2020–21 Cymru Premier Explained

Competition:Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru
Season:2020–21
Dates:12 September 2020 – 29 May 2021
Winners:Connah's Quay Nomads
Relegated:No relegation
League Topscorer:Chris Venables
Biggest Home Win:The New Saints 10–0 Flint Town
Biggest Away Win:Cefn Druids 0–7 Newtown
Highest Scoring:The New Saints 10–0 Flint Town
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Connah's Quay Nomads
Continentalcup2:Europa Conference League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:The New Saints
Bala Town
Newtown
Matches:192
Total Goals:600
Prevseason:2019–20
Nextseason:2021–22
Updated:26 September

The 2020–21 Cymru Premier (Welsh: '''Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2020–21''') (known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) was the 29th season of the Cymru Premier (formally known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992. Connah's Quay Nomads were the defending champions. Teams played each other twice on a home and away basis, before the league split into two groups after phase 1 matches were completed.

COVID-19 restrictions were put in place by the FAW. Starting Monday 10 August 2020, clubs could train in groups of 15 and contact training was allowed at all-levels of football. However, competitive and exhibition matches were not allowed to take place at this time.[1]

On 21 August 2020, The Football Association of Wales received confirmation that the JD Cymru Premier has been granted elite athletic status by the Welsh Government, meaning that the 2020–21 season could commence on 11 September 2020.[2]

Teams

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

The two bottom placed teams from the 2019–20 season, Airbus UK Broughton and Carmarthen Town, were relegated to the Cymru North and the Cymru South respectively for the 2020–21 season.[3]

Flint Town United, runners-up of the Cymru North were promoted to the league due to champions Prestatyn Town's failure to secure a Tier 1 license.[4] Similarly, Haverfordwest County, runners-up of the Cymru South, were also promoted due to champions Swansea University's failure to secure a Tier 1 license.

Stadia and locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Aberystwyth TownAberystwyth5,000
Bala TownBala3,000
Barry Town UnitedBarry3,500
Caernarfon TownCaernarfon3,000
Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCyncoed1,620
Cefn DruidsRhosymedre3,000
Connah's Quay NomadsConnah's Quay1,500
Flint Town UnitedFlintCae-y-Castell1,000
Haverfordwest CountyHaverfordwest2,100
NewtownNewtown5,000
PenybontBridgendBryntirion Park 3,000
The New Saints Oswestry2,034

Personnel and kits

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerFront shirt sponsor
Aberystwyth Town Gavin Allen Marc WilliamsAcerbisAberystwyth University
Bala Town Colin Caton Chris VenablesMacronAykroyd's
Barry Town United Gavin Chesterfield Jordan CotterillMacronRIM Motors
Caernarfon Town Huw Griffiths Gareth EdwardsSurridge SportsGofal Bro Cyf, Parc Gwêl y Fenai
Cardiff Metropolitan University Christian Edwards Bradley WoolridgeErreaCardiff Metropolitan University
Cefn Druids Jason Starkey (caretaker) Michael JonesErreaWrexham Lager
Connah's Quay Nomads Andy Morrison George HoranNikeMind
Flint Town United Neil Gibson Richie FaulkesMacronEssity
Haverfordwest County Wayne Jones Sean PembertonJomaWest Wales Properties
Newtown Chris Hughes Craig T. WilliamsErreaControl Techniques
Penybont Rhys Griffiths Rhys Wilson[5] MacronNathaniel House of Cars
The New Saints Paul HarrisonLegeaSiFi Networks

League table

Results

12 September 2020 - 31 May 2021

Matches 1–22

Matches 23–32

Bottom six

UEFA Europa Conference League play-offs

Teams that finished in positions fourth to seventh at the end of the regular season participated in play-offs to determine the third participant to enter the Europa Conference League first qualifying round.

Final

Season statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[8]
1 Chris VenablesBala Town24
2 Michael WildeConnah's Quay Nomads18
3 Greg DraperThe New Saints14
4 Will EvansBala Town13
Ollie HulbertCardiff Met
Eliot Evans

Monthly awards

MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the Month
ManagerClubPlayerClub
October Scott RuscoeThe New Saints Chris VenablesBala Town
November Scott RuscoeThe New Saints Will EvansBala Town
December Andy MorrisonConnah's Quay Lewis HarlingPenybont
March Andy MorrisonConnah's Quay George HoranConnah's Quay
April Andy MorrisonConnah's Quay Michael WildeConnah's Quay

Annual awards

AwardWinnerClub
Manager of the Season Andy Morrison[9] Connah's Quay Nomads
Player of the Season Michael Wilde[10] Connah's Quay Nomads
Young Player of the Season Mael Davies[11] Penybont
Goal of the Season Sameron Dool[12] Connah's Quay Nomads
Save of the Season Connor Roberts[13] Aberystwyth Town
Team of the Season[14]
Goalkeeper Oliver Byrne (Connah's Quay Nomads)
Defenders John Disney (Connah's Quay Nomads) Ryan Astles (The New Saints) George Horan (Connah's Quay Nomads) Kane Owen (Penybont)
Midfielders Callum Morris (Connah's Quay Nomads) Ryan Brobbel (The New Saints) Adrian Cieślewicz (The New Saints) Danny Davies (Connah's Quay Nomads)
Forwards Chris Venables (Bala Town) Michael Wilde (Connah's Quay Nomads)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jones . Jordan . Welsh clubs move closer to normality as contact training permitted . Y Clwb Pêl-droed - Your home for Welsh football . 28 June 2021 . 2020-08-03.
  2. Web site: FAW / Start date for JD Cymru Premier . www.faw.cymru . 28 June 2021 . en.
  3. Web site: Airbus UK and Carmarthen relegated, Flint and Haverfordwest up. Jones . Jordan . 16 June 2020. Clwb Pel Droed.
  4. News: Flint Town United return to top tier of Welsh football for first time since 1998 . Deeside.com . 16 June 2020.
  5. 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.
  6. Web site: Macron Announced as Official Ball Supplier :: Cymru Football . www.cymrufootball.wales . 28 June 2021.
  7. Web site: S4C Announce Opening Live Fixtures :: Cymru Football . www.cymrufootball.wales . 28 June 2021.
  8. Web site: Top Scorers - Welsh Premier League - Football. BBC Sport. en-gb. 2019-12-24.
  9. Web site: Connah's Quay Nomads: Andy Morrison and Michael Wilde win Cymru Premier awards. BBC . 10 June 2021. 13 June 2021 .
  10. Web site: Connah's Quay Nomads: Andy Morrison and Michael Wilde win Cymru Premier awards. BBC . 10 June 2021. 13 June 2021 .
  11. News: Foden wins Hublot Young Player of the Season award. Premier League . 5 June 2021. 5 June 2021.
  12. News: Gôl y Tymor 2020/21 Goal of the Season. Sgorio . 7 June 2021. 13 June 2021.
  13. News: Connor Roberts Arbediad y Tymor 2020/21 Save of the Season. Sgorio . 9 June 2021. 13 June 2021.
  14. Web site: JD Cymru Premier 2020/21 Team of the Season . Cymru Leagues . 8 June 2021. 13 June 2021.