2023–24 Cymru Premier Explained

Competition:Cymru Premier
Uwch Gynghrair Cymru
Season:2023–24
Dates:11 August 2023 – 11 May 2024
Winners:The New Saints
Relegated:Colwyn Bay
Pontypridd United
League Topscorer:Brad Young (22 goals)
Biggest Home Win:The New Saints 8–0 Cardiff Metropolitan University
Biggest Away Win:Caernarfon Town 1–8 The New Saints
Highest Scoring:Caernarfon Town 1–8 The New Saints
Continentalcup1:UEFA Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:The New Saints
Continentalcup2:UEFA Conference League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Bala Town
Caernarfon Town
Connah's Quay Nomads
Matches:192
Total Goals:566
Longest Wins:26 – The New Saints
Longest Unbeaten:32 – The New Saints
Longest Winless:8 – Aberystwyth Town
,
Pontypridd United
,
Barry Town United
Longest Losses:7 – Colwyn Bay
Highest Attendance:1411 – Colwyn Bay 0–4 Caernarfon Town
Lowest Attendance:112 – Cardiff Metropolitan University 0–1 Bala Town
Average Attendance:380
Prevseason:2022–23
Nextseason:2024–25

The 2023–24 Cymru Premier (Welsh: Uwch Gynghrair Cymru 2023–24; known as the JD Cymru Premier for sponsorship reasons) was the 32nd season of the Cymru Premier (formerly known as the Welsh Premier League), the highest football league within Wales since its establishment in 1992.

The winners (The New Saints, their third consecutive title win and sixteenth overall) qualified for the 2024–25 Champions League first qualifying round. The runners-up (Connah's Quay Nomads), third-placed team (Bala Town), and play-off winners (Caernarfon Town) qualified for the 2024–25 Conference League first qualifying round. The bottom two teams (Colwyn Bay and Pontypridd United) were relegated to either the 2024–25 Cymru North or the 2024–25 Cymru South.

Teams

The league consisted of twelve teams; 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 (for the second consecutive season).

The two promoted sides were Colwyn Bay (winners of the 2022–23 Cymru North) and Barry Town United (winners of the 2022–23 Cymru South).[1] [2] Barry Town United were promoted back to the top tier on the first time of asking following their relegation in the 2021–22 season, while Colwyn Bay were promoted to the top tier of Welsh football for the first time since switching from the English football league system in 2018–19.

The bottom two teams from the 2022–23 season (Airbus UK Broughton and Flint Town United) were both relegated to the Cymru North for the 2023–24 season.[3] Flint Town United's relegation was only confirmed on the final day of the previous season, where a dramatic victory for Aberystwyth Town, combined with Flint's defeat to Pontypridd United, saw the Silkmen drop into the relegation zone.[4]

Haverfordwest County came close to being relegated following their failure to achieve a Tier One license at the first time of asking, but their appeal was successful, ensuring their stay in the league.[5]

Stadia and locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Aberystwyth TownAberystwyth5,000
Bala TownBala3,000
Barry Town UnitedBarry2,650
Caernarfon TownCaernarfon3,000
Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCyncoed1,620
Colwyn BayOld ColwynLlanelian Road2,500
Connah's Quay NomadsFlintCae-y-Castell3,000
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
Bala Town Colin Caton Kieran SmithMacronAykroyd's
Barry Town United Jonathan Jones Kayne McLaggonMacronRIM Motors
Caernarfon Town Richard Davies Darren ThomasErreaGofal Bro Cyf
Cardiff Metropolitan University Ryan Jenkins Kyle McCarthyErreaCardiff Metropolitan University
Colwyn Bay Steve Evans Tom McCreadyHope and GloryGO2 People
Connah's Quay Nomads Neil Gibson John DisneyAdidasCastle Green Homes
Haverfordwest County Tony Pennock Dylan ReesMacronClegg Gifford / The Athletic
Newtown Scott Ruscoe Shane SuttonErreaControl Techniques
Penybont Rhys Griffiths Kane OwenMacronNathaniel Car Sales
Pontypridd United Gavin Allen Clayton GreenJomaUPVCDIRECT.CO.UK
The New Saints Craig Harrison Chris MarriottMacronSiFi Networks

Managerial changes

Notes and References

  1. News: Colwyn Bay secure Cymru North title to confirm promotion . . 29 April 2023.
  2. News: Barry Town and Colwyn Bay granted Tier 1 licences, Haverfordwest refused . . 29 April 2023.
  3. News: Cymru Premier round-up: Airbus relegated after defeat . . 29 April 2023.
  4. News: Harry Ware. Aberystwyth Town survive the drop in dramatic style as Flint Town United are relegated. Y Clwb Pêl-Droed . 29 April 2023.
  5. News: Tom Pritchard. Chairman Rob Edwards on successful Tier 1 Licence appeal . . 29 April 2023.