2019–20 Cymru Premier Explained

Competition:Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru
Season:2019–20
Dates:16 August 2019 – 19 May 2020
Winners:Connah's Quay
Relegated:Airbus UK Broughton
Carmarthen Town
League Topscorer:Chris Venables (24 goals)
Biggest Home Win:
Biggest Away Win:
Highest Scoring:
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:The New Saints
Bala Town
Barry Town
Matches:132
Total Goals:388
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2020–21
Updated:1 May 2020
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Connah's Quay
Continentalcup2:Europa League

The 2019–20 Cymru Premier (Welsh: '''Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2019-20''') (known as JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) was the 28th season of the Cymru Premier (formerly known as The Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. Thirteenth-time champions, The New Saints were the defending champions, having won their eighth consecutive title in 2019. The season commenced on 16 August 2019 and concluded in March 2020, a few weeks earlier than the scheduled end date of 25 April 2020.[1] Teams played each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league split into two groups after phase 1 matches were completed on 17 January 2020 – the top six and the bottom six.

Effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

On 13 March 2020, all games were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On 19 May 2020, the league was cancelled. Connah's Quay Nomads F.C. were declared the champions, for the first time in their history. They were given the league's bid to the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League.[3] The New Saints and Bala Town finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, earning the league's two places in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round.

The 2019–20 Welsh Cup was postponed and could not be completed by the UEFA deadline of entering European qualification. Therefore, the 4th-placed finished team, Barry Town, earned the preliminary round spot that would have normally gone to the winners of the European play-offs which would now not take place.[4] The bottom two teams at the date of suspension were relegated.

Teams

Twelve teams competed in the league – the top ten teams from the previous season, and one team each promoted from the Cymru North and Cymru South.

The two bottom placed teams from the 2018-2019 season, Llandudno, and Llanelli Town, were relegated to Cymru North and Cymru South, respectively, for the 2019–20 season.[5]

Airbus UK Broughton, champions of the now defunct Cymru Alliance and Penybont, champions of the Welsh Football League Division One were promoted to the Cymru Premier. Airbus UK Broughton returned to the Cymru Premier after two years in the now defunct Cymru Alliance, while Bridgend-based Penybont were making their first appearance in the Cymru Premier having only been formed in 2013. By replacing Llanelli Town, the South Wales-based clubs remained at four.

Stadia and locations

Aberystwyth TownAirbus UK BroughtonBala TownBarry Town United
Park AvenueHollingsworth Group International AirfieldMaes TegidJenner Park Stadium
Capacity: 5,000Capacity: 1,600Capacity: 3,000Capacity: 3,500
Caernarfon TownCardiff Metropolitan University
The OvalCyncoed Campus
Capacity: 3,000Capacity: 1,620
Carmarthen TownCefn Druids
Richmond ParkThe Rock
Capacity: 3,000Capacity: 3,000
Connah's Quay NomadsNewtownPenybontThe New Saints
Deeside StadiumLatham ParkKymco StadiumPark Hall
Capacity: 1,500Capacity: 5,000Capacity: 3,000Capacity: 2,034

Personnel and kits

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerFront shirt sponsor
Aberystwyth Town Matthew Bishop Marc WilliamsAcerbisAberystwyth University
Airbus UK Broughton Steve O'Shaughnessy Paul Harrison[6] UmbroGardner Aerospace
Bala Town Colin Caton Chris VenablesMacronAykroyd's
Barry Town United Gavin Chesterfield Jordan CotterillMacronRIM Motors, LDS Motor Factors
Caernarfon Town Huw Griffiths Nathan CraigErreaGofal Bro Cyf, Parc Gwêl y Fenai
Cardiff Metropolitan University Christian Edwards Bradley WoolridgeErreaCardiff Metropolitan University
Carmarthen Town Kristian O'Leary Lee SurmanKappaGravells Seat, Castell Howell Foods
Cefn Druids Stuart Gelling Neil AshtonErreaWrexham Lager
Connah's Quay Nomads Andy Morrison George HoranNikeGap Personnel
Newtown Chris Hughes Craig T. WilliamsErreaControl Techniques
Penybont Rhys Griffiths Rhys Wilson[7] MacronNathaniel House of Cars
The New Saints Paul HarrisonLegeaRUK Group

League table

Results

Teams played each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league split into two groups – the top six and the bottom six.

Matches 1–22

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[8]
1 Chris VenablesBala Town15
2 Greg DraperThe New Saints13
3 Kayne McLaggonBarry Town United10
4 Henry JonesBala Town9
Eliot EvansCardiff Metropolitan University9
Jamie InsallConnah's Quay Nomads9
Louis RoblesBala Town9
7 Dean EbbeThe New Saints8
8 Michael BakareConnah's Quay Nomads7
James DaviesCefn Druids7
Luke BowenCarmarthen7
Andy OwensAirbus UK Broughton7

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Key Dates 2019/20. Welsh Premier League. 23 June 2019. Web site: Five on Friday to kick off 2019/20 Season. Welsh Premier League. 25 June 2019.
  2. Web site: STATEMENT: COVID-19 :: Cymru Football . 13 March 2020 . Cymru Football.
  3. Web site: Coronavirus: Welsh football season ends with Connah's Quay champions. 19 May 2020. BBC Sport.
  4. Web site: FAW Board decide to curtail National Leagues season. Football Association of Wales. 19 May 2020.
  5. Web site: FAW Championship. 18 July 2019. soccerway.com. 17 July 2019.
  6. Web site: Programme Preview – The New Saints FC v Airbus UK Broughton. 2019-10-11. TNSFC. en-GB. 2019-12-24.
  7. Web site: Penybont recruit four new players for upcoming Welsh Premier League season. Jones. Jordan. 2019-05-16. YClwb Pêl-Droed. en-GB. 2019-12-24.
  8. Web site: Top Scorers - Welsh Premier League - Football. BBC Sport. en-gb. 2019-12-24.