List of Cymru Premier clubs explained

The Cymru Premier is an association football league based in Wales. Formed in 1992 as the League of Wales, it was the first national football league in the country.^[1] The competition changed its name to the Welsh Premier League in 2002 and then to the Cymru Premier in 2019. In its inaugural season 20 teams played in the league, but it has since been significantly restructured and had 12 member clubs in the 2018 - 19 season. Although it is the highest level of the Welsh football league system, the Welsh Premier League has never included the country's major professional clubs, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County. For historical reasons these clubs all play within the English league system.^[2] Instead the Welsh Premier League consists primarily of clubs from large towns (like Barry and Bridgend) and some smaller towns (like Bala), and the majority of the players are semi-professional. As of 2013, The New Saints, who have played in Oswestry in England since 2005,^[3] were the only full-time professional team in the league.^[4]

Since its formation, 42 clubs have taken part in the league. The only clubs to have played in the league in every season since it was formed are Aberystwyth Town and Newtown. Conversely two other founder members, Abergavenny Thursdays and Llanidloes Town, were relegated at the end of the league's inaugural season and have never returned. Two other clubs, Llangefni Town and Cardiff Grange Harlequins, have spent only a single season in the league. The most recent team to make its debut in the league was Colwyn Bay, who gained promotion to the league for the first time in 2023. A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Cymru Premier and the two regional leagues at the second level of the Welsh league system, the Cymru North in the northern half of the country and the Cymru South in the southern half.^[5]

Clubs

The table shows the first and most recent season in which each club competed in the league up to and including the 2023 - 24 season. Some clubs' membership was intermittent between their first and last season. The name shown for each club is the most recent, and the table is initially sorted in alphabetical order of these names. Any other names under which the club played in the league are shown in footnotes. A dagger symbol indicates that the club was a founder member of the league.

List of Cymru Premier clubs

Club	First season	Most recent season	Total seasons	Best finish	Times champions	2023 - 24 status	Ref(s).
	1992 - 93	1992 - 93	1		-	Defunct; folded in 2013	^[6] ^[7]
	1992 - 93	2023 - 24	32		-	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[8]
	1992 - 93	2013 - 14	14		-	Playing in Cymru South	^[9]
Airbus UK Broughton	2004 - 05	2022 - 23	15		-	Playing in Cymru North	^[10] ^[11]
Bala Town	2009 - 10	2023 - 24	15		-	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[12]
	1992 - 93	2017 - 18	26			Inactive	^[13]
Barry Town United	1994 - 95	2023 - 24	15			Playing in Cymru Premier	^[14] ^[15] ^[16]
	1992 - 93	1996 - 97	4		-	Merged with Llansawel in 2009 to form Briton Ferry Llansawel	^[17]
Caernarfon Town	1995 - 96	2023 - 24	19		-	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[18]
	1992 - 93	2009 - 10	18		-	Playing in Cymru North	^[19]
Cardiff Grange Harlequins	2005 - 06	2005 - 06	1		-	Defunct; folded in 2015	^[20]
	1992 - 93	2023 - 24	17		-	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[21] ^[22] ^[23] ^[24] ^[25]
Carmarthen Town	1996 - 97	2019 - 20	24		-	Playing in Cymru South	^[26]
Cefn Druids	1999 - 2000	2021 - 22	18		-	Inactive	^[27] ^[28] ^[29] ^[30]
Cemaes Bay	1995 - 96	1997 - 98	3		-	Playing in North Wales Coast West Football League	^[31] ^[32]
Colwyn Bay	2023 - 24	2023 - 24	1	-	-	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[33]
	1992 - 93	2023 - 24	30		1	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[34] ^[35]
	1992 - 93	1999 - 2000	8		-	Playing in Ardal NW	^[36]
	1992 - 93	2006 - 07	15			Playing in Gwent County League Premier Division	^[37]
	1992 - 93	1997 - 98	6		-	Defunct; folded in 1998	^[38]
	1992 - 93	2022 - 23	8		-	Playing in Cymru North	^[39]
	1992 - 93	2023 - 24	20		-	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[40]
	1992 - 93	1998 - 99	6		-	Playing in Cymru North	^[41]
	2015 - 16	2018 - 19	4		-	Playing in Cymru North	^[42]
	1992 - 93	2018 - 19	18			Playing in Cymru South	^[43] ^[44] ^[45]
Llangefni Town	2007 - 08	2007 - 08	1		-	Playing in Ardal NW	^[46]
	1992 - 93	1992 - 93	1		-	Playing in Cymru North	^[47]
	1992 - 93	1994 - 95	3		-	Defunct; folded in 2010	^[48]
	1992 - 93	1994 - 95	3		-	Playing in Cymru North	^[49]
Neath	2007 - 08	2011 - 12	5		-	Defunct; folded in 2012	^[50] ^[51] ^[52]
	1993 - 94	2023 - 24	31			Playing in Cymru Premier	^[53] ^[54] ^[55]
	1992 - 93	2023 - 24	32		-	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[56]
Oswestry Town	2000 - 01	2002 - 03	3		-	Merged with The New Saints in 2003	^[57]
Penybont	2019 - 20	2023 - 24	4		-	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[58]
Pontypridd United	2022 - 23	2023 - 24	2		-	Playing in Cymru Premier	^[59]
Port Talbot Town	2000 - 01	2015 - 16	16		-	Playing in Ardal SW	^[60] ^[61]
	1992 - 93	2009 - 10	13		-	Playing in Cymru North	^[62]
Prestatyn Town	2008 - 09	2014 - 15	7		-	Playing in Cymru North	^[63]
Rhayader Town	1997 - 98	2001 - 02	5		-	Playing in Central Wales Football League Southern Division	^[64]
Rhyl	1994 - 95	2016 - 17	20			Defunct; folded in 2020	^[65]
Welshpool Town	1996 - 97	2009 - 10	10		-	Playing in Ardal NE	^[66] ^[67]
Ton Pentre	1993 - 94	1996 - 97	4		-	Playing in South Wales Alliance League Premier Division	^[68]

Notes

1. Known as Airbus UK until 2007
2. Known as Cemaes Ynys Mon from 1997 until 1998
3. Known as Flexsys Cefn Druids until 2003, NEWI Cefn Druids from 2003 until 2009, and Elements Cefn Druids from 2009 until 2010
4. Known as Gap Connah's Quay from 2008 to 2017
5. Known as MBi Llandudno from 2015 to 2016
6. Known as Neath Athletic until 2008
7. Known as Port Talbot Athletic until 2001
8. Known as Technogroup Welshpool between 2009 and 2011
9. Known as Llansantffraid until 1997 and Total Network Solutions from 1997 until 2006. Merged with fellow Welsh Premier League club Oswestry Town in 2003, continuing under the Total Network Solutions name.
10. Inter Cardiff played in the Welsh Premier League until 2000, but was known as Inter Cable Tel from 1996 until 1999. In 2000 the club merged with UWIC of the Welsh Football League to form UWIC Inter Cardiff and continued to play in the Welsh Premier League. The club adopted its current name in 2012.

Notes and References

1. Book: Goldblatt, David. The Football Book. 2009. Dorling Kindersley. 978-1-4053-3738-0. 168.
2. Web site: Uefa give Swansea and Cardiff European assurance. BBC Sport. 21 March 2013. 27 October 2013. 7 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107062951/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17459332. live.
3. Web site: TNS on the move to Oswestry. Wales Online. 1 November 2005. 26 October 2013. 8 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131108081454/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tns-move-oswestry-2365706. live.
4. Web site: Europa League play-off keeps interest alive after TNS title stroll. BBC Sport. Marc Lloyd. Williams. 3 May 2013. 25 October 2013. 8 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130508063934/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22404576. live.
5. Web site: The Pyramid. Welsh Premier League. 27 October 2013. 28 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928133224/http://www.welshpremier.co.uk/ThePyramid.ink. live.
6. Web site: Abergavenny Thursdays withdraw from Gwent County League. South Wales Argus. 20 August 2013. 20 December 2015. Andrew. Penman. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222082047/http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/10623329.Abergavenny_Thursdays_withdraw_from_Gwent_County_League/. live.
7. Web site: Abergavenny Thursdays. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305190519/http://fchd.info/ABERGAVT.HTM. live.
8. Web site: Aberystwyth Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 29 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150929135807/http://fchd.info/ABERYSTT.HTM. live.
9. Web site: Afan Lido. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222130412/http://www.fchd.info/AFANLIDO.HTM. live.
10. Web site: Airbus UK. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304224423/http://www.fchd.info/AIRBUSUK.HTM. live.
11. Web site: Airbus U K Broughton. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222132142/http://www.fchd.info/AIRBUUKB.HTM. live.
12. Web site: Bala Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222140856/http://www.fchd.info/BALAT.HTM. live.
13. Web site: Bangor City. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222145038/http://www.fchd.info/BANGORC.HTM. live.
14. Web site: Barry Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305195243/http://www.fchd.info/BARRYT.HTM. live.
15. Web site: FAW votes to admit Barry Town United to Welsh League. BBC Sport. 14 August 2013. 20 December 2015. 20 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130820232333/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-23700776. live.
16. Web site: Barry Town United. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222075851/http://www.fchd.info/BARRYTU.HTM. live.
17. Web site: Britton Ferry Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305200250/http://www.fchd.info/BRITONFA.HTM. live.
18. Web site: Caernarfon Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 29 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150929111458/http://www.fchd.info/CAERNART.HTM. live.
19. Web site: Caernarfon Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222113624/http://www.fchd.info/CAERSWS.HTM. live.
20. Web site: Cardiff Grange Harlequins. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222124953/http://www.fchd.info/CARDIFGH.HTM. live.
21. Web site: Inter Cardiff. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924041557/http://www.fchd.info/INTERCAR.HTM. live.
22. Web site: Inter Cable Tel. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144523/http://www.fchd.info/INTERCT.HTM. live.
23. Web site: UWIC Inter Cardiff. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050555/http://www.fchd.info/UWICINTC.HTM. live.
24. Web site: UWIC. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305193809/http://www.fchd.info/UWIC.HTM. live.
25. Web site: Cardiff Met University. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222134113/http://www.fchd.info/CARDIFMU.HTM. live.
26. Web site: Carmarthen Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222140649/http://www.fchd.info/CARMARTT.HTM. live.
27. Web site: Flexsys Cefn Druids. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305193224/http://www.fchd.info/FLEXSYCD.HTM. live.
28. Web site: N E W I Cefn Druids. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043839/http://www.fchd.info/NEWICEFD.HTM. live.
29. Web site: Elements Cefn Druids. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924041351/http://www.fchd.info/ELEMENCD.HTM. live.
30. Web site: Cefn Druids. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144950/http://www.fchd.info/CEFNDRU.HTM. live.
31. Web site: Cemaes Bay. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305200205/http://www.fchd.info/CEMAESB.HTM. live.
32. Web site: Cemaes Ynys Mon. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 14 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160414005801/http://fchd.info/CEMAESYM.HTM. live.
33. Web site: Colwyn Bay. The Football Club History Database. 18 February 2024. 18 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240218221329/https://fchd.info/COLWYNB.HTM. live.
34. Web site: Gap Connah's Quay. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305195404/http://www.fchd.info/GAPCONNQ.HTM. live.
35. Web site: Connah's Quay Nomads. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306053444/http://fchd.info/CONNAHQN.HTM. live.
36. Web site: Conwy United. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025735/http://www.fchd.info/CONWYU.HTM. live.
37. Web site: Cwmbran Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222135625/http://www.fchd.info/CWMBRANT.HTM. live.
38. Web site: Ebbw Vale. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304233932/http://www.fchd.info/EBBWVALE.HTM. live.
39. Web site: Flint Town United. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144808/http://www.fchd.info/FLINTTU.HTM. live.
40. Web site: Haverfordwest County. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306053230/http://fchd.info/HAVERFCO.HTM. live.
41. Web site: Holywell Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222113352/http://www.fchd.info/HOLYWELT.HTM. live.
42. Web site: Llandudno. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 29 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150929104112/http://fchd.info/LLANDUDN.HTM. live.
43. Web site: Llanelli. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305195523/http://www.fchd.info/LLANELLI.HTM. live.
44. Web site: Llanelli AFC wound up at High Court over tax debts. BBC News. 22 April 2013. 20 December 2015. 23 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210723104054/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22250301. live.
45. Web site: Llanelli Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 20 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820225537/http://www.fchd.info/LLANELLT.HTM. live.
46. Web site: Llangefni Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222142504/http://www.fchd.info/LLANGEFT.HTM. live.
47. Web site: Llanidloes Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222122334/http://www.fchd.info/LLANIDLT.HTM. live.
48. Web site: Maesteg Park Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043719/http://www.fchd.info/MAESTEPA.HTM. live.
49. Web site: Mold Alexandra. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222143136/http://www.fchd.info/MOLDALEX.HTM. live.
50. Web site: Neath Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194522/http://www.fchd.info/NEATHATH.HTM. live.
51. Web site: Neath. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305194832/http://www.fchd.info/NEATH.HTM. live.
52. Web site: Neath FC wound up at High Court. BBC News. 28 May 2012. 20 December 2015. 20 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181020220250/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-18239573. live.
53. Web site: Llansantffraid. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305185438/http://www.fchd.info/LLANSANT.HTM. live.
54. Web site: Total Network Solutions. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050543/http://www.fchd.info/TOTALNS.HTM. live.
55. Web site: The New Saints. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114626/http://www.fchd.info/NEW-SAIN.HTM. live.
56. Web site: Newtown. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305192901/http://www.fchd.info/NEWTOWN.HTM. live.
57. Web site: Oswestry Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222120903/http://www.fchd.info/OSWESTRT.HTM. live.
58. Web site: Penybont. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 2 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151002064313/http://fchd.info/PENYBONT.HTM. live.
59. Web site: Pontypridd United. The Football Club History Database. 18 February 2024. 18 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240218221332/https://www.fchd.info/PONTYPRU.HTM. live.
60. Web site: Port Talbot Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100633/http://www.fchd.info/PT-TALBT.HTM. live.
61. Web site: Port Talbot Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222082333/http://www.fchd.info/PT-TALBA.HTM. live.
62. Web site: Porthmadog. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305191721/http://www.fchd.info/PORTHMAD.HTM. live.
63. Web site: Prestatyn Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924045253/http://www.fchd.info/PRESTATT.HTM. live.
64. Web site: Rhayader Town. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222112835/http://www.fchd.info/RHAYADET.HTM. live.
65. Web site: Rhyl. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222093021/http://www.fchd.info/RHYL.HTM. live.
66. Web site: Welshpool. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222123830/http://www.fchd.info/WELSHPOO.HTM. live.
67. Web site: Technogroup Welshpool. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222144520/http://www.fchd.info/TECHNOGW.HTM. live.
68. Web site: Ton Pentre. The Football Club History Database. 20 December 2015. 29 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150929101732/http://www.fchd.info/TON-PENT.HTM. live.