubs |
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3 |
Welsh National League Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) The Welsh National League is a football league in Wales and forms level 3 of the Welsh football league system in Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Gwynedd... Premier Division 16 clubs |
Welsh Alliance League Welsh Alliance League The Welsh Alliance Football League is a football league formed in 1984... Division One 16 clubs |
Mid Wales Football League Division One 15 clubs |
Welsh Football League Welsh Football League The Welsh Football League is a club football league in Wales. Division One of the Welsh Football League is at Level 2 of the Welsh football league system, immediately below the national Welsh Premier League.The Welsh Football League's history stretches back to 1904 when the competition was first... Division Two 16 clubs |
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4 |
Welsh National League Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) The Welsh National League is a football league in Wales and forms level 3 of the Welsh football league system in Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Gwynedd... Division One 13 clubs |
Welsh Alliance League Welsh Alliance League The Welsh Alliance Football League is a football league formed in 1984... Division Two 11 clubs |
Mid Wales Football League Division Two 16 clubs |
Welsh Football League Welsh Football League The Welsh Football League is a club football league in Wales. Division One of the Welsh Football League is at Level 2 of the Welsh football league system, immediately below the national Welsh Premier League.The Welsh Football League's history stretches back to 1904 when the competition was first... Division Three 18 clubs |
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5 |
Gwynedd League Gwynedd League The Gwynedd Football League is a football league at the fifth level of the Welsh football league system in north-west Wales.There are currently 4 active cups played within the league... 10 clubs |
Clwyd League Clwyd League The Clwyd Football League is a football league equivalent to the fifth level of the Welsh football league system in North Wales.... Premier Division 12 clubs |
Aberystwyth League Division One 11 clubs |
Montgomeryshire League Division One 10 clubs |
Ceredigion League Division One 12 clubs |
Mid Wales South League Mid Wales South League The Mid Wales South League is an association football league, founded in 1962, currently consisting of 16 clubs.The league lies in the fourth tier of the Welsh football league system, directly below the Mid Wales League... 15 clubs |
Gwent County League Gwent County League The Gwent County League is a football league in South Wales, consisting of 3 divisions, named Divisions One, Two and Three... Division One 15 clubs |
South Wales Amateur League South Wales Amateur League The South Wales Amateur League is a football league in South Wales. The league consists of two divisions, named Divisions One and Two. Division One is a feeder to the Welsh Football League Division Three, and therefore sits at levels 5 of the Welsh football pyramid.For sponsorship reasons, the... Division One 16 clubs |
South Wales Senior League South Wales Senior League The South Wales Senior League is a football league in South Wales. The league consists of two divisions, named Divisions One and Two. Division One is a feeder to the Welsh Football League Division Three, and therefore sits at levels 5 of the Welsh football pyramid.For sponsorship reasons, the... Division One 16 clubs |
Carmarthenshire League Premier Division | Neath & District League Neath & District League The Neath & District League is a football league in South Wales. The league consists of three divisions, named The Premier Division, Division One and Two... Premier Division |
Pembrokeshire League Division One | Swansea Senior League Division One 13 clubs |
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6 |
Anglesey League Anglesey League The Anglesey Football League is a football league on Anglesey, Wales, and is equivalent to the fifth level of the Welsh football league system in North Wales... 12 clubs |
Caernarfon & District League First Division 11 clubs |
Clwyd League Clwyd League The Clwyd Football League is a football league equivalent to the fifth level of the Welsh football league system in North Wales.... Division One 13 clubs |
Aberystwyth League Division Two 9 clubs |
Montgomeryshire League Division Two 10 clubs |
Ceredigion League Division Two 12 clubs |
Gwent County League Gwent County League The Gwent County League is a football league in South Wales, consisting of 3 divisions, named Divisions One, Two and Three... Division Two 14 clubs |
South Wales Amateur League South Wales Amateur League The South Wales Amateur League is a football league in South Wales. The league consists of two divisions, named Divisions One and Two. Division One is a feeder to the Welsh Football League Division Three, and therefore sits at levels 5 of the Welsh football pyramid.For sponsorship reasons, the... Division Two 16 clubs |
South Wales Senior League South Wales Senior League The South Wales Senior League is a football league in South Wales. The league consists of two divisions, named Divisions One and Two. Division One is a feeder to the Welsh Football League Division Three, and therefore sits at levels 5 of the Welsh football pyramid.For sponsorship reasons, the... Division Two 16 clubs |
Carmarthenshire League Division One | Neath & District League Neath & District League The Neath & District League is a football league in South Wales. The league consists of three divisions, named The Premier Division, Division One and Two... Division One |
Pembrokeshire League Division Two | Swansea Senior League Division Two | ||||||||||||||
7 |
Caernarfon & District League Second Division 11 clubs |
Gwent County League Gwent County League The Gwent County League is a football league in South Wales, consisting of 3 divisions, named Divisions One, Two and Three... Division Three 14 clubs |
Aberdare Valley League Premier Division | Bridgend & District League Premier Division | Cardiff & District League Premier Division | Cardiff Combination League Premier Division | Merthyr & District League Premier Division | Port Talbot Football League Port Talbot Football League The Port Talbot Football League is a soccer league in and around Port Talbot is South Wales, UK. The competition consists of 2 divisions, named Premier Division and Division One... Premier Division |
Rhondda & District League Premier Division | Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley Alliance League Premier Division | Vale of Glamorgan League Premier Division | Carmarthenshire League Division Two | Neath & District League Neath & District League The Neath & District League is a football league in South Wales. The league consists of three divisions, named The Premier Division, Division One and Two... Division Two |
Pembrokeshire League Division Three | Swansea Senior League Division Three | ||||||||||||
8 |
East Gwent League Division One | Gwent Central League Premier Division | Newport and District League Newport and District Football League The Newport and District Football League is a football league covering the city of Newport and surrounding areas in South Wales... Premier Division |
North Gwent League North Gwent Football League The North Gwent Football League is a football league in South Wales... Premier Division |
Aberdare Valley League Division One | Bridgend & District League Division One | Cardiff & District League Division One | Cardiff Combination League Division One | Merthyr & District League Division One | Port Talbot Football League Port Talbot Football League The Port Talbot Football League is a soccer league in and around Port Talbot is South Wales, UK. The competition consists of 2 divisions, named Premier Division and Division One... Division One |
Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley Alliance League Division One | Vale of Glamorgan League Division One | Carmarthenshire League Division Three | Swansea Senior League Division Four | |||||||||||||
9 |
East Gwent League Division Two | Gwent Central League Division One | Newport and District League Newport and District Football League The Newport and District Football League is a football league covering the city of Newport and surrounding areas in South Wales... Division One |
North Gwent League North Gwent Football League The North Gwent Football League is a football league in South Wales... Division One |
Cardiff Combination League Division Two | Vale of Glamorgan League Division Two | |||||||||||||||||||||
10 |
East Gwent League Division Three | Gwent Central League Division Two | Newport and District League Newport and District Football League The Newport and District Football League is a football league covering the city of Newport and surrounding areas in South Wales... Division Two |
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11 |
Newport and District League Newport and District Football League The Newport and District Football League is a football league covering the city of Newport and surrounding areas in South Wales... Division Three |
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Future change
The 18 Welsh Premier LeagueLeague of Wales
The Welsh Premier League is the national football league for Wales. It has both Professional and Semi-Professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales, but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal...
clubs met on April 13, 2008 and agreed to a restructuring proposal put forward by League of Wales secretary John Deakin, which would reduce the top tier to 12 teams and will introduce a second division of 12 teams from 2010-11.
See also
- Football in WalesFootball in WalesAssociation football in Wales is governed by the Football Association of Wales , which was established in 1876. The FAW oversees the Wales national football team and the Welsh football league system....
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
- Welsh League CupWelsh League CupThe Welsh League Cup is a cup competition in Welsh football organised by the Welsh Premier League...
- FAW Premier CupFAW Premier CupThe FAW Premier Cup is a defunct Welsh football cup competition, organised annually by the Football Association of Wales from 1997 to 2008...
- List of football clubs in Wales
- List of stadiums in Wales by capacity
- British Football LeagueBritish Football LeagueA British Football League is a proposed association football league in the United Kingdom that would involve the merger of clubs from the present Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish football league systems into the larger English football league system....