2017–18 Cymru Alliance Explained

Competition:Cymru Alliance
Season:2017–18
Winners:Caernarfon Town
Promoted:Caernarfon Town
Matches:210
Total Goals:830
Prevseason:2016–17
Nextseason:2018–19
Updated:19 May 2018

The 2017–18 Cymru Alliance (known as the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance for sponsorship reasons) is the 28th season of the top football league in North Wales. Mirroring its South Wales counterpart the Welsh Football League Division One, the 16-team division forms half of the second tier of the Welsh football league system and falls one level below the nationwide Welsh Premier League. The season began 12 August 2017 and is scheduled to conclude on 31 March 2018.

Teams

Prestatyn Town were champions in the previous season and were promoted to the 2017–18 Welsh Premier League; they were replaced by both relegated teams from the 2016–17 Welsh Premier League, Airbus UK Broughton and Rhyl.

The bottom four teams from the previous season, Llanfair United, Mold Alexandra, Conwy Borough and Buckley Town, were all relegated to various third-tier district leagues for 2017–18. Three teams were successful in the 2016–17 Welsh third-tier leagues and were promoted in their place: Llandudno Junction (Welsh Alliance League runners-up, champions Glantraeth declined promotion),[1] Queens Park (Welsh National League champions)[2] and Rhayader Town (Mid Wales Football League champions).[3]

On 27 July 2017, Rhayader Town withdrew from the league, citing that their players were unwilling to commit to the extra travelling involved with promotion.[4] There was no replacement team - the league continued with 15 teams for this season only, playing 28 games each.

Stadia and locations

Team Location Stadium
The Airfield
The Oval
Recreation Ground (Caersws)
Central Park
Cae-y-Castell
Clappers Lane
Guilsfield Community Centre
The New Oval
Halkyn Road
Arriva Ground
Cae Baker
Y Traeth
The Dunks
Rhayader Town Rhayader The Weirglodd
Belle Vue
Memorial Playing Fields

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Llandudno Junction FC ready for the big step-up. Jones. Dave. 18 May 2017. Daily Post. 2 July 2017.
  2. Web site: Reports from the North Wales football pyramid. Jones. Dave. 9 April 2017. Daily Post. 2 July 2017.
  3. Web site: Rhayader rejoice at return to the Huws Gray Alliance. Grosvenor. Gavin. 4 May 2017. County Times. 2 July 2017.
  4. Web site: Cymru Alliance is a challenge too far for Rhayader Town. Owen. Twm. 27 July 2017. The Brecon & Radnor Express. 17 August 2017. 18 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170818004440/http://www.brecon-radnor.co.uk/article.cfm?id=105380&headline=Cymru%20Alliance%20is%20a%20challenge%20too%20far%20for%20Rhayader%20Town&sectionIs=sport&searchyear=2017. dead.