2022–23 Cymru Premier Explained

Competition:Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru
Season:2022–23
Dates:12 August 2022 – 22 April 2023
Winners:The New Saints
Relegated:Airbus UK Broughton
Flint Town United
Biggest Home Win:The New Saints 11–0 Aberystwyth Town
Biggest Away Win:Airbus UK Broughton 0–8 The New Saints
Highest Scoring:The New Saints 11–0 Aberystwyth Town
Continentalcup1:UEFA Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:The New Saints
Continentalcup2:Europa Conference League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Connah's Quay Nomads
Penybont (via Welsh Cup)
Haverfordwest County (via Play-offs)
Matches:192
Total Goals:590
Longest Wins:The New Saints (12 games)
Longest Unbeaten:The New Saints (22 games)
Longest Winless:Airbus UK Broughton (32 games)
Longest Losses:Airbus UK Broughton (22 games)
Highest Attendance:1,826 Newtown vs. Haverfordwest County
Lowest Attendance:103 Cardiff Metropolitan University vs. Flint Town United
Average Attendance:305 (data missing for six matches - exlcudes playoff matches)
Prevseason:2021–22
Nextseason:2023–24

The 2022–23 Cymru Premier (Welsh: '''Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2022–23''') (known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) was the 31st season of the Cymru Premier (formally known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992.

The winners (The New Saints, their second consecutive league title win and fifteenth overall) qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. The runners-up (Connah's Quay Nomads), third-placed team (Penybont), and Europa Conference League play-off winners (Haverfordwest County) qualified for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round.[1] The bottom two teams (Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town United) were relegated to the 2023–24 Cymru North.

Teams

Twelve teams contested the league – the top ten teams from the previous season, and one team each promoted from the second tier leagues, the Cymru North and Cymru South. The New Saints entered the season as defending champions.

Airbus UK Broughton, winners of the 2021–22 Cymru North were promoted to the league. Due to 2021–22 Cymru South champions Llantwit Major's failure to achieve a tier one licence, runners-up Pontypridd Town were promoted in their place. In June 2022, Pontypridd Town changed their name to Pontypridd United.

The two bottom placed teams from the 2021–22 season, Cefn Druids[2] and Barry Town United,[3] were relegated to the Cymru North and the Cymru South respectively for the 2022–23 season.

To Cymru Premier

Promoted from the Cymru North

Promoted from the Cymru South

From Cymru Premier

Relegated to the Cymru North

Relegated to the Cymru South

Stadia and locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Aberystwyth TownAberystwyth5,000
Airbus UK BroughtonBroughton1,600
Bala TownBala3,000
Caernarfon TownCaernarfon3,000
Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCyncoed1,620
Connah's Quay NomadsConnah's Quay1,500
Flint Town UnitedFlintCae-y-Castell1,000
Haverfordwest CountyHaverfordwest2,100
NewtownNewtown5,000
PenybontBridgendBryntirion Park 3,000
Pontypridd UnitedTreforestUSW Sports Park 1,000
The New Saints Oswestry2,034

Personnel and kits

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerFront shirt sponsor
Aberystwyth Town Anthony Williams Jack ThornAcerbisAberystwyth University
Airbus UK Broughton Jamie Reed Steve TomassenUmbroGardner Aerospace
Bala Town Colin Caton Chris VenablesMacronAykroyd's
Caernarfon Town Richard Davies Dion DonohueErreaGofal Bro Cyf
Cardiff Metropolitan University Christian Edwards Chris BakerErreaCardiff Metropolitan University
Connah's Quay Nomads Neil Gibson George HoranNikeEducate Group
Flint Town United Lee Fowler James OwenMacronEssity
Haverfordwest County Tony Pennock Dylan ReesJomaWest Wales Properties
Newtown Chris Hughes Craig WilliamsErreaControl Techniques
Penybont Rhys Griffiths Kane OwenMacronNathaniel Car Sales
Pontypridd United Andrew Stokes Clayton GreenJomaUPVCDIRECT.CO.UK
The New Saints Craig Harrison Chris MarriottLegeaSiFi Networks

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Jonathan JonesResigned9 May 2022[4] Andrew Stokes16 May 2022[5]
Antonio Corbisiero12 May 2022[6] Anthony Williams28 May 2022[7]
Nicky HayenSigned by Club NXT15 June 2022[8] Tony Pennock1 July 2022
Neil GibsonResigned16 June 2022[9] Lee Fowler17 June 2022[10]
Christian Edwards30 June 2022[11] Ryan Jenkins29 June 2022[12]
Anthony LimbrickSacked28 July 2022[13] Craig Harrison4 August 2022[14]
Craig HarrisonSigned by The New Saints4 August 2022[15] Neil Gibson4 August 2022[16]
Steve O'ShaughnessySacked24 September 2022[17] 12th Jamie Reed19 October 2022[18]
Ryan JenkinsResigned30 January 2023[19] 4th Christian Edwards30 January 2023
Huw GriffithsSacked18 March 2023[20] 8th Richard Davies24 April 2023
Jamie Reed13 April 202312th Mark Allen21 April 2023

League table

Results

Matches 23–32

Bottom six

Europa Conference League play-offs

Teams placed 3rd-7th enter one-off play-off matches for the third spot in the Europa Conference League first qualifying round. One of the spots is vacated if the Welsh Cup winners finish 7th or higher, with the 3rd-placed team qualifying automatically if the Welsh Cup winners finish in the top two. The higher-placed team gains home advantage.

Bala Town, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Haverfordwest County, Newtown, and Penybont qualified for the play-offs. Since the 2022–23 Welsh Cup winners, The New Saints, qualified for the Champions League first qualifying round based on league position, Penybont's play-off spot was vacated and they directly qualified for the Europa Conference League as the 3rd-placed team.

Final

Season statistics

[21]

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Declan McManusThe New Saints26
2Newtown14
The New Saints
4 Ben ClarkThe New Saints13
5 Ben AhmunPontypridd United12
Jordan DaviesHaverfordwest County

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Sam JonesCardiff Metropolitan UniversityAberystwyth Town0–4 (A)20 August 2022
Adrian CieślewiczThe New SaintsCardiff Metropolitan University0–7 (A)17 September 2022
George NewellBala TownAirbus UK Broughton0–6 (A)30 September 2022
Ben AhmunPontypridd UnitedAirbus UK Broughton0–4 (A)29 October 2022
Louis RoblesNewtownPontypridd United4–2 (H)16 December 2022
Ben ClarkThe New SaintsAirbus UK Broughton7–0 (H)26 December 2022
Ryan BrobbelThe New SaintsAirbus UK Broughton0–8 (A)31 December 2022
Declan McManusThe New SaintsFlint Town United1–8 (A)10 January 2023
Zack ClarkeFlint Town UnitedPontypridd United4–1 (H)21 January 2023
Ben AhmunPontypridd UnitedAirbus UK Broughton4–0 (H)11 February 2023
Lloyd Marsh-HughesCaernarfon TownAirbus UK Broughton4–0 (A)31 March 2023
Declan McManusThe New SaintsNewtown5–0 (A)1 April 2023
Notes(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Attendances

TeamHighestLowestAverage
Aberystwyth Town1120187378
Airbus UK Broughton374147232
Bala Town505179236*
Caernarfon Town674232485
Cardiff Metropolitan University401103192
Connah's Quay Nomads436166262
Flint Town United1050172339
Haverfordwest County560277364*
Newtown514171297
Penybont506206296*
Pontypridd United437153288
The New Saints425201289*

Figures taken from FAW Cymru Football app and other club channels. Correct as of 24 April 2023. Excludes Europa Conference League playoff fixtures.

Monthly awards

MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the Month
ManagerClubPlayerClub
AugustRyan JenkinsCardiff Metropolitan UniversitySam JonesCardiff Metropolitan University
SeptemberColin CatonBala TownDavid EdwardsBala Town
OctoberNeil GibsonConnah's Quay NomadsAndy FirthConnah's Quay Nomads
NovemberTony PennockHaverfordwest CountyZeli IsmailNewtown
DecemberChris HughesNewtownRyan SearsNewtown
JanuaryRhys GriffithsPenybontKostya GeorgievskyPenybont
FebruaryAndrew StokesPontypridd UnitedMark CadwalladerAberystwyth Town
MarchAndrew StokesPontypridd UnitedGeorge RatcliffePontypridd United
AprilTony PennockHaverfordwest CountyNiall FlintAberystwyth Town

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The New Saints draw at Nomads to secure 15th Welsh title. 18 March 2023. BBC Sport. 11 May 2023.
  2. News: Cefn Druids Relegated from the JD Cymru Premier League . . 11 May 2022.
  3. News: Pontypridd Town promoted to Cymru Premier and Barry relegated . Y Clwb Pêl-Droed . 21 April 2022 . 11 May 2022.
  4. News: 10 May 2022 . Jonathan Jones stands down as manager of Pontypridd Town . Y Clwb Pêl-Droed . 11 May 2022.
  5. Web site: Jones . Harrison . 16 May 2022 . Pontypridd Town name Pontardawe boss as their new first-team manager . 16 May 2022 . Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
  6. News: 12 May 2022 . Corbs resigns as first team manager . Aberystwyth Town . 13 May 2022.
  7. Web site: James . Aled . 28 May 2022 . Aberystwyth Town unveil former Crawley Town, Portsmouth and Cardiff Met coach as manager . 28 May 2022 . Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
  8. News: 15 June 2022 . NICKY HAYEN NIEUWE HOOFDCOACH CLUB NXT . nl . NICKY HAYEN NEW HEAD COACH CLUB NXT . clubbrugge.be . 15 June 2022.
  9. News: 16 June 2022 . Cymru Premier: Neil Gibson leaves Flint Town manager role . BBC . 16 June 2022.
  10. News: 17 June 2022 . Former Wrexham midfielder Lee Fowler appointed new Flint Town United manager . Deeside.com . 19 June 2022.
  11. News: 13 August 2021 . Christian Edwards to relinquish Cardiff Met duties at end of season . Y Clwb Pêl-Droed . 10 May 2022.
  12. News: 29 June 2022 . Ryan Jenkins succeeds Christian Edwards as Cardiff Met boss . . 29 June 2022.
  13. News: 28 July 2022 . Club Statement: Anthony Limbrick . The New Saints . 28 July 2022.
  14. News: The return of the king . The New Saints . 4 August 2022 . 4 August 2022.
  15. News: 4 August 2022 . The return of the king . The New Saints . 4 August 2022.
  16. News: CLUB STATEMENT: Nomads appoint Gibson as new manager . Connah's Quay Nomads . 4 August 2022 . 4 August 2022.
  17. News: 24 September 2022 . Steve O'Shaughnessy: Airbus part company with manager . BBC Sport . 19 October 2022.
  18. News: Cymru Premier: Jamie Reed appointed Airbus UK manager . BBC Sport . 19 October 2022 . 19 October 2022.
  19. News: 30 January 2023 . CLUB STATEMENT . Twitter . 19 March 2023.
  20. News: 18 March 2023 . Caernarfon Town part company with manager Huw Griffiths . BBC . 19 March 2023.
  21. Web site: Cymru Football. cymrufootball.wales. 22 February 2023.