2021–22 Cymru Premier Explained

Competition:Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru
Season:2021–22
Dates:13 August 2021 - 14 May 2022
Winners:The New Saints
Relegated:Cefn Druids
Barry Town United
League Topscorer:Declan McManus (21 goals)
Biggest Home Win:Bala Town 11-0 Penybont
Biggest Away Win:Aberystwyth Town 0–6 Haverfordwest County
Highest Scoring:Bala Town 11-0 Penybont
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:The New Saints
Continentalcup2:Europa Conference League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Bala Town
Newtown
Matches:192
Total Goals:562
Longest Wins:The New Saints (8 games)
Longest Unbeaten:The New Saints (14 games)
Longest Winless:Cefn Druids (25 games)
Longest Losses:Cefn Druids (7 games)
Average Attendance:335
Prevseason:2020–21
Nextseason:2022–23
Updated:15 May

The 2021–22 Cymru Premier (Welsh: '''Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2021–22''') (known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) was the 30th 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. Due to Wales losing a European place, the format of the play-offs changed, with the prize now being a place in the Scottish Challenge Cup.

Teams

Twelve teams competed in the league – the same twelve teams as the previous season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cymru North and Cymru South leagues were unable to be played the previous season, therefore no teams were able to be promoted. As every team already in the premier league had been granted a Tier 1 license, there was no need for any team to be relegated.[1]

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 UnitedFlint1,000
Haverfordwest CountyHaverfordwest2,100
NewtownNewtown5,000
PenybontBridgendBryntirion Park 3,000
The New Saints Oswestry2,034

Personnel and kits

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerFront shirt sponsor
Aberystwyth Town Antonio Corbisiero Jack ThornAcerbisAberystwyth University
Bala Town Colin Caton Chris VenablesMacronAykroyd's
Barry Town United Gavin Chesterfield Kayne McLaggonMacronRIM Motors
Caernarfon Town Huw Griffiths Dion DonohueErreaGofal Bro Cyf
Cardiff Metropolitan University Christian Edwards Chris BakerErreaCardiff Metropolitan University
Cefn Druids Andy Turner Michael JonesErreaWrexham Lager
Connah's Quay Nomads Craig Harrison George HoranNikeEducate Group[2]
Flint Town United Neil Gibson Alex JonesMacronEssity
Haverfordwest County Nicky Hayen Dylan ReesJomaWest Wales Properties
Newtown Chris Hughes Craig T. WilliamsErreaControl Techniques
Penybont Rhys Griffiths Kane OwenMacronNathaniel House of Cars
The New Saints Chris MarriottLegeaSiFi Networks

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Jayson StarkeyEnd of caretaker spell27 May 2021 Niall McGuinness[3] 27 May 2021
Gavin AllenResigned2 June 2021 Antonio Corbisiero[4] 2 June 2021
Niall McGuinness[5] 24 September 202112th Andy Turner (caretaker)24 September 2021
Andy Morrison[6] 28 September 20216th Craig Harrison[7] 29 September 2021
Wayne Jones[8] 5 December 202110th Nicky Hayen31 December 2021

League table

Results

13 August 2021 – 26 February 2022

Matches 23–32

Bottom six

Scottish Challenge Cup play-offs

Final

Season statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[9]
1 Declan McManusThe New Saints24
2Newtown17
3 Jordan WilliamsThe New Saints15
4 Michael WildeFlint Town United14
Kayne McLaggonBarry Town United

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Michael WildeFlint Town UnitedCefn Druids4–0 (H)21 August 2021
Aaron WilliamsNewtownBarry Town United0–3 (A)2 October 2021
Declan McManusThe New SaintsHaverfordwest6–0 (H)6 November 2021
Nicky RushtonNewtownAberystwyth2–4 (A)10 December 2021
Ben AhmunPenybontAberystwyth4–0 (H)21 January 2022
MelloConnah's QuayCefn Druids5–0 (H)15 March 2022
Alhagi Touray SisayHaverfordwestAberystwyth0–6 (A)15 March 2022
Will EvansBalaPenybont0–5 (A)2 April 2022
Jazz RichardsHaverfordwestCefn Druids1–6 (A)9 April 2022
Jordan WilliamsThe New SaintsFlint Town7–0 (H)15 April 2022
Notes(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Monthly awards

MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the Month
ManagerClubPlayerClub
AugustAnthony LimbrickThe New SaintsClayton GreenBarry Town
SeptemberColin CatonBala TownDavid EdwardsBala Town
OctoberChris HughesNewtownKayne McLaggonBarry Town
NovemberAntonio CorbisieroAberystwyth TownJohn OwenAberystwyth Town
DecemberChris HughesNewtownJordan WilliamsThe New Saints
JanuaryAnthony LimbrickThe New SaintsHarry FranklinAberystwyth Town
FebruaryCraig HarrisonConnah's QuayMike HayesCaernarfon Town
MarchNicky HayenHaverfordwest CountyChris VenablesBala Town

Annual awards

AwardWinnerClub
Manager of the Season Anthony LimbrickThe New Saints
Player of the Season Declan McManusThe New Saints
Young Player of the Season Mael DaviesPenybont
Goal of the Season Kyle McCarthyCardiff Met University
Team of the Season
Goalkeeper Oliver Byrne (Connah's Quay Nomads)
Defenders Mael Davies (Penybont) Danny Davies (The New Saints) Nathan Peate (Bala Town) Dion Donohue (Caernarfon) Kane Owen (Penybont)
Midfielders Daniel Redmond (The New Saints) Ryan Brobbel (The New Saints)
Forwards Lifumpa Mwandwe (Newtown) Declan McManus (The New Saints) Will Evans (Bala Town)

Fair Play award

The winner for each respective division's FAW Fair Play Table was to be given £1,000 prize money and the FAW Fair Play Trophy.

The winners of the Nationwide Building Society Fair Play Award for the 2021-2022 Cymru Premier season are Connah's Quay Nomads[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cymru Premier scraps relegation and promotion for current season.. 12 April 2021 . BBC Sport.
  2. Web site: Champion Nomads announce new Club Sponsor. 9 June 2021 . Connah's Quay Nomads.
  3. News: Niall McGuinness: Former Flint and Rhyl boss named new Cefn Druids manager. . 27 May 2021 . 1 October 2021.
  4. News: Jordan Jones . Antonio Corbisiero succeeds Gavin Allen as manager of Aberystwyth. Y Clwb Pêl-Droed . 2 June 2021. 1 October 2021.
  5. News: Harrison Jones . Cefn Druids part company with first-team manager Niall McGuiness. Y Clwb Pêl-Droed . 24 September 2020 . 1 October 2021.
  6. News: Andy Morrison: Connah's Quay Nomads manager steps down. . 28 September 2020 . 1 October 2021.
  7. News: Harrison appointed Nomads' new Head Coach. . 29 September 2020 . 1 October 2021.
  8. News: Club Statement: Wayne Jones. . 5 December 2021 . 5 December 2021 .
  9. Web site: Top Scorers - Welsh Premier League - Football. BBC Sport. en-gb. 2019-12-24.
  10. News: FAW . NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY FAIR PLAY AWARD WINNERS 2021/22 . 29 June 2022 . FAW . 29 June 2022.